Mark Ridley-Thomas covers all the bases

The state senator running for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has been doing everything he can to show he supports Barack Obama more than his rival, Bernard Parks. But Ridley-Thomas is also trying to get political mileage by being associated with another political figure that would surprise many of his Democratic supporters: Ronald Reagan.

The Times' Garrett Therolf has more details:

Ridley-Thomas paid  $2,400 to get his name on a Republican mailer touting the legacy of Ronald Reagan, according to a campaign finance report. The mailer praises Reagan for "his ideals of limited government and personal freedoms" and name-drops President Bush. It was shipped by an organization called "Continuing the Republican Revolution," an outfit run by Newport Beach political operative Scott Hart.

Candidates who received "endorsements" on the mailer paid Hart’s organization, according to campaign finance records. The Times got curious and asked if we can indeed count on Ridley-Thomas to champion a "Republican revolution." Ridley-Thomas' campaign spokesman, Fred MacFarlane, said: "Well, I think, you know, we can appeal to Republican voters as the best choice for all the people in the 2nd District, notwithstanding any revolution."

The mailer comes shortly after Ridley-Thomas said he would highlight his opponent's conservative streak and assist Parks, who is a Democrat as well, "in identifying himself as a Republican."

Thanks for clearing things up.

-- Jesus Sanchez

Comments

[Paul]

Let me get this straight, Ridley-Thomas wrote a check to an Orange County based organization called "Continuing the Republican Revolution" to impress Republicans that he is a supporter of Ronald Reagan. I'm a Democrat and I received a mailer from Ridley-Thomas's campaign attacking Parks for being supported by Republicans. Now, I see it's Parks who is the Democrat and Ridley-Thomas who is the Republican. I'm confused. Can someone help me out here?