The Santa Barbara News-Press has made it clear, Hannah Beth Jackson can not be trusted.
During the 2003 budget debacle, she tried to stop the passage of the budget. In doing so, she was trying to stop money going to education, health care and public safety. She was more interested in politics than in people. When asked recently about the secret meeting, she outright lied and claimed no such meeting happen.
From the article:
"A report in the San Francisco Chronicle stated: "Members of the Assembly Democrats' progressive caucus were heard making candid, if not intemperate, statements . . . that they may want to 'precipitate a crisis' over the budget this year." The L.A. Daily News noted that the Democrats "speculated that the continuing deadlock over the state budget could benefit their party politically by slowing the drive to recall Gov. Gray Davis."
It goes on to say this, "At a recent candidates debate in Ventura, Ms. Jackson tried to distance herself from all this by saying there was no secret meeting, according to reports. The Strickland campaign notes: "Hannah-Beth Jackson thinks that when she says something, it's true. This time, her denials are more hollow than usual. Taxin' Jackson must have forgotten the news coverage of the now infamous 'Squawk Box' recording. In this meeting, Democrats inadvertently had microphones transmitting their secret plans to hold up the budget and to blame the Republicans in hope of gaining a political advantage."
"On top of these apparent lies or distortions about her past, Ms. Jackson has further damaged her reputation by over-the-top mud-slinging against Mr. Strickland.
Voters must ask themselves: Do you have enough trust and confidence in Ms. Jackson to give her a job in Sacramento? "
So--she refuses to discuss the economy because her plan has always been to raise taxes.
Jackson gets caught lying and playing politics, she lied about endangering the lives of children and the elderly. Jackson refuses to discuss the budget deficit, because her plan is to raise taxes on the poor and middle class.
In her own owns, Hannah Jackson can not be trusted--and her local newspaper notes it.
Hannah-Beth Jackson not only has an indisputable record as a tax and spend liberal, but she was also one of the least responsive legislators when she was in the Assembly when it came to addressing constituent concerns.
I have spoken to many folks who were in her district when she served in the Assembly and she was both aloof and elusive when it came to responding to questions and requests from constituents. Her staff was just as bad.
Tony Strickland is the clear choice here. His reputation speaks for itself.
Don't you guys have anything better to quote than the delusional ramblings of the News Press? The News Press seems happy publishing Tony Strickland press releases as an editorial -- which means you are just quoting yourself.
Before the News Press lost all of their editors and all but two of their reporters to purges, firings and resignations, here's what they said about Hannah-Beth Jackson.
"Hannah-Beth Jackson is completing her first two-year term in the California Assembly and the News-Press recommends voters send her back for another two years.
"Jackson compiled an impressive record in her freshman term in the Assembly. Among the bills which she either authored or played a key role in are: simplification of business tax laws; offering grants to victims of crime; authorizing state funds for emergency shelters for the homeless; creating a public/private child-care effort; facilitating the process for teachers to get their credentials; and she joined with other lawmakers urging, by resolution, a permanent ban on offshore oil drilling.
"Jackson has proven herself to be among the most active, energetic and effective law makers in Sacramento – and she’s accomplished that in just her first two years in the Assembly. She has special interest in women’s issues and in the environment, both at the state and local level.
"Jackson is precisely the kind of person this area needs in the state legislature. The News-Press strongly encourages voters re-elect her in the 35th District."
Santa Barbara News Press, October 2000
Today, unfortunately, the News Press is a joke. No one takes it seriously. Except Tony Strickland.
Tony is in it only for the money and IGNORES constituent concerns unless they are toxic dumpers.
Mongo hits the nail on the head, as usual. Jackson was as far removed from her constituents as anyone who has ever held State office in California when she was in the Assembly.
I was one of her constituents who was treated rudely and dismissively by her staff when I called her office to complain about an offshore oil drilling bill that she voted in favor of. Because I took a position on the bill that was opposite of hers, I was treated with disdain and rancor.
