5th SD Mailbox: Cassie DeYoung, Political Free Radical

There must be a certain freedom in having no philosophical core or fixed political principles other than the pursuit of political power for its own sake.  No pesky principles to prevent one from adopting whatever stance is most convenient at the moment for advancing one's fortunes. After all, if one has no coherent philosophy, how can one be truly inconsistent?

Welcome to the world of the Cassie DeYoung for Supervisor. Is she a conservative? Is she a liberal? Is she a moderate?

I don't think DeYoung is any of those things. She's more like the political equivalent of a free radical -- a highly-reactive, unpaired political electron floating along in search of combustible issues to ignite.

That has been her approach to running for supervisor, after all. When the public employee pension issue began heating up, her candidacy was all about reining in out-of-control county government -- a Tom McClintock-ish stance.

As the Santa Ana Mountain tunnel drew more attention, DeYoung labeled it the Terrible Tunnel and a threat to a very way of life -- an enviro-NIMBY  approach.

When the 241 Foothill-South completion edged onto the front pages, DeYoung was for it -- and against it. She supported building it, but only after yet another study was completed by a firm that the mortal enemies on either side could agree on -- an audacious synthesizing of Pat Brown and Dancing Peacock.

Then DeYoung accused opponent Pat Bates of being a tool of big business because she voted against a slew of liberal Democrat bills, followed by pillorying Bates for matricula consular legislation that Bates voted against. Most politicians are content to lurch either to the left or to the right -- but Cassie DeYoung manages to lurch in every direction simultaneously.

Now DeYoung is lurching left and excoriating Bates for not being an an environmental extremist. You see, Pat Bates received a "zero" rating from the League of Conservation Voters -- a ranking the League routinely gives to conservative, anti-tax Republicans who vote their belief in property rights and free enterprise.

What does Cassie DeYoung really believe in? Her campaign is all over the map in terms of a philosophical coherence. It's difficult to get a sense that she believes in anything other than getting herself elected -- and a political issue is only worth supporting or opposing to the extent that it serves that goal. Which is why it is more helpful to see DeYoung as a political free radical than to engage in fruitless attempts to place in an fixed segment of the political spectrum.

Comments

[El Comandante]

DeYoung actually has a lot in common with Hillary Clinton--all politics, no principles.

I googled Cassie to learn more about her and her campaign but most of the results are for a pornstar named Cassie Young. I have a feeling Pat Bates will win.

[Laguna Niguel Republican]

This is so typical of Cassie. You are right when you say she has no core beliefs. She would be an absolute disaster on the Board of Supervisors.

[JozefColomy]

Cathryn DeYoung running for County Supervisor. The issues are different, and she has made it clear where she stands on each individual one. Why does everyone criticize Cathryn DeYoung for not following the party like a sheep, yet the same people will turn around and praise Lou Correa for "standing up for what he believes in" by endorsing Measure A and other things?

Don't get me wrong, I am as conservative as anyone, but this attitude is the reason that we will never achieve majority in the state legislature.

[jason blair]

Another fat cat in South County running for office ala Diane Harkey...without a clue...blow your money and lose...

[observer]

This was the best piece I've read on DeYoung. She isn't taking a stance on issues, she is just demonstrating that she has no center of gravity.

[One Who Knows]

This is so surreal I want to scream!

Does no-one understand that in a costal district, environmental records are paramount?

If one candidate has a "zero" on the issue, is that not important? Of course it is.
These contrary bloggers must be from inland areas. Not costal areas.

They are totally out of touch with the electorate.

Did anyone else think the the Black and white picture of Bates looked better than the colored DeYoung pictures?

Besides, self-propelling yourself is a turnoff to voters. "I'm a hero...look at me...vote for me" People already know if you are a hero or not.