It's no secret that the San Joaquin Valley's congressional delegation is among the weakest in the nation. But you can add the wimp label to the lackluster records of Democratic Congressmen Jim Costa and Dennis Cardoza.
Both are snubbing first lady Michelle Obama's appearance at today's UC Merced commencement ceremonies because they are upset with President Barack Obama not solving the Valley's farm water problem. But then these valiant protesters don't have the guts to say they are actually protesting the president. Very childish. They might as well tattoo "Kick Me" on their foreheads.
So these are our strong-willed representatives? No wonder no one pays attention to Costa and Cardoza. If they want to send a message to the president, don't stand mute.
It is no wonder that Costa represents the poorest congressional district in the nation. He not only can't get anything done for his district, he doesn't have the gumption to stand up for what he thinks is right.
This is what a Costa aide said about today's Michelle Obama snub by the congressman: Bret Rumbeck, a spokesman , said Congress has votes scheduled on Friday, so Costa won't be able to attend. And even if those votes are canceled and Costa does come back home, he has events he must attend on the Valley's west side.
Oh, please, congressman.
And this is what Cardoza's aide said: Cardoza spokesman Mike Jensen said his boss is not making a political statement. Jensen said Cardoza was asked to be part of the graduation program several months ago, but had to decline for "personal and professional reasons" that he declined to detail.
Costa and Crdoza do everyting in tandem -- even their faux protests.
The Republicans also snubbed the first lady's speech, but that's about party politics. But Costa and Cardoza are Democrats. . . They finally get a Democratic president and they roll into the fetal position.
I long for the good old days of effective Democrats like B.F. Sisk and Tony Coelho.
wow bias much? i am sure that Congressman Costa and Cardoza had other matters to attend to, we have a drought and i think thats more important to work on than attend a speech by the first lady. As for the GOP congressman who couldnt attend I am sure they sent a staff member to the event, so they were there and it not just because of party politics. Not everything is because of politics.
Pathetic. I suppose they expect Obama to read their minds as to why their snubbing his wife? And this is supposed to make the President look more favorably at our situation?
And what exactly do they expect the President to do? Do they even have any specific action in mind? Do they know he doesn't have the authority to override the ESA? Do they expect shovelfuls of money for a hypothetical dam that doesn't even have a location yet?
Methinks they're just pandering to their big-money Ag donors.
"snubbing his wife." There is no law that says that she has to be liked by everybody. I don't like her. But I liked the previous first lady. Yet I did not like her husband. Were any of the California officials actually rude to Mrs Obama?
PS Mr. Costa lost my respect and support years ago. But not for lack of the social amenities.
I sick of the politics crap so what if they didn't go she most likely doesn't even no or care who they are. They could have acknowledged her being here but they didn't need to grovel at her feet. The GOP probably couldn't get tickets.
This is so upsetting. If the two Dems won't or can't go, the public deserves to know why. Exactly what "personal and professional" activities does Cardoza have? What "West-side event" is more important to Costa than the graduation of the first class from a UC he worked hard to bring to the Valley (even if the speaker was NOT a sitting first lady). They are both missing a major milestone in the life of UC Merced and it is an insult to the staff, graduates, UC system and perhaps the first lady as well.
Hold on here. In defense of the congressmen, one must wonder who is the snubber and who is the snubbee in all this? When the Water Marchers were at it recently, the best the Obama Administration could do was to send Secretary Salazar from Interior, who went on a fun helicopter ride with Arnold.........and did not invite Costa or Cardoza. He gave California some money, but nothing to help with Valley water. Now, Michelle Obama comes, representing the very first time anybody by the name of Obama has come to our valley. Kind of makes me feel snubbed during the Presidential Election, Mr. Boren. I think the two congress guys are returning the favor. A couple of snubbees if you ask me.
Surprising and lame. Costa doesn't have a conflict and he isn't doing anything about the water issue. I am glad Jim is calling these guys out as he has called Republicans out in the past. Fair and balanced!
Maybe they were out developing a solution to our water problem (no pun intended.) The Obama administration doesn't seem to care much about it.
Different folks; differnt strokes My own list of former local lawmakers who earned my absolute respect is a long one, but oddly enough, Tony Coelho is not among them.
I don't see why this is news or a big deal. Their lack of attendence doesn't make them any better or any worse representatives.
The UC Merced commencement should be about the students, as well as Mrs. Obama's great words-not about who was or wasn't on the platform with her. You are taking away from all these students and their accomplishments by running this debate.
"Dairy Girl" You are right. It was the student's night. But it had been turned into a Mrs. Obama affair with Hollywood style deftness and proficiency. The Kennedy presidency was a long time ago. But in my own mind, based on observation, I think that Mrs. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy would have flatly refused.
I don't know why you devote precious time and space to this topic-(but then here I am doing the same thing by commenting!) I think it was fabulous that the students worked so hard and were so successful in bringing Mrs. Obama to Merced. It was truly inspirational to see this wish of theirs become a reality. Why attempt to skew the story with a rundown of who was there or wasn't there? Why do you assume and then draw the unlikely conclusion that it was a snubbing? It's ridiculous. Stop taking away from the great day that it was with a headline that is deserving of The Enquirer rather than The Bee.
Anyone up for a game of conspiracy theory? That is all this is. The Bee nor anyone here knows the exact reason Costa and Cardoza were not there. Judging someone with no information to support it says more about the Bee than those being judged. These two guys weren't missed by Mrs. Obama. I'm sure she was more concerned with doing her speech justice for the graduates and wishing for an ice cold lemonade. I echo the sentiments of some here... "Who even cares where they were. All I care is if they were on the clock they had better have been working." Besides if you are really hell bent on making them suffer, not caring is a bigger slap in the face.