Santa Ana Councilwoman Gets Caught Talking About Political Dirty Tricks on Public Train, Cries Invasion of Privacy

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SanTana City Council member and current 69th Assembly District candidate Michele Martinez has never been the smartest taco in the combo plate, especially since she's decided to align herself with SanTana Mayor-for-Life Don Papi Pulido and the Wicked Witch of Washington Square, Claudia Alvarez. But she committed an error of legendary dimensions--maybe not John Schmitz getting caught with a Swedish mistress, but definitely more embarrassing than Clownia's dumb insertion of Hitler into a gentrification battle--yesterday, talking about coordinating an independent expenditure with an Indian tribe. On her cell phone. On a public train.

Did we mention such coordination is illegal, if the IE is for the candidate's benefit? HILARIOUS.

Tweeting the conversation live was Bob Salladay, a senior editor for California Watch who doesn't cover Orange County but just happened to be on the same northbound train as Martinez.

Once the Liberal OC got wind of it, they posted a story that spread among OC's chattering classes. Rather than admit she's a pendeja, however, Martinez took a page out of the Pulido/Alvarez/Larry Agran handbook they stole from conservatives: blame the media.

"I don't know what's worse; someone secretly listening to a private conversation without consent or misrepresenting that conversation publicly," she said in a statement to the media.  "It's disrespectful, dishonest and downright creepy. Now, I'm even more motivated to bring integrity, civility and honor back to public service in Sacramento."

HAHAHA! Michele: as someone with whom you did your own political coordinating for one of your campaigns (I just might share THAT story someday), take these words and stitch them on one of your pant suits: a conversation in public is not a private one. IEs are disrespectful to democracy, dishonest, and downright creepy. You can't take the high road when you're already in the latrine. And NEVER, and I mean NEVER, try to pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel--or, in Salladay's case, by the terabyte.

Congrats, Michele! We weren't going to pay too much attention to your campaign, focusing more on opponents Tom Daly and Julio Perez--but your arrogance on the matter necessitates a course change. Details to come...

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