Report from Marcy Winograd-Jane Harman candidate forum last night

[coalition_unwilling]

The West Los Angeles Democratic Club hosted a candidate forum last night whose featured speakers were primary opponents Marcy Winograd and Jane Harman. Both are competing for the Democratic nomination for the 36th Congressional District in the June 6 California primary election (one week from yesterday).

An overflow crowd filled the Venice Methodist Church last night at 7 p.m. Although I was not there in any official capacity, I did make several observations. First, each candidate spoke for about 10 minutes, followed by a set of questions previously submitted by audience members.

Harman trotted out her standard lines on war in Iraq and warrantless wiretapping. Her responses were greeted by tepid applause and sullen silences. Winograd supporters far outnumbered Harman supporters, as was evident as soon as Winograd took the stage. Winograd's remarks, especially with regard to the war in Iraq (she favors a policy of immediate dis-engagement) and warrantless wiretapping (she favors impeachment) were interrupted frequently by thunderous applause from the audience.

Most people in the district put the race as "too close to call" right now. It will all depend on turnout, as is so often the case in primary elections. Judging from last night, however, I would have to say that Harman is in real trouble in her district.

[Rose Siding]

1. Wow -thanks

I had no idea this challenge had picked up steam. That's amazing.

[Pithy Cherub]

5. Winograd is winning the sign wars too.

It is amazing in West LA how many Marcy supporters there are. That may be offset by those further south of that area where the oil refinery and the ports are. It will depend on who shows up to vote. Not in that district personally, but it is interesting driving through and seeing the Winograd signs very proudly displayed. :)

[coalition_unwilling]

7. Not just "winning" the sign wars but illustrating the

character of the race this year. In Palms and Mar Vista where I have regularly walked precincts for Marcy, you will see many Winograd signs on private residential lawns and I have yet to see a single Harman sign on a residential lawn.

Harman's signs are mostly posted on empty lots up and down the major thoroughfares (like Venice Blvd.) Even there, however, Winograd signs are just as prominent.

[Totally Committed]

2. Let's hope it's a case of Jane-mentum at work!

She's another one that needs to go. NOW.

TC

[Rose Siding]

3. Here are some more details on this race-

A snip from a Wingrad piece at MyDD (the whole thing is compelling)>

President of Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, I am running to replace pro-war incumbent Jane Harman in California's 36th Congressional District. I run with a great sense of urgency, for we stand on the precipice of losing our democracy, of sinking a trillion-dollars into Iraq, of launching another war in Iran, of developing over 100 new nuclear bombs each year, and of shredding the Constitution. Everywhere I travel in the 36th District, a 30-mile urban stretch from San Pedro up through Venice and Mar Vista, a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 40,000 votes, people stop me in the street, in elevators, at meetings to ask, "Where are the Democrats? Why aren't they speaking out?"

I assure them this Democrat, Marcy Winograd, is speaking out passionately, challenging the leadership of the Democratic Party to stand for the possibility of peace, for the rule of law, and for a brighter day when we reject pre-emptive war and, instead, engage the world community in tackling illiteracy, AIDS, and poverty, all the while engaging our own citizens in redefining security as universal affordable health care, quality education to close the achievement gap, and environmental protection to cool the threat of global warming.

Some ask, "Have you ever been elected to office?" and I tell them, "No, isn't that great? I have no investment in the status quo, in the power of the Beltway." Quite the contrary. I have spent the last three years on the ground, knee deep in the grassroots, organizing town hall forums and congressional lobby delegations to end the US occupation of Iraq...........

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/4/25/162621/101

FDL spotlights her today, too-

snip>
Harman is the Democratic incumbent from a safe Los Angeles seat who once proudly boasted that she is "the best Republican in the Democratic Party." Marcy Winograd is the real Democrat trying to oust her. It’s another California race, and it’s come crashing into the collective political consciousness in recent days.

This is a genuine insurgent campaign by progressive activist Marcy Winograd, a serious challenge — if not an affront — to entrenched Establishment Democrat Jane Harman (CA-36). This is like a smaller version of Ned Lamont’s valiant campaign to dislodge Bush’s favorite Democrat, Joe Lieberman in Connecticut. And unless you’re a Zell Miller/Joe Lieberman type of make-believe Democrat, Jane Harman is probably not someone you want to see re-elected to Congress from the safely blue seat which runs from San Pedro to Redondo Beach to Venice.

Although Joe Lieberman might debate her on her claim to be the best Republican in the Democratic Party, her voting record is even more reactionary and more rubber-stamp Bush than even his. The multi-millionaire Harman is a hawk on Iraq and supports Bush on the disastrous occupation. Not coincidentally, almost every one of her big campaign contrbutors are arms merchants. She voted for the Constitution-shredding "Patriot Act" twice (she was one of just two House Democrats to back the administration’s efforts to monitor the records of public libraries when the Patriot Act came up for reauthorization) and she was one of only four Democrats briefed on Bush’s illegal warrantless domestic spying program. (Tellingly, when that program was finally revealed by the NEW YORK TIMES, Harman expressed outrage… not at the Bush Regime, of course, but at the TIMES, for making the American people aware of what she, Bush and other anti-democratic traitors were doing in secret.)

Let me repeat, this is a safe Democratic seat, gerrymandered by Democrats for a Democrat. Bush got his wimpy ass kicked by Kerry 60/40 in 2004 and the Republicans, perfectly content to keep their pal Harman in the seat, have a pathetic challenger sacrificial lamb named Brian Gibson who hasn’t even bothered to put up a website. (He naps a lot and is said to be hoping for a Republican tsunami of support for Bush to defeat all Democrats in California and place him in Congress.) Of course for us, there is a far more palatable way to get rid of the odious Harman.............

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/05/30/howie-kleins-blue-america-special-tuesday-edition-harmanwinograd-ca-36/

[welshTerrier2]

4. nice to see "DU's press corps" on the job

this is just great - here's yet another progressive who is NOT AN ISOLATIONIST ...

this will be a great seat to win back!

[coalition_unwilling]

6. Update: Winograd WINS the West L.A. Democratic Club

endorsement with about 77% of the votes cast. This despite a personal appearance by Harman on the night of the event.