Harris, Newsom urge California Democrats to drive change

JULIET WILLIAMS, Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Democratic Party's biggest rising stars, Attorney General Kamala Harris and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, used the party's annual convention Saturday to push for bold political changes on everything from immigration to marijuana as they positioned themselves for the next stage of their careers — and as potential rivals for a 2018 gubernatorial nomination.

Harris urged Democrats to use their recent gains at California's ballot box to push for changes on gun control, gay marriage, climate change and other issues, telling the party's 2,000 delegates they should not accept Republican arguments to wait.

"Whatever the Supreme Court decides, it's time, it's time for marriage equality," she said, referring to the same-sex marriage case now before the U.S. Supreme Court. "We need to tell Congress, this year, this month, it's time. It's time for comprehensive immigration reform. It's time to stand with the people of Newtown for commonsense gun laws. Democrats, it's time to stand up for workers and collective bargaining rights. It's time to stand up for our women and lead the fight for reproductive freedom."

Newsom, who is serving as acting governor while Gov. Jerry Brown is on a trade mission to China, urged a repeal of the death penalty and a strategy to tackle joblessness. He drew loud applause when he said he supports legalizing and taxing marijuana.

"It's about standing up on principle, it's about having the courage of our convictions, it's about standing up and saying publicly what all too often we say privately, just as we did in 2004 in San Francisco," said Newsom, referring to his signature moment as mayor of San Francisco, when he allowed gay marriages until the practice was halted by the courts.

California voters rejected an initiative to repeal the death penalty last November and to legalize marijuana in 2010.

Their remarks seemed more like stump speeches for potential gubernatorial bids than a summary of their accomplishments in office, and both referenced civil rights leader Martin Luther King in comparing the ideas they were backing to the civil rights movement.

Harris took the stage to U2's "Beautiful Day" but made no direct reference to President Barack Obama's remark earlier this month calling her the "best-looking" attorney general in America. It sparked a national discussion about whether such comments detract from women's accomplishments, and the president apologized to Harris afterward.

Obama also called Harris brilliant, dedicated and tough when he was speaking at a Silicon Valley fundraiser April 4.

She has not addressed the issue publicly and made only an apparent veiled reference at the beginning of her remarks. Referring to state party Chairman John Burton, who frequently salts his speech with four-letter words, Harris said he "never self-censors."

She did not speak to reporters at the convention and could not be located after her speech.

In his address, Newsom joked about his own appearance and excessive use of hair gel. He was the only speaker to address the issue on stage Saturday, jokingly saying he was offended to be left out of the president's comment.

"I gotta confess, this one's tough for me. I was disappointed, so disappointed, the president didn't mention the best-looking LG in history," Newsom said, to laughter, the initials referring to his post as lieutenant governor. "But Cruz Bustamante has that locked up."

Bustamante, a fellow Democrat, is a former lieutenant governor.

Democrats last year won two-thirds majorities in both houses of the state Legislature for the first time in decades and picked up six congressional seats formerly held by Republicans that they will have to defend in 2014. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Saturday that Democrats will have to keep up with Republican fundraising to be competitive next year.

Brown steered the successful campaign for Proposition 30, temporarily increasing the statewide sales tax and boosting income taxes on high-earners. That allowed him to close the state's multibillion-dollar deficit and present a budget he says is balanced.

Newsom temporarily broke from the celebratory tone of the convention, noting that California still faces serious challenges, including a 9.6 percent unemployment rate, tied with Mississippi and Nevada as the highest in the nation.

"Almost 9 million — 9 million — Californians and a full 20 percent of California's children, are living at or below the poverty line," he said, adding that parts of the Central Valley have some of the highest unemployment rates in the state — some as high as 26 percent.

He said Democrats should make job creation and economic development their top priority and cannot "cede this issue to the other party."

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.