Spin Doctor and His Apostles Continue Their Anti – Mosca Campaign
By admin
Published: Thursday, March 25th, 2010
The Wacky World of Sierra Madre Politics
By Terry Miller
Ah, it’s springtime, that time of the year when everyone is talking about new growth and yes, those dreaded elections rearing their hanging chads in cities near and far. Indeed, this is that special time when all the uncompromising extremists crawl out from under their piles of TEA Party pamphlets to preach and shove their propaganda down your throat and into your mailbox in hopes that they see some ink in the local press. Perhaps even a nice mug shot for the campaign scrapbook.
In Sierra Madre, for instance, there is no shortage of important issues concerning the village atmosphere that the town tattle-tails would like you to believe is in dire jeopardy. Believe what you read, and apparently there’s a master conspiracy afoot to allow such things as Wal-Mart at the old Howie’s site, a Rose Bowl-sized performance center with helipad for rock stars to arrive in style, a Costco in place of Bean Town and of course, turning Kersting Court into a five-story mixed use strip mall to house a massage parlour/gift shoppe/transit center. Oh, and don’t forget parking meters. We’ll need a few hundred thousand of those.
But alas, not one candidate who is running has said they want that kind of escalation in development. In fact, they’ve all come out with the rest of the town against it. But the fear-mongering blogocrats of our fair city need you to believe these changes are not only possible, but plausible, that is, unless you vote them into the corridors of power. Then, and only then, will we be safe from the Rick Caruso and Sam Walton.
What is in short supply here are honest, straightforward solutions to problems the city faces; that and a critical lack of civility amongst a city council that never ceases to one-up their own childishness. I mean seriously Mrs. MacGillivray: “I don’t need input from the City Attorney”??? “This is my meeting and I’m the Mayor!”??? Easy on the gavel, there. We all heard you the first time. We promise we’ll be good.
But back to the blogosphere: Calling one’s opponent “a worm” and alluding to his sexual orientation is juvenile at best and potentially libelous at worse. Take a gander at ‘that blog’ sometime and you’ll see not just one or two derogatory comments but scores of slanderous attacks on many people in Sierra Madre. Prejudice is ugly and ubiquitous on candidate John Crawford’s blog. (www.sierramadretattler.com)
We have observed less than a handful of Candidate forums in Sierra Madre and what we observed was at best not terribly encouraging, and definitely dull as dish water. Neither was even remotely thought provoking – as many had hoped. The real issues seem get buried in interminable vociferous accusations, trivial name-calling, and hackneyed regurgitations from preprinted statements.
Attacks on this newspaper, its staff and the other papers, politicians and personalities in town including the Pasadena Star-News and their staff members have been widespread, consistently cruel, callous and pedestrian.
In fact, courteousness and graciousness has already started to pay off for those candidates who are distinctly more well-bred and erudite. The Pasadena Star-News recently endorsed Joe Mosca, Nancy Walsh and Josh Moran. I concur, in spades.
One look at the “Tattler” in the past year or two shows how clearly the town is alienated thanks in no small part to one particular candidate. Even some intelligent people, who otherwise might be less forthright, provide incessant ramblings and discourteous comments under the guise of anonymity, rightfully embarrassed to have their given name tied to such speech.
Mr. Crawford frequently refers to the late Cumquat blog as “obscene,” yet he somehow refuses to see how offensive he and his “contributors” can be. The Cumquat was parody whose game was lampooning the very essence of Sierra Madre’s insular upper-class. This was the late Jim Snider’s forte. That’s parody, Mr. Crawford, not obscenity. Even a well-respected local priest was a regular reader of the Cumquat as he recognized the entries for what they were. Parody, Mr. Crawfish, plain and simple burlesque, spoofs.
The “In” clique of Sir Eric Maundry (a.k.a. Candidate Crawford) has made personal attacks their passion; leaving once-good neighbors even more alienated than ever before.
Crawford’s less than courageous and gaudy cohorts have not the valor to divulge their true identities: So therefore we offer these quotations in the hope that even Crawford’s cronies might think twice before casting their votes on April 13.
