Convention notebook

Rudy rocks the convention

‘America’s mayor’ becomes a California superstar

By Andrew R Quinio
From the March 2007 Print Edition

            Although it was a weekend for Republicans, it was a party for Rudy Giuliani. From February 9 through February 11, Republicans from across California gathered in Sacramento for the state party’s spring convention. Several elected officials were in attendance, but it was presidential candidate and former New York mayor Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Guliani who was the center of attention.

            Giuliani delivered the keynote address at the Saturday luncheon, receiving a fairly warm reception from his audience. The mayor opened his address with a story about his days as a young attorney barely entering the legal profession. He went on to highlight his stances on various national issues, such as health care and illegal immigration. On health care, he rejected the idea of a government-run health care system, noting the current superiority of the United States’ market-based system. He asked, “Where do you go for heart surgery? Where do you go for cancer surgery? You come right here.”

            Regarding the war in Iraq, he expressed support for President George W. Bush’s plan to deploy additional reinforcements to Iraq, emphasizing that withdrawal cannot be an option. “In a time of war, you don’t talk about pulling out,” he said. Giuliani also criticized members of Congress for their inaction and indecision displayed by the passage of the non-binding resolution, which rebukes the president’s plan for additional troops. He remarked, “In the business world a non-binding resolution would be considered unproductive.”

Giuliani on a few occasions received standing ovations for some of his remarks, including when he urged gratitude for the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

            At a press conference following his address, Giuliani clarified his views on illegal immigration to reporters, noting the tough stance he would take in securing the borders to strengthen U.S. national security. He also expressed support for a naturalization system where immigrants “must display a capacity for English.”

While ‘America’s mayor’ presented one possible image of the future of Republican politics, other leaders expressed their own hopes and prospects for the party and for California.

            Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, the only Republican other than Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be elected to a statewide executive office, outlined his plans to crack down on insurance fraud. He also vowed to get uninsured drivers “off the road.”

            The convention was also a chance for pundits and activists to take turns predicting Schwarzenegger’s political future. One Republican activist joked that this convention would be the governor’s last before he completely abandons the right and addresses the Democratic gathering next year. Disappointment in the governor was apparent throughout the weekend, with many lamenting what they perceived as a leftward turn.  Two individuals even pranced around the convention together wearing donkey and Schwarzenegger masks.

          But conservatism isn’t dead at all, according to Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, USC professor and political analyst for KNBC 4. Jeffe told the Patriot that California has not heard the last of State Senator Tom McClintock, California’s leading conservative voice. McClintock recently founded “Citizens for the California Republic,” a grassroots lobbying group that aims to project the voice of the state’s conservative voters and keep Sacramento’s leftward agenda at bay. Jeffe also speculates that McClintock may be running for the State Board of Equalization.

          Jeffe was doubtful, however, of a Schwarzenegger Senate run. Since the governor cannot run for president because he was not born in the United States, many have speculated that he might run for the U.S. Senate against Barbara Boxer. But Jeffe thinks otherwise, commenting, “His ego wouldn’t allow it, and Maria [Shriver] wouldn’t let him spend so much time away in Washington.” Schwarzenegger will more likely eye the Los Angeles mayoral office, Jeffe suggested.

            Republican leaders also spent time at the convention brainstorming ways to strengthen and expand grassroots support. Shawn Steel, who was chairman of the party immediately before outgoing chairman Duf Sundheim, expressed the need to focus on the Asian community, citing the increased involvement of the Vietnamese community in Orange County politics. At a roundtable discussion of prominent Asian American Republicans, Steel reminded participants of the example set by Van Tran, a current Republican Assembly member who is the first Vietnamese American to serve in a state legislature.

            Michelle Park Steel, member of the Board of Equalization and the country’s highest ranking Korean American elected official, and Trung Nguyen, a Vietnamese-born American who recently won a historic Orange County supervisor race by seven votes, were also in attendance. Park Steel and Nguyen spoke of the importance of mobilizing the Asian community with issues like personal freedom and family values.

For the most part, however, attention at the convention was shifted away from state affairs to presidential politics. Throughout the weekend, Giuliani made surprise appearances at workshops and forums.

The time and effort Giuliani spent in wooing California Republicans may be a sign of things to come for the state GOP. With plans to potentially move the presidential primary election earlier in the campaign season, California may become more important to candidates than it has been in the past.

 

            Andrew’s interview with Sherry Bebitch Jeffe and highlights from Rudy Giuliani’s press conference, coming soon

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