Posted on 08/23/2009 10:49:16 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO — Meg Whitman's refusal to debate in the early months of her campaign for governor is beginning to raise questions about whether it's part of a long-term strategy to limit her exposure and carefully control the image she wants to project.
As the only gubernatorial candidate with no background in elective politics, the billionaire and former chief executive officer of eBay has eschewed head-to-head confrontations with her Republican primary opponents while insisting she looks forward to debates.
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner's campaign accused her of trying to "get around" the typical vetting process of a campaign, taking her to task for failing to agree to participate in an Oct. 18 debate in Orange County. Whitman skipped a debate in Sacramento, prompting the Poizner campaign to create a Web site, MegaDuck2010.com, ..
"It's clear that her strategy will be to spend millions of dollars on TV ads without having to get into specifics," Jarrod Agen, Poizner's communications director. "There's a giant learning curve in running a campaign. What we're seeing is that she's not ready for prime time. She's being very cautious and not wanting to say the wrong things, because she's not used to the political arena."
Whitman's campaign says she's still determining whether her schedule can accommodate the Oct. 18 debate, and that the issue about debates is overblown. A spokeswoman insisted Whitman is putting herself to the test regularly on the campaign trail, with a full schedule of events in which she takes questions from GOP activists and local media.
"Meg has made it very clear she's looking forward to debating," said Sarah Pompei, Whitman's spokeswoman. "As of now, we're looking at debate options and seeing what best works. But Meg has been on the road nonstop talking with Californians about issues most pressing to the state."
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
She’s a RINO. Why vote for her?
She ain’t Arnie, but he didn’t need no stinkin’ debates either.
I couldn’t care less about Whitman, but how could a California rat complain about “vetting” when his state overwhelmingly voted for the ultimate unvetted empty suit, community organizer Barack Ubama?
Meg Whitman is Mitt Romney’s candidate. Both should be kicked out of the party.
Mitt Romney in Drag.
I will not vote for any candidate who refuses to debate because to me that shows that they have something to hide.
PLUS she’s pro-illegal alien. We are just exchanging one RINO for another.
The candidate that is ahead in the polls is the one who does not want to debate.
In this case, it is Meg Whitman.
The candidate who is behind wants a debate every other day if possible.
Just maybe the old rules don’t apply anymore? The voters today are a totally different animal than they were less than a year ago.
I would think the town halls have solidified that new reality. The heck with debates, make the forums town halls up to four hours long with the questions not pre-approved to let the candidates answer off the cuff.
The left loves to invoke the Lincoln-Douglass debates, so lets just do it!
Too bad Tom Campbell doesn’t have the money. Poazner’s O.K., but Campbell knows what he’s doing.
MODERATOR: First question comes from Maria from San Diego. "As a devout Catholic, I feel abortion is the taking of a human life and is wrong. Under what circumstances would you restrict abortion?"
WHITMAN: I deeply respect the views of those who feel abortion is wrong, however, I support a woman's right to choose in all circumstances, and believe there must be public funding for it.
CAMPBELL: Me too!
POIZNER: Me three!
BROWN: Me four!
NEWSOM: Me five!
WESTLY: Me six!
MODERATOR. I see. Next question come from Dave in Bakersfield. "California government has grown out of control and now we are a huge budget hole. What would you do to reduce and downsize state government?" Mr. Westly, as you answered last you will begin this round.
WESTLY: I'm a fiscal conservative who will work to tear up the credit cards and restore fiscal discipline to California and eliminate waste. That being said, it would be inappropriate for me to state specifically where I'd cut without consulting those departments first.
NEWSOM: Me too!
BROWN: Me three!
POIZNER: Me four!
CAMPBELL: Me five!
WHITMAN: Me six!
MODERATOR: Oh man. Someone shoot me...
Why the heck would there be debates this far in front of an election? Who would watch it? Who would even care?
Look at us in Texas. We have Mr. Good Hair and Miss Throw the people down the toilet.
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