Garcia vs. Parra--How Republicans Don't Serve Their Constituents II

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Sara S. Nichols

And another thing about Republicans in the California legislature, they don't vote their district, even when they win a tough election. They cow tow to a minority of the party instead of their constituents. Case in point Bonnie Garcia (R-Palm Springs). In 2004 she picks off a Democratically leaning Assembly district in a squeaker of an election. You'd think she'd be watching her back, voting somewhere near the middle, giving her constituents what they think they'd be getting from a Latina legislator.

Well, in her first term, she might have given the Democrats like two tough votes (maybe she was one of the budget votes). Those two votes, coupled with telling the public that she wouldn't kick the Guvernator out of bed, got her labeled a "moderate" from the press.

But the rest of the time, she's right there with the Republican pac(k): anti-environment, anti-consumer, anti-working family, right down the line. She rides this "moderate" label into an easy victory for a second term. Now, the budget is late and she's showing no signs of moderation.

Contrast this to Nicole Parra (D-Bakersfield)who campaigned as a progressive in a hotly contested Democratic primary in 2002, won the general election by a coupla hundred votes and then proceeded to become a "50 percent vote"--meaning she votes the right way 50% of the time. The other half of the time she's voting like a Republican (see above).

Why is it that Republicans are called moderate just for flirting with the Governor and the Budget and Democrats actually worry about watching their back with constituents?