I would never vote for this woman for dogcatcher, much less State Senator.
Her facade is collapsing as this is just the tip of the iceberg. I expect her to get more desperate as will her followers. I loved how her clones tried to explain this away after the debate..."its not a secret it was private" "she was thinking of a different meeting" yeah all those newspapers were confused...desperation time...classic!
To the readers:
You will note that Parke Skelton wrote a very defensive article about his client, Hannah Jackson.
Please note he does not mention he is getting paid tens of thousands of dollars to protect and promote her. Why did he not tell he is an employee of Jackson? Is he embarrassed?
Also, note that to Skelton if you write something in a newspaper, and are NOT a union member, it is bad. Only unions write with honesty--this coming from folks that tell teachers to pay bribes or they are not allowed to be in a classroom.
But to his point. Sometimes in the heat of battle you do not see the whole truth, know the whole truth.
Sometimes it takes a few years to realize the good or the bad of an office holder.
The union written editorial was written before she even finished her first term in office.
This was before her secret meeting to hold up payments to education, the elderly, for public safety, to make political points. Of course, the unions supported creating harm to the innocent of California for the sake of politics.
So, Parke Skelton has proved my point--truth is not in the best interest of his client, Hannah Jackson. Her complete record shows how politics was more important to her and the people who elected her.
Her complete record is about voting for tax increases, more government, less freedom. That is the record her employee Parke Skelton does not want to discuss.
Over 66% of Tony's money comes from outside the district while 62% of Hannah-Beth Jackson's comes from within according to this article from the Star "Campaign fundraising at a level unprecedented in county" That shows who represents and has the support of the 19th State Senate District residents. The Santa Barbara Independent said the following:
"While Jackson frequently finds herself tagged as a speechifying firebrand, the fact is this South Coast Democrat is secretly much more pragmatic than many suspect. During her three-term stint in the Assembly, Jackson managed to finesse a deal both with Ventura environmentalists and the Ventura Farm Bureau—typically regarded as warring factions—to pass a bill limiting the pesticide drift from freshly sprayed fields to nearby schools and hospitals. With three terms under her belt—and a sharp focus on education, the environment, and the economy—Jackson will start the job fully plugged in. With new leadership poised to assume the Senate’s helm, Jackson will also start the job with good friends in high places, all of which bodes extremely well for the district." I believe the VC Reporter has endorsed her as well.
Well now, Steve. I am not an employee of Ms. Jackson's. I'm a volunteer for her campaign who has also been her constituent. In fact, constituent services was her highest priority when she was representing us.
The local DA came to her, not Strickland, when he wanted a bill passed to protect victims of stalking following the tragic murder of a Ventura woman. She helped pass a bill to protect local kids from pesticide overspray. This bill was written with the help of the agricultural community -- and Strickland voted against it. My daughter was one of the several dozen kids who got sick and Hannah-Beth was the ONLY one who came to talk to us.
She brought money for improvements to the 101 offramp here in Ventura, our State Beach, coastal cleanup and helped us with numerous other issues. She works hard, is very diligent and very honest.
And Steve, no matter how you folks spin it, the fact is that she voted for billions of tax cuts for our citizens. I can list all the bill numbers if you want them.
You and I both know, Steve, that the SB paper is now a shadow of its former self, is embroiled in horrible labor disputes and there is even a documentary on its foibles. There is an editorial writer up there who writes terrible things about mostly female electeds. Here is a site in case you want to verify all I just wrote:
http://www.citizenmccaw.com/
Their circulation has dropped precipitously and the Independent now provides the solid news coverage up there.
The meeting you cite was NOT secret. It was just a caucus meeting. You have no record of what Hannah-Beth said at the meeting. She could've been telling them all to take a hike for all we know.
