Take the Phone and the Election, Gary! (Gary DeLong for Congress)

Gary DeLong for US Congress

As the fight in the 33^rd Congressional District is reaching a flurrying pitch, with attack ads and debates in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Manhattan Beach wealth and stealth Bill Bloomfield seems to be blossoming toward the win. The Beverly Hills Courier has given Bloomfield their seal of approval, a crippling blow to the declining Berman-Waxman machine.

In addition to following Independent in the 33^rd, who is getting into the thick of his campaign, I took some time  to look into other house races in the Southland, including the contentious intra-party Berman-Sherman tussle,  which nearly got physical a few days ago. Now I’m catching up with the  47th Congressional District contest, which runs from Long Beach through Northwestern Orange Country, an interesting coupling which should make this race something worth watching. Following the June 6^th primary,  Democratic state Senator Alan Lowenthal and Republican Long Beach Councilman Gary DeLong emerged as the top-two winners.

When I next checked out the Congressional battle along Long Beach, at first I thought that venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary from “Shark Tank” was running for office. Of course, I am really referring  to Long Beach City Councilman Gary DeLong, the Republican candidate who recently has received some interesting press for standing up to an obnoxious camera junkie, blocking her unwanted and unethical camera shots. More on that later.

Councilman DeLong is a new breed of Republican, fiscally conservative yet socially tolerant, pro-choice and pro-gay marriage, much like the Independent running in the 33^rd. This development is intriguing. Contrary to the complaints of California Republican Party operatives, the Open Primary and Redistricting Reforms have not marginalized the GOP as much as promote open-minded candidates to seek the vote and the following of every voter, Democrat and Republican.

The Huffington Post reveals a widening gap between Lowenthal and DeLong. Real Clear Politics.com  indicates that the race leans Democratic, but that has not stopped DeLong from getting in gear for the long haul. OC Political has predicted that this race will be a tight one, because of the more conservative element, both Democratic and Republican, in Orange Country.

In addition to DeLong’s extensive list of endorsements from Congressmen, state legislators, and even city leaders in Long Beach and Orange County, DeLong has received the support of the California Womens Leadership Association, which assessed both candidates on their policies concerning taxes, business regulation, local control, and limited government. DeLong, a businessman and bipartisan problem-solver, was their choice, and he should be the choice for voters in the 47^th.

Contrary to DeLong’s record of limited government and business savvy, state Senator Alan Lowenthal’s voting record exposes a politician who supports tax increases, government intrusions, and more spending. Deficits and national debts are exploding in Washington, and the last thing that Californians, or the country, need is another tax-and-spend career politician. Instead of rallying for pension reform and budget restraint, Lowenthal has voted for raising shipping fees, metro taxes, and banning shark-fin soup. Hardly a record of problem-solving and fiscal conservatism.  In a threateningmove to the security of the state and the integrity of our immigration laws, Lowenthal also voted for Authorizes Issuing Driver's Licenses to Certain Individuals Ineligible for a Social Security Number, or licensing undocumented immigrants. This kind of legislating is not leadership, but lunacy, pure and simple. No wonder The Press-Telegram , the Long Beach paper with normally a moderate-liberal bent, has endorsed DeLong based on his fiscal priorities, independent stance on social issues, and his bipartisan efforts which our federal government needs now more than ever. DeLong has offered a plan for business growth and health care reform, which includes amending the Affordable Care Act, border security – followed by reformed naturalization laws and a limited guest worker program –and blocking further federal bailouts for fiscal crises in the several states.

Democratic activists have questioned whether Gary DeLong, as a member of the Republican caucus in Congress, would stand up to John Boehner, following a sudden dust-up with a political stalker record DeLong’s every move. First of all, every public event deserves notice and commentary, and we must recognize that we live in a 24/7 tech-record age. However, the space and due respect which the political pundits and private political analysts owe to every candidate should not be compromised. In the event in question, DeLong confronted the woman, an operative for the California Democratic party, whom witnesses commented had gotten with six inches  of candidates – unacceptable, to say the least. Even the released recording of DeLong and company castigated the overbearing camerawoman for violating rules respecting the presence, not necessarily the statements, of both candidates. Even public events have rules of conduct, and any recordings must be honored in their entirety. DeLong did the right thing protecting his privacy and his family, and he evidently can stand up to overbearing reporters and recorders.

Gary DeLong belongs in Congress representing Long Beach and the rest of the 47^th! Go, Gary, Go!