Candidate for San Francisco District 3 Supervisor David Chiu.
Photo by Luke Thomas
From the campaign to elect David Chiu
July 14, 2008
To the Board of the Harvey Milk Club LGBT Democratic Club:
Many of you are aware of H Brown’s “swiftboat” campaign of slander aimed at me and my candidacy for District 3 Supervisor.
Those of you who attended the recent District 3 forum hosted by the Harvey Milk Club know that H Brown was so out of control that he was asked to leave the forum.
h. brown gets ejected from the Harvey Milk Club District 3 Candidates Forum
held at the LGBT Center, July 1
It is, of course, a very unpleasant experience to be on the receiving end of such a distorted, one-sided and vicious attack campaign. But I believe that there is something at stake, not just for me, but for all of us, if we allow these kinds of attacks to sap the strength of the movement for our shared progressive values at such a crucial moment in our city’s history.
I have no doubt that special interest groups ready to defeat Supervisor candidates who support the affordable housing set-aside, revenue measures for vital city services, and other important causes are watching with glee as H Brown and others seek to tarnish my record.
Those who support me know that in the race for District 3, a critical swing district, I am not only the candidate with the most significant record of fighting for our shared values, but I am also the strongest District 3 candidate to advance our values and stand up to special interest groups who are planning to spend millions to defeat the causes we care about the most.
My record includes serving as a civil rights attorney, chairing the Board of Directors of the largest affordable housing organization in District 3 (Chinatown Community Development Center), defending low-income tenants victimized by Ellis Act evictions, spearheading the campaign for immigrant voting rights (Prop F), and as one of only two Small Business Commissioners supporting paid sick leave.
In my recent winning campaign for San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, after thorough vetting from extensive interviews and forums, I was endorsed by groups such as the Harvey Milk Club, San Francisco Labor Council, San Francisco Tenants Union, San Francisco Women’s Political Committee, San Francisco ACORN, San Francisco Bay Guardian, The Sierra Club, San Francisco Young Democrats, and San Francisco League of Conservation Voters.
Nonetheless, H Brown and political opponents have, and will continue, to falsely attack me as a “gun-loving,” “closet Republican,” and a “homophobe.”
Does a person need evidence to conduct such as “swiftboat” campaign? Not really. And when you dig just beneath the surface of Brown’s slander, you see there is no evidence at all.
The main thrust of Brown’s attack campaign is against an online technology company called
Grassroots Enterprise that I helped to found after managing email communications for a progressive coalition while a civil rights attorney. Years before the Obama campaign became supported by a million online donors, my Grassroots co-founders and I started the company with the vision that new online technologies could radically empower individuals from all backgrounds to organize vibrant grassroots constituencies.
Since then, Grassroots Enterprise has developed and licensed award-winning software technology to a wide variety of clients. Grassroots Enterprise is not, nor has ever claimed to be, a partisan organization. The management team, Board of Directors, and senior advisors include Democrats and Republicans, including Mike McCurry, former press secretary to President Bill Clinton, and John Hlinko, a former MoveOn.org leader. All of these facts are easily found on the Grassroots company web site.
Despite the bipartisan nature of our company, the overwhelming majority of our political clients serve progressive and Democratic interests, including:
• American Civil Liberties Union
• American Federation of Teachers
• American Heart Association
• Consumer Federation of California
• Democratic Senate Campaign Committee
• DraftWesleyClark.com
• The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
• Housing California
• Human Rights Campaign
• International AIDS Trust
• Marijuana Policy Project
• National Partnership for Women & Families
• Progressive Majority
• Senator John Edwards’s One America Committee
• The Sierra Club
These political attacks attempt to impugn my record by selectively highlighting the pre- Grassroots employment biographies of two individuals affiliated with Grassroots’ Washington DC office. These two individuals had previously worked with the Christian Coalition and the National Rifle Association, two organizations with which I have always vehemently disagreed.
Since the majority of Grassroots employees are politically left, the Board of Directors of Grassroots Enterprise brought on these two individuals to add political diversity to Grassroots’ Washington DC office, the company’s headquarters. This is the common practice of companies in Washington DC and throughout the country. While I emphatically disagreed with bringing on the two individuals, it was not my decision to make, and was the decision of my company’s Board of Directors, on which I do not serve.
