Biden’s Phony “Build Back Better” Plan Gets House Passage

Above, yours truly with Mark Reed on Election Night 2014 at the Valley Relics Museum.

Mark Reed, candidate for Madera County Supervisor 5th District posted the following on Facebook:

Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan just passed the House with only one Democrat voting against the bill.

As a whole, the thing is a disaster waiting to happen. It’s WAY too expensive, probably purposely, and will lead to even more terrible inflation in our already stressed economy. But the specifics are pretty concerning, too.

Build Back Better includes:

Thousands in child tax credits for illegal immigrants;

$7.8 BILLION “environmental justice,” whatever that means;

$150 BILLION in housing grants for felons convicted of domestic violence;

$450 MILLION for climate change careers;

State and local tax (SALT) deductions that will benefit wealthy families in blue states;

$2.5 B for “tree equity” (WHAT IS THIS, EVEN?)

Taxpayer funded abortions;

Major subsidies for fake news;

And that’s only scratching the surface of the horrors this bill hopes to force on America.

Mark Reed for Madera County Supervisor 5th District.

The price tag for this monstrosity: $1.8 Trillion! 

Trump/Back The Blue Rally In Los Angeles

At this writing, a rally to support President Trump, Back The Blue and 30th District Congressional candidate Mark Reed is in progress.

The mile-long rally started in the San Fernando Valley on Woodley Ave. south of Victory Blvd. and is proceeding south on the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405) to the federal building in Westwood.

Thanks to Mark Reed for the video feed where I got these snaps:

Above, the rally being assembled on Woodley Ave.

Above and below, the rally heading south on the San Diego Freeway though Sherman Oaks.

Who says there's no support in California?

"Trump" In Bel Aire Along The 405

Yesterday, activists erected a "Hollywood sign" style "Trump" sign along the San Diego Freeway (I-405) in the Bel Aire section of Los Angeles.

According to GOP congressional candidate Mark Reed:

Below, the downed sign:

Although the sign remained up for six hours, photos of it has gone viral, so it served its purpose.

Hawaii Medical Marijuana Users Lose 2nd Amendment Rights

Above, Diamond Head from the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon at Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hawaii may be a tropical paradise for some, but it has a state government that is a constitutional hell for others. 

Here is the kind of thing that happens when you have a one-party dictatorship of liberal Democrats ruling a state. California is another example.

Did you know that when laws allowing use of  recreational and medical marijuana were passed, the sneaky bastards in the Hawaiian legislature included a provision that if one uses medical marijuana they use their Second Amendment rights? Yes, it is unfortunately true!

See the letter below (courtesy of GOP congressional candidate Mark Reed):

This is blatantly unconstitutional! What's next? Users of mouthwash containing alcohol will be stripped of their Second Amendment rights, too?

Rep. Brad Sherman: "Stuck On Stupid"

Above, Brad Sherman.

Anyone watching yesterday's hearing featuring former FBI Director James Comey would have noticed a bald man resembling Phil Silvers sitting behind him. That man was the Democrat who "represents" my congressional district, Brad Sherman.

Regular readers of this blog are aware that I have a few issues with ol' Brad, even though I supported him over Howard Berman a few years ago during their reapportionment-caused face-off.

Now, Brad Sherman and his fellow came up empty yesterday from James Comey. That's not stopping ol' Brad. He wants to impeach President Trump! I would have hoped that he had a lot more sense than that. He apparently doesn't.

Sherman, who is Jewish, is ignoring the fact that President Trump has been a great friend to the state of Israel and was very warmly welcomed to Israel by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a recent visit. That apparently doesn't mean a thing to Sherman.



According to Forward.com (a Jewish website):

Rep. Brad Sherman announced on Wednesday that he would join a nascent congressional effort to draft articles of impeachment against President Trump. 

Sherman, a 10-term Democrat who represents parts of Los Angeles and its suburbs, joined Rep. Al Green of Texas in a press conference to announce their plan to oust the president on the grounds of obstruction of justice.

What obstruction of justice? Are Sherman and Green out of their minds?

To read more, go here.

Above, Mark Reed (center) with yours truly (right) in 2014. 

Mark Reed, who ran against Sherman a couple of times, posted on Facebook:

Whether you agree or disagree with President Donald Trump, Congressman Sherman's actions in drawing up articles of impeachment is the biggest waste of time and money. It also provides proof that this congressman does not understand the law. 

In today's Senate hearings there was no proof offered of any laws broken by the President. Congressman Sherman is a disgrace to the very institution he's serving in and has absolutely no understanding of the law. 

