Schiff calls it a three way race with
Paparian and Republican, issues false campaign spending figures
Congressman Adam Schiff today called his race for Congress a three way
contest with Green candidate Bill Paparian and the Republican candidate,
tacitly acknowledging that Paparian represents an attractive option for
voters who do not want to support the Bush administration’s misguided
war on Iraq and other policies on jobs, energy, and environment.
"An incumbent never mentions an opposing candidate if he does not pose a
viable election option – and thus a threat to an entrenched, out of
touch incumbent," Paparian campaign officials said.
In a campaign mailer received in the 29th Congressional district this
week, Schiff cites "organizing debate" as his primary effort to
"spearhead" Democrat action against the President’s unconstitutional
conduct.
"The Democrat’s toothless response to the Bush administration, and
Adam’s lack of a principled stand strongly against the war and for
impeachment of this lawless President, are precisely why voters I speak
with are ready to send me to Congress," Paparian said.
"The choice in this election is clear: Vote for Schiff for more of the
same failed efforts from Congress, or for Paparian to send a strong
message for peace and the rule of law," Paparian said.
The mailer also threatens that unless voter’s stick with Schiff they
might get a Republican instead.
"It is not acceptable to the people of this district to be told to vote
for the lesser evil, or else – they want a real choice, for a real
change," Paparian said.
"I am the only viable candidate pledged to oppose the Bush war, to
oppose torture of prisoners, to oppose holding prisoners with out charge
or trial, and to oppose illegal wiretapping of Americans. Schiff’s
record is terrible on these issues," Paparian said.
Paparian’s campaign has received strong cross-party support.
Republican’s fed up with their party’s failed war policies and recent
scandals have turned to the former Pasadena Mayor as a fresh
alternative, and Democrats understand that Schiff has abandoned and
betrayed the principles he was sent to Washington to espouse.
"This is why Bill Holderness, a strong local leader in the Reagan and
Nixon Republican campaigns, has endorsed me and held fundraisers for me
at his home in Glendale -- at the same time that Danny Bakewell Sr., a
local Democrat with national clout has also endorsed and supported me,"
Paparian said.
Even the staunchly Democrat United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) withdrew
their endorsement of Schiff earlier this year.
"Ask Adam where he stands on impeachment, and you’ll get a waffling
non-answer intended to avoid the question. I am clear that the President
has acted against the constitution repeatedly, and should be removed
from office immediately."
"It comes down to this," Paparian said. "The people of this district are
smarter than Schiff gives them credit for: If people vote for Adam as
the lesser of two evils, they’re still voting for an evil. "
As a sign of Schiff’s late realization that he is out of touch with the
district, Schiff’s mailer also contained an incorrect claim
(4th paragraph) that
Paparian has outspent both Schiff and the Republican candidate in the
campaign.
The claim is demonstrably false according to easily available public
records: Schiff has raised over $1 million dollars and spent nearly
$700,000 on the campaign so far, to Paparian’s scant $16,000 spent.
"This is extremely disappointing," Paparian said. "I expected better of
Schiff, and I think he owes the people of this district an apology for
misleading them."
Video endorsements, Oct
15, 2006
From an open house at the Paparian campaign office.
Danny Bakewell Sr. long-time activist in L.A.,
real estate developer, and publisher of the L.A. Sentinel (the
largest Black-owned weekly newspaper in the west) endorses Bill Paparian
for Congress. YouTube video. (5:03)
Bob McCloskey, Democratic primary candidate
for Congress in CA-29 in 2006 endorses Paparian rather than the
Democrat. YouTube
video. (7:37)
Preston Wood of the ANSWER Coalition in
Los Angeles voices support for Bill
Paparian in his campaign.
YouTube video.
(4;20)
By Appo Jabarian.
Managing Editor/Executive Publisher USA Armenian Life Magazine
As an Armenian American editor and publisher during the past three
decades, I have been involved in many political campaigns either as an
active volunteer or community activist.
