Posted on 10/12/2010 9:42:26 PM PDT by kristinn
California gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown debated tonight at Dominican University in San Rafael. The moderator was Tom Brokaw who raised the 'whore' comment with Brown.
Video of the exchange at Bay Area NBC
Transription by Kristinn.
BROKAW: Mr. Brown you did attempt to reach out to the police union. The telephone message was left on. It's now a notorious part of this campaign. In which somebody in your campaign referred to Ms. Whitman as a "whore." A campaign spokesman then described that as "salty language" and apologized after a fashion. We've heard no outrage from you about the use of that kind of language which to many women is the same as calling an African-American the n-word. Have you been in charge of the investigation in your campaign to find out who is responsible for using that phrase?
BROWN: I don't agree with that comparison, number one. Number two, this is a five week old private conversation...
WHITMAN: Oooohh.
BROWN: ...picked up on a cellphone, uh, with a garbled transmission. Very hard to detect who it is. This is not, I don't want to get into the term and how it's used. But I will say the campaign apologized promptly and I affirm that apology tonight.
BROKAW: You're repeating it to Ms. Whitman?
BROWN: Yes I am. I do. I, it's unfortunate. I'm sorry it happened. I apologize.
WHITMAN: So Jerry, it's not just me, it's the people of California who deserve better than slurs and personal attacks. That's not what California is about. It is not our better selves. And I, um, think people know exact...I think every Californian, and especially women, know exactly what's going on here. And that is a deeply offensive term to women.
BROWN: Well, can I just interject? Have you chastised your chairman, Pete Wilson, who called Congress "whores" to the public sector unions?
WHITMAN: You know better than that Jerry. That's a completely different thing. The fact you are defending your campaign...
AUDIENCE: Heckles Whitman.
WHITMAN: The fact you are defending your campaign for a slur and, um, you know, a personal attack on me I think it's not befitting of California. It's not befitting of the office that you're running for.
BROWN: It's unfortunate. Private conversation. I'm not even sure it's legal because you have to get the consent of all the parties and there's lots of people talking so, I again, Ms. Whitman I'm sorry it happened. That does not represent anything other than things that happen in a campaign. But the issue there of course is pension reform and the fact that you got the endorsement of that union. I didn't because they said I'd be too tough on unions and public employee pensions and I'll take that.
WHITMAN: So that's actually...
AUDIENCE: Cheers Brown.
BROKAW: Admonishes audience to keep quiet.
Tape ends.
Last night I was listening to KGO, San Francisco. Very liberal and the host is a big leftie. The callers and the host ALL liked Whitman. I was quite shocked, but they were really ticked at Brown and his lack luster, arrogant performance.
It’s an interesting election season, gotta admit that.
If the majority of Californians think Brown is qualified to lead a cat out of a paper bag, then California deserves what it will get.
Gov Jerry Brown. And all that follows.
Once "California!" conjured up visions of beauty, gold, excellence, and endless possibilities. Today it conjures up images of bankruptcy, drug junkies, and human urine and waste on the sidewalks of San Francisco.
And the worst thing of all is that it was all predictable and preventable.
Schwarznegger tried. He failed. He proved that he was not the man for the job. He might have been if he had been smart enough to ignore his wife's brainless advice.
For those of us who've been here that entire time its hard to take.
If I'm a California voter, it damn well is my business.
I would have loved to see FOX News cover this tonight, but its been 24/7 Chile mine rescue. Brown is getting a pass
Message to FOX - Back to the Election Coverage PLEASE
Forgot the sarc tag on that one. Sorry.
“I’m having a little difficulty with your reasoning though. She accepted the bonus, right? I guess my morals are different that yours. Accepting something you know you should not have is a wrong as taking it yourself.”
One thing you don’t seem to consider is that the bonus was, not only in her contract, but approved by the BOD. There is absolutely nothing immoral about that.
To impugn my morals in the way you did is very insulting, to say the least. Unlike so many on the left...that would be you...I happen to believe that contracts should be honored.
I guess you believe that the shareholders in the auto companies should have lost their positions, too? If you say “yes”, I will know you are one who doesn’t believe one should honor contracts.
“STATEMENT FROM WHITMAN: “I was offered $120 million by the board of directors at a time I knew the company was in financial trouble and was planning to lay off many employees. I could not in good conscience accept the bonus and so advised the board of directors.”
Unless you can provide a link to that statement, you should be kicked off of this forum...and don’t even give me the sarcasm excuse that you gave someone else.
