CA-Sen: Profile in Courage Chuck DeVore Explains Why He Failed to Vote During Abel Maldonado Confirmation

Photo courtesy of @KQED_CapNotes

Now, after much discussion on Twitter and the Blogospher comes the laughable explanation from Chuck DeVore.

“One year ago, I resigned as Assembly Minority Whip because I would not support the budget deal that led to the failed Proposition 1A — which would have been the largest state tax increase in American history. Senator Maldonado, by contrast, played a decisive role in putting 1A before the people. I won’t reward bad behavior with high office. It is in that spirit that I abstained from this vote.”

So why not just vote no on Maldo? As Chuck D explains in a Twitter exchange Friday with Fresno Bee reporter EJ Schultz, “The Assembly GOP Caucus decided to support Maldonado. Voting ‘no’ would be more a slap at them than the nominee.”

Continues Chuck D: “As you know, an abstention has the same net result as a “no.”

Well, Chuck, if the “failing to vote” is the same as an abstention which is the same as voting no, why didn’t you just vote no?

Or were you afraid of the Republican donors who you are smoozing in your U.S. Senate race might just object to YOU being the only Republican Assemblyman to vote against the Republican Governor’s appointee, Abel Maldonado, who also turns out to be a Republican?

I mean, hey, if you don’t like Abel or have some deep feelings why he should not be confirmed then, by all means, man up and explain it in a speech on the Assembly floor. You were there on the floor for the morning vote but were a “no show” in the second and afternoon vote. I guess you figured why bother.

Or, Just vote NO and keep your mouth shut if you are worried about your fellow Republican colleagues or the donors.

That is what a “principled conservative” would do, now wouldn’t he?

But, guess what Chuck?

You will get another chance to “fail to vote” for Abel Maldonado.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today that he plans to withdraw the nomination of Republican Sen. Abel Maldonado for lieutenant governor, then re-nominate the Santa Maria Republican for the post.

The move will reset the 90-day window the Legislature has to confirm or reject the governor’s pick. In case you missed it, Maldonado failed to make it out of the Assembly yesterday, setting off a debate over what constitutes a rejection under the state constitution.

A third chance to represent your constituents, Chuck.

Such a deal.

Don’t blow it.