Peter Hankwitz: The People's Voice

November 7th...

2006-11-10T10:50:00.000-08:00

Today I write to thank you for your support, your kind words, and your hard work throughout my campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.

While the election did not turn out as we had hoped, I am very proud of our accomplishments, and will continue working to advance the interests of my neighbors in this community.

I wish to express my gratitude to the many prominent figures and organizations who recognized our efforts to bring positive change to the San Fernando Valley. I am deeply thankful for the endorsements I received from Assemblyman Keith Richman, Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, and U.S. Congressmen Darrell Issa and Jim Kolbe to name a few.

Additionally, the media attention our campaign received is a source of great pride for me. High profile coverage in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and on Dennis Prager’s nationally syndicated radio show only strengthened my confidence in our message and our ideas.

November 7th was more of a setback than a defeat. I will continue to work hard for the interests of San Fernando Valley, and for a strong, inclusive GOP... [ read more ]

POSITIVE CHANGE for AMERICA

2006-11-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

Good morning, friends!

On this the eve of Election Day 2006, I wanted to take a moment and highlight three things that would also carry great importantance for me as a U.S. Representative.

While always working to return our fair share of federal funding for transportation and other issues specifically relevant to Southern California and the San Fernando Valley, following are three bills I would like to introduce if elected:

Cancer Research – Private Sector / Federal Program: Increased U.S. funding for medical and health research to be shared by government and the private sector, primarily in the areas of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and mental health.

Meaningful Federal Lobbying and Campaign Finance Reform: The McCain-Feingold Bill did not go far enough to clean up federal political campaign financing. We need to cut out special interest funding of federal campaigns to level the playing field so the voices of everyday Americans can be heard.

Engineering & Science Incentives for Elementary and Middle School Children: The federal government should invest much more in engineering, science education and basic scientific research to ensure that we remain competitive in the global marketplace.

There is likely one issue that resonates most prominently for each of us, though politics is not a single-issue process. We have to do what is best for America, and strive to reach across party lines in order to do so.

I hope I can count on your continued support, and, for those of you in our District, your vote tomorrow!

Despite irresponsible journalism and other strong messages to the contrary: Your vote always makes a difference!

FEELING RIGHT at HOME

2006-11-04T09:30:00.000-08:00

In its profile of my candidacy today, the Los Angeles Times did a great service to the Republican Party, and the people of California’s 27th Congressional District.
[Photo by Mel Melcon, Los Angeles Times]

The Times initially approached its story about my race to unseat Rep. Brad Sherman with curiosity. As the only openly gay Republican running for Congress, this was supposed to be one of those “news of the weird” features. What the Times reporter learned however, is that people on the campaign trail do not care if I am gay or straight. What they really care about are my ideas and my character.

Many in the Democratic Party seek to perpetuate the stereotype of the Republican Party as some crusty old club of plutocrats and bigots, but this article makes it clear that just is not the case. Republicans are bound together by our commitment to fiscal and personal responsibility and by our pro-business and strong defense policies, but we are all individuals, and there is room for all of us in the GOP.

I was thrilled, this week, to have received the endorsement of Gov. Christine Todd Whitman’s national political organization, “It’s My Party Too.” Gov. Whitman is only endorsing nine candidates for office in California: Gov. Schwarzenegger, Reps. Mary Bono and David Dreier, Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, Insurance Commissioner candidate Steve Poizner, three candidates for the state legislature, and me. That is a tremendously impressive list;, one on which I am proud to be included.

Tuesday is a big day for my campaign and the GOP. My opponent, Brad Sherman, has been so confident in his victory that he not only left the District to campaign for other candidates out of state, but he even told his constituents he was doing so! I believe he has ignored a good portion of this District for years so I suppose I should not be so surprised that he chose to ignore it at election time too. I think he could be in for a surprise on Tuesday. Democrats and Independents support me because of my inclusive, bi-partisan approach to federal governance, and the fact that I do NOT toe the Republican Party line on many social issues.

I encourage you to read the Los Angeles Times story. It is a window into the true nature of most of us in the GOP: diverse, energetic, and idea-driven. I am proud of who I am, of my family, and of the Party I represent.

IT'S MY PARTY, TOO!

2006-11-03T17:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Last week I met with Governor Christine Todd Whitman, the founder and Chair of the national political organization, "It's My Party Too." We had a lengthy and substantive discussion about public policy and the upcoming election.

I am pleased to announce that yesterday I received the endorsement of Governor Whitman and "It's My Party Too"--making me one of only nine candidates for office from California supported by the organization.

It is a tremendous honor for me to be placed on this short list, along with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, U.S. Representatives Mary Bono and David Dreier, Steve Poizner, and three candidates for the State legislature.

My admiration for Governor Whitman could not be greater. A lifelong and loyal Republican, and a leader of the party's moderate wing, she served in the Bush cabinet as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from January 2001 to May 2003. Prior to that, she was the first female elected governor of New Jersey, serving two terms from 1993 to 2000.

Governor Whitman created "It's My Party Too" and its associated IMP-PAC to advocate for the historic Republican principles of liberty, individual responsibility, and personal freedom. I share her vision of a Republican Party that is unified by the basic tenets of fiscal responsibility and personal freedom, yet one that allows for diverse opinions on social issues by its members. IMP-PAC members consider themselves True Conservative Republicans: those who believe in smart fiscal values; who believe that government should have a limited role in Americans' personal lives; and who believe in a strong national defense.

As a Member of Congress, I will be able to greatly expand my efforts to help Governor Whitman continue highlighting the real and non-partisan national perspectives shared by most Americans.

Please help me to win this race... Your generous contribution will directly benefit our efforts in these final days before the November 7th election.

Thank you for your support!

SERIOUSLY TIME for a CHANGE

2006-10-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

In August, my opponent, Rep. Brad Sherman made a public promise to many constituents that he would debate me.  He lied.

For weeks, Mr. Sherman has skipped candidate forums in the district, and ignored requests by my campaign staff to schedule an event: any time, any place. Most recently, he refused to even respond to a formal proposal that called for the San Fernando Sun newspaper to moderate a debate in the northeast San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles.

I was especially looking forward to meeting Mr. Sherman in the northeast Valley because it is an area that he publicly fought to exclude from his district, one he has utterly ignored since it was forced upon him after congressional lines were redrawn in late 2001.

In published reports in the Los Angeles Times from 2001, prominent Democrats chastised Mr. Sherman and implied that his opposition was potentially racially motivated:

     “[Sherman] has made himself irrelevant,’ said State Sen. Don Perata (D-Alameda), the chairman of the Senate Redistricting Committee. ‘He would like to have sort of a white-bread district and is having a real hard time understanding that the population of California is changing, particularly in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.’ He called Sherman, ‘as self-serving as anybody I’ve met.’”
     (“Neighboring LA Democrats Trade Barbs Over Redistricting,” Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, September 8, 2001)

     “[State Sen. Richard Alarcon (D-Sylmar)] also said Sherman has ‘fought vehemently and publicly to reduce the number of Latinos in his district. There are some fences that need to be mended. He needs to let the Latino community know that he supports them as a community.’”
     (“Remapping Plan Fails To Appease Latinos,” Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, September 11, 2001)

Now, I absolutely reject the notion that Brad Sherman is a racist—I simply do not believe it. But Brad Sherman is a politician. He sees people in this district as voter registration statistics, not constituents, and has done so for the last four years.