It doesn’t wash...
...tonight at Dominican University in San Rafael.
San Rafael is in Marin County, 15% Republican registration.
If it is not obvious to you that that statement was to make a point and not a statement from Whitman, then it is not me that is having trouble here.
As for my statement of what my morals would be in that situation, that is in no way a statement of your morals. I was not in any way suggesting you don't have similar morals. That is a statement I would never attempt to make for you.
As you say, the bonus was likely in her contract. I consider it excessive, obscene given the fact that employees were to be layed off. It makes no difference that the layoffs came afterwards. No CEO would NOT have been aware they were coming.
And before you accuse me of being a Brown fan, I am not. This is a discussion forum for conservatives. Whitman is not conservative. If you want me thrown off of here, be sure you add to your black list others that have been equally or more critical of Whitman than I have.
If it is not obvious to you that that statement was to make a point and not a statement from Whitman, then it is not me that is having trouble here.
As for my statement of what my morals would be in that situation, that is in no way a statement of your morals. I was not in any way suggesting you don't have similar morals. That is a statement I would never attempt to make for you.
As you say, the bonus was likely in her contract. I consider it excessive, obscene given the fact that employees were to be layed off. It makes no difference that the layoffs came afterwards. No CEO would NOT have been aware they were coming.
And before you accuse me of being a Brown fan, I am not. This is a discussion forum for conservatives. Whitman is not conservative. If you want me thrown off of here, be sure you add to your black list others that have been equally or more critical of Whitman than I have.
“I guess my morals are different that yours.”
What does that sentence mean if not to imply, or infer, that my morals are off kilter?
“As you say, the bonus was likely in her contract. I consider it excessive, obscene given the fact that employees were to be layed off.”
You may believe that the contract was excessive, however the contract isn’t emotional.
“It makes no difference that the layoffs came afterwards.”
It doesn’t? lol
“No CEO would NOT have been aware they were coming.”
That’s a mighty uninformed statement. Contracts are negotioted and signed for many years length. The fact that she had a contract for who knows how many years before the economic downturn should make a difference WRT your opinion. Unless you have a link that says she signed the contract the day before she was issued a large bonus, I suggest you rethink your position.
I don’t get people thrown off of this forum, and I have been critical of Whitman. You’re right...she’s no conservative in Country Class land.
However, for you to assume that her contract is null and void because the economy went sour, and for you to assume that her contract was signed at the time of the economic downturn is mighty judgemental of you.
Judge not, lest ye be judged...
You might find that those who judge you will find you wanting.
My mother always taught me to put myself in other’s shoes before I judge them.
You might want to try that...
Ok, now I find that we are kindered spirts after all. Can I correctly assume you agree with me that the country club wing of the Republican party has helped push the pendulumin this country to the left?
Any CEO that is worth anything knows when layoffs are invevitable or at the least likely. Whitman's single great accomplishment at eBay was making herself rich.
I would look awful funny in her shoes - starting with my refusal to accept the bonus she took. As for judging, we do it everyday, all of us, and with all due respect to your mother, she got that one wrong.
I am not a believer of moral equivalency.
We are kindred spirits up to a point. The class warfare card has been played, and they got a nibble from you. ;o)
I don’t like the establishment Republicans any more than you do. However, you play into, not only their hands, but the ‘rat’s hands, when you are so critical of a Republican candidate for governor of CA.
Take it from me...a left coaster not by choice, and a Southerner by the grace of God...no TEA Party candidate will be allowed to run for any state elected office there.
“Any CEO that is worth anything knows when layoffs are invevitable or at the least likely.”
In normal times...yes, that is true. However, we aren’t living in normal times. In fact, it’s hard to remember what normal times are!
I remember all of the layoffs, and outright firings, in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. Nobody wants to layoff or fire anyone. But, for a company to remain viable, and hopefully rehire some of those folks, it has to remain a profitable entity.
My mother didn’t teach me moral equivalancy...just to try to understand what the other person is going through before I judge them.
Are you always this irritating? Do you have any friends? lol
That was just what I needed to hear this morning. Seriously. You gave me a good laugh at myself. Yes, I am sometimes this irritating. Fortunatly I have lots of friends to keep me in line.
...And at the end of the day we arrive at the right answer.
“...And at the end of the day we arrive at the right answer.”
Yes, we do...and I hope you will consider me your FRiend, and your friend...who will keep you in line. ;o)
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