The Democrats have fallen flat on their faces and now Sherman wants to bury himself in a political stunt. 

The district Sherman represents has several emergent issues that need attention now but this congressman is stuck on stupid and is engaging in childish political games. 

What say you?

Mark Reed For Los Angeles City Council District 7

Above, Armand with Mark Reed and a campaign supporter at the Valley Relics Museum in 2014.

No sooner than the 2016 election is over and done with, there's another election that Los Angeles residents have to deal with.

According to Ballotpedia:

The city of Los Angeles, California, will hold primary elections for mayor, eight city council seats, city attorney, and city controller on March 7, 2017. Any race where no candidate earns a majority (50 percent plus one) of the primary votes cast in that race will advance to a general election on May 16, 2017. Thus, the March election is functionally a general election and the May election is functionally a runoff, as it is only held for races that are not determined in the primary. 

Terms won in this election will be impacted by Charter Amendment 1. Passed in March 2015, the amendment shifted city elections to even-numbered years beginning in 2020. As a result, any officials elected in 2017 will win special five-and-a-half year terms ending in 2022. The following candidates are running in the primary election for the District 7 seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

District 7 is on the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley. The communities in the district are:

• Pacoima
• Lake View Terrace
• Sunland-Tujunga
• Mission Hills
• North Hills
• Shadow Hills
• Sylmar

Mark Reed, a former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives is running for this city council seat and would be a good voice for the district. He is not part of the leftist Democrat-controlled establishment.

In a letter to the Daily News:

Elizabeth Chou
City Hall beat reporter
LA Daily News 

Hi Liz, 

Thank you for reaching out. 

The northeast San Fernando Valley has always been represented by insiders looking to advance their political careers, consequently we have always been short changed in resources. The idea that Mayor Garcetti did not even reach out to the other candidates, or interview them for endorsement consideration tells me we will get the same as we have in the past if she is elected. Monica Rodriguez is an insider backed by the political machine and the unions and has no real interest in the community she wants to serve. You can not serve two masters. It's time we have a council person who will serve the community as if it were their home front. I have an extensive background both on the local and national stage. I have lived in the community for 60 years. I have several proposals to address the main issues in our communities. Would love to sit for an interview to discuss them. 

Thank you again for reaching out. 

Mark Reed 

One advantage that Reed has over other candidates is his name recognition from his past congressional campaigns.

Vote for Mark Reed on March 7!

UPDATE: I sent this blog post to Mark Reed and received this reply:

Thank you Armand Vaquer for your continued support. We can and will win this one. We need volunteers for phone banking. Please email at mrcongress@verizon.net.

Glenn "Pee Wee" Strange At Valley Relics Museum

Above, Glenn Strange as Sam the bartender on Gunsmoke. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last month, I attended the Election Night party of Mark Reed, the Republican candidate for congress in the San Fernando Valley. It was held in the Valley Relics Museum.

The museum has loads of artifacts spanning years of history in the San Fernando Valley.

It also holds some memorabilia of different celebrities. One of them was actor Glenn Strange, best known as Sam the bartender on television's Gunsmoke and as the Frankenstein Monster in three of Universal's monster rallies of the 1940s. Strange was featured in many westerns during the course of his career.

Monster movie fans will want to visit the Valley Relics Museum just to see the Glenn Strange memorabilia. They have plenty of other items on display to satisfy history buffs.

Here's a few photos of them:

Above, a collection of Glenn Strange Frankenstein memorabilia. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a closer-in view of Glenn Strange Frankenstein memorabilia. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a collection of Glenn Strange's western memorabilia. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a photo of Strange singing with The Duke in Westward Ho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For more information on the Valley Relics Museum, go here.

Election Night At The Valley Relics Museum

Above, candidate Mark Reed (center) is flanked by one of his supporters (left) and Armand. 

The GOP blew out the Democrats in Congress. They picked up at least seven seats to regain control of the U.S. Senate and added about 10 more seats to their majority in the House of Representatives.

I spent the night at the Election Night party of Republican congressional candidate Mark Reed (he didn't make it, but at this point, he is polling better than the last time he faced Rep. Brad Sherman). The party was held in an interesting place: The Valley Relics Museum in Chatsworth.

There's a lot of relics of businesses and personalities who once populated the San Fernando Valley. There was a lot of memorabilia of Nuta Kotlyarenko, known professionally as Nudie Cohn (or "Nudie"), He made the gold suit worn by Elvis Presley and rinestone cowboy outfits worn by Robert Redford, Roy Rogers and others. His car was on display. There were many neon signs from long-gone businesses, most of them were lit up.

