John Bauters' Gaffe Causes Loss of Critical Alameda County Democratic Party Endorsement
Seeking Alameda County Supervisor Position,
He Now Waffles on Gaza Issue
After a very public gaffe about the war in Gaza, Emeryville City Council member John Bauters and his surging campaign for Alameda County Board of Supervisors failed to secure a critical endorsement from the Alameda County Democratic Party, a major misfire on his path to secure what he has characterized as the next big step in his political ascendancy.
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| John Bauters Not a fan of a ceasefire in Gaza and snubbed by the Alameda County Democratic Party endorsement committee. |
Mr Bauters’ answer seemed to surprise the other candidates, one of whom, wishing anonymity, later told the Tattler, “I think that cost him [Bauters] the endorsement”. Perhaps not as surprising was Mr Bauters later change of mind about this issue at a Democratic endorsement meeting hosted by the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club where he attempted to put the genie back in the bottle.
After the surprising answer from Mr Bauters, “[…calling for a ceasefire in Gaza] is too divisive”, the County Dems threw their support to Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortuado Bas in a 22-11 vote. However, the Alameda County Democratic Party requires a 60% vote to affirm an endorsement of any candidate and the smattering of votes for other candidates, diluting the majority, meant they would have to defer any endorsement for the Supervisor race this election, a rarity for the Dems.
Americans, by large majorities, are in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza, with some polls showing 66% support nation-wide. Among California Democrats, the number surpasses 80%. Among Alameda County Democrats, in what’s been called the bluest county in the bluest state in the nation, the support for a Gaza ceasefire is considerably larger than 80%. These kinds of numbers suggest Mr Bauters might have a problem with one or more anti-Palestinian donors. For his part, Councilman Bauters has not responded to any questions about this issue.
Bauters has garnered more than $100,000 for the race so far, considerably more than anyone else seeking the Supervisor seat.
The Alameda County Democratic Party announced its official support for a ceasefire in Gaza on October 10th. Many so called ‘corporate Democrats’ have resisted discussing the growing ceasefire movement. A connection between corporate Democrats and donors who don’t like the idea of a ceasefire has been shown by many politicos.
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| Nikki Fortunado Bas Running for County Supervisor and supportive of a ceasefire in Gaza, she beat John Bauters 22-11 in the Alameda County Democratic Party endorsement count. |
After the rebuke from the County Dems, Mr Bauters tried to regroup and put the issue to rest at Friday’s endorsement meeting of the progressive Paul Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club. The same question about supporting a ceasefire in Gaza was asked of the candidates and this time, Mr Bauters changed his answer about a Gaza ceasefire to "YES, with the appropriate language". This answer was in direct contradiction to his admission at the earlier county party meeting and at a City Council meeting in December where he refused to even allow discussion of the issue. At the City Council meeting, Bauters’ colleague Council member Kalimah Priforce attempted to introduce the Gaza issue using the same “appropriate language” qualifier as Mr Bauters is now using.
The Wellstone Club has not yet announced its endorsement.*
With a large campaign war chest, Mr Bauters is being cast as the frontrunner in the race to replace longtime progressive County Supervisor Keith Carson. As such, the failure of Mr Bauters to unequivocally tell the Democratic Party his position on a proposed ceasefire in Gaza, an issue very much in Democrats' minds, is causing doubts among some in the party about his inevitability as the new County Supervisor. The endorsement of the Alameda County Democratic Party was arguably Bauters' to loose. But as the candidate (wishing anonymity) at the county endorsement meeting told the Tattler after hearing Bauters’ gaffe, “I don’t see how they can endorse him after that”.
*Update to story 2/1/24: The Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club has since endorsed Nikki Fortunado Bas for the District 5 Alameda County Supervisor seat.
Wow, just wow. I have to say I don't think any Democrat should vote for someone who can't consistently bring himself to say he's for a ceasefire in a war that's killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians. This is just wrong. What is happening to the party that this guy is the frontrunner?
ReplyDeleteIf I was running for office I would say the plight of all the children in Gaza and Israel are a direct threat to sustainable futures. The United States needs to ratify the Convention of the Child Rights, which we have yet to do and which would enshrine our commitment to protect all children in conflict zones, which means supplying food, shelter and healthcare but not supplying weapons that harm.we need to punch on the Dems to get the UN CRC completed.
ReplyDeleteBauters’ reluctance to commit to ending atrocities against any children means he will probably stay as our Emeryville councilperson. It would be good if he could move on in his ambitions now.
I have not agreed with many decisions John Bauters has made, and this time, his decision verges on mental illness... How could anyone with a reasoning mind and a compassionate heart promote the killing of innocent children, families, mothers, women and husbands who only want peace in their lives? Not condoning a ceasefire in Gaza? Bauters must be mentally ill... or else so self-centered that he is blind to the pain and suffering of others.
ReplyDeleteIn Bauters' defense, he never promoted support for the war, he just refused to promote a ceasefire. I doubt he hates the Palestinian people, rather I think he's making political calculations, trying to find a middle ground between the expectations on him by his donors versus the expectations of the voters. The two groups are disparate. Trying to manage that is probably like having two sex partners that cannot find out about each other. Probably not an easy task.
Delete"No" was the wrong answer. "It's divisive" was a correct statement of fact. "Yes, with the appropriate language" was a good answer.
ReplyDeleteCouncilman Bauters publicly gave all three answers on three different occasions with three different political calculations having been made; the very definition of equivocating. The war against Gaza is a moral issue . Most people are not policy wonks but instead want to know how their leaders are on moral issues. The people of Alameda County deserve to know this information about the guy who's asking for their vote. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteIt is certain, now, that John Bauters will remain a city councilman in Emeryville. Is this the quality of person we want represending our city? It is time we rise up an oust this impostor! His self-centeredness knows no bounds! The other city councilpersons should cringe in shame. He does not represent us!
ReplyDeletePlease shut up
ReplyDelete