State Senate President Don Perata made the right call when he officially ended his involvement in the recall campaign he started months ago against Sen. Jeff Denham, the Republican who represents San Benito County.
But in dropping his anti-democratic, politically motivated effort, the Oakland Democrat has not apologized for the injustice, and he merely attributed his decision to putting partisan differences aside.
Perata should not only apologize for wasting time and money and attempting to confuse the citizenry into believing Denham did something terribly wrong. But he also should say sorry because he and other legislators behind last summer's budget - which Denham opposed, leading to the attempted payback by Perata - have once again buried taxpayers in a multi-billion-dollar deficit.
Now state schools are reeling
It's ironic that Perata's primary message in the recall campaign had been a claim that Denham's stance on the budget was a sign that he broke his commitment to education - as about half of the state budget goes toward schools. Denham, of Merced, has rejected the notion and continually maintained that his stance on the budget had everything to do with the out-of-balance numbers.
It's ironic, and sad, because here we are heading into the 2008-09 budget cycle, and schools throughout the state - including here in San Benito County - are cutting teachers due to the massive deficit that needs mending.
Because of that reality - and a typhoon of opposition against Perata's recall campaign - the effort was futile from the beginning.
After Perata succeeded in getting the recall on the ballot - due to his hiring of paid signature gatherers who misled residents - voters were never fooled.
Perata attempts to save himself
Now that the recall has backfired, that his bogus campaign has prompted a virile contempt for its disingenuous nature, Perata is merely trying to save face by ending it now.
Though he may stop the bleeding for now by ending the effort, Perata's movement has tainted his own reputation while boosting Denham's.
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