There were also a lot of photographs of actor Glenn Strange, who played the Frankenstein monster in three Universal movies as well as many westerns, including the television series Gunsmoke as Sam the bartender.

I think I spent more time roaming around the museum looking at the artifacts than following the election returns. The best of both worlds: politics and history.

Here's some photos of the museum (more will be posted later):

Above, the neon sign of The Palomino nightclub. The club was
featured in two Clint Eastwood ape movies. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Nudie's Cadillac. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a collection of Glenn Strange monster photos. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a collection of Glenn Strange western movie memorabilia. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, an old road sign for the Iverson Movie Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the gold lamé suit worn by Elvis Presley that was created by Nudie. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the menu sign from Henry's Tacos. Note the prices. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, two drive-in theater speakers. Remember drive-in theaters? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, an old Pacific Telephone phone booth. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, The Lone Ranger and Vice President Richard Nixon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Nudie's Cadillac. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

California's 30th Congressional District: Vote For Mark Reed

Above, Armand with Mark Reed in 2010.

In a little over a week from now is Election Day.

I was going to post ballot recommendations, primarily on the California propositions and judges, but somehow, my sample ballot (that I had completed) had disappeared.

I will have to re-do it if it doesn't show up (I doubt it will). I may do a blog post on California ballot recommendations if it turns up (or if I get riled up enough).

However, there is one choice that is on the ballot is the candidate for U.S. Congress for the 30th Congressional District I can easily recommend: Mark Reed.

The 30th Congressional District is comprised mainly of Chatsworth, Encino, Woodland Hills, Canoga Park and, my community, Tarzana.

It is a newly-formed district, having been created from the last census. The first election for the new district in 2012 pitted Rep. Brad Sherman and Rep. Howard Berman, both Democrats. Since the state's crazy "top two vote-getters" primary system, no matter what party they're in, had Berman and Sherman battle for the seat, I held my nose and backed Sherman. He won.

Now, this year, things are a little more "normal" and I have a much better choice.

Mark Reed is a mainstream Republican candidate who would make an excellent congressman. His chances are very slim, given that the party registration very much favors the Democrats. But I urge a vote for Mark Reed, even from Democrats who are equally concerned over the mess their party leaders have made of this country and state.

From Mark Reed's campaign website:

Ask yourself;  

Is Congress and the Federal Government doing a good job?  

Would you retain an employee if you only approved of his performance 10% of the time?  

On November 4th you have the power to change that by choosing new representation. I'm humbly asking for your vote. I have a strong belief that real representation will put country before party and people before politics.  

I am running for Congress in California's 30th District to bring our voice to Washington D.C. and express our concerns and needs.  

Because of partisan politics, our country is mired in multiple scandals, including the VA, the IRS and Benghazi. We are over 17 trillion dollars in debt, welfare spending has been increased by 60% and 43 million people are now collecting food stamps. Over nine million jobs have vanished, millions have given up looking for work, and the unemployment rate remains stubbornly high. Economic growth is stuck in the 2%-3% range. In the first quarter of 2014 the GDP plummeted 2.5%.  

World respect for the United States is at an all-time low. Our Mid-East policy is in complete disarray, and for the first time since 1947, Israel's existence is truly in danger. Radical Islam, Russia, Iran and China are on the march. Iraq has disintegrated since we withdrew our troops, and ISIS (the Islamic State) has declared the Islamic Caliphate in the heart of the Middle East, stretching from northern Syria to Baghdad, Iraq. The recent Affordable Health Care Act rollout has been an ongoing disaster with millions losing their healthcare insurance, their family doctor, and their local hospital.

Please join my campaign by making a donation or volunteering some of your talents and time. Please send me an email or join me at one of my events. Together we can restore America for our grandchildren and preserve the freedoms promised to us by our Founding Fathers.  

I am humbly asking for your vote on November 4th.  

God bless you and God Bless America.  

Mark Reed 

Mark Reed's campaign website is here: http://www.markreedforcongress.com/

Payback Against The Waxman-Berman Machine

Above, Paul Bannai receives a novelty frog gift from
Armand in Bannai's Gardena district office in 1974.

Two years ago, thanks to reapportionment and the wacko new primary election system in California that pits the top two vote-getters against each other, even if they are of the same party, Rep. Brad Sherman had to face Rep. Howard Berman in the general election.

