Gone are the days when newspapers mattered. Long gone are the days when mega media giants Randolph Hearst and Otis Chandler could impact voter attitudes and alter the outcome of political campaigns. Along with the introduction of 24-hour news networks and the emergence of the internet, newspapers have become almost irrelevant, especially when it comes to election time endorsements.
The Contra Costa Times reminded me of this fact over the weekend when the editorial staff announced “their candidate” in the 11th Congressional District. The newspaper believes that among the four Republicans running in the GOP Primary, David Harmer is “best prepared to serve in Congress.”
One has to wonder what the newspaper is thinking. After all, David Harmer ran in Utah’s second district and last year, ran in the 10th Congressional District special election losing to John Garamendi by 10 points. The newspaper believes since he comes from a political family and since he has run several times, somehow that makes him the best candidate.
It’s true, after graduating from law school at Brigham Young University, Harmer was appointed by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, as an attorney on a subcommittee of a committee of a committee. As a side point, it seems the last thing we need in Washington D.C. is another attorney!
The Contra Costa Times endorsement of Harmer should raise a few eyebrows. When Harmer ran against Garamendi, Harmer wasn’t qualified to get their endorsement, but Garamendi did. When Obama ran for president as a relative newcomer to national politics, he won the paper’s endorsement over a veteran and long-term Senator named John McCain. And, in the 11th Congressional District, the newspaper backed Jerry McNerney twice, once as an inexperienced challenger against a well-known incumbent and then again for re-election.
One wonders if the newspaper did what’s best for the Republicans in the district or what’s best for Nancy Pelosi’s clone, Congressman Jerry McNerney.
Seems to me, the newspaper was playing politics, hoping to impact another election outcome. Fortunately, most Republican voters now know whom not to support.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
@rootvg — that’s all we need; another “professional politician” who thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room. No thanks.
When I met Brad Goehring, he reminded me of a friend back in the midwest who is no more a professional politician than my Sheltie. Brad’s not polished and doesn’t speak well and doesn’t know his history (as evidenced by the mistake he made in his final remarks at the debate held shortly before the primary) so why should we have voted for him?
Dave Harmer has what it takes to represent the district but as I’ve said, this isn’t the suburbs of Dallas and he’ll be outgunned and it’s just the same old story.
Harmer’s a great guy. My wife’s working on his campaign and we’ve met him a bunch of times.
Having said that, I’m wondering when California will essentially throw up its arms and officially start the process of secession. There are simply too many people here who work for schools and universities and government. It’s a stacked deck…but when it finally becomes apparent beginning this Fall that our national political center of gravity is swinging back to the southern states (as it rightly should, given the migration patterns and what the census is likely to tell us) there won’t be much room for California style socialist governance anymore.
I don’t think most of you realize how different this state has become, relative to the rest of the Union. Try spending a week or so in the industrial midwest and you’ll recognize the difference very quickly.
When will the pro Harmer people realize that ship has sailed?
Harmer is so last year. His news is so old no wonder the CRA endorsed him!
The rapidly decreasing core group of has been geezers in Contra Costa cannot get this guy elected no matter how many grumpy old white men in wheel chairs they sign up.
Who do you like CCR? Emken who is a sleezy lobbyist? Goehring who is essentially a red-neck with money who wants to go to Congress for his business interests or Tony Amador who is a really nice guy, but wouldn’t win against McNearey?
The Harmer campaign put out ads about Garamendi living outside the district. How can you pretend he didn’t agree to them? He’s like a lot of people who just want power. Wake up and smell the coffee!
David Harmer is the REAL deal!! He DID not want to run for the 11th, but people like myself and other who live in the 11th and worked in his campaign in the 10th begged him to run here!! He did NOT make a big deal of Garamendi’s living outside the district during the race. Other’s did. He IS NOT a hypocrite and is a sincere, down to earth person who knows the founding ideals of our country unlike people like Brad Goehring who believes the contract with America was done under Reagan! Too many politicians in DC do not now the Constitution and our founding fathers. David is a breath of fresh air with his knowledge of facts and history! He also knows the FACTS of the issues facing the district better than his other competitors! David is our best chance to beat McNearney who is a Pelosi-pandering wanna-be!
RF, sorry for the delay, had some family stuff come up.
You were talking about Harmer and his money and I was just correcting you. After all, the money he raised in CD 10, he can’t by law use in CD 11. Besides, if he had any left over from the CD 10 race, you’ll know exactly why he lost! You’re supposed to use every penny to win on Election Day.
As for Goehring, isn’t he the one that always says “I don’t need this job”? That sounds good to me, we shouldn’t give you the job either.
I’m sick and tired of these polished/smooth guys coming on the scene, lying to us about their past and hoping we aren’t smart enough to do a Google search.
I’m doing my own research on these four candidates and the one that actually lives by the same values they’re claiming they have, I’ll vote for that person.