Contrary to H Brown’s wild accusations, Grassroots has never licensed its technology to the Christian Coalition, Alliance Defense Fund, the National Rifle Association, or any comparable anti-gay, Christian conservative or pro-gun organizations.
My own professional work while at Grassroots has only been with Democratic and progressive clients. In fact, I manage the Grassroots’ San Francisco office, located in District 3, whose staff is politically left and 40% LGBT. I have never — nor will I ever — work for anti-gay, Christian conservative or pro-gun organizations.
Given the facts, I hope you will judge my long-standing track record accurately, and compare it with other candidates in the District 3 race on the following topics:
Fighting for civil and equal rights. While working in the US Senate, I worked to fight the so- called Defense of Marriage Act. I worked alongside with San Francisco LGBT leaders to help successfully lobby the California Democratic Party to incorporate marriage equality in its official platform. I was one of the founding members of Asian Pacific Islander Equality, and served as president of the first Asian American bar association in the country to support marriage equality.
Fighting for tenants. As a tenant during my 12 years in District 3, I have served as the board chair of District 3’s largest affordable housing organization (Chinatown Community Development Center), and as an attorney and community advocate, I have fought for tenants facing evictions, including one of the largest Ellis Act evictions in District 3.
Fighting for immigrants. As a former civil rights attorney, I fought for immigrants facing discrimination and abuses in a variety of settings, and managed the 2004 campaign that would have allowed immigrant parents to vote in school board elections through a ballot initiative sponsored by Matt Gonzalez.
Fighting for neighborhoods. I have served in the leadership of two District 3 neighborhood associations that have fought to ensure that proposed developments are appropriate for our neighborhoods, and that our neighborhoods are safe and clean.
Fighting the death penalty. While Democratic Counsel to the US Senate Constitution Subcommittee, I assisted the ranking Democratic Senator in blocking numerous death penalty bills.
Fighting for working San Franciscans. I have represented sweatshop workers, stood on picket lines with union workers, and as a Small Business Commissioner, was one of only two members of my commission to vote in support of sick leave legislation.
Fighting for a progressive Democratic Party. I have been a lifelong Democrat, and have served proudly as Democratic Counsel to the U.S. Senate Constitution Subcommittee, Vice President of the District 3 Democratic Club, twice elected chair of the 13 th Assembly District Democratic Committee, and a member of the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party. On the DCCC, I have worked hard and taken strong stands to move the party forcefully in a progressive direction.
Based on my actual record, Assemblyman Mark Leno, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Tom Ammiano, Supervisor Chris Daly, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, District Attorney Kamala Harris, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, School Board Members Eric Mar and Jane Kim, and many other citywide and District 3 leaders have endorsed me for District 3 Supervisor.
Groups like the San Francisco Labor Council, Community Tenants Association, Service Employees International Union, United Educators of San Francisco, and Asian American Bar Association have also endorsed me because I’ve worked alongside them to advocate for those in San Francisco who lack a political voice and who fight for dignity and fairness.
As with the DCCC race, I hope that the Milk Club will join the above individuals and organizations, and join my campaign to help ensure an advocate for District 3 and citywide reflective of our shared values. Thank you once again for your continued support.
In solidarity,
David Chiu
More Info
David Chiu responds to questions posed to him by Fog City Journal during the 2008 Harvey Milk Club annual dinner, June 17, in connection with Grassroots Enterprise’Â affiliation with former Christian Coalition head Randy Tate.
The Hunger Site
August 6, 2008 at 11:48 pm
It is sad when people push the Bloods vs. Crypts, or Republican vs. Democrat issues to be more important that actually making an honest attempt to fix real problems.
This sounds similar to before San Francisco had its first fire department. They would fight at the fire, during the fire, over who would put it out. Sadly the fire burned the buildings down.
Rule…. Never trust Lawyers when they are trying to sell you their words. As being veterans of a career who engages in high stakes word games, they can decieve with ease.
Not taking sides, making a point.
