Republicans Launch Fresh Attack On Janice Hahn Over Gang Workers

By Gene Maddaus Tue., Jun. 21 2011 at 4:31 PM

Remember the booty-shaking attack video on Janice Hahn? The one that was declared the most offensive campaign ad of all time?

Republicans immediately distanced themselves from it. But that doesn't meant they've given up on making an issue out of Hahn's support for gang-intervention programs. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Today, the National Republican Congressional Committee sent a text to voters in the 36th Congressional District alerting them that "Councilwoman Janice Hahn helped steer tax $ to violent, inner city gang members." The text directed them to a new website, HahnGotMeOut.com for a "must see news report."

The news report is Chris Blatchford's 2008 series for Fox 11 News, which accused Hahn of funneling money to active gang members under the auspices of the city's gang-intervention programs.

Blatchford is a veteran reporter with plenty of awards under his belt, but he botched this one. (I know because I re-interviewed his sources three years ago and debunked his story.) Among other problems, "P.J. Steve," the gang member he leads with, was not a gang-intervention worker. Whoops. The others identified in the report didn't get taxpayer money. Whoops again.

On Monday, Politifact did its own fact-check of the infamous stipper ad, which was based on the Fox 11 report, and rated it "False."

Setting the Fox report aside, there is a legitimate debate to be had about gang intervention. Hahn is a longtime supporter of such programs, and tried to get a $30 million tax measure approved to fund gang prevention and intervention.

Asked for a defense of gang intervention, the Hahn campaign referred comment to civil rights lawyer Connie Rice. Rice wrote a lengthy report for the city advocating a dramatic increase in funding for gang prevention and intervention programs. She noted those programs are supported not only by Hahn but also by the L.A. Police Department and the L.A. County Sheriff.

"This is just stupid," Rice said. "Are we going to listen to our police leaders or are we going to listen to a bunch of people who have too much time on their hands thinking about stripper poles?... We've got real lives we've saved because Janice Hahn stepped up to the table. These clowns are trying to knock her down. They wouldn't have the guts to do what she did."

Hahn is facing Republican Craig Huey in the July 12 runoff for the seat vacated by Jane Harman. She is favored to win, due to a strong Democratic registration advantage, though her campaign has been doing everything it can to stave off voter apathy and get Democrats to the polls.

Huey's campaign manager, Jimmy Camp, said he was unaware of the NRCC's attack on Hahn's gang intervention record. Asked if Huey planned to make it an issue as well, Camp said "I wouldn't rule it out."

Tags:

gang intervention, Hahn Got Me Out, Janice Hahn, National Republican Campaign Committee

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MD_LA

If there was no actualfraud or scandal, why aren't more Media venues setting the facts straight?

And why is a "GangIntervention Program" such a horrible thing? Anyone who lives in LAknows there is a HORRIFIC gang problem in this city. And it has, in fact,been getting better in the last few years.

I live in Janice Hahn's citydistrict. We are infested with one of the largest gangs in the city, theRancho San Pedro gang. This gang has over 2,000 members… not only in thelower-income neighborhoods, but in upper-middle class neighborhoods, aswell.

Thanks to Hahn'sefforts, we (the residence of San Pedro and Wilmington) have seen morecrackdowns on this gang in the past year and a half, than I have seen in theentire 8 years I've lived in San Pedro.

I only hope Mr. Hueydoes NOT get elected. He has already promised to end this program, right whenit's starting to work. The Southbay doesn’t need a wealthy businessmanfrom PV representing us. We need someone who understands what it's liketo actually LIVE down here on the streets.

I ask you, Mr. Maddau,and anyone else reading this... if you know ANYONE in the 36th CongressionalDistrict... PLEASE PLEASE tell them to vote on or before July 12. Tellthem to register for Vote-By-Mail NOW!!!

And please PLEASE tell them to votefor HAHN!

Edguardo

I really don't care which side put out that video, but it pretty much hits the mark on how little Janice Hahn thinks about her constituents and their community.

White liberals like Hahn and LA Mayor Villaraigosa worship government money for programs like "gang intervention" that only sap the vitality out of minority communities, while forever enslaving them with poverty, degeneracy, illegitimacy, crime and other diseases.

Take a drive through Hahn's district and you can see the results for yourself, up close and personal...

Hunter Cook

"I really don't care which side put out that video..."

Really? You're going to act like this might be a false-flag operation? News Flash: the video producer is very proud of his work, and is a longstanding, card-carrying member of the extreme right wing of the GOP.

"...government money for programs like 'gang intervention' that only sap the vitality out of minority communities, while forever enslaving them with poverty, degeneracy, illegitimacy, crime and other diseases."

Exactly how does reducing gang membership and violent crime enslave minority communities? Oh, right...you are from the party that believes "job creation" means firing millions of public-sector workers. And that tax cuts increase tax revenue. The GOP's up-is-downism gets more brazen by the day.

MD_LA

Edguardo, You obviously "really don't care" about alot of things, judging by your comment. It was a typical Conservative/Republican response to the problems on the streets, "Close my eyes. Shut down the social programs. Prentend none of it exists... UNTIL it reaches my doorstep. Then I'll scream, "Why isn't the government doing anything about it?"That, my friend, is hypocritical... just like your comment.

MD_LA

I LIVE in Hahn's District, and I can honestly tell you... the program IS working. It's alot better now that it was just 3 years ago. Instead of "driving" through the District, why don;t you actually stop, park, and volunteer for one of these "Intervention programs" that you so harshly oppose.

Or, better yet, try volunteering for one of the MANY government funded shelters you think "enslave" people into being dependent on the system.