Photo by Brittany Bailey
Former Republican lends his support to Democrat’s campaign for Congress
State Assemblyman and former San Diego mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher announced in a press conference this afternoon that he was formally endorsing Democrat Scott Peters in his bid to unseat incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray in the race for the 52nd Congressional District seat in San Diego.
“I believe Scott will be a better representative and a better member of Congress” than Brian Bilbray, Fletcher said.
Asked why, as a former Republican, he wasn’t endorsing the Republican in the race, Fletcher said “You have to look at the candidates and make a determination. I live in this district, so who do I want to represent me? Who do I feel would be a better and more effective member of Congress? I think Scott brings an approach that is more bipartisan. He brings an approach that is more focused on solutions, and I think he brings a willingness to sit down and negotiate in good faith, and be willing to do the right thing.”
“This race is not going to be decided by Republicans or the partisan Democrats, it’s going to be decided by people who, like most San Diegans, are not the most partisan people, but they just expect a government that works,” said Peters. “I’d like to think that folks like Nathan and me are the kind who would sit down and work through problems, compromise, and do it proudly in order to get something done.”
Fletcher said that he thought his endorsement would speak to people “who look at Washington D.C. and gets frustrated. Everyone that looks at rampant partisanship and gets frustrated. Everyone that looks at an environment where they can’t solve a problem and says can’t we do better, those are the people who need to look at Scott Peters.”
“I hope that all San Diegans in this Congressional district, regardless of party, will give him a look and look at his track record and what he stands for.”
Andy Cohen
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No, I cannot possibly say I am shocked or surprised by this… at all.
If it helps defeat Brian Bilbray and brings another Democrat to the gridlocked United States Tea Party Congress, I am all for it. This is politics, folks: whatever works.
Yea with all that, but I would recommend people read Paradise Plundered. No, Scott is not that clean. Truly, as a voter, this is a matter of which of the two to vote for. San Diego Politics is really, and I mean this, really dirty.
Now if this is only about voting Bilbray out, well I s’pose… but realize that Peters is not precisely a saint. Why I said, should I be shocked? I was expecting Sanders to be honest… would close that circle nicely when it comes to the 2002-3 mess… and the plundering of the pension fund, which was up to 105% funded.
<—- problem when you know way too much inside baseball, but that book, Paradise Plundered, guaranteed to make your tummy go through a few tumbles.
It should be required reading for every voter in this city… crooks is not a party thing in this city. I am actually not shocked Bilbray has not really played that card… in his case it is the revolving door between government and private sector and he has enriched himself that way.
Well, today Big Downtown Daddy Malin Burnham has joined Nathan Fletcher in endorsing Scott Peters, so that makes it harder for me to say what “whatever works.” (See Matt Potter’s piece today in the San Diego Reader.)
But I keep telling myself that Obama needs another Dem in Congress and Brian Bilbray isn’t it. So we will grit our teeth and carry on. Another Blue Dog from San Diego in D.C.
An endorsement from Nathan Fletcher ?
Just another bitter truth – the poor guy has burned too many bridges in his previous “career” and is looking for some payback.
Nathan, I know you don’t believe in Karma but don’t be surprised…..