MALDEF: The Common Line of Controversy
by Derrick RoachCalifornia State and Local Redistricting Commissions Drawing Fire Over Controversies
The non-partisan California Citizen’s Redistricting Commission is supposed to draw lines for new State Assembly, Senate and U.S. Congressional districts that evenly and fairly distribute the political balance of power among communities and groups of interest. Instead, the commission has drawn fire from the start and recently came under attack by the California Republican Party after it was revealed Friday by CalWatchDog.com that Commissioner Dr. Gabino Aguirre concealed political contributions and was found to have ties to radical political organizations with a Democrat partisan agenda, including the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), which is actively lobbying the commission.
Californians may recall the words that were immortalized by the godfather of Democrat politics in California, former State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown who said, “In politics, a lie unanswered becomes truth within 24 hours.” Instead of repudiating the allegations of political favoritism and engaging in partisan gerrymandering of districts which tilt the political balance of power, a spokesperson for the commission said that Commissioner Aguirre would be unavailable for comment. Perhaps Aguirre and other individuals from the 14 member panel were busy recalling another quote by former Speaker Brown when California’s electorate turned against Democrat policies. Speaking about Democrats Brown said, “We are in trouble” which proved to be an accurate assessment then and would seem to apply now.
In addition to the allegations of gerrymandering, Aguirre is accused of violating the California State Constitution, as recently amended by voters with the passage of Proposition 11 during November 2008, which legally mandates “strict non-partisan rules designed to ensure fair representation.”
As first reported by CalWatchDog.com, Commissioner Aguirre was found to have concealed contributions that were made to Democrat candidates and that he hosted a fundraiser in his home for a Democrat candidate for State Assembly. He is further accused of influencing a redistricting map that was too favorable to Assemblyman Das Williams, who Aguirre financially supported during his bid for the seat. Other allegations include Aguirre’s ties to radical special interest groups involved in political activism who have also submitted their own redistricting proposals to the commission. One such special interest group is MALDEF.
With the revelation of political improprieties infiltrating what is supposed to be a non-partisan process, one must look closer at the relationships that Commissioner Aguirre has with Democrat elected officials and the special interest groups that are trying to influence the process. Upon examination, a common link is found between the controversy now surrounding the California Citizen’s Redistricting Commission and the San Diego Redistricting Commission which recently came under intense public scrutiny as reported in the local media (here) and (here). In the case of the San Diego Redistricting Commission, which is tasked with drawing a new ninth council district in addition to reapportionment of residents, Commissioner Carlos Marquez was found to be a partisan carpetbagger residing in West Hollywood after accepting a job with Honor Fund as Executive Director.
San Diego Redistricting Commissioner Carlos Marquez departing his West Hollywood residence on the morning of April 30, 2011.
- Honor Fund is a Los Angeles non-profit advocacy organization working to empower the Latino LGBT community. Of particular note is since Honor Fund is not yet recognized as a non-profit for tax purposes, the organization is financially sponsored by MALDEF and operates from their Los Angeles office where Marquez was frequently observed by a private investigator (disclosure: I was that investigator) that was hired by the Republican Party of San Diego County to investigate the commissioner. That same investigation also found Marquez to be closely associated with Rose Kapolczynski who was the campaign manager for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and who also consults for the California Teachers Association among other center-left individuals and causes. MALDEF is the same organization that submitted its own redistricting proposal to the California Citizen’s Redistricting Commission which increased Latino state Assembly, Senate and U.S. Congressional seats from 26 to 37 without drawing a single Asian or African-American district that met the requirements of the Voting Rights Act. The California Bureau of State Audits who performed a background on Aguirre during the vetting process forewarned of a potential bias in favor of the Latino community due to Aguirre’s deep roots and activism which could shed light on his sympathies during the redistricting process.
In light of warnings from California state auditors and the disclosure of Aguirre’s concealment of political relationships and a demonstrated history of influencing maps that are too favorable to political allies, it would seem that the time has come for Aguirre to resign and step aside. As for San Diego Redistricting Commissioner Carlos Marquez, one must wonder if he too should resign or if San Diego residents should wait to see if the Los Angeles political activist who is financially supported by MALDEF can truly work in an unbiased manner. Only time will tell if San Diego’s Asian-American and African-American residents will face the same fate that other minority groups of interest are facing around California by partisan Latino activists, like Aguirre, who are forcing them into concentrated districts in an orchestrated effort to diminish their representation.
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30 Comments
Ca is a lost cause as far as unbiased redistricting goes. There are just too many illegal voters within the state.
California must be forced to go Bankrupt.
There is no saving the State of California…. so, after California goes tits up, the surrounding States of Arizona, Nevada and Oregon should each get 1/3 of the old State of California.
Az does not need more fruits and nuts. We have enough in Tucson, thank you.
And too many politicians willing to do anything for a buck.
Oh, well, just take the Buildings and Roads.
Send the "People" (if by law one must call them that) on a long walk west.
Why would any good State be forced to take on the problems of a defunct State?
Whites allowed themselves to be hoodwinked by a certain minority with control of the media that they should not act as EVERY GROUP THROUGHOUT HISTORY has and ALL other groups CONTINUE to do….except Whites. Whites should be working together to advance other Whites. But the plan was to neuter Whites and allow these other groups to displace them because it was easier to control America that way. But anyone who pouts about how we need to ignore race is either a change agent or a useful idiot – either way it is time to eliminate them from ever facet of life here in the US. When was the last time one of these people whining about "racism" has ever said a thing about the Congressional Black Caucus?
Let them divide the state up however they wish….. Anything divided by 0 is still 0.
Now we know where all the ACORN employees went.
Leftists STEAL elections. By whatever means available.
Hiding, are what translates into the meaning of Progressive RATs transparency!
