Jerry Brown has message for California

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In case you haven’t read it yet, California Governor Jerry Brown has penned an open letter to all Californians, or at least those who are voting in Tuesday’s primary election.

For those old enough to remember the 1992 Democratic primaries, Jerry Brown was a significant opponent of then Governor Bill Clinton. The back-and-forth got nasty at times, but after Clinton had secured the nomination, Brown dropped out of the race — in July of 1992 — and supported the Democratic Party. The acrimony eventually ended and in 2010 Bill Clinton campaigned for Brown when he ran for governor.

Below is Brown’s letter to Californians:

On Tuesday, June 7, I have decided to cast my vote for Hillary Clinton because I believe this is the only path forward to win the presidency and stop the dangerous candidacy of Donald Trump.

I have closely watched the primaries and am deeply impressed with how well Bernie Sanders has done. He has driven home the message that the top one percent has unfairly captured way too much of America’s wealth, leaving the majority of people far behind. In 1992, I attempted a similar campaign.

Hillary Clinton (YouTube)
Hillary Clinton (YouTube)

For her part, Hillary Clinton has convincingly made the case that she knows how to get things done and has the tenacity and skill to advance the Democratic agenda. Voters have responded by giving her approximately 3 million more votes – and hundreds more delegates – than Sanders. If Clinton were to win only 10 percent of the remaining delegates – wildly improbable – she would still exceed the number needed for the nomination. In other words, Clinton’s lead is insurmountable and Democrats have shown – by millions of votes – that they want her as their nominee.

But there is more at stake than mere numbers. The Republican nominee, Donald Trump, has called climate change a “hoax” and said he will tear up the Paris Climate Agreement. He has promised to deport millions of immigrants and ominously suggested that other countries may need the nuclear bomb. He has also pledged to pack the Supreme Court with only those who please the extreme right.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Our country faces an existential threat from climate change and the spread of nuclear weapons. A new cold war is on the horizon. This is no time for Democrats to keep fighting each other. The general election has already begun. Hillary Clinton, with her long experience, especially as Secretary of State, has a firm grasp of the issues and will be prepared to lead our country on day one.

Next January, I want to be sure that it is Hillary Clinton who takes the oath of office, not Donald Trump.

With respect,

Jerry Brown

Top photo of Governor Brown campaigning in 2010. (Wikipedia)