I have no doubt that he fears his act will not play as well in the Northeast Valley as it does in upscale Sherman Oaks, where he has a home. That said, his decision to simply ignore the Northeast Valley for years is infuriating, and it makes no sense, political or otherwise.

My partner in life happens to be Latino—first generation American, in fact.  When elected, I will represent everyone in this District...regardless of where they live, or their political party affiliation.  It's seriously time for a change.

Valley is DUE for a CHANGE...

2006-10-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

The San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles has a justifiable “chip on its shoulder.” Despite being part of the City of Los Angeles, it has long been treated as a second-class citizen by local government, a source of great frustration and anger for many Valley residents.

In 2002, this bipartisan issue became so acute that the Valley residents actually voted overwhelmingly to secede from the City of Los Angeles, and GOP Assemblyman Keith Richman (pictured below) was provisionally elected “Mayor of the San Fernando Valley.” Ultimately the initiative was defeated by a majority of the Los Angeles voters from other parts of the City, though the Valley’s discontent remains.

According to the California Institute for Federal Policy Research, the imbalance between what California pays the federal government in taxes and what it gets back in the form of federal funds has gotten worse every year since my opponent, Rep. Brad Sherman, took office. In 2003—the most recent year for which data is available—Californians sent $50 billion more to Washington, D.C., than they got back in return: a record high for any state in the country.

“Getting the Valley its fair share” is the central theme of my campaign. The message is resonating because, with the exception of naming a local Post Office or two, Brad Sherman, has done almost nothing for the 27th District.

In fact, in its 2006 “Power Rankings” of Members of Congress, www.congress.org ranked Brad Sherman a dismal 349th out of 435. As an explanation for Sherman’s low score, the website noted: “Average tenure and committee position, but did not advance any legislation in 2005.”

The “fair share” concern is real. It is powerful, populist and bipartisan. Brad Sherman cannot go near it because of his admittedly undistinguished Congressional record in this area. The same sentiment behind “fair share” that was strong enough to move the Valley to literally vote to secede from the City of Los Angeles, is also strong enough to vote out a do-nothing Congressman.

Please share your thoughts with me, and help us win this election, so I can effectively represent everyone in our District... [HankwitzForCongress.com]

Congratulations, SENATOR LINCOLN CHAFEE!

2006-09-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

This evening U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) soundly defeated Stephen Laffey, his primary election opponent.

As the precinct reports began posting, Senator Chafee's lead was always solid, never dropping below 53%, and finally settling at more than 54% of the vote.

Senator Chafee's victory once again signals that most Americans (especially those in the mainstream) prefer Senators and Representatives in D.C. who get the job done—and don't just toe the party line.

I had the honor of spending an afternoon with Senator Chafee recently, and I can attest without reservation that he, too, is an example of someone who strongly supports fairness, security and opportunity in America.

Congratulations, Senator Chafee! America needs you in Washington for six more years...

Shedding Some light...

2006-09-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

I’d like to thank the writer (Brian) for his comments about Prop 90. I respect his point of view, though I do not share it, and I stand by my previous statements: I oppose the Kelo decision, and I support private property rights. This is one of many obvious and primary distinctions between me and my opponent, Brad Sherman.

Mr. Sherman’s record on many other issues that affect all of us is dismal at best. He has failed to appropriately represent California's 27th Congressional District in the areas of national security, federal taxes, removal of regulations on small business, and bringing back the fair share of federal dollars—especially since he was gerrymandered into the north San Fernando Valley in late 2001.

I sincerely appreciate Brian’s comments because this kind of debate is precisely what the voters deserve if they are to make an informed decision at the polls in November. Regrettably, this blog is thus far the closest we have been able to come to a real debate, as Mr. Sherman still has not committed to any of the debates my campaign has proposed.

As for my party affiliation, please see my earlier post (It’s the People, Not the Party). And while I appreciate that Brian illuminated the good work of the leaders and other members of the Human Rights Campaign [HRC], a group dedicated to realizing a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all, let’s not give Mr. Sherman too much credit: he will never outrank me in any HRC survey—ever...

"Prop. 90 endorsers"

2006-08-28T16:30:00.000-07:00

Reposted commentary from: The California Observer

I support the provisions of property protection behind Prop 90, though I also believe a greater solution is necessary at the federal level to protect people's property rights.

My congressional opponent, Brad Sherman, voted against H.R.340, a non-binding resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that last year’s highly publicized Supreme Court decision in ‘Kelo et al. v. City of New London et al.’ [1] was wrong.

In this landmark case, the government of the City of New London, Connecticut, seized private property from individuals, claiming that the “city has carefully formulated a development plan that it believes will provide appreciable benefits to the community, including, but not limited to, new jobs and increased tax revenue,” thereby hiding behind the Fifth Amendment’s takings clause regarding ‘eminent domain’. However, those who stood to profit most from the property transfer were NOT its owners: they were the private developers.

While “increased tax revenue” for the city may be a result of its actions, and may, therefore, benefit all residents to some extent, it is NOT a sufficient reason to seize private property. As for another reason cited, new jobs will certainly be created: all those jobs necessary to demolish homes and build shopping centers.

The House bill [2] declared “eminent domain should never be used to advantage one private party over another.” Fortunately, despite my opponent’s strange efforts to the contrary, Congress overwhelmingly passed this Resolution in June 2005, 365–33 [3], with the support of 144 Democrats, Rep. Xavier Becerra (CA) and Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA) included among them.

Clearly, this is not a partisan issue; this is an issue of private property rights. And the people of the San Fernando Valley deserve to know that the Gentleman from California’s 27th District has little, if any, interest in protecting theirs.

[1] http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04-108.ZS.html
[2] http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c109:2:./temp/~c109752mX6::
[3] http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2005&rollnumber=361

Congrats: FRIENDS and EMMY® WINNERS!

2006-08-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Throughout my career in the entertainment industry, I have been fortunate to know and work with some of the most talented people in show business. Today I offer my heartfelt congratulations to a few of my friends and colleagues who were recipients of Creative Arts Emmy® and Primetime Emmy® awards during the ceremonies held by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on August 19th and August 27th:

Outstanding Drama Series:
     Joel Surnow, Executive Producer, "24" (Fox)
     Jon Cassar, Co-Executive Producer, "24" (Fox)

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series:
     Jon Cassar, Director, "24" (Fox)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie:
     Jeremy Irons as 'Earl of Leicester' in "Elizabeth I" (HBO)

Outstanding Reality/Competition Program:
"The Amazing Race" (CBS)
     Bert van Munster, Executive Producer
     Jonathan Littman, Executive Producer
     Elise Doganieri , Co-Executive Producer

Outstanding Children's Program:
"I Have Tourette’s But Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me" (HBO)
     Dolores Morris, Supervising Producer

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series:
     Leslie Jordan as 'Beverley Leslie' in "Will and Grace" (NBC)

Kudos to all of you! It is a privilege to know you, and to participate in your efforts to entertain television (and film) audiences over the years.

