Why vote for Jerry Brown? [California gubernatorial election filter]

September 23, 2010 7:48 PM

I am volunteering for Jerry Brown's campaign for Governor in California - mostly phone calls and door knocking. Here's the problem: I'm campaigning against Meg Whitman in my mind . . . but I need to know how to campaign for Jerry Brown as well.

SO - tell me why someone should support Jerry Brown, aside from the fact that Meg Whitman is a doomsday scenario. I want to leave "lesser of two evils" territory and move into the man's actual ideas and accomplishments.

(I know that the campaign I'm working with should have this info, but at this point the materials they are providing are mostly opposition research and vague platitudes toward Jerry Brown's history with labor, action against corporate corruption, etc. I want specifics.)

Interested in opinions, articles, roundabout references to Dead Kennedys songs, etc. Anything you got.

posted by kensington314 to Law & Government (12 answers total)

For all Whitman's blustering to the contrary, Jerry Brown has always been a fiscal conservative. His tenure as Governor saw a huge budget surplus which allowed the state to ride out the first wave of cuts following Prop 13. He's against the death penalty pro abortion and Oakland would never be the home to the hipsters it is without him.

Also he's not Meg Whitman
posted by pianomover at 8:02 PM on September 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Earlier this year, he dropped criminal charges against ACORN after having reviewed the unedited O'Keefe tapes (something which seemingly did not occur to anyone in the news media). He also put the unedited tapes online.
posted by joedan at 8:13 PM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Here's Brown's dKosopedia page.
posted by Sara Anne at 8:16 PM on September 23, 2010

Additionally, the guy one dated Linda Rondstadt!
posted by Sara Anne at 8:17 PM on September 23, 2010

Played a part in not actively contesting the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative in court this year, helping secure a pro gay-marriage win.
posted by Ironmouth at 8:20 PM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

He has more experience in his left pinky that Meg Whitman has in her entire staff. As California is in crisis*, we need qualified leadership, not someone trying to buy the office.


* We have always been in crisis in Eastasia.
posted by chairface at 8:43 PM on September 23, 2010

That is so great that you are volunteering and getting involved!

On your specific question, it sounds like you already know enough! You have your motives: you are there because you dislike Meg Whitman. Great. That is your business. You also have the campaign's poll-tested reasons ("platitudes") for why others should be for Brown. So you know what to say. I think you're good to go!

I would not use what you learn in this thread except for your own information. You actually should not decide on your own "how to campaign for Brown." Campaigns do research about the most persuasive messages. You only have a few seconds to say 1-2 things, and they've figured out what the most popular 1-2 things are. So I would recommend you rely upon the campaign's research and materials, and stay on message when you are talking to others.

If they have mostly provided you with opposition research, that is likely because it's one of the issues that resonates for the broadest cross-section of people. (It is what appeals most to you, in fact!) If you want to be really informed, maybe you could ask the campaign for a story or example to back up the general concepts they've provided, so if people ask ("how did he create jobs exactly?") you will have an answer. Good luck! You deserve huge props for getting involved and taking action.
posted by slidell at 8:52 PM on September 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

slidell -- when phone banking, though, it helps a lot to know about the candidate because people ask questions. The more informed you are, the more confident you become, and it really does reflect in the way you present yourself.
posted by spiderskull at 9:11 PM on September 23, 2010

Not knowing a whole lot about him, I read his Wikipedia page. The following especially caught my attention:

Upon taking office, Brown gained a reputation as a fiscal conservative.[7][8] The American Conservative noted he was "much more of a fiscal conservative than Governor Reagan."[8] His fiscal restraint resulted in one of the biggest budget surpluses in state history.[8]

Though I would've voted for him anyway, reading that made me think that he's just about the perfect candidate-- not just experienced, but someone who successfully dealt with the very problem we have today. That's a pretty strong endorsement.

When Proposition 13 passed, he heavily cut state spending is also a good counter to people who would imply that he's some sort of "tax and spend liberal." Might be good to get some numbers to back it up.
posted by alexei at 11:55 PM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

This former campaign manager says do what Slidell says, IE ask the campaign for information in the areas you're falling short on the doorstep. We control our messages tightly. Volunteers ad-lobbing makes the baby Jesus cry.

Thanks for knocking doors!
posted by By The Grace of God at 12:33 AM on September 24, 2010

I was going to cast a lesser-of-two-evils vote for him myself until I saw this interview, now I'm feeling like I can actually support the guy.

Plus you know you want to be in the Suede Denim Secret Police.
posted by InfidelZombie at 8:01 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

I personally am really disgusted with any governator candidate who has never, ever held political office before they ran for governor and think they can buy their way in. And refuse to vote for them.

Jerry Brown has experience up the WAZOO.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:55 PM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]