Carl DeMaio got a phone call from Washington, D.C. about five in the morning after Tuesday’s long election night; he was told to report for congressional orientation. Two years ago, Scott Peters got the same call in his tight race against incumbent Brian Bilbray in which Peters was then narrowly ahead. As I write this column the 52nd Congressional race final outcome is up in the air with Carl still in the lead, as he was all night, by about 800 votes.
Election night, Susan Jester (Founder AIDS WALK) and I joined Carl and his life partner Johnathan Hale (who recently got re-elected by a unanimous vote as president of the Hillcrest Business Association), Carl’s beautiful sister Susan, his niece Angela and close friends and top advisors in their suite upstairs at the Grant Hotel while hundreds of loyal and excited supporters anxiously awaited downstairs. Needless to say it was a long night and finally this tired old man had to go home. I got an early morning call from Carl and he was still ahead and in good spirits and humor as the “fat lady” still had not sung her final notes when it comes to this election.
As many of you know I have been very involved in Carl’s campaign and on election night I noticed even more what I’ve observed all these months – very loyal and hard-working volunteers and supporters: university students, seniors, Filipino-Americans, women, gays, conservatives, independents, progressives, veterans; all working together and getting along like we were all longtime friends. To Carl DeMaio saying he is a “new generation Republican” is not just a slogan, it is who he has become – a man out to change his party and bring people together.
Honestly, I don’t know how Carl and Johnathan withstood the months of smears, vicious lies, rumors and character assassinations; at times I saw it up close and how it personally affected them. They are only human and, yes, it affected them, their families and friends and I would not wish this on my worst enemy or anyone as the attacks on Carl and, yes, Johnathan, were unlike any I’ve ever witnessed in my entire life; it will go down as the most negative and vicious campaign in the history of San Diego. Knowing what I know, I will never be able to look at Scott Peters the same for sadly he and his campaign were absolutely involved and while I wish Scott and his family the best, I have lost all respect for him and I believe that some day it will all come out.
I’ve known Carl since he was a young man thinking about running for City Council; I mentored him and in so many ways introduced him to San Diego’s GLBT communities, its leaders and activists. I supported him for Council, but not for mayor. I loved him like a son and, yes, got angry with him like an enemy; such are the ups and downs of friendships, family and politics.
What I am trying to say is that Carl DeMaio has changed greatly; the young man has matured and been tested by time, defeat, and life.
I am asking you, my community, to give him a chance; get to know him; you don’t have to agree with him on the issues and politics; that’s fine, but take the time to meet him, introduce yourself and get to know Carl, the individual – your gay brother.
Let us all move on from this most ugly campaign. Carl and I have had many conversations lately and he plans to reach out and extend his hand to everyone – friend, foe and stranger. Carl DeMaio is not looking back but forward.
Some of us plan to host a reception for Carl and Johnathan and, trust me, it will be a very diverse and interesting GLBT list of leaders, activists, business people, etc. Yes, it will reflect all of our community. Carl had a lot of GLBT supporters, more than many people thought and I saw this first hand. He truly wants to do all he can for our equality; he voted 100 percent for us on the City Council and will do so again as a possible congressman.
Carl DeMaio knows the nation will be watching him if he is elected the first openly gay Republican congressman. He is ready. Let us all wish him well no matter the final outcome. Thank you.
Wow, where to begin with this “piece”.
(1) The title. I’m a bit surprised this publication would allow something to be posted titled “Mr. DeMaio Goes to Washington” when it’s still a toss-up and there are ballots to be counted. This means not every voter’s will has been recorded, and it’s a disservice to those votes to proclaim someone as “Going to Washington” before it’s final. Who cares if DeMaio got a call telling him when orientation it – obviously if he ends up losing this race, HE WON’T BE SHOWING UP FOR ORIENTATION, will he Nicole?
(2) It’s extremely distasteful of you to write this: “I got an early morning call from Carl and he was still ahead and in good spirits and humor as the “fat lady” still had not sung her final notes when it comes to this election”.
You are aware that the person you support sent an email “fat shaming” a staffer of Peter’s. It was an email mocking the physical appearance of a person of size, and it sparked protests outside the DeMaio headquarters this weekend because it was sexist and demeaning. Is this your way of mocking it or are you just so utterly clueless you wrote this without making the connection? Either way, I find it repellant that someone who has stood for the dignity and rights of minorities for so long to condone DeMaio’s mocking someone based on their physical appearance and then presumably making fun of it in your column. Reprehensible.
