Where was your mayoral candidate on DADT repeal day?
I’ve been pretty adamant that the day of DADT repeal should (have been) about servicemembers and veterans, and not about politicians and activists. But a couple days (after DADT Repeal Day) and amid what was likely one of the most contentious and expensive mayoral campaigns in San Diego’s history this point is legitimate.
The purveyor of SDGLN would have you believe that the honorable Councilmember DeMaio was joined with his partner amidst a crowd of joyful servicemembers, veterans and community members. That’s certainly the message that you would get if you followed @SDGLN on Twitter, accompanied by photos. Of course here comes the fact check.
While DADT was (officially being) repealed, Congressman Bob Filner was in Washington, D.C., you know doing whatever congressmen do.
My guy, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher was speaking at an event hosted by the Log Cabin Republicans; he sort of owed them one after missing an event due to being engaged in the budget battle in Sacramento back in April. A fitting appearance as Log Cabin Republicans have been engaged in an ongoing legal battle that ruled DADT unconstitutional and participated in the lobbying effort that helped get the support of eight courageous Republican senators without which repeal could not have occurred.
To be quite honest I don’t know where our district attorney, Bonnie Dumanis was. But here’s is the kicker – while an estimated 450 patriotic community members honored our servicemembers and veterans, Councilmember DeMaio was nowhere to be seen. Well that’s not entirely accurate either, as he showed up after the event had ended, just in time to be photographed so that SDGLN could suggest his attendance was and I quote, “with the community (picture) at the center”. Now that’s a news flash to me as I was there from beginning to end and left as Councilmember DeMaio arrived.
So where was San Diego’s taxpayer watchdog? Well, if you were a Republican you would know that he was at a fundraiser benefiting his own political future. At Phil’s BBQ no less, which I must admit has some good BBQ. On DeMaio’s official campaign Web site it is advertised that it was supposed to go from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Which means that even if DeMaio was able to travel instantaneously at the speed of light from his event to The Center he would have arrived precisely 30 minutes late. Well, at 7:04 p.m. when I commented to a community leader, “Wow we ended on time,” Councilmember DeMaio was still not in attendance, until I was on my way out.
Now SDGLN made a point to ask where Nathan Fletcher was, but they or whoever runs their Twitter feed was remiss in their reporting about the data points I just pointed out. One must ask why?
DADT repeal is an important issue for me, for thousands of servicemembers and veterans and for our community. I served under its oppression and if you are going to try and use this issue to promote how one candidate is better for our community than the other then perhaps you should be completely honest and not withhold facts or worse, skewer the reporting altogether.
Where was your mayoral candidate during the rally at The Center celebrating DADT repeal? If you support Carl DeMaio, the answer is raising money for his own campaign. While I don’t doubt that the Councilmember does support our troops and the repeal of DADT, that day at least you have to wonder about his priorities? I mean it’s no secret that this was coming, we had 60 days notice.
Will Rodriguez-Kennedy
Veteran, former corporal in the United States Marine Corps
Carl was able to get to the rally albeit he was not there for the entire event. This narrative that Carl doesn’t show up to support our community is getting old. Who cares if he shows up at the beginning, middle or end, this is the nature of being an elected official, your time is split among many duties.
The important part is that he showed up, that he cared to while you yourself said NO other candidate showed up – at the start, middle, or even end – except Carl DeMaio.
What is your Agenda Mr. Rodriguez-Kennedy?
The facts are that Carl DeMaio did not attend or “show up” to the DADT Repeal Rally.
Anything said to the contrary is an absolute fabrication made up by Carl DeMaio supporters to use an event supporting LGBT Military Service Members for his own political ambition. I have over a dozen military veterans who can confirm that Carl DeMaio did not attend the event and we saw him drive up and walk in after the event was over. A.K.A. he missed it.
I stand by these remarks.
Ahaa, its fastidious conversation on the topic of this paragraph here at this blog, I have read all that,
so now me also commenting here.