July 23, 2008 at 11:50 pm
MarkQ wrote: “Is it strange that David Chiu is the number one person that is attacked constantly? There has to be a reason for it.”
The reason is fairly simple. The two strongest candidates in District 3 are Joe Alioto Jr. and David Chiu.
H Brown, who is very close to Alioto Jr’s mother Angela (just review his writings on Fog City Journal and you’ll quickly see how enamored H Brown is with the Alioto family), is simply doing the bidding of the Alioto family to support Alioto Jr’s election.
H Brown is working for the Alioto family, even though he won’t admit it. He may not be getting paid, but he’ll at least continue to get invitations to the Alioto family holiday party and other posh family events.
http://www.fogcityjournal.com/news_in_brief/court_jesterings_071225.shtml
Attacks on Chiu mainly help Alioto Jr. Alioto Jr. is trying to keep his hands clean, but it’s pretty obvious that his family is pushing this garbage.
Don’t be surprised to see the same attacks on Chiu later this fall in nasty mailers coming from independent expenditure committees formed to support Alioto Jr. election.
July 22, 2008 at 2:14 am
Translation from Political Hooplah to English.
Mr. Brown was ejected from the forum,
I do not enjoy his attacks.
interest groups are attacking me.
District 3 is a key district.
I have done a lot of things.
I won the Democratic Central Committee many support me.
Mr. Brown attacks are empty.
Grassroots is great, we’re bipartisan, and here is a list of clients.
Defends himself from right wing connections for a couple paragraphs. (Democratic Committee, expected to do so)
Reasons why he’s better. Standard track record rhetoric.
People endorsing him.
Then a thank you.
July 22, 2008 at 2:01 am
If they cannot handle listening to Mr. Brown… Then how can they handle the public comment?
Is it strange that David Chiu is the number one person that is attacked constantly? There has to be a reason for it.
For all we know, Mr. Brown could be working for Mr. Chiu for a publicity stunt. As underhanded and ridiclious as politics is. (Just scroll up, and I have proven my point) This can just point people to view Chiu’s site to see what he’s about.
An idea….. yes, nothing more.
July 18, 2008 at 1:17 am
Sallende thinks that most of the other 11 candidates are “very progressive†and “warrant legitimate consideration.â€
Okay, Sallende, since you seem to be familiar with the other “very progressive†candidates, why don’t you tell us why you support some of them. What have your preferred candidates done or led to push for progressive causes and candidates in the past?
If these other candidates “warrant legitimate consideration, give us some specific reasons why.
Instead of providing any specific reasons why you prefer other candidates, clear you’re simply rehashing the same racist anti-Chiu allegations that h Brown has been pushing.
Grassroots has never claimed to be exclusively progressive or partisan, which is why the company has both Democrats and Republicans on its team.
Pointing out that Republicans, along with Democrats, have worked at Grassroots is about as newsworthy as pointing out that Republicans work for Yahoo, eBay, Google, Facebook, Constant Contact, and many other technology or online businesses.
You’re also ignorant about business too. You wonder how an online technology company has many executive with non-software or technology backgrounds.
Have you noticed that many technology businesses require executives with different skill sets – finance, strategy, operations, sales, human resources, and product/research development?
Not everyone who works at Yahoo, eBay, Google, or Facebook has a software background. Clearly you don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to technology businesses.
And have you ever used any online email marketing technology service like Constant Contact, iContact, Boomerang, or Graphic Mail to communicate with people on an email list?
The email marketing software from these companies is licensed to any user, regardless of political affiliation, to help communicate with respective constituency groups.
Does this mean that any executive or employee working for these companies is not qualified, in your world, to run for office in SF because their company provided technology used by Republicans too?
Using your lame logic, I guess this means if I’m a car salesman and I sell vehicles to Republicans, then I must be a closet Republican.
Or maybe if I own a coffee shop and I’m selling lots of coffee to Republicans, then I’m a sell-out for making some money from Republican customers.
Sallende, you can keep repeating your allegations but it only shows you just have an ax to grind against one candidate.
So why don’t you take some time saying something nice about your preferred candidate(s). Who do you support? Or maybe you don’t want to tell us because that will reveal your real motives.
