From the WSJ Opinion Archives
Richie and Cruz
Is Bustamante a dummy? (The ventriloquist's kind, that is.)
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Polls show Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante is the front-runner to become governor of California if Gray Davis is recalled next month. But political correctness--Mr. Bustamante is the first major Latino candidate for governor in 125 years--has gotten him a surprising pass from the media.
Some reporters are now raising questions. Jill Stewart writes in The New Republic that she sees "the journalistic herd moving to protect its natural ally--the Democrat Bustamante." Last weekend, Dan Weintraub of the Sacramento Bee saw Mr. Bustamante falsely blame the state's deficit on energy company "gouging," and then refuse to correct himself. Mr. Weintraub said the comments suggest "Bustamante does not understand the basics of the state's financial picture." He wondered "how many papers [will] report Bustamante's ignorance Monday morning."
None did. Only now are some reporters catching up with Mr. Bustamante's extreme platform. He wants to raise income tax rates and allow Indian tribes to block development within five miles of sacred sites. His plan to regulate gasoline prices has led Ted Gibson, the state's former chief economist, to warn of the return of 1970s gas lines.
The plain truth is that even many Democrats don't see Mr. Bustamante as ready for prime time. The state's No. 2 man is an American success story, and many Latinos are inspired by his rise from humble origins. But in Sacramento, "his universal reputation among politicians, lobbyists and others who have dealt with him is of being a get-along, go-along sort who defers to others," writes the Sacramento Bee's Dan Walters, the dean of the Capitol press corps.
The top person he defers to is campaign manager Richie Ross, one of the most feared men in the state. Mr. Ross doubles as a lobbyist for the United Farm Workers, trial lawyers and Indian casinos, and has been compared by Democratic legislators to the notorious World War II-era lobbyist Artie Samish. Then-governor Earl Warren said "that on matters relating to his clients Artie unquestionably has more power than the governor."
In an election in which voters are fed up with special interests, Mr. Ross's relationship to Mr. Bustamante should be covered. "Bustamante has been totally dominated by Richie since he first ran for office," says Tony Quinn, co-editor of the nonpartisan California Target Book, which analyzes elections.
Two Democratic members of the Assembly, Dario Frommer and Lois Wolk, have even introduced a bill to rein Mr. Ross in. It would bar consultants from simultaneously lobbying the candidates whose campaigns they advised. Mr. Ross appears to be the only person affected by their bill. His current and former clients include more than 20 legislators and statewide elected officials. Mr. Ross says he is careful not to cross any ethical lines. "I won't be intimidated by bills from bullying legislators who are camouflaging their subservience to business," he told me.
But Mr. Frommer draws a direct parallel between Samish's influence long ago and that of Mr. Ross and his ilk today. "Fifty years later we find ourselves in a very similar situation," he said in July. "The Legislature has been in the headlines again over the antics of lobbyists who seem to think they own this institution and are entitled to act in ways that are inappropriate."
Mr. Frommer is referring to a June incident in which Mr. Ross cursed and threatened the top aides to two assemblywomen. Mr. Ross was furious the two members wouldn't back a United Farm Workers bill. He screamed at one aide that her boss's bills would be dead on arrival. Mr. Ross says he didn't think the incident "was such a big deal at the time" and added "I apologize to anyone I offended."
Mr. Bustamante rejects the notion that Mr. Ross is too powerful. "Richie has been with me since day one," he told the LA Times. "When I think he's not giving me good advice, I don't follow it." Mr. Frommer says there is skepticism about that in Sacramento. "Everyone thinks Cruz takes all of Richie's advice and worships him, that he doesn't get up in the morning without consulting Richie," he told Bill Bradley of the LA Weekly. "I don't know if that is true; Cruz is no neophyte."
For his part, Mr. Ross says he is "much more liberal than my friend Cruz" and is "highly offended" by reports he tells him what to do. But should his client become governor, Mr. Ross pledges to "be just as aggressive as ever in fighting for my causes."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein recently appeared with Gov. Davis to oppose his recall, but then said she will refuse to vote for Mr. Bustamante as a replacement: "He should run when the right time comes to run, at the end of a term." Hardly a vote of confidence.
Ms. Feinstein won't be the only Democrat not voting for Mr. Bustamante, although others have different reasons. One retired Democratic lobbyist who fears Mr. Ross's influence told me, "I recall the famous 1949 picture that Collier's magazine published of Artie Samish holding a ventriloquist's dummy on his knee. The caption had Samish saying 'This is my legislature. How are you, Mr. Legislature?' I don't want California in that situation again regardless of which party is on top." Before Californians vote on Oct. 7, it would be helpful if the media scrutinized all the candidates--without fear of political correctness.