It is Mr. Strickland who has trouble with the truth. I have not been at all impressed with his record of taking money from tobacco, oil, gambling and insurance companies and voting for their interests and against the health of our citizens. I am not impressed with his disingenuous campaign to try to paint himself as an Independent when he was the founder of the ultra right-wing Club for Growth. And the numerous investigations into the Stricklands' campaign finances (four complaints filed by members of their own party) have left me really wondering where their scruples are.
Steve,
You are being a bit disingenuous. I have posted on your blog before and clearly identified myself as Jackson's campaign consultant - and I am extremely proud to be.
As for the News Press, no one with any objectivity can deny that the paper underwent a radical editorial shift after the McCaw putsch. The management of the paper changed, not Jackson.
And the residents of Santa Barbara County have voted with their pocketbooks -- the circulation of the News Press has been cut almost in half.
Parke Skelton
Consultant, Hannah-Beth Jackson for State Senate
Parke:
It is YOU who is being "disingenuous".
Most people do not remember, or care, who you are. You know that the standard is EACH time you make a public point you need to give a disclaimer.
You were trying to hide the fact you are getting paid to promote and protect your client--Hannah Jackson. Be proud of it, even if she is embarrassed by her six years of voting for tax increases, more government spending and holding secret meetings to harm children and the elderly (I admit, she should embarrassed by this hack political effort to make political points.)
As a Democrat you have to oppose any newspaper that prints the truth--this is not the style of your efforts--you prefer to lie about meetings, voting records, the results of job killing bills and policies.
Want to know why unemployment is so high? Look at the taxes and regulations your client Hannah Jackson supported.
Want to know why schools are failings? Look at the unions your client supported.
Need to know why we have a massive deficit? Look at the special interest programs your client Hannah Jackson promoted.
(full disclosure: Unlike Mr. Skelton being paid by Hannah Jackson, I am NOT being paid by any candidate in the race for 19th Senate District or any committee supporting a candidate in this race. And, I am NOT involved in any Independent Expenditure for any candidate in this race)
Oh honestly, Steve, sometimes you are just silly. Do you just read right-wing news media only?
Our state deficit has ballooned because of the crummy economy and not because of education spending (flat, didn't keep up with inflation) and social programs (spending down 7%) Democrats like to champion. It's also been hurt by increased spending on prisons (up almost 7%) and, in part, the need to reimburse counties and cities for the money they aren't getting because of the vehicle license fee cut. The governor agreed to keep reimbursing them and that costs us 25% more each year. Spending on prisons and the vehicle license fee cut are things Republicans want.
Then there are the interest payments on all that borrowing the governor has done.
Unemployment is also high because of the aforementioned nation-wide economic meltdown. But of course you know that.
I want a legislator like Hannah-Beth who will compromise, not a rigid ideologue like Strickland. I am SICK of being represented by McClintock who lives out of a mailbox here and who is the only state lawmaker to fail to shepherd a single piece of legislation into law in the last two years.
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1322714.html
And you had better stop harping on unions because the prison guards just endorsed your guy and offhand I can't think of a bigger spending special-interest union.
Parke is a good guy. Be happy that he's doing you a favor and posting on your blog.
Tony Strickland voted against two bills to restrict unsupervised tobacco sale by vending machines and on the Internet. He voted against a bill to deal with pesticide spraying near schools. these are things that endanger the lives of children. His colleagues on the Ventura County Board of Eduction send money that could be used in our county for at risk youth to Grace College in Indiana.
Someone put up a Strickland sign on a fence that is ON my property again. I had the joy of ripping it up and putting it in the trash can. How Exciting!!!
I can top that, JW. My Jackson sign was defaced with a Jewish star and other wording scribbled on it and then they plopped a Strickland sign right in front of it.
I am not making this up. I can take a photo of it and post it on my own blog, if you want.
Nice bunch of folks, these Strickland groupies.
Marie,
I'm not sure if your statement of HBJ's participation in the secret "stall the budget" meeting is purposely misleading or you are just uninformed.