Keep up the great work!

IT'S the PEOPLE, NOT the PARTY

2006-08-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

On August 10th a member of my staff forwarded an (unfriendly) email to me with a subject line that read: “How I'd like to be represented...”

Normally I do not engage in responding to a note from an obviously misguided reactionary whom I have never met. However, since this particular email shed light on a commonly held prejudice, I wanted to share it here, and make a couple of quick points. (Note: Although the author signed his name to the email, I will preserve his anonymity, as I am the one who chose to run for public office, not him.)

The author wrote in the body of his note: “I'd like to be represented by a candidate who is NOT a self-loathing, hypocritical, neo-con gay man. Give me a good ol' Dem any day--straight or gay. THEY know that EVERYONE is equal, worthy of marriage and personal choices.”

It is not the Party affiliation that makes a person: it is the people who comprise the Party. As such, we should not segregate anyone based solely on a political party affiliation.

Yes, some of the Republicans in Congress have an abysmal historical record on issues involving equality for lesbians and gays. And earlier this year, on July 18th and June 7th, respectively, many of those same Republicans were joined by thirty-four (34) Democratic House Representatives and two (2) Democratic U.S. Senators who voted for a Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) to the U.S. Constitution, which would have effectively banned all gay marriages.

Conversely, and if we truly want change on a national scale, we must—absolutely MUST—highlight and applaud the efforts of those Republicans who, like me, refuse to toe the Party line on this particular issue in Congress.

There were twenty-seven (27) House Republicans and seven (7) U.S. Senators who voted against the FMA, including Rep. Mary Bono and Rep. David Dreier from California. We cannot let their great efforts for equality go unheralded, anymore than we can afford to pretend to enjoy the automatic support of all of their Democratic colleagues.

On this particular issue, having a “good ol' Dem” in the House didn’t necessarily help, did it? Once again: it’s the people, not the party. (Coincidentally, of the major party Members who voted, exactly the same percentage of House Republicans voted against the FMA as Democrats who voted for it: 14.4%)

Fortunately these proposed Constitutional amendments amounted to nothing more than political posturing. Both failed to pass, as expected, due to the fair-mindedness of hundreds of women and men in each Party, and their ‘Independent’ colleagues.

So I submit to the author of the email we received, and to all those reading this posting, that I am far from a “self-loathing, hypocritical, neo-con gay man.” In fact, the only accurately used adjective in that sentence is “gay.”

I happen to believe deeply in personal freedom and responsibility, and equality for all people. Yet, because I am a Republican candidate, the writer of the email implied that I did not “know that EVERYONE is equal, worthy of marriage and personal choices.” He is simply wrong, and clearly does not know me at all. He does, however, have a right to be wrong: we all do.

I am a man who loves his family, his country and his freedom, and will work tirelessly to protect and support each of those things (and more) as a Member of Congress. There are myriad issues that affect all Americans: like fairness, national security and opportunities to foster business growth. If we do not start working together, and stop focusing on single-issue social politics, we may be in danger of destroying the very spirit of inclusion and equality on which America was founded.

www.hankwitzforcongress.com

"Love Your NEIGHBOR as YOURSELF"

2006-08-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

I read today that during the San Diego Gay Pride festival this past weekend five people were brutally attacked, allegedly for their sexual orientation, as they left the event.

Excuse me: What year is this? Have we suddenly been transported back to the bigoted and segregated days of yore? Are some people still this ignorant and foolish? Apparently so...

Anyone who knows me is likely aware that being gay is only one part of who and what I am; that my life is dedicated to many, many things beyond that which is considered to be part of so-called “gay culture.” However, when I hear of this kind of ridiculous, despicable, disabling and hateful behavior, I need to weigh in, as it’s personal.

ALL FORMS OF BIGOTRY AND HATRED HAVE TO STOP, FOLKS!

It should not be too surprising that the people arrested in connection with these attacks are members of a group who call themselves "Lowlifes." Imagine referring to yourself as a 'lowlife' and swelling up with (false) pride therefore. Who are these idiots? And two of them were teenagers! Where are their parents?

Three of the four suspects arrested appeared in San Diego criminal court yesterday. Lowlifes indeed.

My staff and I stand firmly with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in his statement about these acts of cowardice, and the upcoming "Hate Crimes Rally and Candlelight March” on Friday, August 4, 2006 at 5:30pm in San Diego:

"The hate and ignorance these detestable acts embody stand in stark contrast to the principles of tolerance and compassion that represent California. Hate crimes like these hurt not only their immediate victims, but an entire community. They only expose the futility of violence. By responding to violent attacks with peaceful demonstrations and answering hate with solidarity, Friday's rally serves as a powerful reminder that only by respecting differences can we hope to avoid these types of tragedies in the future."

God bless you, Governor Schwarzenegger. And thank you.

IN SUPPORT of ISRAEL

2006-07-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, July 23rd, was a bittersweet day for me, as I attended an amazing rally on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, organized by the Jewish Federation of America.

It was of great personal importance that I stand to be counted among thousands of people who, like me, unequivocally support Israel's sovereign right to defend herself against all forms of tyranny and terrorist attacks. There is only one "right side" on this issue, and I was there to help make that clear to the world.

The bitter part was -- and is -- that so many Israelis have been killed or wounded defending their country and standing up to terrorist aggression. And still other Israelis have been kidnapped by cowardly terrorist thugs who hide behind a flimsy, filthy mask of credibility as recognized political organizations: Hezbollah and Hamas. Their childish attempts at credibility in the world of political leadership is laughable.

The sweet part, however, far outweighed the former, though, as I stood with California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Los Angeles' Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Democratic Congressman Howard Berman (the sole U.S. Representative in attendance), Israeli Consul General Ehud Danoch, Rabbi Laura Geller, and many other community and government leaders to share our feelings of deep concern for Israel and its people.

It was a proud and moving moment for me to know that, not only has President Bush remained steadfast in his unflinching support of Israel, but that nearly 10,000 Californians took the time to join arms with each other to cheer, pray and sing for security and peace in the State of Israel.

I'm so grateful to have been asked to attend this event, and I look forward to continuing to do everything I can to support Israel as a Member of Congress in 2007.

Happy 4th of July, America!

2006-07-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends:

For more than two centuries, the United States of America has opened its arms to people around the world in the spirit of inclusion and freedom for all. The foundation for this embrace was built by the selfless sacrifice of the men and women who valued that spirit above all else.

As we celebrate America's 230th birthday, we ask you to join us in salute to those who serve in our Armed Forces, and in honor of those who gave so much to ensure that foundation remains forever solid and strong.

