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Whitman Q&A Pt. 1: The reluctant voter
October 2nd, 2009, 12:46 pm · 33 Comments · posted by Martin Wisckol, Politics reporter
I sat down with GOP gubernatorial candidate and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman at a San Juan Capistrano Starbucks on Thursday afternoon, making her the fourth gubernatorial candidate with whom I’ve done a Q&A. Click here to see the Total Buzz Interviews archives and read the others.
Before talking about the state budget, jobs creation, illegal immigration and the prison crisis, we went over the brouhaha surrounding the revelation that she apparently never voted until she was 46 and has been a registered Republican only since 2007. Click here to read my column for Monday’s newspaper, in which I analyze the fallout of that news.
Whitman particularly ran into trouble with the issue at a Sept. 26 news conference at the state GOP convention, which she talks about below. I’ve put the YouTube audio of that press conference at the bottom of this blog item.
If you don’t already see the Q&A below, click on the prompt. I’ll be posting the rest of the interview in segments, as time permits. Click here for Part 2, where she discusses her approach to fixing the budget. Click here for Part 3, where she says schools need to live with the budget cuts for now. Click here for Part 4, where she gives her “cut taxes and regulations” plan for job creation. Click here for Part 5, where she discusses prison overcrowding and illegal immigration.
There’s been considerable discussion about your voting record. The Sacramento Bee could find no evidence that you voted before 2002, and that you didn’t vote in the 2003 special election. At first, you simply apologized, then Tuesday you said you didn’t become engaged with politics until you start working at eBay. Would you care to add anything to that explanation?
I think I’ve captured it, but let’s talk about it. So, there’s no question that through most of my adult life I have not been as engage in the political process as I should have been. I was busy raising kids, running businesses, being married to a neurosurgeon. But in many respects, there’s no excuse for that because there’s a lot of other people who have busy lives who figured out how to vote. And I didn’t.
But I was, um, I was not as engaged as I should have been. So what really caused me to wake up and take notice was my work at eBay, because I saw so many small businesses there every single day being whacked by taxation, regulation and bureaucracy. And I said, “You know what? I’ve got to stand up and I’ve got to do something about this.”
That, combined with my work on Mitt Romney’s campaign and John McCain’s campaign, was an important factor in me getting involved. So, that’s the story.
What I say is that voters have to look at my voting record as part of the overall package. And they should. And they should ask questions about it and I’m glad that they have. And what I hope they’ll do is look at that part of my record and also look at what I bring to the table in terms of having created jobs, having been in business 30 years, having a deep understanding of the challenges that I think face California.
So, we’ll go forward. It was a tough week in many ways, but I feel like I’ve explained it.
Let me read you a reader comment from Total Buzz, our politics blog, that I think captures some of the voter skepticism arising from news of your voting record:
“The fact that for practically her entire adult life she didn’t think voting was important saddens me. Registering to vote is simple and actually voting, even by absentee ballot, doesn’t take much time. She is basically saying that she didn’t have a hour to spare to read about the issues and vote her conscience because she moved frequently and was too focused on other aspects of her life. That is pitiful.”
If this voter were sitting right here with us, what would you tell them?
I would tell them that I don’t disagree with them, that voting is a precious right, that everyone should take time to vote, and that I should have voted. There is absolutely no excuse for it. Yes, I was busy, I was focused on my family and other things, but there’s no excuse.
And what I’d ask them to do is take that as one part of what I bring to the party, what I bring to leading the state. And ultimately they can decide if that negative, in their eyes, counterbalanced by what I’ve done at eBay, the agenda I have for the state, my leadership qualities, and what I think is the most important issue facing the state, which is getting people back to work.
What candidate do they think can create the most private sector jobs, can cut government spending and can ultimately fix our education system? But I respect what they have to say.
There were complaints at the GOP convention last weekend that you offered an apology but not an explanation. On Tuesday, your explanation was reported in the news. If you had it to do over, would you have given that explanation over the weekend instead?
Yeah.
Is this part of learning to be a candidate?
You know, I would say that (convention) press conference was a tough press conference (see below for YouTube audio). And I haven’t done a lot of them. It was a tough press conference and I don’t think I did my very best job at that press conference. So I had to come back on Monday and give a fuller explanation and tell people from my heart what actually happened.
So, yeah, I’d have done it differently if I could.
Did this have the effect of recalibrating how you look at presenting yourself?
No. I’ve been really happy with the strategy that we’ve had, how we’ve gotten our message out. I’ve loved traveling this state from Eureka all the way down to the Central Valley, the Inland Empire, Orange County and Los Angeles and San Diego, meeting with everyday Californians in grassroots organizations.