You stated above:
"The meeting you cite was NOT secret. It was just a caucus meeting. You have no record of what Hannah-Beth said at the meeting. She could've been telling them all to take a hike for all we know."
First it was secret. You may want to use a euphemism like "closed" or "caucus" or whatever, but the truth is that when they found out that it was transmitted throughout the building they hit the panic button and started damage control.
Further, the whole thing was recorded and transcribed, HBJ's participation is well documented.
So, since you offer yourself up as someone who is qualified to make definitive statements defending HBJ my only recourse is to say you are deliberately trying to mislead the readers.
Either that or you really don't know what you are talking about.
To Voter,
Please post a transcript of the meeting and the source it came from.
To Marie,
Please post a picture of your defaced Jackson Street sign. Removing or defacing someones yard sign is illegal and if it contains a Jewish Star and anti-Semitic statements it most likely a hate crime. That is no joke.
As a small business owner in Camarillo, the choice in this race is pretty clear. Tony Strickland realizes the shotgun blasts Democrats like to take at "Big Business" often hit small business. HBJ's record on voting for small business issues is horrendous.
Unlike Ventura, we actually have larger businesses in Camarillo. But the numbers are getting smaller as many are moving their operations out of state. We when lobby for exemption funding for CSUCI, we are denied by Democrats toeing the teachers union line HBJ knows so well.
The ultimate sign of disregard was when HBJ failed to submit answers to our local chamber's candidate questionaires. She was the only candidate in any race to fail to do so. Tells me a lot how she will represent me and my 47 employees that I am trying to continue to provide jobs.
Voter, I am never in the practice of being misleading. It's a blog, not an official press conference. We give opinions here. I think you are overblowing this to make political points. If she attended a caucus meeting on the budget, so what? The problem of course was that it was accidentally transmitted, not that they met.
Yes, I do know it's transcribed. If she had said anything untoward, you would have released it in a heartbeat.
In the debate referenced in the Star article I don't think she immediately knew what meeting Strickland was talking about and first thought he meant the bipartisan meetings with Richman et al. It's being televised on CAPS-TV. Watch it and see what you think. That is my opinion as an observer.
Question for you: How many meetings did your Republican group who stalled the budget this year have?
Perhaps Parke Skelton doesn't read the news-press, but in its news coverage it has practically endorsed Hannah-Beth Jackson. They have printed numerous more positive articles on HBJ than Strickland, and numerous more negative articles on Strickland than on HBJ. This article (written by a Democrat mind you) is a breath of fresh air, and Parke Skelton should actually buy a subscription to the New-Press and read it.
And for the one who said Tony Strickland is only in it for the money...really? Did you miss the fact that state senators in California make less than $53,000 a year (US Senators make around $163,000). If Tony Strickland is greedy and only wants money, he will not find it in politics, and he's been around long enough to know that. Really people, think before you write and check your facts, because I'm getting really tired of rolling my eyes.
To Marie,
I volunteer and help put up Strickland signs almost every day, and every day they are torn down or vandalized. EVER DAY! In multiple locations throughout Ventura. In one case, I lost 8 signs down a long street less than 20 minutes after I put them up. And you want to tell me that the Strickland people are the ones with shady characters? Please!
It's the Strickland people who always told me not to touch other people's signs, saying not only would it be illegal, but unethical and just plain rude. I'm sorry someone touched your sign, but don't let that fall on Tony. There are hooligans on both sides.
Oscar,
I think we have some teen-agers in town who like to tear down everybody's signs. But what happened to mine went beyond just pure mischief. I went out yesterday morning and found it torn down again and I put it back together. On advice from my neighbors, I took a photo of the Jewish star they had written on it. We're all disgusted.
I'm sorry Marie and it does suck and I'm sorry, but vandalism is vandalism. Point being people are disgusting on all sides, and we can't lay blame on the candidate for it.