July 16, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Let’s hope that this time David Chiu is up to truthfully answering the specific allegations listed above. Unfortunately, for him, this time D Chiu won’t have the luxury to strategically assail the messenger or to contrive his own line of argument. There it is Chiu, all laid out by Sallende regarding your involvement with a host of right wing personalities and causes. Let’s get some straight answers this time.
And as far as the “swiftboating” comparison, Mr Chiu you are no John Kerry.
July 15, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I’m getting irritated by all the short, simple pro-Chiu posts on many blogs that try to associate him with being the “most progressive†in the race. There are 11 other candidates and most of them are very progressive. They warrant legitimate consideration. Regarding the letter:
a) It is ironic Chiu references “swiftboat†which was an astroturf (fake grassroots) campaign. Grassroots Enterprise makes their money by creating astroturf campaigns.
http://www.prwatch.org/taxonomy/term/110/9?page=5
b) H Brown can be all the things he’s accused of but the real question is, are his accusations about these right-wingers working for Grassroots Enterprise true?
c) “I am also the strongest District 3 candidate to advance our values and stand up to special interest groups who are planning to spend millions to defeat the causes we care about the most.†When his small business, that he founded and is now the COO of has repeatedly compromised his “progressive†values by hiring right-wing Republicans and taking on right-wing clients how can we trust he’ll always stay strong to progressive causes? That money was too hard to turn down then I guess. If he folded then how will he’ll turn down the lobbying money that comes his way when he’s a Sup?
d) “I was endorsed by groups such as the Harvey Milk Club, San Francisco Labor Council, San Francisco Tenants Union, San Francisco Women’s Political Committee, San Francisco ACORN, San Francisco Bay Guardian, The Sierra Club, San Francisco Young Democrats, and San Francisco League of Conservation Voters.†He got a free pass because of Peskin’s support and got lucky by being lumped in with real progressives on the HOPE ticket like John Avalos, Eric Mar and David Campos. The Supervisor position is more significant than DCCC and hopefully these organizations will consider and vet all candidates before deciding.
e) “When you dig just beneath the surface of Brown’s slander, you see there is no evidence at all.†H Brown’s main contention that Randy Tate, Ex-Executive Director of the Christian Coalition sits on the Board of Directors of Grassroots Enterprise and Bill McIntyre, former spokesperson for the NRA is the Grassroots Executive VP seems to be true. If the http://www.grassroots.com website is correct then H Brown is also.
f) If his company is described as “an online technology company called Grassroots Enterprise†then why are there so many former lobbyists and politicians in the company? Shouldn’t the majority of the executives have a software technology background? It doesn’t make sense.
g) Grassroots started as a “vision that new online technologies could radically empower individuals from all backgrounds to organize vibrant grassroots constituencies.†Then why didn’t it focus on Democratic and progressive causes and organizations? Typically Democratic/progressive organizations only do business with and support fellow Democratic/progressive organizations. Grassroots organizations typically help the poorer, more powerless overcome the money, wealth and power of large corporations and rich individuals, both of which typically are Republican. Why didn’t he focus on serving Democratic/progressive organizations as so many do? Was the money too much of a lure?
