I got an email from Issa today in which he said he’s voting against the (credit market stabilization) bill.  

This prevents any constituent from providing input to this historic piece of legislation; we are ignored.

There are things that need to be in that bill.  Aid to the little banks, aid to the almost foreclosed, and unemployment benefits for those who are currently or will be marooned in unemployment for the foreseeable future because on the fiscal trainwreck.

These times are closley reminiscent to those of 1932.  FDR came in after 12 years of Republican benign neglect and corruption and had to pull us out of the Great Depression.  The Republicans fought him every inch of the way, called him a socialist, and other names.  This included Social Security, the RFC (rescued banks), the WPA, CCC, soiul conservation REA, etc, etc.  Their grandchildren are now following in grandpa’s footsteps and fighting economic reform.  Must be a chromosomal thing!

Issa NOT!

John W.
Fallbrook

The Alliance for Retired Americans, representing more than three and one-half million retirees, older Americans, and community activists including more than 246,000 members in California, endorses the candidacy of Robert Hamilton for the 49th Congressional District.

In a letter signed by the President, the Secretary-Treasurer, and the Executive Director, the Alliance for Retired American s writes “Your positions demonstrate a strong commitment to improve the quality of life for older Americans. Your leadership on issues such as fighting Social Security privatization and strengthening the the Social Security and Medicare systems exhibits that commitment. In addition, our members can support your candidacy because of your belief in the need to provide affordable health care for older Americans, to create a Medicare drug program that benefits seniors, not insurance and drug companies, as well as the need for stronger retirement and pension security, and quality long term and nursing home care.”

“The Alliance for Retired Americans believes that your election to the House of Representatives will enhance the quality of life for Older Americans” it adds.

I contacted Darrell Issa’s Vista office in support of the revised bailout bill, and his District Director, Phil Pauli informed me that under no circumstances will Issa be supporting the bill.

 The disdain Phil Pauli had for anyone struggling financially was shocking.

 Just a few of his appalling comments below:

 ”Anyone losing a home shouldn’t have been given a loan in the first place.”

 ’It’s just too bad for the people losing their retirement funds in these unfortunate circumstances.”

 He made it very clear that he didn’t feel the community was struggling, and I should just donate at my church if I thought there were people needing help.

 All the best in the upcoming election,

Kerri Giard

Carlsbad, CA

The United Brotherhood of Carpenteres & Joiners of America endorsed the candidacy of Robert Hamilton for the California 49th Congressional district seat.

Washington, D.C.:

Veterans and Military Families for Progress (www.vmfp.org) enthusiastically and proudly endorses Robert Hamilton in the upcoming California Forty-ninth Congressional District election.  Founded in 2005, VMFP is dedicated to ensuring that the rights and needs of veterans, active-duty service members (including national guard and reservists), and their families are understood by the American public, endorsed by our elected officials, and protected by legislation, regulation, and public policy initiatives. 

Hamiton’s service to our country cannot be questioned. He was commissioned as a naval officer from the NROTC Program at UCLA, served aboard a destroyer during the Vietnam War, has two brothers who have served, and shares the values of our military forces.  Hamilton’s strong commitment to the issues that are critical to veterans, those serving now, and their families is unsurpassed. His public support for mandatory full funding of the Veterans Administration and his declared determination to provide for the establishment of a national veterans and military family policy give veterans and their families hope that at long last a congressman will vote in such a way as to keep faith with those who have served and sacrificed.   

Additionally, Hamilton’s decision to support the passage of a 21^st century GI bill, and his deep understanding of the need for providing and guaranteeing full health coverage for National Guard and Reserve personnel, demonstrate that he is a candidate who has the character and courage to do what is right for those in service to our country.  We feel that veterans, active duty, military families, and in fact, all people of the Forty-ninth District of California will be well-served with Robert Hamilton as their representative by ensuring that America remains strong in national defense and in fighting terrorism. 

Veterans and Military Families for Progress is a 501(c)(4) non-partisan, not-for-profit veterans organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a 21^st Century organization made up of members located throughout the country, and from across the breadth of rank and military services, who served, are serving, or are family members of those who have heeded the call to serve their country in the U.S. military.

