ATTENTION CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS !!

******ACTION ALERT!!!!! ******** TELL YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER (ASSEMBLY.CA.GOV) AND SPEAKER NUNEZ  (916-319-2046) TO VOTE NO ON BRUCE MCPHERSON FOR SECRETARY OF STATE (VOTE IS TUESDAY A.M. MARCH 29!!!) Dear Democrats, Urgent words -- ACTION ALERT --for a quiet weekend of religious observance for many in CA and all over the world. Many California Democratic Assemblymembers offices are short-staffed or closed. "We'll be back Tuesday morning" say their voicemails. THE FLOOR VOTE BY THE ASSEMBLY TO CONFIRM BRUCE MCPHERSON AS CALIFORNIA'S NEW SECRETARY OF STATE WILL TAKE PLACE TUESDAY MORNING MARCH 29 Read below the article sent to me this morning from Marcy Winograd, Chair, Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles Steering Committee, from the Sacramento Bee, March 18. A week ago, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez says Democratic members have "uneasiness" with Secretary of State Nominee Bruce McPherson. Because McPherson's transition team includes Adan Ortega, Jr. "an employee" of a firm (GCG Rose & Kindel) that represents Diebold Election Systems. It also includes Steve Merskamer, a Sacramento attorney whose firm represents Citizens to Save California, raising money to put Schwartznegger's initiatives on the ballot, including that which will redistrict California to benefit the GOP. As of March 18, Bruce McPherson's nomination hadn't passed Rules Committee. But last week, it did. SURELY THE GOP KNOWS MANY CA DEMOCRATIC VOTERS ARE DISTRACTED BY RELIGIOUS AND/OR FAMILY DUTIES THIS WEEKEND, AND THEREFORE NOT PAYING ATTENTION THIS VOTE THAT AFFECTS OUR VOTE! IT'S TIME TO SCREAM! SPEAKER NUNEZ' NUMBER IS ABOVE. HIS OFFICE IS STILL OPEN TODAY, THURSDAY, MARCH 24. THEY ARE RECORDING OPPOSITION CALLS ON THIS VOTE AND SAY THEY ARE BEGINNING TO COME IN. ADD YOUR VOICE. THEN GO TO www.assembly.ca.gov. AND FIND YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND CALL, FAX OR E-MAIL YOUR OPPOSITION TO BRUCE MCPHERSON, HIS TRANSITION TEAM AND ITS ASSOCIATES' AGENDA. Kenneth Blackwell, GOP Secretary of State in Ohio, had connections to Diebold and was a GOP fundraiser. He oversaw havoc. Lawsuits are still wending through the courts. We do not need such a Secretary of State for California, and McPherson, whom Assembly Democrats are prepared to vote "yes" on because of his personal integrity, has a transition team whose ties are reason enough to question the agenda intended for the office of Secretary of State Office under his direction. TELL THE ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS IT'S OK TO OPPOSE THIS APPOINTMENT. In fact, it's the only honorable position.The Assembly Democrats are the last stand - a Thin Blue Line - between, at best, suspicious elections in California -- and honest political contests where our votes really reflect our choices. Assemblymember Lloyd Levine's asst. Zak Meyer was one of the few people I could reach this weekend. He was responsive. He was concerned. But he said the Democrats in the Assembly are prepared to give McPherson the benefit of the doubt and vote for him, because otherwise they'll be smeared in the press and by the GOP without political cover. This suggests an Assembly more focused on their own legislative votes than our citizen votes. It's shortsighted strategy and risks great Democratic losses in future elections. The GOP's stated goal of making the Democrats a permanent minority party, redistricting California, combined with the lawsuits in Ohio, the redistricting of Texas, and the historic suspicion that attaches forever to Florida 2000, is enough reason to justify California representatives' saying NO even to nice Bruce McPherson as Secretary of State - because of his problematic ties. Tell your Assembly member to vote no on McPherson. This is not about Bruce McPherson and what a nice guy he is. This is about the voters of California. Make your voice heard. Protect your vote. Tell the Democratic majority in the California Assembly to stand up for us against the GOP, not to allow slick Republican operatives to take over the SOS's office. We must protect California from those who would follow in the steps of Ohio's Secretary of State Kenneth J. Blackwell. For honest elections, Mimi Kennedy National Board Chair, Progressive Democrats of America