Press Releases

 

JULIE BORNSTEIN ELEVATED AGAIN BY NATIONAL PARTY

Campaign Continues to Gain Momentum As Incumbent Refuses Debates

 

PALM DESERT, CA, October 14, 2008 – Democratic Congressional nominee Julie Bornstein (CA-45) was elevated to the “Emerging Races” list today by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).  Bornstein’s challenge to five-term incumbent Mary Bono Mack had been added to the “Races to Watch” list last month.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is the official campaign arm of House Democrats. The DCCC is the only political committee in the country whose principal mission is to support Democratic House candidates.

Bornstein’s campaign has been gathering significant momentum over the past weeks as voters become aware of her breadth of experience in both government and affordable housing.  Bono Mack has also taken considerable criticism for her refusal to present herself to her constituents in open forums or debates.

Bornstein, a former Assemblymember, state executive and nationally recognized housing expert, said “As I travel the district, I hear voters anxious about the future and eager for change.  The recognition by the DCCC that our grassroots campaign is resonating with the people of the 45^th District is welcome, and we won’t stop working hard until November 4^th.

“Julie Bornstein's campaign continues to gain support as Californians recognize that her judgment and experience as an affordable housing leader will help her change Washington.   In Congress, Julie Bornstein will be an independent voice for better jobs and accessible and affordable health care," said Yoni Cohen, Western Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “California families can’t afford more of the failed economic policies of Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack and President George Bush.”

 

Bono Mack Parties Rather Than Face Voters

Bornstein: “This is a job interview. I am here. Where are you?”

 

PALM DESERT, CA, October 8, 2008 – Representative Mary Bono Mack snubbed voters at a candidate forum in Rancho Mirage last night.  Mack chose instead to attend a party and make a radio appearance, disappointing a mostly Republican crowd at the forum.  All other candidates for local offices attended the event, including those running unopposed.

Democratic nominee Julie Bornstein said in her closing remarks that “this is a job interview for one of the most important jobs in the country.  We’re asking voters to hire us to work on some very difficult problems at a very difficult time for our country.  One thing I have learned in government and the private sector is that you have to be in the room to make a difference.  I am here.  Rep. Mack, where are you?”  Bornstein received bipartisan applause throughout the forum.

Bono Mack has taken considerable public criticism recently over her two votes supporting President Bush’s bailout of Wall Street.  Voters of all parties have expressed dismay at the bailout, with Mack’s Republican base disagreeing most loudly.  Bono Mack previously said that mail from her constituents was almost universally opposed to the banking windfall.

Bornstein’s campaign manager Walter Ludwig said after the forum “it’s easy to understand why Mary Bono Mack is afraid to face the voters and explain her record, but it is dead wrong.  We are in the midst of a crisis, people are anxious for their futures and they are hungry for leadership and answers.  Rep. Mack offers neither.”

 

 

Julie Bornstein Statement on the Failure of Washington Mutual and the Bailout Talks

 

PALM DESERT, CA, September 26, 2008 – Democratic Congressional nominee Julie Bornstein (CA-45) released the following statement:

Last night’s biggest bank failure in American history is another brutal legacy of eight years of Republican ideologues destroying our country’s economy and the lives of middle-class Americans.

President Bush and his allies in Congress such as Rep. Mary Bono Mack, have dismantled the reasonable and effective regulatory system that had made the U.S. economy the engine of world growth.  They have put the future of the American dream at great risk, as well as our national security and ability to control our destiny.

Reckless deregulation of banks and Wall Street, excessive borrowing, cozy relationships between institutions and those charged with their oversight and nonexistent enforcement of the few remaining laws that have not been gutted, have created the greatest national economic crisis since President Hoover.

I am also appalled at the news that House Republicans yesterday derailed sensitive negotiations on a plan intended to restore confidence in major financial institutions.  While I have reservations about the plan as discussed, it is shocking that the anti-regulation ideologues “blew up” the talks because they wanted to further remove accountability and oversight from financial markets in the face of grave crisis.  This is close to blackmail of the American people.

It was also revealed this morning that WaMu’s chief executive, who has been on the job less than three weeks, will receive over $19 million for presiding over this disaster.  This is a sharp reminder that House Republicans are insisting that taxpayers, and not the responsible parties, take the hit for their wrong-headed policies and incompetent stewardship.

Voters this fall should also remember that it has been long-standing Democratic policies, such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which have so far protected average Americans from losing their deposits in the rash of bank failures.  It is sobering to consider what the effect of more deregulation – as advocated by Rep. Mack – would be on the American middle class.

In the letter, Bornstein noted that Mack's last debate was October 13, 2002 -- over 2,000 days ago.  "Children not born before your last debate are now entering first grade, and facing a very uncertain future," the letter said. "Their parents, and all of the voters here, deserve to hear from you directly what you will do to help them."

The letter said that the next President and Congress "must be prepared to work day and night, with all possible intelligence and passion" to solve the problems brought about about by Bush Administration policies, "almost all of which have been ratified by your votes."

There is one candidate forum scheduled for October 7 at the Rancho Mirage Public Library.  Bornstein has confirmed, Mack has not.  Mack failed to appear at a NAACP forum last month in Lake Elsinore.

Bornstein proposed town-hall debates in Hemet, Palm Springs, Moreno Valley, Temecula/Murietta, Blythe and Indio.

The full text of the letter is below:

 

September 22, 2008

The Honorable Mary Bono Mack

c/o Mary Bono Mack for Congress

Dear Representative Mack:

A critical national election will be held in just over six weeks.  The voters of our district will have the opportunity to choose between the two of us to represent them in Washington for the next two years.

Our country will face great challenges in that time.  The policies of the current Administration, almost all of which have been ratified by your votes, have precipitated the greatest financial and housing crisis since President Hoover, driven gas and food prices to record levels, mired the country in a war seemingly without end, failed to address global warming, and left America trillions of dollars in debt to countries who do not all have our best interests in mind.

Our next President, and our Representative in Congress, must be prepared to work day and night, with all possible intelligence and passion, to solve these and other problems.

The voters of California’s 45^th District deserve to hear from you how you will go about this.  They deserve to hear you defend your votes, assess your performance in office as you state it in your own words, and make an informed voting decision based on testing us side-by-side.

So I propose a series of debates between us in October after Congress adjourns.  One such event is already scheduled for Rancho Mirage on October 7, but you have not yet said whether you will attend. I hope you will.

I propose six other town-hall debates between us, with questions from the audience and moderators and the opportunity for us to question each other. These debates could take place across the District, in Hemet, Palm Springs, Moreno Valley, Temecula/Murietta, Blythe and Indio.

It has been since October 13, 2002 -- well over 2,000 days -- since you last debated any of your opponents for election.  Those days have been very difficult for many of your constituents, and the coming days promise more difficulty.  Children not born before your last debate are now entering first grade, and facing a very uncertain future.  Their parents, and all of the voters here, deserve to hear directly from you what you will do to help them.

Your spokesman was quoted in the Desert Sun today saying that private meetings with two editorial boards would be enough discussion for you.  This is simply not the American way.  It was the intent of the Founders and is the continuing beauty of democracy that the representatives of the people must face them every two years and ask for their vote.  I call on you now to do so.

With all possible respect, I ask you to pay your constituents the respect they deserve: Come home and truly face the voters.

Please feel free to contact my office at 760-674-3477 to discuss this further.  I very much look forward to seeing you during the last six weeks of our campaign.

Sincerely,

Julie Bornstein

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