"The most consistent and smartest thinking and writing about progressive politics isn't happening in Sacramento, but being churned out day after day on sites and by organizations like Calitics, Orange County Progressive, and the California Budget Project." - CalBuzz
Remember how the ONLY Republican in Congress to vote in favor of healthcare was Louisiana's bold Joseph "Anh" Cao - who also happens to be the only Vietnamese-American in Congress. Josh pointed out that, with the exception of Cuban gusanoLincoln Diaz-Balart, Cao is also the only Congressmember who has actually lived in a socialist or Communist country, and was thus unimpressed and unmoved by all the Republican heavy breathing about the supposed socialism or Communism of allowing a public option in American healthcare. In fact, that talk must have seemed bizarre to him.
This confirmed something I'd long observed about the Vietnamese, whether Buddhist, Catholic or freethinking - they seem to generally have an innate sense of justice and egalitarianism which should make the Democratic Party a more natural fit for them, as indeed other Asian-Americans find it. This sense of justice is doubtless what led them to originally throw off their imperial shackles, a struggle which became notoriously ugly in the 60's and 70's due to foreign meddling on both sides. The first generation of exiles here have gravitated to the GOP due to its more strident anti-socialist rhetoric, but there is only so long that an innately humane people can cling to the Party of Yachts and Fear. And that honeymoon is gradually ending.
I guess what I'm trying to say in so many words is that I went ahead and kicked down fifty bucks Sunday to attend the grand kickoff of the new Vietnamese-American Democratic PAC (VADPAC) headlined by succulent Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, and it was pretty cool. In society-column bold let me rave of the Asian and non-Asian glitterati in attendance: the brilliant and radiant Dr. Kim-Oanh Nguyen-Lam, beloved Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua, stalwart progressive Assemblyman Ted Lieu, indefatigable Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley, charismatic "prospective" candidate for 68th Assembly seat Phu Nguyen, redoubtable DPOC chair Frank Barbaro, and I pause to catch my breath after this only partial list of luminaries.
(Phu holds forth in his genial way, Loretta spellbound)
Yes, California already bans discrimination by sexual orientation and gender identity. However, LGBT workers in other states aren't as fortunate. While Nevada prohibits workplace discrimination by sexual orientation, this state offers no protections for transgender workers. So if you're trans and live in The Silver State, you're always at risk of being fired just for being who you are.
And even worse, 29 states offer no anti-discrimination protection on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. And yes, our next-door neighbor Arizona happens to be one of those 29 states.
This is why we should care so much about ENDA... And this is why Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) needs to care as well. She's likely to vote for it, but she hasn't signed on as a cosponsor. And in order for this bill to break through the delays and gain enough momentum for final passage, HR 3017 needs more cosponsors.
This is why Loretta needs to hear from us. Please send her an email, call her office, and/or write to her. Ask her to join her sister Linda (who already IS an ENDA cosponsor) in stopping the wrongful discrimination against LGBT workers.
Way too many people live at risk every day of losing their job, losing their livelihood, becoming societal outcasts just for being who they are. We can't allow any more of it, and we have the power to get ENDA passed.
It looks like the wingnut wackos will be out with a vengeance this month! Here's a preview of what to expect.
So as soon as Loretta Sanchez announces her community town hall for this month, local progressives need to show up en masse to counter the wingnuts. Their sole purpose this month is to disrupt what are supposed to be community meetings where we interact with our elected officials. But instead of letting the community communicate with our representatives, all they want to do is (mis)use these town halls to parrot "sick care" industry talking points and follow whatever marching orders Boss Limbaugh gives them.
Let me know if you find out about any CA-47 town halls coming up this month. And for that matter, we should also give them a little taste of their own medicine. I definitely don't think we need to be disruptive and obnoxious at John Campbell's, Ed Royce's, Dana Rohrabacher's, Gary Miller's, or Ken Calvert's town hall (if any of them bother to do one in the district), but local progressives in each of these districts should remind these "Party of No" Republicans just who they're supposed to be working for. But anyway, we will post about local Congressional town halls and make sure you know so that we the (real) people of Orange County are there to let our voices be heard.
(Even Blue Dog Health Care point person Jim Cooper is backing the public option, so hopefully we're back on track for universal health care! - promoted by atdleft)
Excuse the messiness of this diary, but I have some major news to break. David Shuster just interviewed Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana) on MSNBC, and he was obviously preparing to hammer her over the recent statement by 20 Blue Dogs in the House that only support a limited "fallback" public option in the major health care bill expected to be revealed in the Senate today. Loretta had previously said she will reserve judgment until the language of the bill is known, but she stated clearly on MSNBC just minutes ago that she will support a full public option.