My commitment and determination have been guided by a set of values that
enhance the quality of life.
Most of the candidates that I have endorsed and supported in the past
share the same values. A partial list of the candidates I believed in
include: President Ronald Reagan (R); President Bill Clinton (D);
President George W. Bush (R) in 2000 when he faced Armenian
Genocide-denier Al Gore (D); California Governor George Deukmejian (R);
Congressman Charles Chip Pashayan (R); Senatorial candidate Chuck
Haytayan (R) of New Jersey.
The values that I hold dear to my heart are shared with a new set of
candidates who are running for various offices this in November. I am
supporting Representative Frank Pallone (D) of New Jersey; California
State Senator Chuck Poochigian in his bid for California Attorney
General; Senator Norm Coleman (R) of Minnesota; Representative Joe
Knollenberg of Michigan; Senator Robert Menendez (D) of New Jersey;
Representative George Radanovich (R) of California; Burbank School
District Board member Paul Krekorian in his bid for California State
Assembly (District 43); Senatorial candidate Ned Lamont (D) of
Connecticut; Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine); Nancy Pelosi (D) of California;
Anna Eshoo (D) of of California; and last but definitely not least, the
former Mayor and three-term (1987-1999) Councilman of Pasadena,
California Bill Paparian (Green) in his bid for U.S. Congress (CA-29)
also share the same values.
Most have made and continue to make great contributions to us here in
Southern California and across the United States.
Four weeks remain to election day on November 7, and campaigns are
making critical decisions right now.
For many right here in Southern California, one of the top races is the
Congressional election in the California’s 29th district, where Mayor
Paparian, a Californian in the spirit of Franklin D. Roosevelt, is
surging in the polls.
Anti-war candidate Paparian, a 26-year resident of the 29th district, is
challenging Adam Schiff, a pro-war incumbent who came to the district
relatively recently.
The voters, who are guided by patriotism and not partisanship, are
joining Mr. Paparian's campaign in droves.
I, as a longtime community activist and a concerned citizen, and a
"Decline-To-State" registered voter, appreciate Mr. Paparian's strong,
steadfast, and crystal clear positions on key issues.
Time and again, and through thick and thin, Mr. Paparian has
demonstrated that he doesn't hedge or hide his all-American values.
Together, thousands of us, concerned citizens, can keep Paparian rise to
the top and remain there all the way to the finish line.
You too can make a difference by voting, asking others in the district
to vote, and by making financial contributions to his campaign.
I strongly encourage you to act quickly and make your support count and
enable Bill Paparian, the former Mayor and three-term (1987-1999)
Councilman of Pasadena, to go to Washington, DC.
To his credit, Mr. Paparian maintains courageous and wise positions
regarding crucial issues:
- On Iraq, he insists on bringing our brave troops home now from that
misguided war!
- On Election protection, he supports a constitutional amendment
confirming the right to vote;
- Establishing an auditable paper trail for all electronic and
electronically tabulated voting systems;
- Enacting same-day registration for all Americans;
- Ending partisan oversight of the electoral process;
- Establishing publicly financed elections for federal offices.
Paparian is also strong on the Environment. He supports:
1) Enforcing the existing Clean Air Act to reduce pollution nd cut down
on mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants;
2) Enforcing the Clean Water Act to protect wetlands and streams;
3) Requiring oil and chemical companies that produce toxic wastes to pay
for the cost of cleaning abandoned Superfund sites.
- On energy, he opposes the development of new nuclear power plants and
proposes to eliminate all subsidies for nuclear power plants. Instead,
he wants to transfer these subsidies away from oil and coal burning for
electricity production to wind, solar, ethanol and bio-diesel power.
- On jobs and related issues, he wants to stop unfair trade deals, will
work to provide health care for every American, will work hard to fix
the broken pension system, will invest in education, and will protect
workers.