These are true heroes of our nation, and we owe them our deepest, most humble gratitude.

We wish you all a happy and healthy 4th of July!

I WILL NOT TOE the PARTY LINE!

2006-06-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

As I am now honored to become the elected Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives (CA-27), we have a few thoughts to share with you as we head into the next phase of our 2006 campaign:

    • Eminent domain abuse is not a partisan issue.
    • Securing our nation's borders is not a partisan issue.
    • Growth and opportunity are not partisan issues.

The current incumbent toes a party line without consideration for constituents. In fact, the culture in Congress today has virtually every member in the House toeing a political party line. I will not toe the party line.

I will not stand with the Republican Party on runaway deficit spending, the Federal Marriage Amendment, anti-Choice legislation, or anything else simply for the sake of partisanship. I will, however, represent everyone in our district.

America cannot continue down a path of extremism and division, with the Congress and the current administration leading the way by meddling in areas where they are neither needed, nor welcomed, by most of us in the mainstream.

In California's 27th congressional district, there is finally a choice for Democrats, Republicans and everyone else...

Please visit our website at: http://www.HankwitzForCongress.com/Volunteer.html

Please VOTE!

2006-06-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Primary Election Day!

Please remember to take some time today and vote: it's the only way to truly make a difference.

USC: The TROJAN SPIRIT of COMMUNICATION

2006-04-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a "life coming full circle" experience:

I was invited to be a guest lecturer in two classes at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School of Commnunications. (Thank you again, Professor Carver.)

In each class there was a wonderful group of students who seemed interested and eager to hear what I had to say, and I am honored by the attention they gave me.

The opportunity also allowed for a trip down memory lane, as I shared that I, too, had been accepted to attend USC in 1986, yet chose instead to pursue my career in film and television entertainment.

It was great fun to see how my USC life may have looked 20 years ago!

I enjoyed the students' questions and comments about the world, politics, and entertainment. It was a great chance to listen to each other and express fresh ideas.

So many of us talk to or with or near each other -- yet often we don't actually commmunicate.

I believe all good communication begins with simply listening. And I'm glad some Trojans and I got a chance to listen to each other!

GO, DODGERS!

2006-04-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

That says enough, doesn't it?

PRE-PRIMARY WIN 2006!

2006-03-31T08:15:00.000-08:00

We had some terrific and unexpected news this month: My likely opponent dropped out of the state primary race. As such, I am the presumptive winner of my Party's nomination in the June 6th election!

Since I have no opposition in the primary, my team and I are hoping that our fundraising needs will be met by our friends in the general public sooner than later. Specifically, if all registered Republicans in our congressional district would send $10; or if half would send $20; or if one-quarter would send $40: we'd immediately increase our campaign coffers to equal almost the total funds raised by the incumbent (my general election opponent).

The point is that any amount helps, and small contributions add up quickly!

Please consider making a contribution to my campaign today: www.HankwitzForCongress.com

Thank you!

Happy Birthday, DICK SHEEHAN

2006-03-15T10:30:00.000-08:00

My late mentor and dear friend Richard "Dick" Sheehan would have been 73 years young today. Sadly, Dick died on June 5, 2005, having suffered, among other things, sudden acute lung failure. With all my mental and physical faculties opertaing at full speed today, I still cannot find a way to express the wonder at the dual experience this loss has created in my life.

While deep sadness was (and sometimes is) the overall feeling, I am also filled with a sense of comfort as Dick's words fill my mind as I move through my life now without his wise in-person counsel. Just like the lyrics of a favorite song from years past, his comments and phrases are often triggered by daily events. They are far too numerous to list here, yet I will say this: They were always filled with reality and love.

Now that I'm writing about it, perhaps I can find a way to express this wonder: I can simply live the life he would have wanted for me. I suppose that is the nature of life -- to learn and grow, and then move forward and try to help others.

None of us lives forever, at least not here on earth. So it is probably best that we honor those who have lived their lives before us by continuing the legacy they built for us, especially when that legacy was one of service to our fellow man. (And maybe we don't need even to wait until they're gone.)

I love you, Dick. Thank you for everything...

WHAT MIGHT the OTHERS THINK?

2006-02-06T20:45:00.000-08:00

In my February 3rd entry about hyphenate-Americans, I referred to something as a “good old-fashioned ‘groupthink’.” So I thought today I’d take a look at that age-old phenomenon.

“Groupthink” is defined as: “The act or practice of reasoning or decision-making by a group, especially when characterized by uncritical acceptance or conformity to prevailing points of view.” [1]

President Kennedy nearly succumbed to the groupthink exhibited by many of his closest advisors and Cabinet members in October 1962, those who wanted him to launch a nuclear strike against the Soviet Union. Had he followed their strongly offered advice, he would have made one of the most horrible decisions of the 20th century, and the United States (and the world) would have likely plunged into a full-scale nuclear war.

Instead, the president kept asking questions until he felt he had enough information from enough sources (including the Soviets), and then he trusted his own judgment and made a (well informed) decision, ultimately ending the threat altogether. The president’s brother and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy recounted his recollection of the tense events and groupthink that occurred during the Cuban Missile Crisis in his book Thirteen Days.

Technology and communications in 1962 were not what they are today. Yet, though decisions then were made using different tools and earlier methods of information sharing: they were still made. Sometimes those decisions were based on so-called “good” information, and sometimes on “bad,” as they still are now. Today, though, it seems there is so much rapid-fire information pouring into our lives, that it’s easy to relinquish any participation or responsibility we have in the decision-making process. We shouldn’t—especially in the age of the 24-hour news network.

In fairness, it should be noted that politicians are not the only ones who make decisions based on information we receive from sources other than our own personal experiences. We all do. Construction workers, bankers, mothers, fathers, priests, butchers, bakers and, yes, candlestick makers also get the vast majority of their information from friends, family, co-workers, television, radio, newspapers. By receiving this information, however, we often mistake it for personal experience.

Sure, the experience of receiving the information is certainly our own, but the experience of living it or gathering it is not. Therein lies the problem.

We rely on much of the information we receive as being real and true, since it’s needed in order to get through the day the best we can. Which freeway should we take during rush hour? How much are Red Delicious apples at Albertson’s? Where is the nearest veterinary facility? These are all pieces of information many of us will want at some point. And, for the most part, day-to-day, localized information like this is fairly accurate, especially when it’s only simple, verifiable facts we seek. But do we no longer feel safe with our individual abilities to reason for ourselves? When emotions or beliefs are involved, the rules of the game seem to change.

At a party in mid-December I briefly met a woman who politely excused herself, saying she was actually on her way out. As she walked away from me I said, “Nice to meet you. Merry Christmas.” She stopped and turned around slowly with water welling in her eyes and said, “Thank you for saying ‘Merry Christmas’ instead of ‘Happy Holidays’.” And then she stayed another half-hour to talk with me.

See, the game had changed around her, and, while she didn’t like the new rules at all, she continued to play.