At the time, many GOP bigwigs were tripping over themselves in issuing endorsements of either Sherman or Berman, I stayed true to my conservative principles and endorsed and voted for Republican Mark Reed in the primary. Unfortunately, Reed wasn't one of the top two vote-getters so it ended up being a choice between Sherman and Berman.

Regular readers of this blog know that I am not particularly enamored with some of the policy positions of Brad Sherman. I was not fond of Howard Berman either. Both are liberals. But the choice was made easier for me as I remembered how the Henry Waxman-Howard Berman machine installed a carpetbagger into the 53rd Assembly District (Hawthorne-Gardena) to run against Assemblyman Paul Bannai with big West L.A. money backing him. I worked as a field representative for Bannai off and on (college permitting) back in those days. So, it was natural for me to give Mr. Berman a little "payback."

Therefore, I came out in support of Brad Sherman and Sherman sent Berman into retirement. Some of my conservative friends almost had strokes over this. But, as Sir Winston Churchill put it, "If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons."

Above, Paul Bannai and Armand at the Little Tokyo Oshogatsu celebration on New Year's Day 2014.

In case you would like to read a little about the Waxman-Berman political machine, former Bannai campaign director Allan Hoffenblum has an article about it.

To read the article, go here.

Sherman vs. Berman: Satisfaction!

There's one good aspect on tonight's election returns: I have the satisfaction of voting to retire Rep. Howard Berman.

He was up against another Democrat congressman, Rep. Brad Sherman in the newly-created 30th Congressional District.

Since the new cockamamie law pitted the top two vote-getters against each other in the general election (no matter what political party each belongs to), it was a choice between two Democrats. I supported Mark Reed during the primary campaign.

Despite my differences with Rep. Brad Sherman, I voted for him (and announced my intention to do so a week or so ago). This is the first time in my life I voted for a Democrat for Congress. At present, Sherman leads by 59% to Berman's 41%.

Why do I have the satisfaction of retiring Berman?  Back in the 1970s, he and Rep. Henry Waxman put up carpetbagger candidates against GOP legislators that included Assemblyman Paul T. Bannai in the Gardena-Hawthorne area, where I lived.  I also worked for Bannai.  One such carpetbagger they put up was Maurice Mayesh.

Well, ol' Howie can consider this payback!  (Yes, I do have a long memory!)

The icing on the cake tonight:  I was checking to see the election returns on this race and found this on NBC-Los Angeles:

30th Congressional District: Democrat vs. Democrat

Regular readers of this blog know that I refused to jump on the "bandwagon" with elected Republican officials in supporting either Rep. Brad Sherman or Rep. Howard Berman in their battle in the 30th Congressional District (the district of my residence).  Neither one of them were acceptable to those of us who stand by our conservative principles.  I supported Republican Mark Reed.



This is due to the new law that the top two vote-getters in the primary election are able to face each other in the general election.  It doesn't matter which party the top-two belong to.  In this case, the top two are Democrat Liberals.

The 30th Congressional District only has a 26% Republican registration, while the Democrats have 48%.  Not much of a chance for a Republican to give the Democrats a contest.

California is dominated by Democrats who have brought this state to near-bankruptcy.  The GOP is virtually powerless to stop them.   One may as well call this a one-party dictatorship as in the former Soviet Union or China.

I considered the possibility of supporting one of the Democrats (the lesser of two evils), but there is nothing in their records that I can sink my teeth into to offer support for.  Both are "no damn good."

If the Republican Party is to make any inroads in California, it needs to rebuild itself.  The California Republican Party (i.e., the Republican State Central Committee) is primarily comprised of ineffective political hacks and virtually no money.  It really hasn't been an effective party organization since the 1980s at best.   A thorough house-cleaning is in order.

Gary Julian has posted his thoughts on the Sherman-Berman race.  To read it, go here.

Republican Endorsements In Democrat Primary In 30th Congressional District

Left, Howard Berman.

The Democrat primary contest between two congressmen, Howard Berman and Brad Sherman, is interesting.

Above, Brad Sherman.

Berman has been sending out mailers touting endorsements from Republican office-holders such as Supervisors Michael Antonovich and Don Knabe, Galpin Ford owner Bert Boeckmann and former Mayor Richard Riordan.

Today, I received a mailer from Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher in support of Brad Sherman.  Rohrabacher wrote that Sherman opposed the TARP bailout and doesn't "automatically vote with Nancy Pelosi."

It'll be interesting to see if any more Republican politicians get involved.