To learn more about Congressional candidate Paparian's bio, views and
positions on several other important issues, please visit
http://www.paparian4congress.com/
Furthermore, Mayor Paparian offers something that no American politician
has ever dared to attempt. He pledges to persuade the U.S. Congress to
revive the Sèvres Treaty, to encourage Turkey to pay reparations to the
victims of the Armenian Genocide and to return occupied Western Armenia
and Cilicia back to their rightful owners – the Armenian people.
Congressman Paparian can and will spearhead our collective efforts to
take the Armenians' demands beyond the lip-service of "recognition" of
the Armenian genocide.
I am not an alarmist, but I feel that the coming election is one of the
most important in the history of our country. I firmly believe that the
fate of the Great America that we all love is in jeopardy. So do your
duty before it is too late. You can make a difference by voting for
Paparian and the above listed righteous candidates, and by urging your
friends and relatives to do the same. You can also help by making
financial contribution to Paparian’s campaign; and/or by urging your
friends and relatives living in the 29th District to volunteer and
spread his urgent and timely message to the voters.
Campaign office now open, 09/14/06
457 W. Colorado St,. Suite 202,
Glendale, CA 91204.
(818) 242-VOTE
Iraq veteran Chris McCray struggles to
express the horrors of war at Pasadena impeachment teach-in
In an evening marked by carefully crafted political speeches from local
Green Party congressional candidate Bill Paparian and former ACLU of
Southern California President Stephen Rohde on reasons why Bush should
be impeached — including the NSA’s unauthorized wiretapping, the torture
of prisoners in the War on Terrorism and misleading statements leading
to the preemptive invasion of Iraq — the nervous and drunk ex-soldier’s
words were anything but polished.
Paparian, a former Pasadena mayor, attorney and Marine Corps veteran
running against incumbent Democrat Adam Schiff in the November election,
described Bush as an authoritarian empire-builder.
"We’re a nation of laws, not men, but Bush says that the president is
above the law. No one, especially the president, is above the law. That
is a fundamental truth upon which our country was founded and upon which
it has grown strong and prospered," he said.
Paparian said his opposition to Bush
inspired his candidacy as a Green.
“Unfortunately, Republicans who oppose Bush
feel constrained by party loyalty, and the Democratic leadership seems
frozen and unable to move. That’s why I’m running for Congress, because
I’m going to tell this emperor president that he’s not above the law,”
said Paparian.
"When one considers that McCloskey, a longtime union organizer and a
lifelong Democrat, only had three months to raise money, to become known
to the public and to knock on doors, capturing more than 6,000 votes
from the popular Schiff was not only a major accomplishment but
validation of McCloskey’s belief that the war is wrong and that Bush
should be impeached.
It is for those reasons that McCloskey is
doing the unthinkable: Turning against his own party member and
supporting Green Party candidate Bill Paparian and his race against
Schiff in November’s general election." Press release (pdf)
Primary Night speeches,
06/06/06
Recorded at the primary night party at the
Pasadena Hilton.
Ed Begley Jr. endorses Paparian, mp3
(7:53, 2.57 mb)
Paparian Cited As "Loyal Friend of the
Community."
In the first known newspaper endorsement of any candidate in the
November 29th Congressional District race, the Los Angeles Sentinel has
endorsed Bill Paparian for Congress in November. Although often seen as
a Democrat stronghold, the Sentinel publishers have broken with the
pro-war Democrat incumbent and endorsed Paparian. Danny Bakewell, Sr.,
Owner and Publisher of the paper said of Paparian that "Bill has proven
himself to be a loyal friend to me personally, to the African American
Community and to all people of color. He is a man of commitment and a
man of principle," Bakewell said. "I respect Bill Paparian. He
understands the needs of communities of color," Bakewell said.
"Greens stir state and federal elections debate in a sea of red and blue
For perhaps the first time in local political history, a third party
with candidates in races for Congress and the state Assembly appears to
be setting the political debate, which this campaign season has taken on
a decidedly anti-war character.