Of all my favorite quotations, the following classics best describe, in my estimation, the Crawford clique and their dirty tricks.- we took poetic license and adjusted some for clarity.
Thank you for sending me a link to your blog; I’ll waste no time reading it.”
- Moses Hadas
“He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.”
- Abraham Lincoln
“He had delusions of adequacy.”
- Walter Kerr
“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.”
- John Bright
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.”
- Oscar Wilde.
“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts… For support rather than illumination.”
- Andrew Lang
And finally, let us forget about politics and the obviously homophobic rhetoric (and sometimes unadorned repulsive and plain juvenile interpretations of someone’s career or sexual orientation) on certain blogs. Let us not speak ill of those who have moved on to another world; let us love thy neighbor, and respect each other’s differences without vulgarity and even violent thought.
20 Responses for “Spin Doctor and His Apostles Continue Their Anti – Mosca Campaign”
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Mayor MacGillivray’s past history doesn’t bode well in the homophobic area.
The homophobic undertone has been there from the beginning. For those of you who weren’t here when MacGillivray was on the City Council in the mid-90s, then Councilmember MacGillvray prodded the Sierra Madre City Council to adopt a definition of “Family” that excluded same sex marriages, foster parents and couples that, for whatever reason, choose not to marry.
LA Times 1997: “MacGillivray, however, demanded that the term ‘family’ be limited to those related by blood, marriage, or adoption, and that those living together in other relationships be called ‘housekeeping units’. She said using the word ‘family’ to describe those not related by blood or law ‘degrades the meaning of the term’”.
Let’s just say that I was very embarrassed to live in Sierra Madre at that time. It put us on the map for a negative reason.
Fortunately, the City Council unanimously voted to repeal MacGillivray’s definition of family. The blended, gay and lesbian, adoptive, foster and unmarried families in Sierra Madre are now and always will be, families, not housekeeping units.
Terry,
Mr. Crawford has never pointed out Mr. Mosca’s sexual preferences, and quite frankly they have no place in any campaign.
It’s ironic to me that your would state that Mr. Mosca believes that there is a “homophobic smear campaign” against him. The only time I have read “homophobic” was in an article YOU wrote about Mr. Crawford. If that isn’t inuendo, I don’t know what is.
Politics are not always kind. Take a look at Whitman and Poizner going at it everyday. Obama and McCain weren’t any better. I honestly believe that no one cares about Mr. Mosca’s sexual preferences; we only care about our town and his commitment to it. Plain and simple.
You and Hail and everyone else are no better in regards to the “nasty comments” and mean spirited attacks. Mr. Mosca is on tape telling an elderly citizen to “get a life”. Watch it, it’s on U-Tube. Folks are not voting on Mr Mosca’s sexual preferences; no they are voting on the promises he BROKE four years ago. It’s as simple as that.
In the future, I would hope that you would leave the sexual preference out of ANY article you pen about anyone. What people do behind closed doors is their own business.
Thank you,
Tom S.
In other words you have no quotes.
Mr Mosca has said himself that he believes homophobia is part of the smear campaign against him.
The inuendo and nasty comments against Mosca and many others in town have appeared regularly on Crawford’s blog.
There was never an allegation that Crawford or anyone sitting on the council made reference to Mr. Mosca’s sexuality.
Mr. Mosca alleged homophobia and you repeated it. You now admit that you have no quotes. So, you suggest it was “subliminal.” Subliminal, clairvoyant, whatever. The bottom line is that you made it up. Your fabrications are making it impossible to have a civil discussion of the issues.
Thanks Mr. DeLaMora:
Your accusations of fabrications on this story are simply wrong! So both you and Tom 287 fully understand, once again this is not about Crawford alleging anything about Mr. Mosca’s preferences. Indeed, that is deeply personal! However we did quote Joe Mosca on the homophobic nature of some in Sierra Madre. This was not a misquote. We felt it was part of the story. This is not fiction.