To me, the Sherman/Berman race is nothing more than a race between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.  I am still voting for Mark Reed.  But, if the race for the general election is between the two Democrats, I may get involved.  It is a matter of determining "the lesser of two evils."

L.A. Weekly: "Howard Berman's Last Stand"

Above, Armand with Mark Reed on Election Night 2010.

L.A. Weekly has an interesting article on the Howard Berman/Brad Sherman contest in the 30th Congressional District.

I have a long memory, and there's no way in hades that I would become a "Republican For Howard Berman" as some prominent Republican office-holders have.  Berman put up carpetbagger candidates in districts over the past 40 years to run against Republican incumbents.  He did so in the old 53rd Assembly District of Paul T. Bannai.  Luckily, he was unsuccessful there.

As I won't check my principles at the door, I am voting for Mark Reed next Tuesday.

To read the full article, go here.

Thanks to Mark Reed for the tip on the article!

Howard Berman's Political Whores

Above, Armand with REPUBLICAN congressional candidate Mark Reed.

A letter arrived in today's mail from former Republican National Committee Chairman Rich Bond.

This isn't unusual as I get plenty of mailers from GOP leaders. The exception this time is that Bond is supporting Democrat Rep. Howard Berman. In his letter, Bond refers to Berman as "my friend." WTF?!

That is like Ronald Reagan referring to Nicaragua dictator Daniel Ortega as "my friend." Berman, along with Rep. Henry Waxman, set up a political machine in California spreading their brand of radical liberalism. Their tactics include putting carpetbagger candidates in districts against Republican incumbents (anybody remember Maurice "Jack" Mayesh against Assemblyman Paul Bannai?).

Berman and fellow Democrat Rep. Brad Sherman find themselves in a newly-drawn congressional district. The letter from Bond decribes Berman as "universally respected" by people of both parties and Sherman as "the poster boy for term limits."

That isn't all. The letter contains a letterhead of prominent Republicans as "Republicans for Berman." They include:

Supervisor Mike Antonovich
Supervisor Don Knabe
Former Mayor Richard Riordan
Galpin Motors Owner Bert Boeckmann
L.A. Police Commission V.P. Alan Skobin

Sorry, no matter how many big name Republicans are involved, there's no way in hell that I would ever remotely consider voting for Howard Berman. I am supporting Mark Reed for Congress.

This isn't easy as some of these Republicans are friends and those who I respect.

Reed may have little chance to win this November, but I am not about to become a political whore and check my principles at the door!

Mark Reed For Congress 2012

Above, Armand with Mark Reed.

2012 will prove to be interesting in the new 30th Congressional District.

First, we have Rep. Brad Sherman facing off against Rep. Howard Berman for the Democratic nomination for congress. Berman is better known in the West L.A. area. But he and Brad Sherman find themselves in the newly-formed 30th C.D. So now they are fighting like two roosters.

Frankly, it is a choice between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. These are two hardcore left-wing liberal statists. Berman has been a career politician (allied with Rep. Henry Waxman, they formed the Waxman-Berman political machine back in the 1970s while in the California state legislature) who has been in Congress since 1983. Essentially, Berman is a political dinosaur.

Sherman is no better, policy-wise. But at least he is of the San Fernando Valley. They both supported Obamacare and the failed 2009 stimulus package that has put this country on the verge of bankruptcy.

It is questionable whether a Republican can win in the new district, but of the two GOP contenders, Mark Reed and Susan Shelley, Reed appears to be able to wage more of a campaign. He has big-name endorsements, more organizing and has already begun raising campaign funds. Since he ran in 2010, Reed has some built-in name recognition.

I am sure Shelley, a writer, is a good person, but it is my considered opinion that Reed would wage a stronger campaign in 2012 against Berman or Sherman. Accordingly, I am supporting Mark Reed again this year for Congress.

I've met Mark and he would be an excellent representative for the 30th district in Congress.

We need someone in this district to hit the ground running. Reed can do that.

GOP Takes House of Representatives

Right, Mark Reed supporters catching the night's election returns.

The election results have been interesting, to say the least. The Republican Party (as of this writing) gained 53 seats in the House of Representatives and are neck-and-neck for control of the U.S. Senate.

There were some disappointments, particularly in California and Nevada. The only good thing about Harry Reid's win is that even if the Democrats retain control of the senate, his powers are greatly diminished.

At present, the only results for the 27th Congressional District (San Fernando Valley) is that Mark Reed is behind Brad Sherman at 41% with 5% of the precincts reporting. That is still respectable, considering the make-up of the district and that it is badly gerrymandered.