In the race for the 29th Congressional District, three-time incumbent
Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena) faces an array of candidates, including the
Green Party’s Bill Paparian, who feel betrayed by his pro-war and often
pro-Bush administration record.
Paparian, who was once registered Republican and Independent, is also
supporting the two Green candidates in the Assembly race, along with the
proposed Assembly Joint Resolution 39, which calls on Congress to
immediately begin impeachment proceedings against President Bush and
Vice President Dick Cheney."
"Is Congressman Schiff’s address a campaign issue?
Green Party congressional candidate and former Pasadena Mayor Bill
Paparian has described Democrat opponent Congressman Adam Schiff as out
of touch with area voters — most of all when it comes to his support for
the Iraq War.
During a debate May 12 at the Pasadena Senior Center, Paparian tried to
advance his contention that Schiff isn’t really hearing his constituents
with the allegation that Schiff no longer really “lives” in the 29th
Congressional District.
In November 2002, freshly re-elected Schiff sold the family home in
Burbank and purchased a 3,000 square foot, two-story mansion in an
exclusive suburb of Washington, DC. Around that time, Schiff rented a
small apartment in Burbank, where he is registered to vote.
Adam and his family have been inhabitants of Montgomery County, Md.,
ever since. His children are enrolled in school there and his wife is an
active PTA volunteer,” said Paparian, who described Schiff’s apartment
as not much bigger than the garage of his Maryland home.
“Now I don't know if that means he can't legally run for the House,”
Paparian continued, 'but it sure means in my book that he shouldn’t. He
doesn't live here, except on paper.'"
Danny Bakewell, Sr.
endorses Bill Paparian for Congress.
(pdf),
05/09/06
Danny Bakewell, Sr., real estate
developer, community activist and publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel,
has endorsed Bill Paparian for Congress in the 29th Congressional
District race.
"Bill has proven himself to be a loyal friend to me personally, to the
African American Community and to all people of color. He is a man of
commitment and a man of principle," Bakewell said.
"I respect Bill Paparian. He understands the needs of communities of
color," Bakewell said.
Bakewell is a successful businessman who founded The Brotherhood
Crusade, a charity that focuses on development and advocacy in
communities of people of color. The Sentinel is the oldest and largest
black-owned newspaper on the west coast. "I am pleased and honored to
have the endorsement of this man. Danny Bakewell has been an effective
champion for the African-American community for decades," Paparian said.
During his term as Mayor of Pasadena Paparian worked for the release of
Geronimo Pratt, now known as Geronimo ji Jaga, the activist jailed for
27 years for a crime he did not commit. When the revelation of
suppressed government alibi evidence resulted in ji Jaga’s release,
Paparian hosted a Welcome Home reception for ji Jaga at the Rose Bowl.
At the conclusion of his term as Mayor, Paparian was recognized by the
Brotherhood Crusade for "unwavering support and commitment to improving
the quality of life for all the citizens of Pasadena."
Paparian, has focused his campaign on immediately ending the war in
Iraq, and standing up to what he sees as the remorseless, incompetent,
illegal conduct of this administration. The Democrat incumbent has
failed to stand up to Bush, Paparian says, and has lost sight of the
needs of our community.
Paparian to Schiff:
Support “Peace Department” legislation currently before Congress.
04/09/06.
Bill Paparian, candidate for Congress in the November General Election
for the 29th Congressional District, has challenged the incumbent
Congressman to support a pending bill to establish a Department of
Peace.
"I strongly support and endorse HR 3760, the Department of Peace Bill,
and will immediately join as a co-sponsor and work to pass the
legislation when elected," Paparian said. "In the meantime, I have asked
our current Congressman to do the job of representing our interests and
immediately co-sponsor and work for the legislation.
