A Day with Rob Reiner in 1998
In June 1998, I accompanied Rob Reiner as he traveled across California promoting Proposition 10. This ballot measure sought to allocate resources specifically for children from birth to three years old. As a journalist for USA Today covering national politics, I aimed to understand his motivations and the implications of wealthy individuals directly influencing policy through such initiatives.
Reiner campaigned with the energy of a political candidate, though he bypassed traditional election processes to directly shape legislation. When I noted he wasn't an ordinary citizen, he responded, "And isn't it great when somebody has the power base and uses it for the good of the people?" He described himself as "the cavalry coming to the rescue," while some child advocates viewed him more critically.
Personal Motivations and Advocacy
Reiner's commitment stemmed from personal experiences. During the dissolution of his first marriage to Penny Marshall, therapy revealed how his early years in a tumultuous entertainment family impacted him. This insight, combined with encouragement from Tipper Gore in the mid-1990s, fueled his dedication to early brain development. While raising his own three young children, he immersed himself in the science, developing what I observed as a near-messianic drive to educate others on this crucial developmental phase.
He founded the advocacy group "I Am Your Child," secured an ABC special and a Newsweek feature on the topic, and prompted a White House conference under President Bill Clinton. Proposition 10 represented the peak of his two-year effort to support infants, toddlers, and society through improved parenting resources.
The Broader Context of Ballot Initiatives
Over recent decades, concerns have arisen about ballot initiatives being funded by affluent groups, potentially undermining democratic processes. Initially, I shared these reservations. However, after decades of observing legislative bodies in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., I've come to appreciate why driven individuals might seek alternatives when traditional legislatures are slow, ineffective, or unresponsive to public needs and evidence.
Voters in various states have used initiatives to enact changes like raising the minimum wage, protecting abortion rights, and expanding Medicaid. While not flawless and susceptible to misuse, these measures can serve as vital mechanisms for governmental responsiveness.
Reflections on Parenting and Legacy
Parenting my two sons, then 8 and 12 during Reiner's campaign, and engaging with other parents over the years has provided profound insights. Reiner's optimism was central to his proposal for a cigarette tax to fund services for pregnant women and young children. During our travels, we visited a parent support center, a Rotary Club, and a newspaper editorial board. Some recognized him only as "Meathead" from All in the Family, to which he humorously remarked about knowing Sally Struthers intimately.
Noted pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton, unfamiliar with Reiner's celebrity, praised his involvement, stating, "It's a hard fight, and we haven't been very successful without him." Despite opposition from the tobacco industry, Proposition 10 narrowly passed in November 1998, establishing the nation's first dedicated funding for children under five. This led to the creation of First 5 California, significantly enhancing access to early care, education, healthcare, and literacy programs.
First 5 Chair Katie Albright attributed California's universal preschool achievement to Reiner's leadership. His aspiration to transform lives through early intervention was valid—the early years are indeed a critical window for development, though not a guarantee against life's challenges.
Parenting involves uncontrollable factors like fate, biology, and personal struggles. The Reiners experienced this painfully with their younger son. Their tragic deaths, reportedly at his hands, are both public and deeply personal. As their friend Maria Shriver expressed, "They loved their kids so much, and they never stopped trying to be really good parents." Ultimately, that relentless effort is the utmost anyone can offer.
