DemocRAT Tsunami of WhoopAss! Whitman Throws Fierce Beating on 'Moonbeam' Brown in Calif. Gov Debate!
Patriot Games
Whitman, Brown Clash in Calif. Gov Debate
September 29, 2010
DAVIS, Calif. -- Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman
clashed Tuesday over remedies for the state's teetering economy, using
their first gubernatorial debate to draw sharp contrasts between their
potential solutions for returning California's luster.
The debate, the first of three, was at turns personal and
policy-oriented, as both candidates sought to portray an image of
leadership and confidence to the state's voters five weeks before they
go to the polls.
Whitman said California has a government it can no longer afford and
said it would be a false hope for voters to put Brown back in office,
trusting him to fix the state's budget and turn around its economy.
She repeatedly charged that he was too cozy with public employee
unions, which have campaigned on his behalf.
"It's like putting Count Dracula in charge of the blood bank," she
said. "Nothing will get done."
Brown defended his two previous terms as governor, characterizing
himself as fiscally conservative. He said his years as governor, from
1975-83, were marked by fiscal restraint, clashes with state employee
unions and robust private-sector job growth.
Brown noted that he was praised by tax-cutting icon Howard Jarvis
after he implemented Proposition 13, the landmark voter initiative
that cut and capped property taxes. Brown originally opposed the
initiative.
"Nobody is tougher with a buck than I am," he said. "Make no mistake
about it."
He also sought to draw attention to his decades of experience working
in state government, a contrast to Whitman, who is running for public
office for the first time. He suggested he would not get "flummoxed by
the shark-infested waters of Sacramento."
Tuesday's hourlong debate at the University of California, Davis,
touched on a wide range of topics, including immigration, higher
education and the effectiveness of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The televised forum was a public coming-out party of sorts for both
candidates, who so far have campaigned primarily through television
and radio ads and are in a tight race, according to recent public
polls. Whitman has spent $119 million of her own money, a record
amount, and has raised at least $26 million from outside sources.
For Brown, the debate was a chance to introduce himself to a younger
generation of voters who may not be familiar with his first tenure as
governor.
Sometimes prone to rambling discussions of policy, Brown remained
focused and displayed a passion for trying to revive California's
fortunes. He drew laughs from the audience several times with
self-deprecating humor about his age, saying he would be a good buy
for California if they hired him as governor because it would delay
his public pension check. The remark even drew a laugh from Whitman.
Brown, 72, also cracked that he wouldn't be hanging out at bars after
work as he did his first time in Sacramento because he is now married.
Whitman, the former eBay chief executive and billionaire, was trying
to demonstrate that she has a command of public policy, despite her
inexperience. She hued closely to her scripted campaign talking
points, at times reciting lists of statistics as she repeatedly tried
to steer the conversation back to the economy and state spending that
she says is out of control.
Both were attempting to persuade voters that they have a clear plans
for lifting California's economy and solving the state's persistent
budget problems. They also discussed pensions, immigration, campaign
finance reform, global warming, water issues and the death penalty.
Whitman attacked Brown repeatedly for his ties to public employee
unions, who have given money to his campaign and run political ads on
his behalf. Brown has raised at least $30 million for his campaign so
far.
He criticized Whitman's approach of targeted tax cuts to improve the
state's economy, including eliminating the capital gains tax, which
will benefit only the rich and leave the working class and middle
class behind. He said her approach was more of what he described as a
failed economic model from the Bush era that would benefit some of the
same wealthy individuals who are donating to her campaign.
"This is a little bit like the kettle calling the pot black talking
about union contributions," Brown said. "She's raised $25 million ...
and I will bet you a majority will get an immediate tax break from her
key economic plan, which is to eliminate totally the California
capital gains tax."
Both candidates criticized the failure of Schwarzenegger and the
Legislature to pass a budget. They have set a record for the longest
California has gone without a spending plan since the state started
its fiscal year on July 1, unable to bridge a $19 billion deficit.
If elected governor, Brown said he would cut 15 to 20 percent of the
governor's office budget and then ask the Legislature and state
agencies to do the same.
"We can cut," said Brown, who referred to Schwarzenegger in saying
that California doesn't need another outsider with a business
background. "They're fooling around with a lot of fat."
Whitman, 54, repeatedly said state government is bloated and needs to
be streamlined.
Public employee pensions are among the spiraling costs in state
government, and both candidates were asked how they would control
them. Whitman repeated her campaign promise that she would raise the
retirement age for state employees from 55 to 65, as well as force new
state employees into 401(k)-style retirement plans rather than
pensions.
Brown has faced questions about the size of his own pension after
spending decades in state government.
He joked that Californians would save money if all public employees
worked as long as he has. He said he wouldn't start drawing a pension
for another four years if elected governor -- or eight years if he
were to serve two terms.
"I'm the best pension buy California has ever seen," he said, drawing
laughs.
Whitman, who has sought to appeal to Hispanic voters, said she
continues to oppose giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.
She reiterated her position from the GOP primary for tighter border
security and said she would crack down on employers that hire illegal
workers and work to eliminate sanctuary cities such as San Francisco.
Meanwhile, Brown defended his evolving position on the death penalty,
acknowledging he personally does not like capital punishment, but
pledged he would faithfully carry out the law.
"The death penalty is a serious issue," Brown said. "We have it, so
we've got to make it work. As attorney general, I've defended hundreds
and hundreds of death penalty convictions."
--
The DemocRATs Hall of Shame!
http://www.democrathallofshame.com/
NEW! Interactive Site Map!
NEW! Stunning Site Statistics!
Movies updated 9/3/10 - Cartoons updated 7/6/10 (285 New)!
Learn the TRUTH about: Bob LeChevalier, Bret Cahill, Brian Wraith,
Chom Noamsky, Clams Casino, Cop Welfare, Curly Surmudgeon, Dakota,
Freestyle, Gandalf Grey, Iarnrod, Joe Steel, Kevin Cunningham, Kurt
Lochner, Lorad, Lamont Cranston, Lookout, Lickin Ass' and Fakin' Names,
Malcolm Abel, Lubow, Major Debacle, Michael Coburn, Mitchel Holman,
Phlip, Peter Principle, Ramon Herrera, Ramrod, Ray Fischer, Rightardia,
RobW, Rod Speed, Roneal, Sanders Kaufman, Scotius, Sid9, SilentOtto,
Siobhan Medeiros, Snakehawk, Spike Lee, Stile4aly, Tab182,
Tater Gumfries, Tim Crowley, Tim Howard, Tom Sr...