Re “I Am Stupid, and You Cannot Change My Mind”
I received Christopher Armenta’s campaign mailer at my home in Culver City in yesterday’s mail.
Needless to say, I was shocked by its tone. Apparently, you were, as well. But more than being merely angered by Mr. Armenta's slanderous and libelous campaign propaganda, my feelings may more aptly have been described as profound disappointment.
Mr. Armenta’s mailer was my first real introduction to him. I have been a Culver City homeowner for more than 17 years. I knew Al Vera. I liked him. I knew Scott Malsin and I liked him as well. I know Mehaul O’Leary, and I’ve come to like and respect him.
As I read Mr. Armenta's message, I wondered, almost aloud, “Is this all he has to say to me as a voter and resident of Culver City? Am I expected to vote for him because he feels it’s more important for him to denigrate and demean his opponent and attack his opponent’s family rather than talk to me about the issues that matter to me and my family in Culver City?”
When I finished reading his mailer, my only thought was, “This is sad.” Mr. Armenta's attack mailer is the reason voters don’t vote. We’re weary of being subjected to the same old, tired tactics of slash-and-burn attacks and character assassination that have degraded political campaigns and emboldened the candidates who use them because they believe they work.
Well, they won’t work. Not this time. Not with this Culver City voter and not likely with many others, I’d guess.
If Mr. Armenta’s calling card is his age, leadership and experience, he ought to come to voters with some message that doesn’t portray him as an old, desperate political hack who has run out of ideas and is afraid to compete with a younger candidate who has a new vision, new energy, new ideas, who is prepared to get to work and knows his way around the state capital.
Mr. Armenta may not have raised as much money as his opponent to mount his campaign, so maybe he feels his libelous attack strategy is his only political play. After reading his hit piece on Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, it seems pretty clear to me that his slanderous attack and discredited campaign tactics are likely the reason many voters, civic leaders and influential organizations wouldn’t want to give him a dime or the time of day.
Frankly, I would like to thank Mr. Armenta for his fine introduction. Without his attack mailer, I never would have gotten to know the real Christopher Armenta. I’m sure many other Culver City voters will feel likewise.
First impressions matter.
My ballot is in the mail.
It’s safe to say Mr. Armenta should not count on my vote.
Mr. MacFarlane is communications director for Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, who is favored to win a special election Dec. 3 for the vacant state Assembly seat representing Culver City and parts of Los Angeles and other communities. Mr. Armenta is one of his opponents. Mr. MacFarlane may be contacted at fredmacfarlane@mac.com
