“Extreme liberals who look at this should be quaking in their boots,” declares Pastor Becky Fischer with jovial satisfaction in the riveting documentary “Jesus Camp.” Ms. Fischer, an evangelical Christian, helps run Kids on Fire, a summer camp in Devils Lake, ND, that grooms children to be soldiers in “God’s army.”
– from Stephen Holden, New York Times, September 22, 2006

ENOUGH
By Bettina Duval, Founder, The CALIFORNIA LIST
Why should I be afraid? I am not afraid and I refuse to allow the views of others to dictate over my personal freedoms and beliefs.

My fifth grader is studying the constitution so I was reminded that there are three powerful tenants in the Declaration of Independence: “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” To be a Liberal is to defend the freedom of all people who make up our great nation. To be a Liberal is to trust individuals and families to run their own lives as they see fit. To be a Liberal is to create a nation where anyone can excel if they are willing to do the work. Liberalism embodies the very essence of family values.

I am so tired of having my values devalued because of my political affiliation. It’s time to fight for the values I hold dear—family values—that reflect the majority of America.

What are people like Becky Fischer fighting for? Is she fighting against change in our society? The loud agenda of the religious right is drowning out the voices of anyone with an opposing view. Enough. It’s time that we are heard and show that our voices matter. It’s time for us to set the tone and stop being forced to the defensive. It’s time for us to create the agenda. It’s time for us to be empowered through those original tenants of the Declaration.

Our first strategic action is to elect to government pro-choice, Democratic women; women who represent the values we hold dear like family, diversity, education, and personal freedoms. Next, we must build a solid infantry with a sustainable network that will mobilize women voters. Polls have shown that when women vote, women win and Democrats win. By mobilizing women voters in California we can keep California safe. Finally, our campaign must be organized and well-planned. We keep hearing how organized the Republicans are or read about the solidarity of extreme religious organizations. I am here to say, they aren’t the only ones. The CALIFORNIA LIST is just as organized and prepared to fight the good fight for our values.

And fight we will….Democratic women in our state government are taking the lead to protect families. Assemblywoman Karen Bass strengthened the protection of children in the foster care system with her 24-bill legislative package and ensured that children have health insurance with her Healthy Families Insurance Coverage bill recently signed into law. State Senator Sheila Kuehl has taken the lead to make sure that the 6 million uninsured Californians have health care—another protection of family. Assemblywoman Fran Pavley and State Senator Christine Kehoe are working towards creating a better environment by introducing legislation on alternative fuels. In some of the most important issues affecting families, our women are taking the lead!

Voting not only for our women candidates is a step in protecting our rights, but also, voting on the issues is critical as well. Once again, those wanting to push their own agenda by proselytizing and chiseling away at Roe vs. Wade and a woman’s right to choose have re-introduced a parental consent measure on California’s November ballot with Proposition 85. Let’s ensure that we respond with clarity and resonance when we go to the polls next month. A “No” vote on Proposition 85 sends the message that you have faith in your family and that you value communication and trust between your family members.

Unfortunately, not every family has the benefit of openness and every family experiences some form of stress, whether financial, illness, or any number of issues. Today’s portrait of the family includes an extension of spiritual advisors, coaches, neighbors, grandparents, counselors, and many others who help keep the family unit strong. The face of today’s family has also changed.

Last Saturday I attended my daughter’s friend’s Bat Mitzvah. As the girl’s parents talked about their daughter, one could not help but feel the love they held for their child, especially when the father sang a song he had written. In my neighborhood, there is a grandmother who takes care of her daughter and grandchildren because her son-in-law was killed in the World Trade Center bombing. At Boys and Girls Clubs around the country, grandmothers, single fathers, aunts, uncles….who want only the best for their children have been forced by the circumstances of life to seek help from non-profit organizations in caring for their families.

Do the parents of the Bat Mitzvah girl have stronger family values than the single father who takes his son to the Boys & Girls Club, or the grandmother raising her fatherless grandchildren? Is their love worth less because theirs does not fit the idealized traditional picture of a family?

Everyday, The CALIFORNIA LIST fights to elect pro-choice, Democratic women who believe in our family values. Please help take the lead by supporting The CALIFORNIA LIST. When you read about organizations like the Jesus Camp it is clear that “they” are organized. We are out-organizing them. True to our mission, The CALIFORNIA LIST is helping to elect Democratic women in CALIFORNIA. We are setting up a network to take the lead by supporting the myriad of different families that live in California. We are the future.

If you have not renewed your membership or become a member
of The CALIFORNIA LIST, please don’t wait! Join Today!

THANK YOU JOY PICUS!
Once again, Joy Picus hosted a spectacular event for The CALIFORNIA LIST in Woodland Hills. This was the second event Joy hosted for us and in attendance were Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, and Assembly candidate Ferial Masry, both of whom spoke about the importance of electing women and maintaining Democracy. Thank you to all who attended, and to Joy Picus for her continued support of women and our organization.

SAN FRANCISCO
Our upcoming event in San Francisco has been postponed in order for Hilary Newsom, Marianne Gaddy and me to put our efforts towards the upcoming election. It is essential that we defeat Proposition 85, the parental notification ballot, in order to send a message to the anti-choice movement. It is also imperative that we elect Debra Bowen as Secretary of State as well as the many other Democratic women running for California state government. We are scheduling an event in February when we will introduce a few of the 2008 Primary candidates, and we hope that you will join us then.

HISTORICAL NOTE—How can we forget:
While pondering how to respond to the consistent assault on family values, I did some research. I was reminded of Vice President Dan Quayle’s 1992 speech in Los Angeles regarding the LA Riots. He spoke about the decay of moral values and family structure in American society as one of the reasons for the rioting.

In his speech Quayle also said, “it doesn’t help matters when primetime TV has Murphy Brown—a character who supposedly epitomizes today’s intelligent, highly paid, professional woman—mocking the importance of fathers, by bearing a child alone, and calling it just another ‘lifestyle choice,’” referring to the television show Murphy Brown.

Quayle’s speech was one of the most memorable incidents of the 1992 campaign …and is one of those remarks that has led to the debate on family values in society today.