Rick Caruso is running a new ad of Karen Bass praising scientology...

[IcyPeas]

Saw the ad earlier today.

As the race for Los Angeles mayor enters its final weeks, billionaire developer Rick Caruso released a new ad Monday reviving a speech his opponent, Rep. Karen Bass, made at a Church of Scientology event more than a decade ago.

The 60-second ad, titled "Church of Karen," splices Bass' 2010 speech at the opening of the Church of Scientology's headquarters in Los Angeles with newspaper headlines alleging wrongdoing on the part of the church over the course of decades.

https://www.foxla.com/news/karen-bass-responds-to-new-ad-linking-her-to-church-of-scientology

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Oh, dear lord. Scientology.

Somewhere in the distant past I was a Writer of the Future, which was founded by L. Ron Hubbard, of Scientology fame.

When I went to the workshop and event for us WoF, we were surrounded by Scientology and Scientologists. It was quite bizarre. But because science-fiction people are generally quite resistant to such nonsense, we persevered. That year we were housed at the Celebrity Center, a former apartment house, which they now own. Actually, it was quite nice.

One day we were all herded out to a tour of scientology (the best way to describe this) which included lots of stuff about L. Ron Hubbard. I had the good fortune to spend the tour next to James Gunn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Gunn) who quietly pointed out all sorts of stuff to me, including the s-f magazine he was first published in. I'd taken a writing workshop from Jim a couple of years earlier, and my Writers of the Future story came out of that.

Anyway, we s-f people were highly skeptical, and showed it. Oh, and while we were all there at the Celebrity Center, sometimes a bunch of us would happen to group together to talk, and every time that happened, we'd then be approached by a Scientology person who would perhaps offer a tour of some other part of the Center we didn't know about. Weird.

Our final night there, we had a major dinner. By this time spouses and other such had arrived and were with us. My husband was napping when I left for the dinner. He showed up a bit late, and said to me, "I'm glad you asked them to call me." What?? I didn't ask anyone to call him. But he'd received a phone call that he needed to get down to the dining room for dinner. They were keeping careful tabs on all of us.

Scientology.

[quaint]

3. creepy

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Yes, it was very creepy.

But I must add that Writers of the Future is a VERY prestigious contest, and lots of well-known authors got their start their. I got a start, but didn't carry on, so I'm not at all known.

L. Ron Hubbard was very cynical and focussed when he decided to found Scientology. But then, he funded Writers of the Future very generously, and aside from the creepy parts, it was a wonderful experience. Amazing workshop, a fabulous award banquet and presentation. I am glad I did it.

[beaglelover]

2. It's an effective ad, IMO. I'm voting for Caruso. Made up my mind months ago.

[Demovictory9]

6. Seriously?

[beaglelover]

7. You bet!

[Demovictory9]

5. Also running ads about the free degree she got from usc