Carlos Alvarez is the Peace and Freedom candidate running for Calif. Governor. He is also a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Meg Whitman, Republican candidate for Calif. Governor, has just set an obscene record. She has spent over $119 million of her own money on her gubernatorial campaign—the most of any candidate in U.S. history.
Carlos Alvarez, Peace and Freedom candidate for Governor said, “This is a clear example of ‘dollar democracy’ in electoral politics. Whitman is proving that to get elected, one must be a billionaire, a millionaire or funded by banks and corporate interests.”
Alvarez continued, “Whitman’s spending is outrageous. Right now, millions of Californians lack healthcare, affordable housing, jobs and access to education. It was just announced that over 57 million people in the U.S. are living in poverty. As working families struggle to make ends meet, Whitman is unabashedly attempting to purchase the highest office in the state.”
He stated, “Whitman’s cash equals what it would cost to create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs for Californians in need. It is disgusting that she is using that wealth to attack the interests of the people who produced it.”
Although Jerry Brown’s campaign spending is dwarfed by Whitman’s, he is not off the hook. Brown has already spent millions. He has collected close to $30 million—offering himself to the highest bidder.
Alvarez believes that candidates for public office should be judged by their political platform and the content of their campaign, not the size of their wallets. Those who are elected should represent the interests of the working and poor constituents, not wealthy campaign financiers.
Alvarez concluded, “I don’t have a vast personal fortune and I will not take a dime of corporate money, but my campaign is boldly addressing the issues facing the vast majority of people in California. I call for putting people’s needs first, not corporate profits. I believe that housing, healthcare, education and jobs are human rights. There should be no cuts to social services. I stand against police brutality, and stand for legalization of immigrants and marriage equality.”