(Btw, I'll add video and more links as soon as they're available.)
UPDATE from HuffPo (and apparently West LA Blue Dog, Jane Harman, is also in full support of the public option):
Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) is "unwavering" in her opposition to a Blue Dog Coalition health care position issued late last week, she said Tuesday. The Blue Dogs, a caucus of conservative Democrats, issued a set of principles opposing a public health care option unless it was triggered by the failure of private insurers to meet certain goals.
Harman, in a statement, said she supports a public option without a trigger. "I will oppose any plan that does not include this option, and am unwavering in my opposition to the so-called 'Blue Dog trigger,'" said Harman. [...]
Harman said she's sticking by her pledge.
"I am proud to have signed the HCAN (Health Care for America Now!) pledge to seek universal coverage," she said. "I am a strong supporter of universal health coverage, which is why I support the health care reform plan being developed by President Obama, Senator [Ted] Kennedy, and Congressman [Henry] Waxman. Like them, I believe that the bill must include a public health insurance option which guarantees all Americans access to quality, affordable health care."
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), a Blue Dog who also signed the pledge, told the Huffington Post she backs a public option without a trigger.
"America can't afford to wait for health care reform. While a single-payer system would be ideal, I am prepared to support other measures that also reduce costs, preserve doctor choice, and assure affordable, quality health care for all Americans," she said in a statement. "I think a public option without a trigger would be a good way to fix what's wrong with health care while preserving what works."
Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), the vice chairman of the Blue Dog Health Care Task Force, has also since come out in favor of a public option without a trigger.
(This is the start of my multi-part series on emerging Western Congressional races in 2010. Also posted at C4O Democrats.)
If we're to believe the local newsreports, Democrats may actually lose a Congressional seat in Southern California. Central Orange County Assembly Member/Local GOP Power Broker Van Tran has announced he will challenge seven-term Democratic incumbent Loretta Sanchez next year. Already, Republicans are cheering victory and preparing to dance on Loretta's political grave... But are they celebrating too early?
In the world of OC Republican politics, one of the great successes has been the ability to build a Republican machine in little Saigon, based on very high levels of chased absentee ballots.
Van Tran was able to capture a Republican primary in the 68th Assembly distict in 2004 with 22,012 votes, in a district with almost 20,000 Vietnamese Republican voters. He was running against a perpetually tardy Clinton delegate turned Republican who didn't have much trust in party circles.
And of course, once Van Tran won a Republican primary, there wasn't much contest in a general election.
Still he's not a prolific vote-getter. In 2008 against an unknown Democrat spending essentially no money, he could only muster 77.5% of the combined total of Republican and Independent voters while Ken Arnold garnered 76.6% of the Democratic and Independent voters. Not much crossover for an established incumbent.
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez hosted a great forum this morning on EFCA, including a fact-filled presentation by UCI law professor Catherine Fisk. Professor Fisk (pictured at right) concluded by noting that every historian, sociologist, and economist recognized that we could not have a vibrant and healthy democracy without an egalitarian society. And for the regressive readers out there, she's not talking about wealth redistribution or socialism, but the ability of every worker to have simple protection against exploitation, and enforcement of the laws that cover safety, minimum wage, overtime, and the right to organize and bargain.
Employers prefer the current toothless laws and soviet-style elections, where they can illegally fire employees and subject them to intimidation and propaganda with impunity.
Her presentation was followed by some testimonials from workers who had experienced retribution from employers. A worker fired by Fresh and Easy lamented his initial thoughts that this British chain advertised itself as green and socially responsible, while their HR director confessed that weak American law allowed Fresh and Easy to treat American workers far differently than they might in England. A warehouse worker from Tree of Life Natural Foods described illegal practices regarding overtime, breaks, and disgraceful treatment of a pregnant worker. A janitor from Mission Hospital, who had won an employee of the year award, described how his organizing and attempts to protect patients led to him being fired on trumped up charges. As a counterbalance, housekeeping employees from the Costa Mesa and Irvine Hilton hotels discussed how important their organizing effort had been.
Remember how the ONLY Republican in Congress to vote in favor of healthcare was Louisiana's bold Joseph "Anh" Cao - who also happens to be the only Vietnamese-American in Congress. Josh pointed out that, with the exception of Cuban gusano 