She went on to explain that a superior in her office at a movie studio had verbally reprimanded her earlier that week for answering the department’s phone line by saying, “Merry Christmas.” The woman was told by her superior that it was against company policy and inappropriate. The irony lay in the fact that almost every person in the department (and the company) celebrated Christmas, as opposed to another religious holiday, or none.

The tricky part for many of us is that we react negatively only because we think we should. That’s groupthink.

I also wrote previously that “Conforming to a point of view (and subsequent behavior) without questioning the possible or even probable future damage it may do to us is irresponsible, especially around the children who learn from us.” Seems pretty applicable here, too.

Similarly, a longtime friend of mine who also lives in Los Angeles called today. I told her I was writing on this particular topic. She celebrates Christmas yet said she has “always said ‘Happy Holidays’ because I have so many Jewish friends if figured that was safe…”

Safe? Safe? Safe from what? I can only imagine what she thinks will happen if she unwittingly offers a Jewish person good tidings during the month of December by saying “Merry Christmas?”

Well, I’ve done it. I continue to do it. And the response has always been the same: a bright smile and a warm, “Thank you!” The reverse it true, too. Though I celebrate Christmas, when I’m greeted with “Happy Hanukkah,” I am genuinely delighted that someone took the time to actually say something in the first place! And when I know someone is Jewish, I may also say “Happy Hanukkah,” and vice versa. This is, in fact, the respectful behavior many seek in the quest to be ‘politically correct’ and inclusive.

Another friend told me how he never says “Merry Christmas” to anyone because there are “so many Jews I don’t want to risk offending anyone.” When I asked if he would be offended if a Jewish person said “Happy Hanukkah,” he immediately laughed and said, “Of course not!” That’s groupthink.

So why are we seemingly so bent on separating everyone into areas of “safe” existence? Why aren’t we putting an end to this, at least in our own lives? We celebrate our differences best by learning about them, not by judging them, or being afraid to ask others about theirs.

Christmas is a religious Christian holiday. And Hanukkah is a religious Jewish holiday. By combining these holy celebrations and issuing a sterilized greeting of “Happy Holidays,” we are, in truth, offending mostly ourselves and sending the message that all religious celebration is wrong. That message is seriously flawed.

In spending so much time in the ‘groupthink tank’, trying to homogenize all peoples, we are actually succeeding in excluding everybody, and forcing them to retreat into confusion. America celebrates diversity by expressing it. Why don’t more Americans do that?

We must endeavor to stop playing judge, jury and hangman for those around us, deciding how they will feel about us as individuals. On the contrary, we must embrace our ability to learn about each other and continue celebrating the fact that different cultures and traditions exist: including our own.

[1] Source: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition, © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Co.

AMERICANS-the-BEAUTIFUL

2006-02-03T15:20:00.000-08:00

In my experience, many wonderful and well meaning folks, in an effort to be ‘politically correct’, spend far too much time separating, categorizing, and labeling their own friends as hyphenated-Americans instead of allowing them to exist under, what in my opinion, is the greatest moniker of all: American.

You’ve probably heard the labels: “Arab-American,” or “Mexican-American,” or “Asian-American.” Yet nobody has once referred to me as “British-Scottish-German-American!”

So what does this mean? Does it means that many people are ashamed to be Americans?

The attempt to be ‘politically correct’ may be stripping America of its most defining quality: the inclusion of diversity. When did being ourselves – being who and what we are – come to mean we can’t live happily together as Americans?

President Teddy Roosevelt (a Republican) said in 1915, “There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities … There is no such thing as a hyphenated American who is a good American. The only man who is a good American is the man who is an American and nothing else.”

And just two administrations later, President Woodrow Wilson (a Democrat) said, “Any man who carries a hyphen about with him carries a dagger that he is ready to plunge into the vitals of this Republic whenever he gets ready.”

The other day I saw a young man wearing a t-shirt with an image of raised fist that read: “Black Power.” I’ve seen others wearing shirts that read “Viva La Raza” (literally meaning “ long live the race” in Spanish). Can you imagine the uproar that a “White Power” or “Long Live the White Race” T-shirt would create?

Obviously that would be in bad form, and I’m glad those weren’t hot sellers for Christmas. That said, it’s worrisome that not enough of us are asking why it seems to be important that we celebrate race, color, creed, religion and cultural history — provided that celebration doesn’t apply to white Christians.

Two of my closest friends, who happen to be black, refer to themselves as such whenever we’re together in private. However, they admit that while at work, or elsewhere publicly, they refer to themselves as “African-American.” Neither is African; they’re both Americans. And this is why it’s a problem: they don’t want to refer to themselves as “African-American,” yet they do so because they think they’re supposed to. To add insult to injury, another close friend of mine emigrated to the U.S. from South Africa. He, however, is not allowed to refer to himself as African-American because his skin is white.

This ever-present self-separation of hyphenate-Americans causes damage, to be sure. This damage is perhaps tricky to measure, but it is palpable.

Conforming to a point of view (and subsequent behavior) without questioning the possible or even probable future damage it may do to us is irresponsible, especially around the children who learn from us. Are we aware that we may be teaching children to be ashamed to be American?

Too few of us actually stop and ask why this is happening. I think the reason is because we’re afraid we might get an answer we won’t like. We might find that the oft-obeyed mighty 'Emperor of Politically-Correctdom' has, in fact, no clothes at all. It may have been us all along who were playing a game none of us really wanted or needed to play—a good old-fashioned “groupthink.”

Does this mean we should give up on our traditions? Should we abandon all learning about our various cultural histories? Will “Americanization” mean we all have to think alike? Of course not. That idea couldn’t be farther from reality.

I would simply offer this to those of us who are natural born or have been fortunate enough to become U.S. citizens: We all live in the same country.

It is the hard won right, and the envy of the millions around the globe, to be able to call oneself an American. In my humble opinion, we should each be satisfied to stop there.

THE “WHOLE” of the GOAL

2006-01-31T10:45:00.000-08:00

I’ve been thinking about a lot of things lately as the calendar changed from 2005 - 2006. And it may be no surprise to learn (in this election year) that teamwork is one topic very ‘top of mind’ these days.

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” This old bromide doesn’t mean that one hundred $1 bills are any more valuable than a single $100 bill; they aren’t. It’s meant to apply elsewhere.

Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s founding fathers (and the man whose face actually appears on the $100 bill), said, “We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

As a current example: a football team has eleven players. Though there are eleven people on a team, the value and ability of the team as a whole is much greater than the skill of each individual player simply multiplied by eleven. In fact, the greatest contribution a player can make is to cause the team to play better.

The late Vince Lombardi, championship NFL football coach, knew this principle inside and out. He said, “People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society … Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”[1]

Unfortunately, though a coach may work tirelessly to get a team to play better together, the players don’t always care about the team.

