Last week, the CSEA (CA State Employees Association) staged a protest at Assemblyman Cook's District Office in Yucaipa. Key word "staged." There's a video of their efforts on youtube, but we won't further their nonsense by linking it.
One of the CSEA's crack organizers claims, on video, that Cook was "hiding" from protestors. Hey, what a great soundbyte! Cook hides from protestors! Except it was Wednesday July 8. Even Cook's grandkids could probably tell you that he's in the State Capitol from Monday through Thursday on most weeks (including the week of the protest). Perhaps the CSEA should check with their expert legislative committee, or visit the official Assembly web page during non-work hours, to figure out the Assembly's schedule. More likely, the head mouthpiece was lying to rile up the crowd. (And according to District Office staffers, the CSEA knew Cook wasn't there.)
The protestors also shouted "Teach 'em or jail 'em!" Does anyone even
know what that means? Jail the kids? For the record, as a professor at
public universities, Cook was often frustrated by budget cuts or the
occasional student, but he never wanted to jail his pupils. Call him a bleeding heart.
Cook was up in Sacramento doing his job that Wednesday, such as working on his legislation to help improve IHSS for seniors and disabled persons. All of this begs the question, shouldn't these protestors be at work? If the CSEA members have all of this time to spare for protests and money to spend on mailers going out to 40,000 of Cook's constituents, maybe the budget cuts aren't as harmful as they purport.
Everyone has a right to protest, including the CSEA. But let's be accurate and avoid lies when you're assailing someone, all in the name of your union.
- JPCstaff
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