Janice Hahn Invites Debra Bowen To Take Pro-Israel Pledge

I am troubled as well. I had far more respect in Bowen when she stood on her own.

Questions about the pledge:1. Support for the peace process?does this imply "happy with how the process has been going so far"2. Opposition of the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state?Who should not declare this. What if someone else does first?3. Support for President Obama's $3 billion in security assistance to Israel?Could you break that down. Is that part of the DoD budget or State or a supplemental?4. Support for implementing and enforcing Iran sanctions?What has Iran done, and what are the hoped-for sanctions5. Condemnation of anti-Israel political rhetoric?Is it anti-Israel to give a speech against a policy

As a resident of the 36th Congressional District, I have supported Marcy Winograd in her previous campaigns because she opposed the wars that have now brought the US close to ruin. Neither Hahn nor Bowen has actively tried to move our national government away from disastrous wars and towards true security: jobs, health care, education, housing. Instead Debra Bowen, just re-elected as Secretary of State, and LA Councilwoman Janice Hahn seem to have made opportunistic moves, disregarding their responsibilities to protect the electoral process in the state and to run the nation's second largest city.

From Gene Maddaus' article above, it seems that the campaign will center on Israeli policy, which has become a sort of Third Rail of politics: If you touch it, i.e. suggest alternatives to the longstanding US policy toward Israel, you are either an "anti-Semite" or a "self-hating Jew". But US/Israeli actions have outraged most of the people on Earth, and in the long term our nation's policy is destructive to both US and Israel. We cannot afford to let the debate be silenced by Hahn's cowardly "pledge", which serves to attack Winograd's quest for a just and even-handed solution. I and other people of Holocaust family warmly support Marcy Winograd's position that US must be a real broker for peace. The lesson that many of us Jews learned from the Holocaust is that no one – of any ethnicity – should experience that again, even in slightly milder form without gas chambers, etc. Yet the collective punishment in Gaza and the use of state sponsored attacks on civilian Palestinians and the destruction of their homes goes on, paid for by US taxpayers at a cost $3 billion a year. Winograd is committed to a just peace process in Israel/Palestine. Her position conforms with President Obama’s new middle east peace agenda, which calls for encouraging democracy movements throughout the Arab world, while also objecting to illegal Israeli settlements that enrage the region and weaken our national security. History will show that Winograd was right.

Great, both Hahn and Bowen pledge to support Israel even before they pledge to support the people of the U.S.

As for Hahn's stream of lies regarding Israeli history, perhaps least said the better. It's not a good sign when a candidate begins her campaign with a craven stream of lies in support of a foreign power bent on colonial conquest, however much money we've given that foreign power in the past. Get a clue, Janice (and Debra). Israel was founded by deliberate and premeditated mass murder and terror against the native population of that place, it's ethnic cleansing of them has not stopped since. It is a country based on privilege for one religion over all others especially the main religions of the native Palestinians, Christianity and Islam. That goes against American ideals, as is any racism. To say that Israel has been "forced" to defend itself is just historically a broad lie, it's started more wars against its neighbors, in order to gain territory and resources, than Iraq under Saddam Hussein. It's a total shame that our foreign policy is so skewed that all we can think about is what's in Israel's best interest (witness all the talking heads discussing the impacts of Egyptian democracy on Israel), why it's ever in our interest as the people to support dictatorships and cruelty rather than human rights I don't know. But to do so on behalf of a foreign government, rather than our local government and interest, beats all.

As California gets "browner", Israel will and should take a back seat to the concerns of those who pledge allegiance to the United States. One of the principal arguments espoused for support of Israel is that it is the only democracy in the middle east. The contradiction is that we have been supporting repressive antidemocratic regimes in the middle east for decades. The Israel lobby is simply the most stark example of foreign influence corrupting our political system. To both candidates, I wish you luck running in non-gerrymandered districts in the future. Despite Howard Berman's best efforts (prop 27), we are much closer to parity of power and we will dislodge the foreign usurpers.

god help us is who is more radical left wing comunist democrat they all quens radicals is not about america is all about them who wins janice hahn she sold los angeles to all those crooks unions and special interest of her now she goin to sell america i pray she does not win the senate seat some times i fell like crying now more that ever where we goin america if this what we have as leaders of the so call free word god help us .