However, the direction and approach in which Crawford and his disciples have bashed Joe Mosca for years show the hatred and disrespect for the man and is sadly recorded on the Tattler blog which certainly does not seem to have many meaningful “civil discussion on the issues”.
Terry, I haven’t read a single article by Crawford that discusses, mentions or alludes to Mr. Mosca’s sexuality.
What am I missing?
Mr. Kabong:
Sir, I never said Crawford posted an “article” regarding Joe Mosca’s sexual preference. However, if you look back at the “archives” you’ll see several anti-gay references, some subliminal and many quite otherwise. I suggest you re-read the comments, unless Mr. Crawford has since removed the offensive remarks. There has been a great deal of Mosca bashing on Crawford’s blog. I’m very surprised you cannot see the hatred therein.
Terry,
Here, is the quote from your article: “Calling one’s opponent ‘a worm’ and alluding to his sexual orientation is juvenile at best and potentially libelous at worse. ”
Mr. Mosca is Mr. Crawford’s “opponent” is the election; accordingly, contrary to your last post, you did claim that Mr. Crawford alluded to Mr. Mosca’s orientation.
The title to the article — “Spin Doctor Blogmeister and His Apostles Use Internet to Discredit Opponents – Homophobia and Name Calling Still Rampant — also, suggests falsely that Mr. Crawford, as the “Blogmeister,” is homophobic.
If you have no evidence that Mr. Crawford is a homophobe, you should apologize to him for calling or suggesting that he is one and officially retract what your wrote.
I am also at a loss to understand why your article assumes (based on Mr. Mosca’s self-serving comments a few weeks before the election) that “homophobia” is rampant. Your article does not cite to any homophobic articles or even comments on the Tattler blog. And, I note that even Mr. Mosca did not identify any oral or written statements that alluded to his sexuality when you interviewed him.
There are many residents who take Mr. Mosca to task on the Tattler blog for his poor showing as a Councilman and they state as much in their posts. It’s unfair, inaccurate and insulting to them to suggest that their comments are motivated by rank prejudice.
Mr EK4 –
You doth protest too much, methinks
Thanks Kurt!
There is nothing more shameful than opportunistic cries of homophobia and bigotry. Why? Because when the genuine article appears it is discounted.
If you have a homophobic quote from Mr. Crawford, the Mayor, or anyone else, cite it. Otherwise please stop poisoning our town with with this nonsense. Then, perhaps, we can have an election without the silly telenovela drama that some seem to prefer.
Yes, there is something more shameful. Denial!
There is tremendous hatred coming from Crawford’s blog. And let’s not forget the current Mayor’s mid 1990′s comments towards her idea of family!
Very interesting indeed!
Wake up and smell the coffee!
Wow! Just when I thought I’d seen it all . You changed the name of “homophobic” in your heading because you were called out on it. Too Funny! Can’t stand by what you wrote? Who is the real “homophobic” here?
I will vote for Crawford, Watts and Alcorn … they have what it takes to get the job done. Mr Mosca had his chance to affect change for Sierra Madre…that’s why we voted for him. He FAILED us! We have not forgotten, nor will he get my vote come April 13th. I didn’t know him when I voted for him last time around…now I know too much…I don’t care about his personal life…all I care about is his record…and it’s not pretty. Mr. Mosca couldn’t bother to show up at scag meetings! HELLO?! There are not enough excuses to justify his absences…..he turned his back on the very people who voted him into office. We’ll kindly return the favor on April 13!
Blake – Thanks for pointing out the omitted words in the headline. It has been fixed!
Terry Miller–Your article hits John Crawford and the Mayor right where it hurts. I appreciate that you have brought up the negativity, misinformation and fear that Crawford’s blog and his followers feed off. The comments are the highlight that really show the dysfunctional side of these supporters. I wouldn’t allow my children to behave the way that the Mayor and Crawford have.
I have done my research and prefer to elect folks who are level-headed, work well with others, can see all sides, and know how to compromise to meet the needs of ALL Sierra Madre citizens.
