The blogs and newspapers are buzzing over the hiring-then-firing-then-hiring of Erwin Chemerinsky as the dean of UCI’s new law school.
I really think that the story has been written, and I don’t want to waste any space on this blog writing about something you can see everywhere else. But I do want to point out something that I’m going to call The Chemerinsky Effect.
Stories like Chemerinsky’s hiring-then-firing-then-hiring create a climate here in Orange County where liberals are afraid of coming out and telling people their beliefs. The effect of the Chemerinsky debacle is damaging to local liberals.
There are 2 elected officials in Orange County that have asked me not to mention on this blog that they are registered Democrats. They both hold non-partisan seats, and they both fear that their beliefs could harm their chances of reelection.
While I respect their wishes, my opinion is that they are both cowards. They both are wonderful civil servants that have done great things for the communities that they work for, yet they fear that getting labeled a “democrat†or a “liberal†would be harmful for their careers.
Democrats (elected and non-elected) should stop worrying about their careers, or what their conservative peers, constituents, and friends think of them. If our party plans on taking over Orange County we’ve got to be loud, forceful, and united.
Don’t let the Chemerinsky effect get to you.
Mike–A point well taken. Elected officials shouldn’ shrink from their political party. They should feel free to criticize it when it’s wrong but they need to stand by it, just like a family member. If you can’t do that, go to DTS. It’s worth noting though that virtually all the local decisions have little if anything to do with partisan politics.
And practically, do these two local elected Democrats seriously believe that Comrade Baugh and Darth Schroeder don’t already KNOW they are Democrats?
Of course the elected Democrats to these positions would probably appreciate a little more help from Democrats(see Claudio’s numerous posts about this)as well as a little political maturity from some Democratic activists whose motto seems to be ” I don’t care if you were with us 90% of the time, you’re wrong on this and we’re not backing you.”
Mike,
I believe that was one of the motives of Schroeder. What he was doing was the equivilent of the prison rape to Democrats. He was trying to demonstrate in his egotistical mind that he is the boss around here and no liberal is going to challenge him. Considering he is 5’7, drives a huge SUV and has his office at the top floor in one of the county’s tallest buildings, I think we all know what he is compensating for. No wonder SUsan Kang Schroeder is always so grumpy.
I think DaMan has a point.
Several studies show that anyone over 30 who still travels to attend college GAMES is hopelessly immature and trying to live vicariously through young athletes.
USC fans, especially, are trying to compensate for other shortcomings.
For many years the OC GOP tried to lay claim to OC by insisting that Democrats here were irrelevant and isolated. Jokes about Dems holding their meetings in a phone booth caused many to rethink their party affiliation. But there are over 400,000 registered Democrats here in “conservative” Orange County. NEWS FLASH – OC was never even close to being “America’s Most Republican County.” One side no longer controls the debate.
I feel for these elected officials you mention. On the one hand if they are registered as Dems because their core values are more liberal, then they should wear their D proudly. Would these Dems turn down volunteer assistance from their local Democratic Club? Would they return a contribution from the Democratic Foundation of OC? On the other hand by “coming out” as a Dem, they run the risk of being cajoled by those who call themselves activists on the left who would like the local water board to issue a meaningless resolution to impeach every member of the present administration. They would be subject to unfounded character attacks by the mentally ill who are strangely attracted to public figures (on both sides). Perhaps it is best to stay quiet.
But as far as I understand, a person’s political affiliation is a matter of public record. You don’t actually NEED permission to report it.
I do enjoy these big picture intellectual discussions. They exercise the mind.
When are the “real” Democrats going to take out the “fake” ones in Santa Ana? Our City Council has only one Reep, but you would think they were all Reeps, given their awful votes. It is just pathetic.
And now the Democrats over at the Rancho Santiago Community College District have screwed our people over too, lying to us and overspending on a sheriff training facility while ignoring the real educational needs of our residents.
You guys really need to help us get rid of Pulido and his gang before you worry about planting the Democratic flag elsewhere in Orange County!
That crack about schroeder may be the funniest thing I’ve read recently, are you listening Mickadeit?
To Mike Lawson, the other side of the coin; now you seem cowardly to some for not outing these same dems. Politics, hmmm.
To these two dems who won’t come out; work harder, do a better job at whatever it is you do. Make a difference and it won’t matter in what club you roll.