Last week, former Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey announced he was endorsing Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook in her fight to unseat U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) in California's 46th Congressional District.

In case Orange County Republicans missed the news, McCloskey, who became a Democrat in 2007 after 58 years of Republican party membership, sent a letter explaining his endorsement.

"Dear Republican," the letter begins. "Like you, I was proud to be a Republican until the advent of Bush and the Neocons. My family have been active California Republicans since l859, the year before Lincoln was elected."

After deriding the current state of the Republican party, McCloskey, who represented most of San Mateo County for 16 years from 1967-83, criticizes Rohrabacher for his connections to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

"Your congressman, Dana Rohrabacher, was in the inner circle of Abramoff's orbit," claims McCloskey. "He actually wrote a letter to the Judge who sentenced Abramoff urging leniency in his sentencing, the only letter from a sitting congressman so received by the judge.  Such questionable associations are not uncommon for this congressman, sadly, as anyone who has been watching him over the years knows all too well."

McCloskey then shifts to praising Cook for her progressive stance on global warming and alternative energy.

"Unlike Rohrabacher," writes McCloskey, "she understands these issues and sees the real threats to our economy and national security."

McCloskey ends the letter by encouraging Republicans to vote for Cook.

"Dana Rohrabacher is a part of the problem," he concludes. "I hope you will vote for Debbie Cook next Tuesday."

McCloskey ran for the Republican nomination for president against Richard Nixon in 1972, and lost a bid for the U.S. Senate in 1982.

ELSEWHERE on PolitickerCA.com:

• McCloskey, former Republican congressman, endorses Cook for CA-46
• Sparks fly at CA-46 debate