(3) You write: “Honestly, I don’t know how Carl and Johnathan withstood the months of smears, vicious lies, rumors and character assassinations; at times I saw it up close and how it personal y affected them”.
Isn’t it true that a few years ago you, yourself smeared and shamed DeMaio and his partner? Maybe they survived the current shames and smears the same way they survived the smears made you made against them publicly.
Nicole, you have done great work for our community but your support of DeMaio, even after a second man alleges sexual harassment, is a stain on your reputation.
I hope that if more accusers come out and these allegations end up being proven true, you will publicly apologize to our community for your poor judgement in supporting Mr. DeMaio.
If the count of the 40,000 remaining late mail-in ballots follows the trend of 2012, Peters will be re-elected. It’s NOT over yet Nicole.
And a good thing, because as you wrote so well two years ago, DeMaio would be an awful member of Congress.
“I am not supporting Carl DeMaio because we … San Diego does not know who this man really is. He has two political and social issue faces and is doing anything and everything he can to win. Also, the facts are that Carl DeMaio and Johnathan Hale will be the Ronald and Nancy Reagan of San Diego and we all know that Johnathan has a lot of influence and control over Carl. And Hale is a very mean-spirited and evil man.
This is Carl DeMaio’s real first love and relationship and we all know how our “first loves” make us blind to anything negative about them.
Carl DeMaio has only been in San Diego for about 7 years and he has always had an agenda for power and influence and, sad to say, my “son” has become like that child in the movie The Bad Seed. He has lied and used us all and may indeed have the last laugh as the citizens of San Diego do not know the real Carl DeMaio and his psycho, drama queen lover Johnathan Hale that we, his community and his “mother-mentor” knows.”
Nicole Murray Ramirez, two years ago in 2012 Nicole spoke the TRUTH then.
How about if Karl loses you have a muzzle permanently installed, Nicole
Mr. DeMaio Goes Back to Rancho Bernardo
UPDATE as of Thursday 6 November at 5:30 PM:
The trend is repeating that of 2012. Scott Peters takes the lead as predicted by me Tuesday night: Rep. Scott Peters has taken the lead! 50.3% – 49.7%. The vote continues!
The good new is it looks highly probable Peters will prevail. The bad news—DeMaio and J. Hale may stay in SD. I will open a GoFund site to buy them both one-way tickets to anywhere.
More counting over the weekend, but this trend should continue. However it is not official until it is official. No Victory lap yet.
______________________________________________________
Here is my accurate forecast from Wednesday early morning, 5 November:
UPDATE OVER THE POSTING FROM ELECTION NIGHT–AS OF 5 NOVEMBER MORNING:
In 2012, at this similar point in counting, Peters led Bilbray by about 660 votes. After all provisional and lane main-in votes were counted, Peters had the win by 6,600 + votes. The 2012 election was important, bit not marked by great passion or late dynamics from new issues. By contrast, 2014 of course was both
passionate and marked by dramatic late news.
These facts support a rational conclusion the swing from late-mail in votes [and provisionals ] will be greater in 2014 than in 2012.
Bottom line— Peters will win after the full count by a margin of between 500 and 3,000 votes.
___________________________________________________________
Tuesday evening, 12:00 midnight 4 November:
Peters should prevail over DeMaio:
IF the votes counted are from where I believe there are from, favoring the north of the City such as Rancho Bernaro and mail-in ballots cast several days ago before some news broke unfavorably to DeMaio, I predict Peters will prevail by 00.5% – 1.00%.
DeMiao had to show at least a 5% lead from these first 60% of votes counted, and he failed to hit that mark. The trend is consistently showing Peters gaining. That should continue ’till the last votes are counted.
We shall see….
