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Howard Berman's Last Stand

Some analysts say Sherman will beat Berman. If the two men place first and second, respectively, then under the "top two" runoff rule, they will face each other again in November.

"Now he's got to depend on the kindness of strangers to make it into the runoff," Quinn says of Berman.

By strangers, Quinn means Republicans. GOP voters account for just one-quarter of District 30 — but that's a sizable chunk of the electoral pie. That's why mailers sent to the homes of people like GOP strategist Wilcox tout Berman's endorsements from high-profile Republicans. "It's remarkable," Wilcox says, "the Berman campaign's open and forthright effort to try to get prominent Republican endorsements."

Among Berman's GOP backers are local moderates like ex-Mayor Richard Riordan and L.A. County supervisors Don Knabe and Mike Antonovich. But another is Richard Bond, former chair of the Republican National Committee and a lobbyist who has represented Philip Morris and Enron.

Bond's letter to GOP voters reads: "Congressman Howard Berman is of the highest integrity, is universally respected by people from both parties."

Of this, Parke Skelton, Sherman's political consultant, mockingly says, "If I get to the point where I have a Philip Morris lobbyist vouching for my integrity, I'll kill myself."

Berman has brought his brother out of retirement to work his magic of old, running the direct-mail campaign. Michael Berman gave a rare phone interview to L.A. Weekly. His smoking has taken a big toll. When asked about attracting Republicans, Michael Berman replied in short, raspy sentences, his breathing shallow: "We're talking to everybody. To every group. Republicans. Democrats. Communists."

During Howard Berman's first race for state Assembly in 1971 against longtime Republican incumbent Charles Conrad, Skelton says, Michael was worried that a Richard Nixon landslide for president would bring Republican voters in California to the ballot box and help sink his brother. So Michael sent a mailer to Republicans reading, "Republicans for Nixon-Berman."

That 1971 battle was the last close election Howard Berman ran in — until now.

Reach the writer at hillelaron@mac.com.

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Weaver Jannie
Weaver Jannie

what George replied I'm amazed that anyone able to earn $5349 in one month on the internet. did you see this site httplazycash42.c()m

Vincegilmore2012
Vincegilmore2012

Berman has done nothing but harm to this country. This is a guy who voted to kill Glass-Steagall, voyed for the Futures Commodities Modernization Act, votes to keep America in the W.T.O., he voted for the Patriot Act, the AUMF of 2001 the NDAA and every single unconstitutional war and military action since he took office. There is a reason Sherman only attacks Berman for the car he leased. The reason is that Sherman is the exact same as Berman. These two guys are identical exept for the fact that Brad Sherman votes for less free trade than Berman. Both of these people have horrific voting records and zero respect for the Constitution. Please take a look into what Vince Gilmore stands for before you make the mistake of voting for anybody else in this race. There is only one candidate that will uphold the Constitution and there is only one candidate that has real solutions. VINCE GILMORE 2012

Yuval Kremer
Yuval Kremer

Sorry Vince, but there is a BIG difference between Brad Sherman and Howard Berman.

BRAD SUPPORTED (and gave his SuperDelegate vote to) HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT, who won the Popular Vote !

HOWARD SUPPORTED (and gave his SuperDelegate vote to) OUR COMPROMISER-IN-CHIEF, OBAMA.

THIS TUESDAY, Vote for Brad Sherman !!!

doughnut70
doughnut70

If you remember, during that primary, President Obama was endorsed by Ed Kock for being a stronger supporter of the State of Israel's. Stop trying to create an issue where none exists.

ConsultantFeesAreTooDamnHigh
ConsultantFeesAreTooDamnHigh

Mr. Berman is not Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr. Berhman is the ranking Democrat and Brad Sherman is the fourth ranking Democrat.

doughnut70
doughnut70

Correct, but Congressman Berman becomes the chair if Democrats retake control of the house and more importantly, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle say that he is a leader on the Dem side in foreign affairs. From working to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons, to finding the money to stop the spread of infectious diseases to at least getting us started on fighting starvation in places like Darfur, Howard Berman has been the acknowledged leader in Congress. Tip O'Neil once said that the reality was six or seven members of each political party basically decide everything that happens in Congress. Whether that statement is true or not, everyone no matter their point of view agrees that Howard Berman is one of those six or seven people on the Dem side. The question is if we want to give that up, especially since both members share the same basic philosophical outlook on the world. Betty Yee who is a member of the State Board of Equalization and considers Brad Sherman a close friend (He used to serve on the same board and they have the same political consultant) said it would be insane to not re-elect Congressman Howard Berman. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky says that Berman is singly the most important person in ensuring that LA County gets it's share of federal funds because he knows the system so well (i.e. the expansion of the 405 which everyone gives him credit for) Do we really want to give that up?

Valley Indigenous
Valley Indigenous

Said Brrr-Man, say Sure-Man,Said, no need call me sir man,Said, handy hold,Said, dancy gold,Said, head got no more fur man.Said Sure-Man, say Brrr-Man,Said, best be call me sir man,Said, fancy cold,Said, do what told,Said, no need be no stir man.Said Brrr-Man, say Sure-ManSaid we be as it were man,Said Brrr-Man folks,Aint Sure-Man Oaks,Said Valley she be juror man.

Bob
Bob

Looks like Hillel Aron is Jill Stewart's new sock puppet. Much of what is said here about Berman is correct. Much is misleading. Everything else, i.e. any responsible reporting about Sherman has just plain been omitted. My canary will appreciate this if I print it our.

Yuval Kremer
Yuval Kremer

Hillel Aron is not anybody's sock puppet...you obviously haven't read much of his work...but YOU sure sound like somebody's sock puppet !