The legislation creates the Department of Peace, charged with exploring
and promoting techniques to prevent or reduce violence at the local,
national and international level, according to the Peace Alliance
website at www.ThePeaceAlliance.org.
In addition, the legislation would create a "Peace Academy" parallel to
the existing military academy for training in techniques to reduce
conflict.
The Department of Peace would not replace or be responsible for military
operations. Rather, it would elevate the idea of peaceful world
relations to a department level priority.
According to proponents, the proposed department would advise the
President, the Secretaries of Defense and State, and others on root
causes of violence, plus practical ways to dismantle violence while
still in a formative phase.
"Peace is at least as important as war, maybe more so, and deserves this
level of recognition," Paparian said. "Our military is superbly good at
defending us, and fighting wars when required – but it is not part of
their training or mission to reduce the need for war through
peace-building activities. That’s why the establishment of a Department
of Peace is so important."
This is the second time the bill has been before Congress, but Rep.
Schiff has yet to support or co-sponsor the bill, according to Paparian.
In a letter faxed to Schiff’s Pasadena Office on April 5, 2006, Paparian
reminded Schiff that two local volunteers for the Peace Alliance had met
with him in August of last year
to urge him to support the legislation. "I hope Adam will do the right
thing, and join me in endorsing this important legislation," Paparian
said.
Paparian, a Green, has focused his campaign on immediately ending the
war in Iraq, and standing up to what he sees as the remorseless,
incompetent, illegal conduct of the Bush administration.
The 29th Congressional District covers an area surrounding Pasadena, and
includes Glendale and parts of Burbank.
"PASADENA - Bill Paparian, the former Pasadena mayor who is challenging
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, for his House seat, running as a Green,
last week challenged Schiff to support "Peace Department" legislation
currently before Congress.
"I strongly support and endorse HR 3760, the Department of Peace Bill,
and will immediately join as a co-sponsor and work to pass the
legislation when elected," Paparian said in a statement. "In the
meantime, I have asked our current congressman to do the job of
representing our interests and immediately co-sponsor and work for the
legislation."
The legislation would create the Department of Peace, charged with
exploring and promoting techniques to prevent or reduce violence at the
local, national and international level, according to the Peace Alliance
website at www.ThePeaceAlliance.org.
In addition, the legislation would create a "Peace Academy" parallel to
the existing military academies.
The Department of Peace would not replace or be responsible for military
operations. Rather, it would elevate the idea of peaceful world
relations to a department level priority.
Paparian, a Green, has focused his campaign on immediately ending the
war in Iraq. Paparian is himself a former Republican and a former
Marine."
" . . . . Among the more than 250 anti-war activists who gathered in
Pasadena Sunday were seven who came not only to speak out about
peace, but to give locals a chance to vote for it as well.
Green Party candidates Bill Paparian, Philip Koebel and Ricardo
Costa, along with Democrat Bob McCloskey, Peace and Freedom Party
candidate Lynda Llamas, and Libertarians Jim Keller and Ted Brown
are all running for local Congress or state Assembly seats on a
peace platform.
In fact,
the field of “alternative” candidates is so crowded that in June
either Koebel or Costa will face elimination from the Assembly race,
as Pasadena will host the first competitive Green Party
Legislature Primary Election ballot in state history.
With so
much competition, there’s surprisingly little infighting, as many of
the candidates are helping each other campaign in order to increase
visibility for the anti-war cause.
“The
crisis we’re facing crosses party lines,” said Paparian, a Marine
Corps veteran and former Pasadena mayor who is running for Congress.
“This is a crisis that confronts us as Americans. It doesn’t make a
difference what our affiliation is — we have to take a stand.” . . ."
"But hold on. Believe it or not, there is actually a bright side to
all of this business-as-usual politicking. And that is the emergence
of the Green Party in the coming state and national elections as
something of a populist force to be reckoned with.
