Brown Scores Points in First Debate

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Septembre 29 2010
All Rights Reserved.                                

            Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown scored some solid points over former Ebay CEO Meg Whitman in their first of three televised debates for California governor.  While neither candidate scored a knockout punch, Brown exposed the 54-year-old political novice for her slogan-like responses to serious problems facing the state.  Whitman’s canned responses to complex questions posed by a panel of three journalists at UC Davis’ Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, contrasted sharply with Brown’s measured but detailed answers to the same questions.  What appeared most striking, however, were not Whitman’s answers but the real-time TV camera that exposed the stark discrepancy between Meg’s campaign ads and her appearance on live TV.  Her campaign routinely pictures her at least 10-20 years younger, a kind of trick commonly played by lonely hearts on Internet dating sites.

            Whitman’s racked up about $120 million in a year-and-a-half, running unflattering campaign ads of the 72-year-old former governor.  It’s clear from her ads that she pictured herself as the youthful and glamorous, contrasted with some of the worst photos ever taken of Brown, some looking like he’s already embalmed.  When the lights and cameras flashed on at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time at Mondavi Center, the contrast could not have been more stark:  Whitman looked old and haggard while Brown appeared dapper and vigorous.  Nearly two years of visual propaganda backfired in real-time, giving the TV audience a firsthand glimpse of Whitman and Brown’s real looks.  Whitman pounded Brown with old GOP slogans about his ties to labor unions and special interest groups.   Brown countered with Whitman’s links the Chamber of Commerce and shadowy nonprofit groups.

            Throughout the debate, Whitman touted her lack of government experience as a real bonus.  “I will not owe anything to anyone and I will do what is right for the people of California,” insisted Meg, not specifying exactly what she means by streamlining state government.  Brown pointed out she’s actually received $25 million from wealth contributors. Whitman has no real campaign fund raising organization other than her own check book, showing no real allegiance or accountability to the state’s biggest employer. She subscribes to former California governor and President Ronald Reagan’s Supply Side economics, where tax breaks for the rich “trickle down” to the poor and middle class by way of jobs.  Meg wants to create private sector jobs but won’t say how many state jobs she’s planning to cut.  She routinely blames the state’s budget woes on state employees and pension system.

            No candidate in California’s history has been more experienced and qualified to run for governor than Brown.  Yet Whitman talked in the debate about how her lack of government experience and business savvy is exactly what the state needs to fix its problems.  That was the same argument Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used when he beat former Gov. Gray Davis Oct. 7, 2003 in a special recall election.  Six years later, California is worse off and Arnold has the lowest approval ratings in state history.  Like Schwarzenegger, who promised a new beginning in post-partisan politics, Meg also promises to deliver what Arnold could not.  She touts the same outsider qualifications but offers no specific plan other than Reagan-like proposals to cut state spending.  While Meg talks about creating jobs, she refuses to estimate how many state workers would file for unemployment.

             California’s experiment with an inexperienced governor has fallen on its face.  Unable to get along with the Democratic legislature, Arnold found out the hard way about differences between making movies and dealing with real issues facing the state.  “My view is if we’re going to change the direction of the state, we have to do it very differently,” said Meg, not saying exactly where she would cut the budget.  With K-12 education, community colleges, state universities and University of California all reeling from budget cuts, the Whitman plan promises to do more damage to vital state services.  You can’t fix the state’s economy by tossing state workers into unemployment.  Whatever waste, fraud and mismanagement exists in the state, no one expects the governor to balance the books on the backs of state workers.  Whitman can’t answer how she’d impose her plan on the Democratic legislature.

            When push came to shove in Tuesday’s debate, Whitman could only repeat old campaign slogans and talking points.  Today’s revelation about her former housekeeper Nicky Diaz raises disturbing questions about Meg’s credibility.  Diaz, through her attorney Gloria Allred, alleges Meg knowingly employed an illegal alien for nine years, before firing her last November when she became a liability to the campaign.  Diaz also alleges various kinds of abuse.  “With the polls tied, it comes as no surprise that the morning after a successful debate for Meg that the sleaze machine of the political left is now focused on the politics of personal destruction,” said Whitman spokeswoman Andrea Jones Rivera.  Rievera didn’t deny that Whitman employed an illegal immigrant, nor did she deny abusing her during her employment.  Unless Meg forcefully denies the charges, the allegations speak for themselves.

About the Author  

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.