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# Texting and Politics: A Dangerous Combination
May 02 2013
Written by Paul Hatfield.
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PERSPECTIVE - Mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel criticized opponent Eric Garcetti of accepting the endorsement of Kevin James, who ran a respectable third in the primary, right ahead of Jan Perry.
A Greuel campaign mailer [referred to James as an “Obama hater,](http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2013/05/wendy_greuel_kevin_james_texts.php)” alluding to his comparison of Obama to former [British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain](http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/neville_chamberlain.htm). She attempted to paint James’ statement, which was made during the 2008 presidential campaign, as the equivalent of characterizing Obama as a Nazi sympathizer.
Of course, Chamberlain was not a Nazi sympathizer; he was trying to avoid war with Germany and made concessions that were widely criticized in hindsight. That knowledge is lost on Greuel.
Yet, Greuel aggressively pursued James for his endorsement, as evidenced by a string of text messages she sent. Almost sounding lovesick in her pursuit, she even wrote, “I am stalking u:)” and “U are beloved – I hear it a lot.”
The messages were reported by the LA Weekly. Not the kind of chit-chat one would expect her to initiate with someone she tries to paint as a “Nazi sympathizer.”
Greuel and her manager John Shallman are prone to defamatory hyperbole. They had previously compared Eric Garcetti to Wisconsin Governor John Walker because of the modest pension reform proposals he supported in the City Council.
They also [slammed Jan Perr](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/greuel-jan-perry-radio-ad.html)y for tax liens she satisfied responsibly and in due course.
Chamberlain’s appeasement strategy was at least driven by a desire for world peace. Greuel’s appeasement of the DWP’s IBEW union is [motivated by money](http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-city-unions-20130502,0,735961,full.story).
*(Paul Hatfield is a CPA and serves as Treasurer for the Neighborhood Council Valley Village. He blogs at Village to Village, contributes to CityWatch and can be reached at: )* –cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 36
Pub: May 3, 2013
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