Updated 4/14/2010 to reflect comments received from Congressman Rohrabacher’s office and from readers, see below.
The featured speaker at yesterday’s monthly breakfast meeting of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce was U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. Representing the coastline from Huntington Beach up to Palos Verdes Peninsula, Catalina Island, and a strip of adjoining inland communities from Seal Beach to portions of Santa Ana, the conservative Republican is the 11 term representative for California’s 46th congressional district.
There were about 100 local Chamber of Commerce members, their friends and associates in attendance at the town hall style meeting held at O'Malley's on Main Street. Seth Eaker, President of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce told www.OC180NEWS.com “The Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce was delighted to host Congressman Rohrabacher in what will be hopefully a new annual spring tradition of a breakfast briefing. We are proud the be deepening the relationship with our local business community and our congressman."
Among audience members were Seal Beach Mayor David Sloan, Seal Beach City Councilmembers Michael Levitt and Charles Antos, Seal Beach city staff members Linda Devine and newly appointed Director of Public Works, Sean Crumby, and Los Alamitos Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Gregory Franklin.
Eaker said “When I was driving the congressman in the {Seal Beach} Christmas Parade, he made the commitment to me that he would like to come and give us a briefing and to connect more with the business community. Both his Chief of Staff, Kathleen and his aide Dana were incredibly helpful in getting the congressman to attend the regular breakfast briefing. They have indicated support to have him more in touch with the Chamber and the City of Seal Beach. That is really great news for our community.”
His briefing of about 20 minutes was standard issue Rohrabacher—Democrat and President Obama bashing, smaller government, less deficit spending, healthcare reform condemnation, anti-immigration, support for off shore oil drilling, anti-china, and insistence that global warming is not manmade.
Update:
After publication, we received the following comment from Congressman Rohrabacher’s office:
The congressman “would take issue with your characterization of him as being “anti-immigration.” Mr. Rohrabacher is against ILLEGAL immigration and that distinction is an important one to make. As a matter of fact, Mr. Rohrabacher has 5 legal immigrants on staff, including his District Director.”
At two different times during his brief presentation, Rohrabacher Accused President Obama and/or his policies of being “Marxist.” The only significant point on which Rohrabacher departed from standard conservative Republican party lines was with regard to legalization of adult use of marijuana—Rohrabacher favors it. When asked about the request for two $1 million “earmarks” for storm drain refurbishment and sand replenishment, Rohrabacher Resorted to the House Republican commitment to reject any earmarks this year.
Update:
With regard to Congressman Rohrabacher calling President Obama a “Marxist”, www.OC180NEWS.com received several comments from at least three different people at the meeting who expressed offense at the use of this term to describe President Obama.
Readers are invited to post appropriate and responsible comments by clicking on the comments link below.