RATS are persons with rare intelligence. It's rare when they show any. /S
California. Promoting racism wherever they can.
Latinos trying to gain political power by marginalize others people, especially Asian and African American?
Well…."Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss."
It's hard to believe that it was California that gave us Ronald Reagan. Now the best they can muster is Governor Moonbeam.
The republicans complaining about gerrymandering? Both parties have been telling people sit down and shut up years, but it only matters to them when they can’t get their way?
Our troops do not fight for riches or fame, but for us. They are our family members and not mercenaries to be discarded after the battle. There is nothing more sacred to a republic than equal representation and nothing more evil than to silence the voice of someone who left pieces of themselves on the field of battle. The polarizing forced collectivism of the two party system using the evil act of gerrymandering effectively silences the voice of our heroes, it divides our country, it has bankrupted our country. Gerrymandering is the key tool the progressives use to gain power and to maintain it. Gerrymandering is one party rule on the local level. Gerrymandering allows the government to pick the voters. Gerrymandering prevents all of us from correcting the harm caused by government. Gerrymandering prevents real solutions and real leaders that competition and freedom produces.Gerrymandering gives the government parties immortality.
country before party
You really want to know what's wrong with California?
Have 5 million illiterate third world illegals park their butts in your state and see how long it'll take before your state goes down the sewer.
If California goes bankrupt, they'll be coming to your state like locusts.
And not just the states bordering California, every state of the union.
By the way, don't get too smug about those other states.
Nevada has a $5.8 BILLION deficit – 54% of the total state budget. The highest of any state.
Oregon has a $3.5 BILLION deficit.
Arizona has a $3.2 BILLION deficit – 33% of the total state budget.
California has a bigger deficit $23 Billion but that's only 12% of the total state budget, which means that dramatic cuts will have a quicker positive effect on the economy.
But think Az. would finally have that beach front property the Climate Change whackjobs been ranting about
There ought to be a law against foreign nations meddling in US legislative processes.
Wait a minute…there IS a law against it.
Send MALDEF packing and start the remapping process fresh with new leadership.
DO not the stats but I have been lead to beleive the labor contract in California are far worse than any other state.
First I really do not trust the numbers but the true "costing" of these unfunded liabilites can change the analysis quickly.
Your is well made – when there is no free lunch, health care, school the illegals will run
Gerrymandering is a political art that if you it is a ten plus year pay day.
Another reason why term limits are needed
The citizen are always the losers
Corruption among the left knows no bounds…
This redistricting process is immensely important to CA future, without honest districts, we have no future…
Why cal a lost cause they are doing what rep and dem do every where to the Americam people
it is political evil not art.
the left knows bounds and you are right. They called republican and democrat. They are allies in this gerrymandering evil.
To sell the constitution to the common folk they had to be assured that the elite, the wealthy, and the powerful would not be in control cutting out the working people. The forced collectivism is a betrayal of that promise.
Under the present laws designed to allow the government(republicans/democrats) to pick their voters through the act of gerrymandering and other elections laws and funding gives these parties immortality and clearly goes against the principles and beliefs of those who wrote the federalist papers. They understood factionalism would occur, but they believed under a republic and the size of our nation that the harm caused by factionalism would be canceled out preventing harm to the minority and the individual, but under the forced collectivism by the two parties, using the power government has corrupted our system and caused harm to the minority and the individual. There is a reason why our republic is we the people and not we the states or we the parties and it was to prevent the oppression of the minority and especially the individual.
Don’t take my word for read the federalist papers. To stay with either party makes you not only the oppressor but responsible for bankrupting our country.
"In light of warnings from California state auditors and the disclosure of Aguirre’s concealment of political relationships and a demonstrated history of influencing maps that are too favorable to political allies, it would seem that the time has come for Aguirre to resign and step aside."
Resign and step aside? He should be doing time with the Bell California 8.It's criminal and deserves prosecution.
OK Dude or what kind of femme-boi you are. Do Not be coming here to the conservative forums and spout off your raciest hate speech propaganda. For one we all know you are some Media Matters troll, and second your riding the clock, no one is biting so stop wasting daddy Georges and get under his desk and lick some scrotal crust like a good lil Democrat..
I love how Whites acting like EVERY OTHER GROUP is considered "racist."
Let's see, Jews have a "homeland" paid for by the US tax payers. Can Whites have this?
You have it backwards – it is the liberals who hate Whites. The GOP has gone so far Left, though, they are dabbling in the anti-White BS – it is why they do so poorly in the elections despite everything going for them.
All the little Socialist Dems will be overthrown by little Latino/Hispanic Socialist Dems. Racisism is alive and well in California, land of the Illegals.
What a travesty. I have to say that I initially had high hopes for the redistricting commission. If he lied on his application he should be prosecuted. The California Attorney General is Kamala Harris. Justice, or party hackery? Don't hold your breath.
When I heard about the CA redistricting commission, it sounded good, and I wondered if it were too good to be true. It made too much sense, and nothing politically sensible comes from CA. My reservation was about who would be on the panel and who would determine who would be on the panel. What ways were there to make sure it really was a non-partisan commission? Well this article provides the answer: it IS too good to be true. I don't know who is in charge of overseeing the commission, but obviously it is not someone who cares about fairness. The same kind of powerful liberals and far-left special interests who controlled the redistricting before when they made these crazy districts have just found a way to infest and control this new panel. Meet the new people in charge of redistricting, same as the old. They just thought to bring some legitimacy to their actions by adopting a new name and a new look.
I'm surprised you aren't getting more replies on this. You made good points. California is a perfect example of what happens when gerrymandering takes over. New York is losing a Congressman also and will be redistricting soon.
The issue of Gerrymandering should become a national debate but it won't because it simply cannot be justified.
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