h) “Despite the bipartisan nature of our company, the overwhelming majority of our political clients serve progressive and Democratic interests.†As there’s nothing to hide get this over and publish the complete client list just like standard progressive organizations have no hesitation doing. In the meantime, why do there seem to be so many questionable other clients:
Republican Party
http://opensecrets.org/parties/expenddetail.php?cmte=RPC&txt=GRASSROOTS+ENTERPRISE%2C+INC&cycle=2004
Republican Leadership Council
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenddetail.php?cycle=2008&cmte=C00409169&name=Grassroots+Enterprise
Republican National Committee
http://www.opensecrets.org/parties/expenddetail.php?cmte=RNC&cycle=2004&txt=GRASSROOTS%20ENTERPRISE,%20INC
Campaign to elect moderate Republicans
http://www.grassroots.com/cases/mypartytoo/
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenddetail.php?cycle=2006&cmte=C00409169&name=Grassroots+Enterprise
Republican Peter Ueberroth for Governor
http://landscapearchive.grassroots.com/landscape/awards/
Republican Steve Kuykendall for Assembly
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Steve+Kuykendall+for+Assembly%22+%22grassroots+enterprise%22&btnG=Search
National Progress Fund
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/527/national_progress_fund.asp
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A60689-2004Sep3?language=printer
Wal-Mart
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Wal-Mart_Stores_Inc.#Online_offensive
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/2005/04
Sea Power Ambassador (lobby group arguing for increased military spending)
http://www.whois.ws/domain_information-com/grassroots.com/
http://www.seapowerambassador.org/
i) “These political attacks attempt to impugn my record by selectively highlighting the pre-Grassroots employment biographies of two individuals affiliated with Grassroots’ Washington DC office. These two individuals had previously worked with the Christian Coalition and the National Rifle Association, two organizations with which I have always vehemently disagreed.†He’s right that H Brown is wrong to highlight just two:
Republican National Committee eCampaign Director Michael Turk (formerly Grassroots employee & Bush-Cheney ’04 eCampaign Director)
http://www.gop.com/News/NewsRead.aspx?Guid=e3d9c997-0ab2-467a-813b-6292c7c7d888
Grassroots VP Kyle McSlarrow (former Deputy Chief of Staff for Trent Lott and Bob Dole)
http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=18787
Grassroots Director Kimberly Breslin (Ex-National Republican Congressional Committee Fundraiser)
http://www.grassroots.com/press/120605/
Grassroots Director Kevin O’Neill (Ex-Executive Director of the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) i.e. lobbyist association)
http://www.grassroots.com/who/leadership/oneill/
Grassroots employee Steve Kuykendall (Republican who ran for Assembly)
http://center.spoke.com/info/srp?company=Grassroots+Enterprise
Grassroots founder Matt Fong (Republican for U.S. Senate who ran against Barbara Boxer) http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Grassroots+Activists+joined+by+Former+White+House+Officials+and…-a058664457
j) “Since the majority of Grassroots employees are politically left, the Board of Directors of Grassroots Enterprise brought on these two individuals to add political diversity to Grassroots’ Washington DC office, the company’s headquarters. This is the common practice of companies in Washington DC and throughout the country.†No, this is typical practice of lobbying companies, not progressive organizations that believe in their cause. Check around with other progressive organizations as to whether they hire Republicans.
k) “Contrary to H Brown’s wild accusations, Grassroots has never licensed its technology to the Christian Coalition, Alliance Defense Fund, the National Rifle Association, or any comparable anti-gay, Christian conservative or pro-gun organizations.†The use of the phrase “never licensed its technology†which seems to refer to licensing software for use is a weird one. Why not just say “never worked for or with� Grassroots Enterprise provides many services for their customers besides just licensing software:
http://www.grassroots.com/what/
l) “My own professional work while at Grassroots has only been with Democratic and progressive clients.†He’s the founder and COO (Chief Operating Officer) of a small business. Does it make sense the COO only touches a portion of the clients? Is he a senior executive that refuses to speak or work with a large portion of the executives? How does he reconcile himself knowing his company and products are being used to help right-wing organizations achieve their goals?
m) “Given the facts, I hope you will judge my long-standing track record accurately, and compare it with other candidates in the District 3 raceâ€. Do we know if the other 10 progressive candidates in the D3 race have ever worked with or for any right-wing Republicans? There is one Republican in the D3 race and he is open and honest about his background.
n) He’s done a lot of fighting: “Fighting for civil and equal rightsâ€, “Fighting for tenantsâ€, “Fighting for immigrantsâ€, “Fighting for neighborhoodsâ€, “Fighting the death penaltyâ€, “Fighting for working San Franciscansâ€, and “Fighting for a progressive Democratic Partyâ€. Why didn’t he fight the Republicans in his own company? Why didn’t he refuse to work with them, fire them or quit?
o) “Based on my actual record, Assemblyman Mark Leno, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Tom Ammiano, Supervisor Chris Daly, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, District Attorney Kamala Harris, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, School Board Members Eric Mar and Jane Kim, and many other citywide and District 3 leaders have endorsed me for District 3 Supervisor.†None of those people have ever worked closely with or for Republicans, nor would they.
p) In the video interview he says, “Honestly, I don’t know about Randy’s background.†Does that sound plausible?