Phil Jackson, NBA coach for the L.A. Lakers, former coach of the Chicago Bulls, said, “Despite their tremendous talent, [NBA players] are still, by and large, young adults, seeking validation from an authority figure, and there is no greater authority figure on a team than the coach. Needless to say, in today's warped, self-indulgent climate, too many players couldn't care less about appeasing the coach.”[2]

Clearly this sentiment also applies to the players’ perspective of the team, and this is a primary component of much of what is faltering in America right now.

No particular group has a definitive monopoly on this. It is a systemic cultural problem brought on by years of separating ourselves from each other.

If we apply the football team analogy to America, we could (for simplicity’s sake) have a team comprised of: atheists, blacks, Christians, Democrats, executives, farmers, Jews, Latinos, Muslims, Republicans, and whites—plus 50 other players on the sidelines, dressed and ready to take the field. But how well are we playing as a team? How effective are we at running the ball across the goal line? And who exactly is our opponent?

More often than not, it seems, especially with the players we’ve chosen here, that each member of America’s team may be more interested in how many yards he gained for himself today than how the team is playing as a whole, or how much time is left on the clock.

This isn’t an indictment; it’s an observation I had while reading a newspaper. And this example obviously isn’t practical; it’s representational. But now think of an office staff as a team; or a hospital staff of doctors and nurses; or the U.S. Congress. Now the players are much more closely identified with the example above.

Like it or not, we’re all in this together. If we continue to play the game separately, we’ll lose. Only when we band together will we continue to win, and enjoy one championship after another.

Ben Franklin was also the first president of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery.[3] And more than two centuries ago he joined John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in recommending as our nation’s motto: E Pluribus Unum, which is Latin for ‘out of many, one’.

E Pluribus Unum remains our national motto to this day, appearing in the Great Seal of the United States.[4]

[1] Source: www.vincelombardi.com
[2] Source: The Sporting News, Oct 28, 2005, by Sean Deveney
[3] America’s first abolitionist organization
[4] Officially adopted by the U.S. Congress on June 20, 1782

KUDOS to SHERIFF BROOKS!

2006-01-25T15:45:00.000-08:00

I was honored a short time ago with an invitation to speak at a meeting of the Thousand Oaks Republican Women Federated - a wonderful group of people who care a lot about America. The theme of the evening was “Ronald Reagan’s Life and Legacy”: one of my favorite topics.

Also attending the event was Ventura County's Sheriff Bob Brooks. He was there, with his wife, to receive an award for outstanding service to the community.

Just following my speech, the Events Chair (and my good friend), Rosemary Licata, introduced Sheriff Brooks, and presented him with the award.

In thanking the group, Sheriff Brooks shared that he had recently been selected out of a nationwide pool of applicants in a highly competitive process to attend the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS), an 18-month Master's Degree program in Monterey, California. Needless to say, everyone in the room cheered!

According to a press release on the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department website: “CHDS attendees are comprised of subject matter experts from the military, law enforcement, public health and fire services from across the country. The central mission of CHDS is to expand the capability of government to prevent and respond to terrorism.”

Sheriff Brooks certainly deserves this opportunity. For more than 30 years he has devoted his life to serving his community as a member of the Sheriff’s Department. I am grateful that all of us in southern California will, in turn, benefit from his knew experience, knowledge, and training.

It was an honor and a privilege to share the podium with him that night. I wish him only the best in this new endeavor.

Congratulations again, Sheriff Brooks!

THE DOCTRINE of EDUCATION

2005-12-05T15:00:00.000-08:00

The last time I checked, the job of America’s public school system was to educate kids, not indoctrinate them.

Our focus needs to be on keeping kids in school through high school graduation; on making learning an enjoyable, yet disciplined experience for them.

What happened to the three “R’s” of education: “Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic?” Have the subjects of English, Math, Science, Geography, Civics, and History been so completely mastered by today’s students that some teachers feel the need to engage in heated conversations during class time about political and religious issues, causing many of their students to feel uncomfortable and ostracized because their views may differ? I may be wrong, but I don’t think that’s the case.

In an August 22nd CNN story, reporter Christine Romans said of high school students, “Even if they can get a GED and get a job, today’s high school dropout will make at least 35% less than high school dropouts of a generation ago.” In the same story, Tom Luce, Asst. Secretary of Education, said, “We have a problem. Of about every 100 students that enter 9th grade, only about 67 graduate, and we just can’t have that in this country. We’ve got to correct the problem.”

He’s right. We do.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Education, graduation rates peaked in America in 1969, with 77.1% of all 17-year-old students.

I am proud to be a successful product of America’s public school system, one of those who graduated (in 1986). Most of my teachers were wonderful, skilled educators. And there are literally thousands of other wonderful public school teachers in our country—several are my friends.

The teachers I know seem to understand that their position as an educator is one of tremendous influence. And it should be.

Today, at a minimum, kids must be taught the basics of English, science, math, and computers, since the skills (hopefully) learned in these subjects apply to virtually everything we do in our daily lives. The trick is for teachers to properly utilize that influence by causing their students to become excited about learning: not spend class time foisting their personal or political beliefs. It’s simply not the appropriate forum.

Obviously no two kids are exactly alike, nor are their parents. And while many who work in education may disagree with the religious or political positions of their students’, or their students’ parents, or our government, the classroom is not the place to air their grievances, especially when test scores continue to wane and graduations rates have declined for almost four decades.

The vast majority of public school students are young, impressionable kids — not adults with years of experience behind them, or even 18-year-olds who have recently become voters. Educators need to give their students factual information, and then teach them a framework within which they can respectfully debate (or choose not to debate) issues as they see fit. When it comes to “thinking,” educators must teach kids to think for themselves. It is as wrong for a teacher to present only one side of an issue, as it is to present only the other side.

There is a good reason tax-exempt, non-profit organizations (like churches) are prohibited from giving money in support of political candidates: the sway they may have over a congregation. Likewise, public school teachers must bear in mind that their profession is one of great importance and sway, as well.

The choice to devote their lives to providing America’s kids with a chance in this world is one worthy of honor and great praise. Yet, when the pulpit afforded a teacher is used for purposes of pushing opinions and personal agendas to a captive young audience, that praise will often and quickly turn to scorn, overshadowing much of the good that may have been done.

Throughout my own elementary, junior high, and high school experience, it was made clear that my teachers were an extension of my parents, in that my folks always told me to listen up and do what I was told. However, if a teacher or administrator ever initiated disciplinary action (of any kind), I was to demand that my parents were called immediately. It’s important to note that I never cried wolf. I never hid behind my parents’ protection inappropriately because I knew if I were being disrespectful or disingenuous, forget any concern about school discipline: my parents would punish me!

Only once or twice did I ever ask my parents to intervene. And in those cases, the teachers were actually wrong. It can happen; they’re only human. This was the healthy balance of my public school career: parents would parent, and teachers would teach...

YOURS, MINE and…OH, JUST YOURS?

