Jerry Brown warns of ‘Orwellian propaganda’

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On the campaign trail today, Gov. Jerry Brown lashed out at his opponents, whom he accused of using ‘Orwellian propaganda’ to drag Proposition 30 to defeat.

While on a four-city tour Tuesday with planned stops in Inglewood, San Diego, Bakersfield and Fresno, Brown said the tax hikes in his ballot measure are needed to protect schools and put the state on stable economic footing.

‘I’ve been cutting and slashing and hacking,’ Brown told reporters at a San Diego elementary school. ‘I don’t think we should cut anymore.’

Brown called the leaders of the No on 30 campaign mercenaries’ playing a ‘political game’ with the state’s schools and economy. He accused them of launching a ‘vicious propaganda campaign of deception and utter cynicism.’

He took particular issue with a new ad that says his measure would hike gasoline taxes.

‘That,’ he said, ‘is a flat lie.’

Brown acknowledged that the attacks have taken a toll on Proposition 30, and that his proposal faces a tough fight.

‘The biggest challenge is getting the word out to people who haven’t heard of 30,’ he said.

But he defended his decision to stay off the campaign trail until last week. ‘People are just starting to pay attention now,’ he said. ‘I’m going to spend the next two weeks doing everything I can to spread the word.’

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