The Empress Has No Clothes
And she hasn’t for a long time. We are all intitled to our own opinions, but we are not entitled to our own facts. Carl DeMaio and his partner Johnathan Hale have not matured, they have mutated into bitter and greedy opportunists with little else remaining at their core. In that regard it is no wonder Nicole holds such fondness for them. Carl is every bit the predator he has been identified as, and his behavior has no place in public service. The two are reputed drug addicts who have parlayed their ambition into a corrupting cancer that lies at the heart of our LGBT community. Johnathan did not get elected by a majority of HBIA members. That is in fact a lie. He could not even muster enough votes to get selected for the board in the first round of balloting. But since he assured that his supporters showed up at the meeting, he was able to get selected in the second round of voting. The unanimous vote included that of a board member who should not have been on the board, Frank Lechner. At least when I knew my business was foundering, I had the decency to step down of my own accord from the GSDBA board. Lechner did not even have that level of integrity and stood for election knowing full well his business was shuttered. The “unanimous” vote was in fact a slate vote pressed by an ally of Hale’s that offered him as part of a group of candidates for offices. Hale presides over the association as if he were a dictator, making unilatteral decisions on all manner of issues that should be in front of a board. This includes decisions on events the group hosts even though Hale owns an event production company that does business with the association. And in a cozy tie up, contractors selected by Hale recieve no bid contracts and then kick back donations to DeMaio’s political campaigns. The two are tyranical and abusive to all their employees and associates – a fact you, Nicole, are personally able to attest to. Their are no Rossary bead chains long enough for you to atone for the cestpool of corrupt officials you have foisted on the citizens of this city. As Kissenger sold his own Jewish community out during Nixon’s administration, so to are you to the LGBT community. The community needs to have a long overdue talk with you Nicole. And pleasingly, it appears that since Carl is now falling behind Scott Peters, that conversation will not apparently be happening at DeMaio’s congressional office.
This has to be the biggest “Dewey Wins” moment since, well, Dewey lost. Perhaps Nicole will just try predicting next season’s must-have color and leave politics to those who know what they’re doing.
Can we NOW have Nicole retire, and stop publishing her bullshit columns?
“and he plans to reach out and extend his hand to everyone – friend, foe and stranger. ”
Just not in the Men’s rooms please.
Nicold “Smear” Ramirez. Have you conveniently forgotten assassinating the characters of DeMaio and Hale? Or, is this column just an early sign of dementia?
as always, Nicole favors who does the favors for her… first the closing of the infamous Harvey Milk Restaurant, now this… pack it up old woman… nobody wants or cares about anything you say… do our community a favor and hang your hat… or would that be tiara?
“. . . progressives, . .” ?!?
I think it would be a wonderful gesture for Carl to go to Washington to attend the swearing-in of Scott Peters to his second term. Maybe he could even shake his hand this time.
Snooze… I’m sorry, I fell asleep for a few minutes. I am so sick of hearing about this election. Fortunately it will be over soon. I’m not quite sure why everyone is so concerned over Carl getting elected. He is not the life blood to the G&L community. There is far more to the community than this election. It’s time to start discussing something more worthwhile.
Nicole flip-flops on the issues more than a cheap pancake at an AM/PM Mini Market. I have always been amused by Nicole but never in a good or positive way. I can recall the days when she and Queen Eddie fought like cats and queens. I will never forget all of her vicious attacks upon people that disagreed with her/”it,” the gay rags she wasn’t writing a column for at that time, and places she didn’t like. As someone pointed out earlier, she was against DeMaio and in one particular column, she was very vicious in those attacks. As for Harvey Milk’s Diner, she was a frequent supporter, visitor, claimed Big Mike and Frank Lechner were her close friends, but let’s all face it, Nicole has never had real friends. Does anyone remember the old porn star, Rick Donovan? Her “friendship” which him turned from love to hate. Roger Hedgecock? You can name a person, she’s had a squabble and the attacks were never mild. This is the Nicole I know and have turned my back to whenever we’ve come in any form of contact. I am firm believer in the old saying, “If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.”
Does Nicole represent our gay community? Let’s look at the statistics. Nicole is a former self-admitted prostitute, semi-transsexual, has never held an actual full time job, continually toots her own horn, and is a hot mess that is reflected in her actions now and in her past. This is someone we are supposed to be proud of in our community? A foul mouthed, hateful, has-been (never was been) drag queen that makes her own rules which we are supposed to admire and she expects us to support?