2005-11-30T08:15:00.000-08:00

Gregory Peck, like many of his colleagues, worked hard for six decades to hone his craft and entertain millions of moviegoers worldwide. He was an American icon, and a legend in his time. So, at risk of shining a light too long on those who deserve none, I write this to the thief (or thieves) who took his star from Hollywood's Walk of Fame last Sunday: Mr. Peck earned that star, and the respect that placed it there in the first place. You have earned nothing, and your actions help nobody. Congratulations! You are now officially part of the problem in America.

In 1998 I attended the premiere screening of USA Network’s mini-series remake of “Moby Dick,” starring Patrick Stewart as ‘Captain Ahab’ and Gregory Peck in the cameo role of ‘Father Mapple’. Peck, who played ‘Ahab’ in John Huston’s silver screen version of Herman Melville’s story, had starred in over 50 movies by that time, and this was his last role. He died in 2003.

When Mr. Stewart entered the theatre on the Paramount Studios back lot, the room was sizzling with the excitement that comes with seeing a wonderful actor and familiar icon of a long-running science fiction television series in person. But when Mr. Peck walked into the theatre, it was as though Hollywood royalty had arrived. He smiled big and waved calmly to the crowd, which had burst into applause immediately.

Being in the entertainment industry for almost twenty years now, I’ve seen a lot of people do a lot of crazy things, perhaps too numerous to ever recount. And I have also been fortunate to meet and work with many of those whose talents I have admired throughout my life. However, only four times in history has someone stolen a star from the Walk of Fame, the most recent being Gregory Peck's.

I don’t know who stole it, but I know one thing about him/her/them and those who probably watched him/her/them do it: These people disrespect the property of others. And on the list of things that concern me in life, I might place disrespect squarely at the top.

Having a little or no respect is one thing, often rooted in opinion or belief. Yet "disrespect" is quite another. It is an active lack of regard, not something we quietly hide. While we all have a right to express those opinions and beliefs, we equally have no right to take the same away from someone else. This extends to property that belongs to someone else, whether legally or figuratively. For example: Our government is run by us, by the ‘People’, but we have no right to take a police car out for a joy ride. A child may love a toy on a shelf at Target, but it's not okay to let her take it home without buying it first. And, ultimately, Gregory Peck’s fans may have paid to see his movies for half a century, yet they have no right to take his star. It’s not only illegal, it’s disrespectful, and sometimes that’s worse.

This particular theft is representative of a society we’re continuing to cultivate, one based on the idea of “me.” It is a simple premise, really: Regardless of concern for anyone around them, some people care primarily only about what they think they need in order to feel satisfied. You know what I mean -- the angry horn honking behind us the moment the light turns green because that person apparently needs to get to work faster than we do? Or the people who talk on cell phones in theatres while a movie is showing, offering only the ridiculous reasoning that, "We paid good money to be here, too!"

Well, that’s not the way I was raised, and this behvaior is indicative of a great cancer that lurks in our culture. The good news is this cancer is curable with a healthy dose of respect.

Give back the star and you’ll be part of the solution.

[The LA TIMES article]

TECHNOLOGY IS GREAT...when it works

2005-11-08T06:57:00.000-08:00

It's Tuesday morning in America, and I am sitting on an AmTrak train from Washington, DC, to Baltimore where I have a lunch meeting.

Seems this is a great time to demonstrate some of the technology that works, so I have posted this blog from my BlackBerry. I was in high school before I ever saw a real computer, so this still astounds me!

Have a terrific Tuesday.

WHAT YOU WANT Is Important!

2005-11-05T20:00:00.000-08:00

PLEASE VOTE ON TUESDAY, NOV. 8TH AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

Personally, I support the California Republican Party's positions on the eight statewide ballot initiatives, though I urge you all simply to vote, no matter what your choice. You have a voice, and YOUR voice needs to be heard!

As I progress in my Congressional campaign, I realize more than ever the importance of listening to each other. Too many politicians spend their time telling constituents what they should be doing, rather than listening to what they want. That's why I'm in this race: The people of California's 27th Congressional District - my neighbors - deserve a Representive who will listen to them and be their voice in Washington D.C.

Thanks for stopping by.

(I'll be on the east coast this week, so it may be a few days before I add a new posting.)

AND NOW: The Rest of the Story…

2005-11-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

With a tip of the hat to Paul Harvey, sometimes learning the “rest of the story” is the hardest part, as it often involves admitting we’re wrong; that we've made mistakes. Before some of us can do so, we may want to remember that we have a right to be wrong.

Who among us hasn’t made mistakes? I have; my family and friends all have, and we’ll continue to. But the mistakes we’re likely to make won’t necessarily be the same ones each time. If they are, I might suggest that we’re missing the lesson. Nobody learns anything from success. We only learn from our failures, or, if you prefer, our mistakes.

If someone starts a retail business and fails to keep track of the inventory, chances are pretty good that business will fail. If a swimming enthusiast decides to open a pool cleaning service in Barrow, Alaska, chances are pretty good that business will fail, too. There are certain parameters within which our decisions in life must fall, both professionally and personally: Is my inventory shrinking disproportionately to my sales figures? Are there too few clients in my town to sustain a pool cleaning business? We all make mistakes. But if we don’t learn from them (i.e. regularly count the inventory, or choose a warmer climate), we will go "wrong”—meaning we simply won’t reach our destination. It doesn't mean we're "bad" people, or "stupid" people. It just means we need to alter course to get the job done.

I don’t know anyone who has started a business planning to lose money or go bankrupt. However, I know several people who have had to close their doors and layoff scores of employees because of extensive regulations and tax burdens imposed by the federal government: barriers to opportunity, business, and success. The government’s role in business is to remove these barriers, not to impose them.

America is the land of opportunity, and American ingenuity and entrepreneurship are unparalleled elsewhere in the world. The federal government’s job is to help Americans prosper. I think it’s time Congress admitted its own mistakes and stopped impeding the “can-do” spirit here in the San Fernando Valley and nationwide.

But we have to admit our mistakes, too: One might wonder why a member of the House of Representatives would continue to be re-elected after failing at the task of connecting with constituents for almost a decade. Where is the support for our community?

Well, I think we can do a whole lot better, and I've got some ideas in that area...

Halloween Throughout the Years

2005-10-31T21:45:00.000-08:00

Halloween is a typically a good day—and those are usually the best kind! It’s a holiday rich with history and legend, fun and frivolity.

Being a lover of history, I like to learn what else happened in our world in days past: sometimes things that occurred on random dates, and sometimes things that happened on specific holidays or other notable dates (i.e. my birthday falls on 9/11.) Well, today I learned a lot about October 31st, so here’s a bit of “this day in history” for you!

In 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 revolutionary theses on the door of the Castle Church in Germany, marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

In 1864, the U.S. Congress admitted Nevada as the 36th state, in order to have support of the 40,000 inhabitants of the Republican-dominated Nevada Territory for President Abraham Lincoln's reelection.

In 1892, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was published, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is published. The book was the first collection of Holmes stories, which Conan Doyle had been publishing in magazines since 1887.

