The encomium to Rep. Tom McClintock in my May Diary met with much agreement from readers, but also this one dissent:

Derb, you’re right about Tom McClintock. He’s a great leader and I wish I could vote for him for governor, except he has one fatal flaw: He supports the expansion of Indian casinos in California.
I’m sure that issue seems like small potatoes on the grand scheme of things. But the casinos have invaded neighborhoods and school zones, and tribes are buying up local politicians. I used to not believe that money dominated politics but merely influenced it. After seeing tribes dominate CA for so long, I am no longer naive.
Casinos need to be stopped no matter what the cost. I hate being single-issue, but McClintock really blew it on this one.

Yeah, that was an issue in the 2003 recall race. Looking up Tom’s fundraising stats, he’s still taking casino money. It doesn’t mean much to me, though as an opponent of race-based legal privileges, I think the Indians-casino business is deplorable. Politicians must get money from somewhere and I’m loth to judge. I’m not clued in to California politics, though, so perhaps I’m missing something.

Speaking of California politics: It’s Primary Day over there in the Golden State. Tom McClintock has endorsed Steve Poizner for the Republican candidate. Vote for who you like, but at least go out and vote.