Dare we ask, how about a full client list and tax filings for the past 3 years? Other politicians do it routinely. If the things he said are true he’ll have no problem providing them.
July 15, 2008 at 5:54 pm
@sfresident – again, my name really is keith and grassroots in not my organization. so what’s your point?
July 15, 2008 at 12:10 pm
At this time we have to take David Chiu’s word for it that the NRA is not one of his clients but for SF voters the difference between having the NRA’s McIntyre -who as recently as last month defended the Roberts Court’s decision on DC’s handgun ban– sit on his Board of Directors or have the NRA as an active client is not material. It’s still toxic. By design it’s a networking strategy for a certain business model. Some might call it mercenary.
Grassroots Enterprise is not precluded from taking NRA business, that’s been true since at least 2000. Consider this quote from Mike McCurry a figure referenced by David Chiu in his letter to the Milk Club. NY Times, 12/3/2000: “Our tools can be used equally by the National Rifle Association as by Handgun Control.” John Hlinko adds on the blog Political Asylum, 7/28/2005 “we do not work with the RNC or NRA right now.” FEC records document the work Grassroots Enterprise did for the RNC in 2004 but that was not “now.” CEO Arvand could well have messed up and confused ‘client’ with ‘Board of Director’ McIntyre. City voters probably will make the same mistake. The NRA is bad news.
There is also this kicker of uncertainty from Grassroots own website about its clients, “While many of our clients names must remain confidential (including some really, really cool ones) we’ve included a partial list of current and past clients…”
Candidates for elective office merit scrutiny. It’s a delusion of grandeur to compare a D3 race involving the clients or Board of Directors of Chiu’s firm with the 2004 Kerry campaign. Hopefully the personality distractions will step aside and all the facts will come out.
July 15, 2008 at 11:21 am
That was me who called ADF. I was told by their IT that grassroots was the company that was the company that they used.
July 15, 2008 at 7:29 am
” very unpleasant experience ” welcome to politics in San Francisco. H Brown is a colorful figure in SF and if he is able to get his views across good for him.
David Chiu is given plenty of access to defend himself i.e. this article and the awful one in Beyond Chron.
If he loses District 3 it won’t be because of H. Brown it will because the District is fed up with Aaron Peskin and his NIMBY wife Nancy Shanahan.
Also nothing wrong with a drink every now and then ask Aaron he seems to be on his best form with a drink in him.
July 15, 2008 at 7:04 am
Quoting “Keith” from the Asian Week boards, defending Grassroots:
“And do you really want to call me out about the organization I work for…”
July 15, 2008 at 12:06 am
h. brown, whose profession is to get drunk and smoke pot (though, his excuse is that he needs it for medicinal purposes) on the taxpayer’s dime, doesn’t even live in District 3. Why is he allowed to pull an Ed Jew and participate in debates, let alone pay a taxpayer-funded entrance fee to run for Supervisor in that District? I find it hard to believe that anyone takes that living and walking joke seriously. He just needs something to be angry about and David Chiu is his latest punching bag.
July 14, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Oh, and one more point on the purity test question.
Hypothetically, If I founded a company that licenses CRM software (customer relationship management) or online payment transaction software used by clients regardless of political party affiliation, does that make me a bad person unfit to personally champion progressive causes I care about like poverty alleviation and human rights?
But in this puritanical world, I guess George Foreman would be attacked if he ever ran for office because, guess what, more than just Democrats or progressives use the George Foreman Grill for cooking.
I’m certain some many Republicans are customers of the Foreman Grill. Damn you George Foreman! You’ve benefited from selling your product to Republicans to grill meat and/or veggies!
July 14, 2008 at 10:52 pm
hey “sfresident” – i did post to asianweek and none of my comments were slips. grassroots is not my organization. boy, it’s not enough that you folks have to misrepresent david’s record, but now resort to lying about my own comments?