Personally, as a responsible gay man, retired, worked for everything I have, followed all of the rules, fought for gay rights and acceptance, and this Nicole creature is what has self-servingly refers to herself as an icon in our community? Certainly not my community. Not in any of my friend’s community either. To us, she’s a joke and a embarrassment to the mainstream gays. People like me will never forget Nicole’s sordid past and her continuing “I’m here, I’m important, Empress Nicole the Great, The Queen Mother of the Americas, and I am the famous Mayor of Hillcrest.” Although it’s too late for her to go out with any dignity or credibility, she can still just “exit” and like most, disappear into oblivion as a forgotten misguided soul. That would be my personal wish but with Nicole, her constant need for attention and her own self-importance will never allow that, which is very unfortunate for all of us.
(I strongly suggest people watch her 2 part “interview” available on YouTube which verifies much of my post.)
Look around you in Hillcrest. To answer your question, yes, Nicole does represent our “community” (more like random collection of strangers). That’s just how tragic it is and why I want nothing to do with it.
Peters takes lead over DeMaio in 52nd race
SAN DIEGO — Democratic Rep. Scott Peters surged ahead of Republican Carl DeMaio by 861 votes in the closely-watched 52nd Congressional District race, according to new but still incomplete election results released Thursday afternoon.
DeMaio held a 752 vote lead after Election Night, but the race was too close to call with an estimated 46,000 ballots left uncounted at the time.
Thursday’s update was based on 12,700 previously uncounted ballots, leaving a majority still to be tallied.
Peters now has a 50.27 percent to 49.73 percent lead over DeMaio.
In raw numbers, Peters has 78,837 votes to DeMaio’s 77,976.
Regarding the smears and vicious lies during the campaign. “I will never be able to look at Scott Peters the same… I have lost all respect for him” Have you lost all respect for Carl too? I saw as many (if not more) negative ads from Carl’s campaign as Peters’. Do we have a double standard going here?
Ho My—Where will Nicole go for free meals now ? No more Harvey Milks’ Diner. No More Carl DeMaio campaigns in San Diego.
The great news Friday, 7 November at 5 PM:
In the 52nd Congressional District race, as predicted, Scott Peters increases his lead over DeMaio !
More votes to be counted over the weekend, but very probable this lead will only increase with more votes announced Monday afternoon.
Here are the numbers as of 5 PM this afternoon:
U.S. REP. 52ND DISTRICT
Reporting 410 of 410 at 100.0% counted.
(Vote For 1 )
SCOTT PETERS DEM 92410 51.25 %
CARL DEMAIO REP 87919 48.75 %
I thought “Nicole” with respect to the author was a “he”. Why do commentors refer to HIM as a SHE? Don’t do that!
Mr De Maio Goes To Washington…… and all he got was a lousy t-shirt
……and Peters wins! This just in from Politico:
“POLITICO Breaking News
Today at 7:37 PM
Democratic Rep. Scott Peters has been reelected to his House seat, defeating Republican Carl DeMaio in the race in California’s 52nd District, according to The Associated Press.”
For more information… http://www.politico.com
So much for the value of the Nicole Ramirez endorsement. I sure hope DeMaio bought a refundable plane ticket to Washington D.C.!
Well I am sure Nicole will now be trying to latch on to Mr Peters coat tails if she needs help doing so she can always ask Jonathan Hale for advice.
Not so fast Hag Queen Murray Ramirez.
It aint over til the Fat Lady sings, and even though you have struggled with your weight over the years, you aint that fat lady by a long stretch.
This indeed was just another dark chapter in San Diego’s Dirty politics and the sooner you reconcile and change your story about DeMaio one more time, the sooner you lose any relevance to the not only the local LGBT community, but really any say whatsoever in local politics.
There is no third act for Carl Demaio in San Diego Politics.
May Carl’s aspirations of Political Grandeur and Johnathan Hale’s desire to culturally control Hillcrest and San Diego’s LGBT community be put to rest forever.
We can only hope to never have to hear from any single one of you blatant phonies and their supporters ever again.
Sorry, but any “gay” man who would take campaign contributions and support from the likes of Roger Hedgecock or “Papa” Doug Manchester is no “gay brother” of mine. African-Americans had the term “Tom” or “Uncle Tom” for blacks rolled over and didn’t insist on their civil rights back in the 60’s and 70’s…Maybe the LGBT community needs a term like that. How about “Uncle Carl”?
So in under 2 years… Nicole’s opinion changed so drastically about Carl and his parter Jonathan that she was in their suite election night? A turnaround like this is highly unusual after being a lifelong Democrat… One might suspect she has been paid for her endorsement. Either by team Carl directly or by someone whom she is very close with. Someone who has very deep pockets, drives a large British luxury sedan and who benefit greatly by Carl’s election… One might think this…. Yup, one might.