Two
things help bring a little more excitement than usual to the June 6
primary elections. One is a first-ever competitive Green Party
Primary Election for a seat in the Legislature, and it’s happening
right here in the 44th Assembly District in the race for the seat
currently held by Democrat Carol Liu, who is leaving office due to
term limits.
Come the
June primary, four Democrats will be squaring off for Liu’s seat. So
will two Green candidates: Pasadena affordable housing advocate
Philip Koebel and Ricardo Costa, a film projectionist for Laemmle
Theatres.
Another
exciting aspect of this election is the presence of a well-known
political character on the Green Party ticket running in the
congressional seat presently held by Democrat Adam Schiff, and that
is former Pasadena City Councilman Bill Paparian.
When
Paparian was on the City Council, he was well-known by many in
politically liberal circles as the only “real progressive” on a
board of mostly Democrats. But Paparian was perhaps better known for
his maverick spirit, having been a former US Marine, a registered
Republican, then an independent, and now a Green."
Paparian to Schiff:
Support "Peace Department" Legislation Currently
Before Congress
Sixty-Three Representatives Endorse Federal Body To Promote
Elimination Of Violence On Local, National And International Venues,
Establish Peace Academy.
Paparian announces run for Congress. 2/19/06
Bill Paparian, former Pasadena Mayor, announced today that he will be a
candidate for Congress in the November General Election for the 29th
Congressional District.
"It is time to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home,” Paparian
said. “It is time to stand up to the President’s warrantless wiretapping
of American emails and phone calls. It’s time to act. That’s why I’m
running."
Josh Connole just after being released from unjust custody.
Paparian was his lawyer.
Click here for an interview with Bill on on how Josh Connole
was targeted by the FBI and arrested for the firebombing of a
West Covina Hummer dealership, and the Cointelpro-like approach of
the FBI to the environmental movement.
A native Californian, Paparian has been an attorney in private practice
in Pasadena for more than 25 years. In the first post 9/11 civil rights
case involving FBI misconduct, Paparian successfully represented
environmentalist and anti-war activist Josh Connole who had been
wrongfully accused of acts of domestic terrorism.
As Mayor of Pasadena, Paparian’s strong support of the military and
veterans was recognized by the Secretary of the Navy who awarded
Paparian the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Paparian
served as an elected public official in Pasadena for 12 years, from
1987-1999.
"I am running because our congressman needs to stand up to this rogue
administration and say 'Enough! What you are doing is wrong and my
constituents and I have had enough'" Paparian said. (Democratic
incumbent Adam) "Schiff isn’t doing that."
"Bush's war isn’t working. Americans are dying and thousands
are coming home horribly maimed because Iraq is now in the middle
of its own civil war.
The two factions in Iraq hate each other, but they do agree on one
thing: until we are gone, the Americans are a target," Paparian said.
"Congress must hold this President accountable for his decision to
violate the constitution and order warrant-less wiretaps on thousands of
American phone calls and emails.
"Congress must call for a complete investigation of the Vice-President,
in no uncertain terms, now that his top aide, Scooter Libby, has
testified that the Vice-President himself ordered Libby to break the law
and leak classified information."
We need a representative in Congress who will dare to stand up to bad
ideas and stand up for the people of this District, according to
Paparian.
"Schiff went to Congress full of energy and ideas, but these days he is
all but invisible. He has become a collaborator with this President by
his weak or non-existent opposition to the war and erosion of American
constitutional rights."
"Make no mistake," Paparian said. "Schiff is a nice guy, and probably a
fine neighbor. But whether he is unwilling or unable to do what we need
him to do – to take the risk of losing his 'safe' congressional seat in
order to tell this President 'no more' hardly matters. Schiff has let us
down."
Paparian, a Green, will focus his campaign on immediately ending the war
in Iraq, and standing up to what he sees as the remorseless,
incompetent, illegal conduct of this administration.
The 29th Congressional District covers an area surrounding Pasadena, and
includes Glendale and parts of Burbank.