I am pleased to report that Greg Smith won his race for the Kansas House of Representatives by 2%. His late daughter Kelsey is, no doubt, smiling down on him. His district is in the Overland Park area. He'll be a great asset to the Kansas legislature!

From the Kansas City Star:

In House District 22, Republican Greg Smith, a social studies teacher, beat Democratic incumbent Rep. Lisa Benlon. Smith is the father of Kelsey Smith, who was kidnapped at an Overland Park Target store and murdered in 2007. Smith received 51 percent of the vote to 49 percent for Benlon, who was seeking a second consecutive term.

Congratulations Greg!

Above, yours truly with Mark Reed.

I spent this evening at Mark Reed's Election Night party at the American Legion Post 308 in Reseda. Here's some photos of tonight's gathering:



Left, Mark Reed greeting supporters.













Right, entertainers making the night a festive one.






Above, candidate Mark Reed addresses his supporters.

Mark Reed for Congress Ad

Since KABC-AM pre-empted Mark Levin's show, I switched to KRLA- AM 870 for the Hugh Hewitt Show.

I heard a radio spot for my congressional candidate, Mark Reed. Great ad! He refers to Rep. Brad Sherman as "Mr. BS."

I'll be ad Reed's Election Night party tonight. If you don't have anything to do, come on down!

Election Day!

Election Day had already reached the East Coast about an hour ago.

I am ready to hit the polling place tomorrow morning and kick some Democrat butt!

In California, Proposition 23 has to pass or we'll be seeing prices at the pump go sky high. Don't believe the leftist propaganda! I just hope and pray that Californians aren't stupid.

The Democrats may try some voter fraud here and there, but if conservatives go out and vote in massive numbers, no amount of fraud can withstand a juggernaut!

Locally, fingers are crossed that Mark Reed pulls off a miracle and beats Brad Sherman for congress. I saw many Reed workers out on the streets in Tarzana today.

Sarah Palin is calling tomorrow "Freedom Day." She's right, this is the first step on the long road to take back our freedoms and country.

BRAD SHERMAN'S PERSONAL ATTACK ON MARK REED

Source: Mark Reed for Congress Website
BRAD SHERMAN'S PERSONAL ATTACK ON MARK REED

Brad Sherman has sent his constituents a mailer attacking Mark Reed. He has accused Mark of using taxpayer money to pay for a Public Defender to represent him in an appeals case. This case is in regard to the fact that Mark did not have permit for a 75 year-old gun that he purchased in 1974, when he was 18.

Mark has admitted to having this unpermitted gun and has since gotten the proper permit. The gun was used as a prop in the movie industry.

Brad Sherman's October surprise attack is absolutely baseless. Sherman is accusing Mark Reed of retaining Public Defender services at no charge, However Mark will be paying for his court appointed attorney once the case is closed. Mark is also aware of the approximate court costs to be incurred: $3,500.00 as of now.

Concerning Brad Sherman's baseless attacks:

Mark has never owned the weapon shown in Sherman's flyer and it is not the weapon for which he had no permit. The actual weapon is an 1800 replica stagecoach pistol shotgun.

Brad Sherman's claim that Mark will not be able to take his seat in the Congress is false and absurd. As an attorney he should know better. Lack of a gun permit is a simple misdemeanor, and the only court imposed condition is that Mark can't own a weapon for three years. He is free to travel anywhere.

Regarding Sherman's offensive personal attack on Mark, impugning his success as a businessman, the truth is simple: whereas Sherman is sitting on a million dollar-plus campaign fund, Mark's commitment to campaigning for the District 27 seat in Congress during the last two years has limited Mark's income for the last two years.

I challenge Brad Sherman to define the meaning of "successful businessman," this coming from someone who has gorged himself at the public trough for over 20 years-a man who obviously feels he entitled to his office! If one runs a business and makes money to support oneself and one's family, you have, by definition, a successful business. Apparently, Brad Sherman doesn't see it that way. After all, Sherman has been living off the taxpayer to the tune of $175,000 annually. Brad Sherman is out of touch regarding the difficulties of living day-to-day.

Brad Sherman is using this issue to distract from his abysmal voting record and he continues to hide from a debate about the real issues facing the 27th District, California, and the public in general. Considering a congressional record as bad as Brad Sherman's, I would be running from it, too.

Remember, Sherman voted to triple the Deficit by voting for Tarp, Obamacare, the failed Stimulus program and every other spending bill that came out of the Pelosi/Obama agenda.