Hey San Diegans – now is the time to call – or email or text – the two remaining Democratic Congressional Representatives of our area who have not made a commitment to either avoid or boycott Trump’s inauguration on Friday, Jan. 20th.
Rep. Juan Vargas said yesterday that he was not attending the event and instead would be in his community praying with constituents. Fourteen members of California’s Democratic delegation are not attending.
Nearly sixty Congressional Representatives – all Democrats – and no senators – have gone on the record declaring their support for John Lewis by not attending the spectacle.
Here is Scott Peters’ contact info:
San Diego Office
4350 Executive Drive, Suite 105
San Diego, CA 92121
phone: 858-455-5550
hours: M-F 8:30am-5:00pm
Washington, DC Office
1122 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
phone: 202-225-0508
hours: M-F 9:00am-5:00pm
Here is Susan Davis’ contact info:
San Diego Office
2700 Adams Avenue
Suite 102
San Diego, CA 92116
Phone: (619) 280-5353
Fax: (619) 280-5311
Washington, DC Office
U.S. House of Representatives
1214 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2040
Fax: (202) 225-2948
Here’s a list of California House Democrats who say they won’t attend Donald Trump’s Inauguration:
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland)
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord)
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael)
Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton)
Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Los Angeles)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park)
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance)
Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey)
Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Palm Desert)
Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside)
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-San Diego)
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles)
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Why is this a good thing? Regardless of who the president is, it seems that representatives should feel some sense of obligation in attending the inauguration to celebrate the peaceful transfer of power.
How would you feel if an entire state’s delegates refused to attend the current president’s then-inauguration or the next president with whom you have an affinity. This is an awfully slippery slope.
Slippery slope? We’re already on one, it’s called the slide into fascism.
Ask me how I felt when Newt Gingrich and McConnell and the GOP shut down the government, and when McConnell wouldn’t follow Constitutional guarantees the President’s nomination to fill a Supreme Court would receive consideration, and when Trump formed an alliance with Vlad the Impaler. Looks like we’ve peacefully transitioned to fascism, no?
Thank you, Frank Gormlie, for posting the numbers of Susan Davis and Scott Peters, and to Juan Vargas for having the nuts to depart from Davis’ and Peters’ mild confusion over where they stand on Donald Trump. I called Davis’ office (she’s my Representative) and listened to the intern’s splay nation; it is what it is” and that she will be attending the inauguration. Peter’s intern listened politely to my protest that Trump, if not an out-and-outed fascist, is at the least CRAZY, and that the Democratic boycott of the inauguration would be a first step in bringing down his presidency. I couldn’t bear to hear another “it is what it is” splay nation.
Please, everybody, let the Representatives loyal to the last election know where you stand. Good for you Frank. You were right on time with this.
I just got off the phone with both local offices. Both Peters and Davis still intend to attend the inauguration but will also attend Women’s March on Saturday.
The argument they raised and what callers should be aware of : Respect for the smooth transition of power in a democracy; the legitimacy of the presidency apart from the individual who is president. So be prepared for push back.
My argument is that because I respect the presidency, I have a moral obligation to call out the individual (Trump) who has explicitly stated the ways he intends to undermine that role of the presidency. He has no desire to unify the country, the majority of us who voted for Hillary Clinton. His presidency brings the taint of corruption (emoluments clause) and raises the specter of treason (relationship with Russia).
Davis and Peters think they can serve two different causes. We need to press them on which side are they on.
Thanks Anna, I too just got off the phone to Davis’ office – and did not receive any excuse, just a ‘thank you’ from the clerk / secretary who answered.
It’s now up to 68 Democrat Congressional reps avoiding the inaugural.
I am very much in support of John Lewis. However, from a strategic standpoint, we need to think about what we are doing. Our goal should be to win the votes of the sane people who voted for Trump, as well as the Fox news zombies who don’t even realize that they are voting against themselves. If we continue to pick fights, we will just solidify their positions. We need to focus on substantive issues regarding his governance that affect this demographic. We need to avoid triggering the us/them mentality that is so well played by Fox news. We will not beat them at their game, it has already been demonstrated that they are much better at it. We must focus on the substantive issues that affect these voters, and calmly show how we are working for them. Without saying things like Republicans are idiots and Trump is an evil dictator. That will just trigger them.
We are all welcome to privately boycott the inauguration ceremony. I certainly will be. But making a public issue out of it just continues the battle that we have already lost. I don’t think it is an effective strategy for our next election. We need to convince them that we are on their side. This is not going to happen by constantly saying that the people that they voted for are idiots.
We need to change the way we are playing this game.
Thank you for all that you do.
I’d guess that it would probably not be a good idea to refer to those you wish to bring to your side as Fox News zombies, nor as people voting against their own interests. Who’s to say what’s in someone else’s best interest?
Rang Rep. Davis’ San Diego office and was informed that Rep. Davis will be attending the inauguration and as well as the D. C. Woman’s March on Saturday.