July 14, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I attended the Milk Club forum. This letter from David Chiu confirms what I felt when I listened to the candidates at the forum – that David Chiu is reasoned and has a history of standing up for a variety of local progressive causes.
I care about the candidate and his or her past and current positions on local issues. I care less about the past employment of people who happen to be associated with a company.
Yahoo and Facebook have conservatives serving on their respective Board of Directors. Does that disqualify the founders or employees of Yahoo and Facebook from running for office as a progressive Democrat?
If I’m a progressive lawyer and one of the managing partners of my law firm is a Republican operative or one of the managing partners does business with Republican clients, does that make me a closet Republican even if I only work for progressive legal clients?
This whole stretched “guilt by association” argument seems like a purity test gone awry.
Let’s focus on the positions these candidates will take on key upcoming issues, like municipal clean energy, affordable housing, public campaign financing, and the like.
July 14, 2008 at 9:16 pm
“David Chiu’s letter was straightforward and clear: He has a clearly progressive record and a candidate for D3 that I have no hesitation in supporting.”
Hey “Keith,” sounds like you’re RIGHT on message for David Chiu! Aren’t you the same “Keith” called out on the Asian Week comments section, you know, the one that slipped and referred to Grassroots as “my” organization?
July 14, 2008 at 8:48 pm
This whole “controversy” concocted by h Brown (on behalf of another D3 candidate Joe Alioto Jr. – the son of h Brown’s buddy Angela Alioto) reeks of racism.
h Brown lied about the Alliance Defense Fund connection by fabricating a story about someone calling ADF. Well, as james69 found out and as I found out when I actually called ADF, the organization IS NOT a customer of Grassroots.
And when making the claim that the National Rifle Association is a client of Grassroots, h Brown likes to cite this 3/14/2006 link: http://www.personaldemocracy.com/node/848
The former CEO of Grassroots Arvind Rajan gave a speech and mistakenly noted the NRA. If you scroll down in the comment section in 2006, Mr. Rajan wrote:
“And finally, one correction: On the panel yesterday, I said that we’ve worked for the NRA; that’s not true–a colleague of mine was a senior communications person at the NRA, but they’re not a client of ours. I had a mental glitch yesterday, and wanted to correct the record.”
h Brown likes to cite a quote by Mr. Rajan to serve his racist motives even though Mr. Rajan himself corrected the record. But h Brown doesn’t care about the corrected record of fact. He just takes a mistaken quote or lie and spins it to serve his racist motives.
How many more lies do people need to hear before people realize that h Brown is simply playing a destructive game to help Angela Alioto’s son win the D3 Supervisor race?
Don’t rely on h Brown for your fact checking. Do your own research, like I have.
And ask yourself, based on their personal records and positions on issues over the past decade, whether Joe Alioto Jr., Claudine Cheng, or David Chiu will be better representing tenants, immigrants, and labor?
July 14, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I am continually astonished as to why San Francisco “progressives†let drunken gadflies like Brown drive the discourse and take up our precious time.
I just called ADF over in Arizona to fact check and asked them about the David Chiu and Grassroots connection–one of Brown’s allegations. ADF says they have NEVER worked with Chiu or Grassroots. If Brown (David Chiu’s political opponent) lied about this, what else has he lied about? Much I am sure. It’s an election year, folks.
Please do your job as a citizen and voter – please do your own research — then vote your conscience this November 4th. Our city’s future depends on it!
July 14, 2008 at 2:12 pm
God gave us all a brain. And marcb should use his.
No matter how much marcb seeds his hyperbole on the web, David Chiu’s letter was straightforward and clear: He has a clearly progressive record and a candidate for D3 that I have no hesitation in supporting.
July 14, 2008 at 1:45 pm
God gave us all two sides to our mouth and David Chiu makes full use of the gift. Hell, I thought we might get an honest answer about this dust up. In all fairness Chiu’s not the first guy in SF who doesn’t care about who he climbs into bed with so on that note let’s not get all puritanical. This Chiu press release reminds me of the guy who comes home and finds his boyfriend grinding someone else. Things calm down and the boyfriend with tears in his eyes says “I swear nothing happened! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”