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OMG!! Janice Hahn is an imbecile and an embarrassment to her dad's the late Kenneth Hahn's legacy. She ignornant and says the dumbest things while grandstanding in council. Don't forget it was her dumb ass idea to boycott Arizona then realizes what a stupid move it was tried to make exemptions. She actually came out and told the Lakers not to spend money in Arizona, wanted to not allow LAPD Air Support to attend a top class training in Arizona. She also is just as corrupt as the rest of the thugs on city council having a conflict of interest with the LAX concession companies. Let's not forget she was part of an investigatioin by Fox 11 news on paying gangsters out of her council office and hurting the careers of two great gang officers. She is nothing more then a blonde bimbo in a suit. She failed being elected to higher office when she ran for Lt. Gov. and now the audacity for her to think after all her failures she should be voted to Congresswoman. I DON'T THINK SO

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This is a typical unprincipled cynical move by Hahn, countered by a cynical response by Bowen. As far as drawing Winograd into the race, however, Hahn has made a mistake, by assuming that I/P is the main, or even only, issue of concern for her. That is nonsense, always has been, and shows that Hahn and Bowen are simply believing the Waxman/Harman malicious hype.

I am confident that Winograd will decide what to do based purely on what is best for the voters in this district, and the progressive cause as a whole, with the I/P issue important, but not by any means decisive.

Shrewed, and cynical. Typical for Hahn. Let's not forget Winograd's endorsement was one of the first endorsements Hahn sought after she announced she would run for CA36.

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I agree with Larry. This was one shrewd move by Hahn. She forces Bowen to disavow the left and leaves Marcy with no out. If MW doesn't run in an open seat against these candidates it will be the ultimate betrayal to her very loyal following.

Run, Marcy, run!!!

This was political genius.

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In the main, the core issue is whether Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state. Only Egypt and Jordan recognize Israel's right to exist.

As for Janice Hahn's progressive credentials, they are impeccable. . . . Whether it was her important, critical support for the Lincoln Place tenants, to the creation of a Living Wage for the Hotel Workers at the airport hotels (which has put over $20 Million in their pockets during a recession. . . something no one but Janice Hahn was able to accomplish (both in LA and in the USA for that matter), to the $50 Million Citizen-Empowerment Environmental Mitigation & Protection Fund Janice Hahn made happen at the Port, Janice Hahn has been there for the people. . . .

Of course there is room for disagreement on a number of issues. . . but the idea of advancing the debate or discussion by broad-based personal insults seems counterproductive at a time when thoughtful, thorough debate and discussion is necessary. We need creative, competent, thoughtful, citizen-empowering, courageous, and committed political leaders. . . people willing to make firm principled commitments in the face of uncertainty. . . and Janice Hahn is such a leader.

Asking one's opponent for a commitment to core principles at the start of a campaign is not an unreasonable request. There are a lot of critical issues in this election. . . another key one being why we are spending more on defense today in real dollars than when Ronald Reagan was President. . . There are more, obviously. . . But deflecting off into personal attacks is inconsistent with the goal of ensuring that we get a good, thoughtful debate about the issues.

Noel WeissMarina del Rey

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Wow. I normally would have laughed at the idea that a poor group of people would have to decide between these two clowns in their next election. But as a resident of this district, I find the fact that Janice Hahn would ask this of her rival is insulting. Not only to me but my community and the problems that we face here at home. The fact that Bowen quickly signed it is even more atrocious. I hope they both lose and we elect someone who hasn't already pledged their support to a foreign nation. No offfense to "the Jewish community nationwide", but this is an election for the people of this district. Shouldn't we decide what issues this race is about?

Like the incumbent Yapper Jane Harman, who Hahn is now shamelessly sucking up to and imitating, this candidate has peddled and sold herself to the "highest bidder, revealing herself as more than willing to bloody her hands (and splatter blood all over the place) for even more destructive, counter-productive trillion dollar wars based on torture and lies due to her cheap, low-rent, ward heeler political posturing. She needs to stay where she is fixing all the gaping potholes and unresolved city budget deficits, so as not to cause additonal catastrophic damage on a global scale. For now this race is "anybody but Hahn" but with Bowen's joining in on this gang bang, we need someone like Winograd to jump in, run and win.