Update on Kiddie Porn, Negative Campaigning, and the Clean Campaign Pledge
Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that both Mark and Carole have signed on to the pledge. The bad news is that the first mud got slung. I sent out an email and blogged about an blog by Michael Colbruno. When I sent out the email, I was reminded by many that Michael was no ordinary supporter of Migden. He is a former aide to Carole from when she was on the Board of Supervisors and one of Carole Migden’s closest supporters and confidants Colbruno was also Migden’s former Aide in the State Assembly. Michael now works at Clear Channel, a financial contributor to Carole.
Michael called Leno the Kiddie Porn King.
After I sent out the email, I get some strong responses. People were grossed out and pissed. Some called it gay baiting and homophobic. Most just called it sleazy. But almost everyone reamed me for not being more critical of it.
While it is great that the candidates signed the pledge, clearly now is the time for even the most loyal supporters to sign the pledge.
March 6th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Sleaszy indeed. I’d also like to point out that it’s really important for staff and supporters to sign on. After all, we know how well that Westly positive campaign pledge went. While Westly was being “clean”, Garry South was, well, being himself all over the pages of the newspapers. Thank you very much Garry South.
March 6th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Nathan Purkiss just signed on…
March 7th, 2007 at 6:02 am
Robert, I got some equally strong responses in support of my comments. Keep in mind that it was Mark Leno who went on national TV with his “new McCarthyism” comments. I hope that you’re not implying that his PUBLIC record or his legislative record isn’t open to scrutiny. If there is going to be a primary and his proponents are asking for a choice, then that choice should be based on the available record. I also hope that you’re not serious about the homophobia claim. I’m talking about Leno defending pedohiles, which no one other than Fred Phelps or James Dobsom would equate with homosexuality. I assume that emotion got the best of you and you misspoke. If you want to accuse me of being anti-NAMBLA and anti-kiddie porn, then your charge would be accurate. I have a long written record of opposing NAMBLA as a journalist and I think that the voters should know where candidates stand on Leno’s bill and how they feel about his comments on national TV.
March 7th, 2007 at 7:00 am
Also, if you’re going to inject Clear Channel Outdoor into the race in a manner which violates your own clean campaign pledge, please be accurate. You are making the same mistake that Randy Shaw made on his blog and sheepishly tried to correct. Clear Channel Outdoor is not Clear Channel Radio. It’s a separate company, with a separate stock symbol and a separate management team. There are few companies with a better record on LGBT issues than Clear Channel Outdoor. We are rated 100% by the Human Rights Campaign, which includes transgender rights and sensitivity training. We also gave $250,000 of support this year to Equality California to help Mark Leno and Carole Migden promote their legislative agenda. The confusion about the two entities is allegedly being perpetrated by John Whitehurst, who is running Mark’s campaign. Take a look at who supports progressive causes and candidates. Whitehurst ran the nastiest campaign in recent history against progressive stalwart Chris Daly and tried to drag Clear Channel through the mud for supporting him. Whitehurst ran John Dutra’s campaign against the progressive Ellen Corbett. We were an early and enthusiastic supporter of Corbett and raised a boatload of money for her. Whitehurst represents the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, who are opposed to health care and a living wage. We provide coverage to all of our employees and pay well above the living wage.
March 7th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Michael wrote:
“I’m talking about Leno defending pedohiles”
Michael, you used to be a journalist, so clearly your failure to back up your statements is not because of ignorance.
Leno has never defended molesting children. You are hoping this slur will stick because this pedophilia is the blood-libel of gay men. If you have evidence that Leno supports child molestation, please produce that evidence. Otherwise, you should apologize.
Colbruno’s tactics are incredibly damaging to the LGBT community. How can we try to stop homophobia in the public discourse if surrogates of one of the top lesbian politicians in the country are using the NAMBLA smear?
March 7th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Hey Michael,
This is exactly why we need a pledge. No one can argue that you aren’t very close to Carole so when you speak, most believe that you are doing this as a proxy to Carole. True or not, that’s how it is perceived by most. Frankly, that just means your efforts are bringing her reputation down.
As for Clear Channel, I don’t believe I trashed them. I think I just said you were currently employed by Clear Channel.
Michael, I have always had pleasant interactions with you and this isn’t personal. But I do think you are doing a disservice to yourself and to Carole.
March 7th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
I made an earlier reference to blood libels– because linking gay men to pedophilia is the modern equivalent of the blood libel against the Jews and others.
Here’s the Wikipedia article on blood libel:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel
The LGBT community should loudly denounce the pedophilia smear and those who use it.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Michael, you are one sleazy scumbag. To take a page out of the far rights play book and start using pedophila and NAMBLA in conjunction with Leno is about as low as you can go. You have lost whatever little credability you may have had.
I did not support Mark getting into the Senate race but this kind of attack on him is beneath contempt. You are pure and utter scum..
March 14th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
While I appreciate the pledge - let me remind everyone that when Carol was accused of pushing a voting button on a Republican’s desk when he was absent to get a vote passed - no one in the Gay Community called her sleazy - Democracy doesn’t work that way and although we might have supported her bill not one of us would want her to cheat on our behalf - So shall we call Carol a cheater - no one did - in fact no one has called Carol anything despite her snubbing of most of the gay community - so to have a close dear friend of hers call Mark names is reprehensible. Further the fact that she knew he did it was even more disgusting - that is my point.
March 14th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Robert - thank you for starting this dialogue - now most of us are aware of the “eat our own” element inn our community.