While the Mayor and Crawford continue to do whatever it takes to elect certain people to the City Council, our city’s long term plans suffer. Also, with this dysfunction, we are less able to attract good, qualified citizens to volunteer in our City.
Some folks in town don’t want to speak up and tell the truth because Crawford and company can be very vindictive.
By the way, I stopped reading your paper while Sir Eric Maundry aka John Crawford had a column. I couldn’t stand his negative, egotistical tone. I also remember when “Sir” was booted off the now defunct Foothill Cities blog for his negative, harassing comments.
Hats off to Terry Miller for so accurately describing our town’s Bully Pulpit! Two generations ago, “bully” was an adjective meaning superb/wonderful. Now it describes some of our elected officials, they’re arrogant bullies on the pulpit that is our City Council!!
Remember when elected officials served as “humble servants” of their constituents? Well, there’s nothing humble about the outrageous behavior exhibited in Council chambers by certain, seated members. Watch some of the meetings!! It’s not difficult to identify the culprits, their demeanor is as embarrassing as it is inappropriate.
Now we have a clear choice in Sierra Madre, and a chance to clear the air the foul behavior that has tainted the civility of our City Council. Voters can reject others of this ilk and elect three candidates who, I know, will put responsibility before rhetoric and character before character assassination.
I’m voting for Moran, Mosca and Walsh. Thank you all for running, and for giving us a chance to save Sierra Madre.
Wow…Hal, you admittedly don’t know “much about John Crawford” but you can go on such a personal attack? SHAME ON YOU! Do your homework. Mr Crawford cares about our town. He’s been at every city council meeting. Where were you? Oh, that’s right, you had a column to write.
John has a real, respectable job. I really can’t say the same thing about Mr Josh Moran. He was quoted as being an “Account Executive” of what? I did some investigation. What I discovered is that he either does reverse mortgages or is in some kind of real estate. Either way, they both seem to be quite a conflict of interest for our city council.
It’s AMAZING that you can sit back and “claim that John is the biggest “blowhard” because you don’t agree with him — seems to me it makes you just as much as an “egotistical delusional blowhard” for your own column…funny how that works, isn’t it?
If you dislike the way things are done…I suggest next election you take out papers to run for city council….but I doubt you have what it takes.
Ok, I just read the Sierra Madre Weekly and Terry Miller’s attack on Mr Crawford. I have a few comments. First, I have always liked Terry Miller, thought he took some fantastic photos, and I’ve always admired Mr Crawford for his straight-forward approach to his writing. If memory serves me correctly; the Sierra Madre weekly used Mr Crawford’s aka, Eric Mundry’s articles all the time. Interesting that when it worked for them…they were all for it. Now that Mr Crawford is running for city Council, they don’t want anything to do with him! Politics at BEST! Terry, The cumquat was not a “parody” as you put it, but an obscene, infantile attack on well respected folks. Do you really think Ms. Angus enjoyed the “parody” against her?
Let us not forget that this all about free speech. I voted for Joe Mosca, because I believed he was going to preserve our town. I didn’t know then that he was a gay American and truth be told, I wouldn’t have cared. I still would have voted for him. I can guarantee you that on April 13, Mr Mosca will not have my vote and it’s NOT because he is a gay American, it’s because I think we need someone else who can preserve our town. It’s too bad that Mr. Mosca has decided to throw “homophobic” into the mix, or maybe you did that, Terry. I honestly expected more from both of you.
I’m voting for Crawford, Alcorn and Watts. Thank you all for running.
I absolutely concur with your assessment of John Crawford. I don’t know much about John. He’s an enigma. John claims he is an executive at Atlantic Records, although I’ve never been able to confirm the fact. I do know this much, John has a lot of time on his hands. Whether or not he is a busy record executive, he has plenty of time to write a nasty, spiteful political blog that mixes truth with fiction, and run a slanderous city council campaign full of more acrimony and lies. For John there is no common ground—you’re either with him, or you’re against him; he simply doesn’t have the capacity to disagree agreeably. In short, John is an egotistical delusional blowhard—truly a legend in his own mind.