 |
Incumbent Mayor Calls Gay Catholic Rival 'Anti-Catholic' San Francisco's Undecided will Elect Winner Tomorrow |
The attacks reached their peak in the December 7 issue of the Independent, which included a venomous anti-Ammiano column by Warren Hinckle and a full-page ad declaring that the supervisor "has declared war" on Catholics. The attacks on Ammiano, from both the Brown campaign and the city's mainstream media, have been building steadily for weeks. Typical was the Chronicle's November 25 story on Ammiano's public transit proposals. The supervisor had put out a detailed blueprint of his plans for expanded and improved mass transit in San Francisco and for better coordination between regional transit systems. In response to a reporter's question, he said that one possible way to cover any additional costs would be to charge out-of-city commuters a small fee. The fee wasn't part of Ammiano's proposal and was mentioned only as a possibility, but that didn't stop the Chron from headlining: "Ammiano Transit Plan – Charge Commuters." A week later Robert Barnes, perhaps the cleverest of San Francisco's coterie of evil-genius political consultants, unveiled a TV commercial being placed on local stations by the Alice B. Toklas Club. The ad is a masterpiece of multilayered messages. On the surface it tells LGBT voters that Ammiano's ideas are too "far out," while simultaneously reminding homophobes he is gay. It repeats the dubious but clearly effective (if one believes recent polls) claim that Ammiano is going to tax San Franciscans to death. And it subtly but unmistakably plays the race card, using the black member of an interracial gay couple to convey the pro-Willie message.
The ad went on to describe the church, which officially considers homosexuals to be "intrinsically disordered," as "under siege" by the supervisor. The "siege," apparently, consists of appearing at some of the Sisters' events and trying to enforce the domestic partners law. Ammiano's campaigners are furious but not surprised, and the supervisor's supporters still think they will get the last laugh December 14. Their planned final push took place over the weekend with hundreds of vounteers fanning out over the city, talking to voters and handing out serious, issue-oriented literature that contrasts sharply with the increasing hysteria from Brown's backers. Volunteer campaign organizer Hank Wilson thinks the passion in the Ammiano campaign plus the large number of voters still undecided will make the difference. "I feel like all the ingredients are there for us to be successful," he says. "We have a large number of voters who are inspired by Tom, are motivated by Tom and will turn out for Tom." It won't be long before we know if he's right. Bruce Mirken is online at sftroubl@hooked.net |