PS I hope he enjoys his sightseeing trip to DC… The Smithsonian’s are a must!
DeMaio has conceded the election I do hope Nicole joins Mr. DeMaio and Mr. Hale in leaving town. DeMaio has lost any credibility (Nicole’s endorsement didn’t help). I think many people in San Diego would like to see the back end of all three of them.
We can only dream Alan 🙂
AP, Huffington Post, Politico, Washington Post. LA Times and even the San Diego UT called the race for the 52nd Congressional District for incumbent Scott Peters early this afternoon, 11.9.2014.
After acting much like the armless knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, DeMaio was still TWEETING that there were 7,000 votes yet to be counted, and if he got 90% + of them, he would win. What drugs was this guy using ?
He finally conceded Sunday afternoon in a press discussion with one reporter from the AP. No press conference with local media representatives. No nice congratulatory call to Peters. DeMaio was an ass in defeat.
Let’s tell him what we think.
SEND CARL DEMAIO A FAREWELL GIFT TODAY !!!! A ONE-WAY TICKET OUT OF TOWN. CELEBRATE VICTORY !!! [Funds will actually go to Balboa Park Centennial and LGBT Charities. The MESSAGE will go to DeMaio and Hale.]
PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ALL YOUR FACEBOOK FRIENDS. Spread the word .
gofundme.com/gycefs
Final election results are in….Carl received 5,430 votes less than Congressman Scott Peters.
SPOILER ALERT:
“Mr. DeMaio goes to Washington …” by Nicole MR is a work of fiction, not based on a true story.
Dearest Nicole, please let us all know when “Some of us plan to host a reception for Carl and Johnathan” so that I can personally be there. I would really love to see this mess. I would enjoy seeing Carl’s poor sportsmanship along with Doug Manchester’s arm around him helping to prop him up. I know, you’ll just be standing there trying to be in the spotlight. Now that Harvey Milk’s Diner is closed, I hope you can find another venue to host this big event. May I suggest requesting the entire convention center since the crowds will be huge. Pardon my sarcasm.
Now the big question is how will Nicole react tomorrow. Will he congratulate Peters and wish him the best for the sake of unity? Will he rip into Peters and accuse him of being a cheat and a fraud? Will he eat humble pie? Will he stand by his man (DeMaio)? Will he ignore it all and just change the subject? Oh, I can hardly wait!
To address Joe Summers concerns: You will never, ever, not now or ever see Nicole admit she’s wrong. So what did she do? Ignored the entire thing like it never happened. In her new column this week, she again goes on to talk of politics and not one mention of DeMaio. Not one word. But not to worry, as soon as she can grab hold of someone to further her needs or “fame,” she doesn’t care who it is or what their reputation. Anyway, your wait is over. The “Queen” has spoken. As always, we won’t pay any attention.
I’m sorry, I stand corrected. The “Queen” did post this and I missed it: “As for the recent 2014 election I am proud to have supported our new Filipino Councilman Chris Cate and would support Carl DeMaio again in a heartbeat.” Nicole, will you ever learn? You haven’t in your 97 years so I don’t think you will.
Why don’t you hold the reception for Carl and Jonathan at Harvey Milk’s? By the way, I always thought a conversation involved at least two people… this is more like a diatribe! And Carl lost, in part, BECAUSE of Nicole’s endorsement! And Harvey’s closed for the same reason! Good riddance!
J. Hale, the ultimate Narcissist, wrote: “One of the hardest things for me in this election is that not one single leader of any LGBT organization that Carl and I have contributed to over the years has picked up the phone to call us with condolences. ”
Hale’s self-centered World View is so simple: “Carl and I are Gay, we gave you money, we are therefore entitled to your political support, we lost, so come cry for us.”
What a pile of CRAP.
You were never entitled to anyone’s support. Your political Party opposes full and equal rights and legal protections for the LGBT Community. Carl personally opposes an increase in minimum wages for the hard working poor. He opposes Barrio Logan residents in their fight to have control over their own community planning process. He thinks the “gay social agenda” is not of his concern as a politician.
Carl LOST. Go cry in your own closets quietly. You are not entitled to any condolences, We are delighted you lost. You deserved that loss.