BGR – check out some YouTube videos on Harmer. There, you’ll get your answer why he’s not critical on the banks. After all, he received his bailout!
I’d like to hear at least one of the candidates talk seriously and intelligently about derivatives, default credit swaps, and how banksters pushed them and lawmakers to open the floodgates, and not just blame Clinton, Barney Frank, and Fannie Mae; then comment on the financial reform legislation and how they would improve it.
Would that be asking too much; instead of getting the same old same old?
Harmer’s a hypocritical opportunist. He attacked Garamendi for running in a district he didn’t live in and then when Harmer loses he runs in a district he doesn’t live in. Apparently shame’s in short supply in the Harmer household.
Fact Check,
Doesn’t really matter where the money comes from, in district or out of it. In DC we scrutinize the ability to raise funds, period.
It’s funny how you take a shot and harmer but no one is taking a shot at Brad Goehring for attempting to buy this primary with 1.1M of his own money. This is the guy who has openly admitted that 40% of his work force are undocumented workers and you want to bust Harmers balls for “not understanding the issues of the District”.
I never meant for my comments to blindly support Harmer, who, after all is said and done is more political partisan robot than human being. Tell me something I don’t already know, fact checker. Harmer is over polished, over handled, he is using his family far too much and does everything he can to hide the fact that he is a Mormon.
I eagerly await your response.
$1.4 million for Harmer??? Um, sorry RF, but you’re mistaken. Since Harmer hasn’t changed his committee name to run in his 3rd Congressional seat, the money he raised in the last one is showing up. Which I should point out most of that was thanks to CRP, RNC and NRCC hoping that Harmer would win the seat back. His fundraising sucked until national organizations started pouring money in.
If you look at how much he actually raised for District 11, it’s a little over $300,00 and about $100,000 he can’t touch until the general.
He “spins” things really well, but this is still anybody’s race. But when real voters meet him, they’re turned off by him. He doesn’t understand the real issues facing our district. He just talks a great game. The voters recently elected a candidate that talked a great game and now we all regret it. Unfortunately, we now call him President Obama.
Dear gawd -
Anyone who thinks Harmer is a great candidate doesn’t know their hand from their john brown hind parts.
Getting endorsed by the CC Sline is like letting Jeffrey Dahmer in to your kid’s Birthday Party – something bad is going to follow…
I don’t care how much Harmer has – he is a one-dimensional district shopper.
Anyone who thinks Harmer is the “easiest” to beat doesn’t know their hand from their john brown hind parts.
Harmer has raised $1,405,975 (as of 3/31) and that means he is in the fund raising lead for GOP candidates. As of 3/31 he had the most cash on hand of any GOP candidates. He is a viable option to beat McNerney (which I don’t think will happen no matter who wins the GOP primary).
The Problem facing Harmer is the problem facing all the GOP candidates, they are Conservatives, running as conservatives, in a moderate district. Though the district may lean conservative in several precincts, the district overall is moderate with the voter registration being near split between GOP/DEM.
I think the times was very specific in its support of Harmer and I agree with their opinion. Harmer is the most qualified to be a congressmen on day one. Does that make him the best candidate, not in my opinion, but his experience seemed to be the reason the CCT picked Harmer.
I think each candidate brings different good points and each one has downfalls.
All four candidates met with the Editorial Board. Harmer best exemplifies the temperament if not the values of the San Francisco Bay Area. Plus, what’s the harm in choosing him? He’s already lost twice before when he actually had the support of the districts he was running in….
Trip down memory lane
Contra Costa Times August 23, 2009
Garamendi is our choice for the 10th Congressional District
“…will be going to Congress at a critical time, with major issues confronting the nation, including economic recovery, health care, energy, the war in Afghanistan and reform of financial institutions. The 10th Congressional District needs someone with broad experience and dedication to the public interest. We believe John Garamendi best meets those criteria.”
Contra Costa Times recommends re-electing Jerry McNerney
“…we believe that McNerney is more in tune with the people of his district, especially on social issues, the Iraq war and alternative energy development.”
Contra Costa Times editorial: 04/30/2010
We recommend David Harmer as GOP nominee for 11th Congressional District
“Harmer ran a good race in the special election to replace Rep. Ellen Tauscher, posting a sizable vote tally in his loss to Rep. John Garamendi (who we endorsed) ….If Harmer can appeal to independent voters in the 11th Congressional District, he will have a good chance to unseat McNerney ( who we also will endorse again).”
Good Luck Sucka!
Did he meet with the newspaper? It really doesn’t matter whether he lobbied for it. The Times sees Harmer as the weakest link! They picked the guy who is tied to Romney on health care and a Republican insider. McNerney can smack him down like John Garamendi did.
Did Harmer seek or request the endorsement? Give the guy a break guys. It’s not like he’s a secret Democrat spy in the party. He seems fine.
The Times is nothing if not a press agent for incumbents and incumbency. Once past that threshold, when there are no incumbents, its recommendations are inconsistent at best, if not illogical and petulant.