ARTICLES

He Has Nothing in Common with Us

Bob Filner Draws Pro-life Opposition in Newly Created 51st Congressional District

By Bob McPhail

"I prayed for Bob Filner yesterday morning when I went to Mass; I prayed that he would repent, that he would convert, that he would become pro-life,"says Daniel Ramirez, who, like Filner, is a lifelong Democrat. But Ramirez is quick to qualify that label: "I'm a Democrat, not a Dummycrat. I vote pro-life."

Ramirez, 57, of Calexico, is challenging Filner for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the March 5, 2002 primary in the newly-created 51st congressional district. The new district, which includes all of California's portion of the U.S.-Mexico border, was approved by the legislature in September and includes Chula Vista, National City, South San Diego, San Ysidro, Bonita, La Presa, and all of Imperial County. Legislative insiders say the new 51st was drawn to help Democratic assemblyman Juan Vargas unseat Filner by creating a Latino majority. The demographic makeup of the district bears that out: 53.3 percent Hispanic, 14.5 percent Asian, 10.8 percent African-American.

"Filner knows nothing about how this community lives and breathes," says Ramirez. "He has no business running in this district. He has nothing in common with us." To prove his point, Ramirez notes Filner's voting record since he was first elected in 1992. Filner voted against parental consent for minors to receive contraceptives, against restrictions on access to abortion for minors, against a ban on homosexual adoptions in the District of Columbia, against extending legal rights to fetuses killed during the commission of a crime, against banning abortions in military hospitals, and in favor of partial-birth abortion. Filner opposed Proposition 22 (Defense of Marriage) and has received 100 percent ratings from Planned Parenthood, the National Abortion Rights Action League, and the Human Rights Campaign, a homosexual political advocacy group. "Mexicans and Filipinos are against abortion," says Ramirez. "I have the same moral and family values that these people have. I live here. I work here. I know this area. I'm for the dignity of every human being. I'm in this to save my little brothers and sisters from being murdered."

While Ramirez is the only Democrat challenging Filner in the primary, four other candidates have entered the race, including two Republicans -- Guillermo Durazo and Maria Guadalupe Garcia -- both of Chula Vista; a Libertarian, Jeffrey Keup of San Diego; and John Gipson of National City, who is affiliated with the American Independent Party. Among them, Maria Guadalupe Garcia, a mother a five with another baby on the way, is also solidly pro-life in her convictions.

Despite the heavily Latino and Asian demographics of the district, Filner will be hard to beat because he has money from political action committees to fuel his campaign. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Filner had $404,047 in his campaign fund as of Nov. 20, 2002.

If you would like to help Ramirez, he can be contacted by telephone in Calexico at (760) 357-3006. Garcia can be reached by mail at 302 Pine Ct., Chula Vista, 91911 or by telephone at (619) 691-0142. The last day to register to vote for the primary is Feb. 19.

TOP