Why don't you post under your real name, Bob The Sockpuppet ?

Yuval Kremer
Yuval Kremer

Hillel Aron is not anybody's sock puppet...you obviously haven't read much of his work...but YOU sure sound like somebody's sock puppet !

Why don't you post under your real name, Bob The Sockpuppet ?

Erin
Erin

3 bills in 20 years for Brad? 2 are post offices. Worthless? Really? WOW! That is . How can you say that he is effective. Why is Brad running a negative campaign? He has NO accomplishments. Raising the question of travel for the CHAIR of the foreign relations committee. Brad, who sits on the committee doesnt get invited to negotiate anything for what reason? I mean cmon! He talks about bills he has co sponsored. Its a parlimentry procedure. ITS NOT ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING. He is a joke and should be ashamed of himself for taking a pay check.

Guest
Guest

Er, Berman is not the chair of Foreign Relations, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is. Berman only became chair of the cmte after Tom Lantos died in 2008, and then gave up the gavel after the Dems lost the House in 2010. 2.5 years as chair total.

Erin
Erin

"And to beat Sherman, the Bermans are reaching out to Republicans."Mr. Aron, do you know there is a mailer signed by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (an anti-Israel Republican), and PAID BY SHERMAN FOR CONGRESS, circulating in the Valley? Do you think it would also be fair to say, "in order to defeat Berman, Mr. Skelton is reaching out to the Republican, too?" side question: does that mean he is going to kill himself, too?

Yuval Kremer
Yuval Kremer

Hi, Erin.

Since you threw in "anti-Israel", I must ask a rhetorical question.

Why did Howard Berman and Henry Waxman give their Democratic SuperDelegate Votes to OBAMA, THE MOST ANTI-ISRAEL PRESIDENT THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER HAD, when they KNEW that he was Anti-Israel because of his pastor/mentor (the videos were and still are all over youtube) and his anti-israel foreign policy advisors/buddies ? Would they throw Israel under a bus in exchange for Committee Chairmanships and because they're Sexist Pigs Like Obama ?

Brad Sherman gave his SuperDelegate Vote to Hillary, who was very tough on Iran, Israel's Arch-Enemy, as a candidate !!!

And that rhetorical question's coming from me, a Registered Democrat, Born in Tel Aviv.

Everybody should VOTE FOR BRAD SHERMAN...and tell Howard Berman and his Gerrymandering Brother to go straight to he11.

doughnut70
doughnut70

Also Obama's top foreign policy advisor at the time was Dennis Ross, both a friend of Berman's and someone long identified as a friend of the State of Israel.

doughnut70
doughnut70

Maybe because Berman has a thirty year history in elected office of supporting the state of Israel.

Yuval Kremer
Yuval Kremer

Howard Berman desperately trying to hold on to his political career...bet he regrets backing Obama, while Brad Sherman backed Hillary !!!

The guy can't even get the House to pass the helicopter noise law that he's been hyping in the press (and he has the audacity to claim that he's better at working across party lines than Sherman)...Howard Berman: You are completely worthless...go away, now.

Guest
Guest

The claim that Berman needs to Republican voters just to make it to the run-off is so flat out ridiculous that it throws the credibility of this whole article into question.

Mark Reed
Mark Reed

Correction: If you go to the Mark Reed website you will see Antonovich DID NOT ENDORSE HOWARD BERMAN BUT DID ENDORSE MARK REED.The problem with what Berman has done is it is deceptive. He elicited comments based on a Berman/Sherman race which does not exist in June. Mark Reed is polling strong. Long term incumbents Berman and Sherman would not have to spend millions of hard earned Democrat/Union money fighting each other with pounds of paper mailed out day after day IF they were not being strongly chased by a businessman (Reed) for a position on the November ballot. Maybe the payback for all this waste of taxpayer and campaign money is both Berman and Sherman will be gone. The SFV needs someone who wants his constituents to keep more of their earnings and be able to secure the financial future for their children and grandchildren.

Mark Reed
Mark Reed

If you go to the Mark Reed website you will see Antonovich DID NOT endorse Mark Reed. The problem with what Berman has done is it is deceptive. He elicited comments based on a Berman/Sherman race which does not exist in June. Mark Reed is polling strong. Long term incumbents Berman and Sherman would not have to spend millions of hard earned Democrat/Union money fighting each other with pounds of paper mailed out day after day IF they were not being strongly chased by a businessman (Reed) for a position on the November ballot. Maybe the payback for all this waste of taxpayer and campaign money is both Berman and Sherman will be gone. The SFV needs someone who wants his constituents to keep more of their earnings and be able to secure the financial future for their children and grandchildren.

doughnut70
doughnut70

A few things you should have mentioned in your article. First, Brad Sherman supported the redistricting plan when it came to a vote and opposed changing the process. He only complained the one time that he didn't think the plan was good enough for him and then voted for it when it changed to fit his specifications. Second, Berman's brother was simply a consultant advising legislators on how to pass a plan that would help Democrats. On the Nixon mailer, you have it slightly wrong. A Republican group voted to endorse Berman and he paid for mailer from that group explaining the endorsement. This was no different than Brad Sherman who paid to be on mailers with George W. Bush when a Republican group supported him for reelection.

Guest
Guest

A total payment of $1.1 million seems awfully generous if all Michael Berman did was "advis[e] legislators on how to pass a plan that would help Democrats."

doughnut70
doughnut70

Most of that was for the technology to give the advice that was needed. It took computer programs and a lot of work taking census data and translating it. Believe me, anyone who has spent time with Michael Berman knows that he hasn't made a lot of money off of politics.

 
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