As a registered Republican, I enthusiastically endorse and support Bob and encourage others to do the same. I belive he has a practical, reasoned, principaled approach to goverment and it’s place in our lives. I admire his passion, motives, loyalty, and love of our country. I recommend to open minded people to give Bob a fair hearing and am sure they will come to the same conclusion. Bob will make a fine representative for the citizens of the 49th district.

Our national debt of over $9 trillion, and growing by over $1.5 billion per day, has weakened our economy and created a monumental tax burden for future generations. While the Bush administration has squandered billions on an unnecessary war and government mismanagement, Congress continues to be controlled by special interests.

I am beholden to no special interests and am strongly committed to putting our fiscal house in order. I will reach across the aisle in an honest effort to cut unnecessary spending and will pursue a “pay-go“ policy that requires new programs to be paid for by other cuts in spending.

Our world is being challenged as never before by escalating demand for energy, food and other vital commodities. Of particular concern is the urgent need to develop alternatives to high priced oil. The Bush administration and my opponent Darrell Issa continue to call for more oil drilling to solve our energy problems while Germany, Brazil and other nations develop better solutions.

During the last seven years, our government has disengaged from programs to reduce global warming, ridiculed the need for conservation, undermined attempts to reduce oil consumption, and paid huge subsidies to oil companies while cutting subsidies for development of alternative sources of energy. I will work to reverse these misguided policies.  

It is time to invest in the repair and replacement of our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. Our aging bridges, dams, water supply conduits, power generation and distribution systems all threaten us with catastrophic loss of money and lives when they fail. Dealing with these problems before disaster strikes saves money in the long run and produces jobs during an economic downturn . 

We must also repair and expand our overburdened national rail freight transport system and encourage public/private investment in our rail passenger system as a viable alternative to air travel. Recent overwhelming bi-partisan Congressional support (opposed by my opponent Darrell Issa) for the renewal of Amtrak funding is a step in the right direction.

Our economy can never be sound when individuals cannot afford health care.  It is imperative that we provide portable health insurance for all Americans, regardless of preexisting conditions, and ensure that no person is vulnerable to catastrophic loss from an unexpected illness or hospitalization. Here, also, I will reach across the aisle to find a foundation on which we can build a solution over time to our current health care dilemma.

Small businesses account for the majority of employment and the transfer of goods and services, yet have been short-changed by the Bush administration and my opponent in favor of large corporations. For example, the offices of the U.S. Trade Representative do not have a single person dedicated to serving the needs of small businesses in respect to international trade despite the fact that those firms make up 97 percent of America’s exporters. I will work to ensure that the interests of small businesses are supported in Washington. 

Betty T. Yee, member of the California State Board of Equalization, endorses Robert Hamilton for the California 49th Congressional district seat. Ms. Yee, Vice Chairwoman of the Board, represents the First Equalization District and its 21 counties in northern and central California.  Ms. Yee served as Chairwoman of the Board from January 2007 to January 2008.  Ms. Yee has over 20 years of experience in public service, specializing in state and local finance.  Ms. Yee previously served as Chief Deputy Director for Budget with the California Department of Finance where she led the development of the Governor’s Budget, negotiations with the Legislature and key budget stakeholders, and fiscal analyses of legislation on behalf of the Administration. 

Throughout her career, Ms. Yee has been an advocate for underserved and underrepresented communities, including the Asian Pacific Islander American community where she secured state funding for projects in San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, and Los Angeles and ensured the establishment of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs.

Noted for her work on state and local finance issues, Ms. Yee received the 2002 Distinguished Service Award from the California State Association of Counties and an award of recognition from the California Assessors’ Association for her work in establishing the State-County Property Tax Administration Program.

What I’d like the people in your district to know is that you’re the kind of person of honor and character that they want and need representing them. I want them to know that you will make your decisions on the policies you’ll support not on which party the person who introduces them is from, but on their merits and their importance to the people in the district and the country as a whole.

Long time educational reformer and international feminist activist Gracia Molina de Pick endorsed Robert Hamilton in the race for the California 49th Congressional District.

Gracia was the founding Faculty of the Third College (Now named Thurgood Marshalll Studies) at UCSD where she developed the undergraduate sequence for Third World Studies and is a former Commissioner of California Post-Sec. Education Commission 1976-80.