In 1912, the very first gangster film opened: The Musketeers of Pig Alley, directed by D.W. Griffith.

In 1950, Canadian actor John Candy was born. He died of a heart attack in 1994 while making a film in Mexico at 43 years of age.

In 1957, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. was founded, two months after a three-man Toyota team flew to Los Angeles to survey the U.S. market. Toyota's first American headquarters were located in an auto dealership in downtown Hollywood, California.

In 1961, Joseph Stalin's embalmed body was removed from Lenin's tomb in Moscow's Red Square. Soviet authorities uniformly condemned the brutal leader and removed his body from public display and placed it in a nearby tomb.

In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson announced a stoppage of "all air, naval, and artillery bombardment of North Vietnam," five days before the presidential election

In 1978, the U.S. dollar almost hit a record low against foreign currency, a report strongly denied by the U.S. government.

In 2005, kids of all ages show up at our house in their costumes, offering a hearty “trick-or-treat!” in return for some candy. It took me back to my childhood memories of Halloween—all good. Milk caramels are my favorite. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2005: Twenty-Seven More Than Ten

2005-10-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

My niece, Hayley, came down from Oregon to stay with Julian and me for a week this summer. I was looking at this photo of the three of us today and suddenly saw her differently: I noticed so clearly the wonderful person she was becoming, and the great love she has for life.

Hayley is my younger brother’s first daughter. She’s 10 years old and loves Acai Supercharger™ smoothies from Jamba Juice…as do I. Her younger sisters, Brooklynn and Kendall, are ages 3 and 1, respectively.

Hayley tries hard to do well in school. Fortunately for her, she can’t help it: her parents are intimately involved in her schooling, and my sister-in-law, Hayley's stepmother, even teaches third grade. (Involved parents make a world of difference.)

I learned a lot from Hayley while she was here with us in Los Angeles. She was experiencing her surroundings—our surroundings—with eyes and ideas that were fresh. That made me see my own life differently.

She wanted to know where our house was in relation to the rest of the world; why she couldn’t just eat Fruit Loops all day; how far away Disneyland was; and why she couldn’t have a cell phone (“All my friends do!”). And I wondered what it might be like to be a 10-year-old today.

When I was ten, we had Atari and a Commodore 64 from Radio Shack; kids today have PlayStation2 and iBooks from the Mac Store. We had roller skating rinks; they have paintball fields. We had 13 channels; they have 500 beamed from a satellite in outer space!

But we also had the Space Shuttle Challenger, and 10-year-olds today had the Columbia. We had the threat of thermonuclear attack by the Russians, and they watched airplanes actually fly into New York City skyscrapers. At the movies we had Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and they had Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. We had Tootsie Pops, and they…well, some things don’t change.

Today I recognized that Hayley is growing up in a world not entirely dissimilar to the one I experienced as a kid. Many of the “things” around us are different, more advanced and technological, as is the case for every new generation. (That’s the result of living freely amidst vast opportunity, and working hard to achieve our personal goals.) Yet the people themselves are basically the same. We all want to enjoy a good life; we all expect a good day’s pay for a good day’s work; and we all want a better life for our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews than the one we had.

With everything that has changed around us, those things haven’t. And for that, I am grateful. Thank you, Hayley…you’ve inspired me, and I love you.

NANCY REAGAN: Her Voice is as Strong as Ever!

2005-10-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

In May of 1987, I'd been in Los Angeles only seven months, scraping by financially, getting work wherever I could, mostly in construction. One contractor's wife happened to be a commercial producer, and he told her of my interest in the film business. Shortly thereafter, I was offered the opportunity to work as assistant production coordinator on a series of Public Service Announcements for First Lady Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No To Drugs" campaign. (Ultimately, this job ended up launching my career...only in America!)

The spots were filmed on Stage 12 at Universal Studios, the largest sound stage on the lot. They were directed by Mark Rydell ("On Golden Pond"), and produced by Jack Valenti for the Motion Picture Association of America. Dudley Moore, Olivia Newton-John, Bette Midler, James Woods, and even Pee-wee Herman also filmed anti-drug messages for us.

On the day when Mrs. Reagan made her appearance, she filmed her spot alongside actor Clint Eastwood. Yet hers was more than just a "message" of hope: she was reaching out with a helping hand.

She recognized and wrote that "drug abuse knows no boundaries. It crosses all lines - geographical, racial, political, economic," and "brings danger into the lives of our most precious resource our children." She raised awareness in America that it is up to us to protect children and provide for them a drug-free environment in which to live; that we must "act now, not tomorrow, or the next day."

Her words have stayed with me for almost 20 years. In fact, today when I ask children who were born well after Mrs. Reagan was our First Lady what they should do if someone offers them drugs, they respond in unison: "JUST SAY NO!" I consider that a testament to their parents, their teachers, and to the great efforts of a woman who cares deeply about all children.

In recent years I have been fortunate to be invited to a few events also attended by the former First Lady: she's still as elegant as ever. Following President Reagan's passing, Mrs. Reagan sent me a note thanking me for my "service, sacrifice, and dedication." I was dumbfounded—I am the one owes thanks to her! She and her breadth of good works continue to be an inspiration to me and millions of others.

SECURITY, GROWTH and COMPASSION

2005-10-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

As Governor, Tom Ridge fulfilled a promise and worked hard to make Pennsylvania "a leader among states and a competitor among nations."

He successfully cut taxes every year he was in office; created the “greenhouse initiatives” wherein business & research organizations are encouraged to work together; increased by by 145% the number of beneficiaries of low-cost and free health care through the state’s Children's Health Insurance Program; and instituted the Land Recycling Program, which serves as a national model.

As the product of a working class family myself, I share many of Governor Ridge's values, and have great respect for his ideas. It is an honor to have met him and learned firsthand more of his perspective on solutions to America’s national security problems while he was serving as Secretary of Homeland Security.

ROSA LOUISE PARKS: February 4, 1913 - October 24, 2005

2005-10-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

As millions around the world mourn the loss Rosa Parks, one of America's strongest advocates for freedom and equality everywhere, a true hero to the civil rights movement, it is imperative that we recall how much just one person among us can make a difference.

When individuals embrace that fact, we can then work together as a force for good to make our world a safer and more inclusive place, filled with opportunity and hope for everyone.

God bless you, Mrs. Parks. You will be missed and remembered forever.

Welcome! This is a forum for YOU.

2005-10-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

It is a trying time in our country and in our world, one in which we must embrace our responsibility to each other: to explore new ideas while working to strengthen our nation's economy and security, enforce the laws that work, and change the ones that don't.

As a socially mainstream, fiscally conservative Republican, I believe my Party's ideals are most often the right direction for America. But nobody is perfect. It's time Congressional Representatives stopped the partisan ridicule and started working together to solve America's problems. I believe in individual rights and responsibilities, and in a government of the People.

I look forward to meeting you soon, and — with your support — to serving California's 27th District in Washington, D.C., where I will work with all members of Congress to hold the Federal government accountable to all Americans!