Posted on 02/11/2009 10:16:24 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Reporting from Cupertino, Calif. -- A day after launching her campaign for governor, former EBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman on Tuesday unveiled a sharply conservative approach to California's fiscal crisis and offered a fusillade of positions on other issues that are likely to complicate her run for office in 2010.
In a wide-ranging interview, the first-time Republican candidate's demeanor vacillated between that of a confident, take-charge chief executive officer delivering a PowerPoint presentation to that of an ill-at-ease novice ...
"I don't know the answer to that question," Whitman responded when asked her stand on school vouchers, a perennial issue of importance to the conservatives who dominate her party's primary.
Views that could potentially attract or alienate all manner of voters emerged on the subject of gay marriage.
Explaining her support for Proposition 8, the November measure that banned same-sex marriage, she called it a "matter of personal conscience and my faith."
But Whitman, a Presbyterian who supports gay civil unions, said the thousands of same-sex marriages that took place last year before the ban should be legally recognized -- a sentiment opposed by many Proposition 8 backers. Moreover, she said, gay and lesbian couples should be able to adopt children.
Whitman's approach on fiscal matters -- a key element of her pitch to voters -- rested on other seeming contradictions.
At a time when California has frozen tax refunds and halted highway construction to preserve solvency, Whitman, who described herself as a billionaire, said the state should not ask even those in the highest income-tax bracket to pay more.
"One of the things which I'm sure you know," she said, "is that 1% of the people in California pay 50% of the taxes, right? And I am not in favor of raising taxes on anyone right now."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Maybe California should just sell itself to the highest bidder and let the chips fall where they may.
You know what, I’m not much of a social conservative and would in theory have no problem voting for a socially liberal fiscally conservative Republican.
The problem in reality is that a socially liberal Republican usually morphs into a fiscal liberal.
Whose better of the republicans running?
Who do we have right now? Whitman, Poizner, Campbell
They all have the liberal leanings. Whose the best so far?
She sounds very Reaganesque. Fiscally Conservative out of principle and Socially Conservative from personal conviction. More likely to Govern fiscally rather than socially...the Constitution is law not the bible.
The problem in reality is that a socially liberal Republican usually morphs into a fiscal liberal.
My thoughts exactly. I have no interest whatsoever in, and am actually a bit turned-off by, intrusive social conservatism. I don't want a social liberal either - give me a social neutral.
Small-government fiscal conservatism is far, far more important to me.
Sounds like another Ah-nuld wanna-be....
If your first objective, as CAL governor, is not to deport every illegal alien and remove them from welfare rolls....you have no clue what is going on
“Meg Whitman on Tuesday unveiled a sharply conservative approach to California’s fiscal crisis “
Conservative...according to the LA Times...
The California Republican Party is broke. Meg Whitman can self-finance her own campaign to their relief.
Moreover, this state, unfortunately, is no longer Reagan Country. It seems that only Rino Republicans have a chance of winning statewide office.
Get this, she has been asked about illegal immigration, and says she hasn’t studied it, so she doesn’t have a policy on it yet.
She is being courted by Pete Wilson, the same butt head who brought us Schwarzenegger.
She was also mixed up with McCain. She won’t be getting my vote.
I’m sick of these assholes who think they are God’s gift to California, but don’t have clue one about the issues here.
Meg can self finance herself to New York, and stay there.
NJ also had a RINO governor named Whitman. She didn’t do so well.
I’m looking for someone who isn’t afraid to use his freaking veto pen and for someone who has the freaking cajones to confront our state’s biggest problem by far: illegal immigration.
Of the three, Campbell, imo.
Who would I like to see? (Unelectable, of course, as the FR Greek chorus will re-affirm)
Ray Haynes
So am I, but I see the illegal alien issue as a crisis of leadership. It’s the California State Legislature and Governor who are the state’s biggest problems IMO.
I realize that’s kind of a round robin argument since you want new leadership too, but it affects every aspect of our state’s well being, so I mention the leadership first.
It seems that only Rino Republicans have a chance of winning statewide office get the support of the CA GOP apparatus to run for office.
Yep. So far the GOP field consists of 0 conservatives, 3 RINOs. Ugh. I can't in good conscience endorse any of the current Republicans. I'm not even sure which one would be the least odious RINO.
Whitman sounds like a carbon copy of Ahnuld, right down to some freepers vouching for her allegedly "fiscal conservative" credentials because she says Californians are taxed too much (next she'll claim to be a huge fan of Milton Friedman). Well, just like Arnie she doesn't show any plan for governing as a "fiscal conservative", just populist campaign rhetoric. Oh she's "personally against" gay marriage. That's nice. I love this "personally against, but..." line for social issues like abortion and gays. Like running in the 1850s and saying that you "personally" think slavery is wrong, but you have no right to tell other people they can't own one
Gotta hand to the conservatives who shoved Arnie down our throat. The only thing they managed to accomplish is moving the California GOP to the left. Kinda like how George Ryan's election resulted in the Illinois proclaiming ultra RINO (and Ryan chum) Judy Barr Topinka was the most "electable" candidate 8 years later (she got a whooping 37% in the general election)
Lots of newbies and out-of-staters singing that mantra again on these threads. It's gonna be a long haul until 2010.
oh yeah..
You thought 2006 was fun? lol
2 of those RINOs are only recently even registered Republicans (one, being a past democrat, the other DTS).
Campbell, while he consistently had an "R" by his name, is consistently supporting leftist policies. He may call himself a "fiscal conservative," but don't forget he was Arnie's budget director that pushed huge debt on us instead of pushing for decreased spending, getting us into the mess we are in.
None of them are worthy of a vote. I sure hope there is another choice by the time a primary comes around.
The word “Fun” did not come to mind, LOL.
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