So, I’m really happy with how I’m getting the message out. I’m loving meeting people and hearing their stories. So I feel really good about where we are. I feel good about the campaign. I feel good about the strategy.
You know, Saturday afternoon (at the convention) was perfect.
The Sacramento Bee also reported that you had not registered as a Republican until 2007. When did you begin to feel a kinship with the Republican Party?
I was actually raised in a Republican household. My mom and dad were Republicans. So I have been raised on the core Republican principles of free enterprise, of small and efficient government.
I’ll say that that was enormously reinforced at eBay. When I came out to California and when I registered in 2002, the reason I registered as decline-to-state was because I was at eBay and I wanted to be a decline-to-state given that I was effectively the head of a community of 80 million unique visitors in a month. That’s why I did that.
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DENA BUNIS, Washington bureau chief, 202-628-6381 or dbunis@ocregister.com
CHRIS KNAP, Politics team leader, 714-796-2240 or cknap@ocregister.com
BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento correspondent, 916-449-6046 or bjoseph@ocregister.com
JENNIFER MUIR, County government reporter, 714-796-7813 or jmuir@ocregister.com
MARTIN WISCKOL, Politics reporter, 714-285-2867 or mwisckol@ocregister.com twitter.com/MartinWisckol
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I would like to know if she is pro gun or anti gun-because the anti gunners have turned california into a fascist state and it is getting worse
She states she is Pro Gun “but” she supports the California Handgun List. Kind of says it right there.You can’t play middle of the road on this issue.
Whitman can not be pro-gun. It was under her direct attention that eBay and paypal (an eBay property) enacted their strict anti-gun policies. She is very much anti-2A, and the way she ran her business proves it.
I am an avid outdoorsman and hunter. The laws in California are not fascist, in fact, I own 5 hunting rifles and a side arm (.38 cal revolver) and had no problem purchasing them. The fact that we DO need more gun control in California to get rid of assault riffles is an understatement. It is usually drug dealers, ex con’s that go out and buy these animals as God knows you do not need an AK47 to protect your home. A 12 gauge double barrel shotgun is more than enough firepower to deter an intruder into a home.
Again, Gun ownership is okay if the right people have guns. Unfortunately, there is no gun license exam like there is for driving a vehicle. If you really want to ensure idiots don’t get their hands on guns, you limit the supply to law abiding, and INTELLIGENT, citizenry.
they’re not buying them legally anyway, and that won’t change with increased or continued regulation the way it is. the criminals will always have guns, and the more guns we ban the more true it will be that they and law enforcement are the ONLY ones with guns.
how else are we as citizens supposed to defend ourselves. was I the only one around during the L.A. Riots, or has ever been a victim of a crime on my person, or what?
Another un-electable republican gubantorial candidate.
This woman is an absolute mess. I am in my mid-20’s and I have voted more often than her.
She does not have California’s best interests as her priority. She is only concerned with money and power for herself.
Lucky for us, she is very un-electable. I doubt south county residents would even vote for her, and they can’t help but put a check net to anyone with an (R) by their name.
What is there to explain? Faced with the choice of Tweedle-Dee, Tweedle-Dum, or Tweedle-Dumber in most elections, it’s a wonder anyone bothers to vote.
What is the point? For the most part, the results will be the same no matter which candidate you vote for.
We should have the option of checking “None of the above.”
Meg, you blew it and you will not be forgiven. I have voted in every election, even the “boring” mini ones we have from time to time, from the time I turned 18 and a few months later voted for Reagan. It was fantastic! You should be ashamed of yourself, and no time is no excuse.
Let’s not forget that in 2004 she endorsed Barbara Boxer!
http://is.gd/3T2Bw
Stick a fork in her, she’s done.
pretty disappointing that she never voted until she was 47. I was looking forward to her campaign and am feeling let down. Great, broke CA choice A) career GOPgood ole boy nothing gets done or B) SF Progressive LIB that will tax us to death.
Another reporter that doesn’t know the difference between inferring and implying. Classic! “…are you inferring that you…”
What a maroon!
Are you talking about the YouTube audio? Because I’m not seeing that I wrote that.
I’d rather be green than maroon!
What a complete tool this woman is.
So Cal’s own Sarah Palin wannabe.
LOL. Love it. As long as the GOP continues to endorse people who only represent old, white, heterosexual people, they will continue to lose. Do they have any idea what the demographics of this state are? They may need to consider expanding the group of people they claim to represent.
politicians… YUCK, all of them either crooks or sex offenders or spineless “yes sir’ers”
Maybe not being political, not voting, not being vested in the current system is really what CA needs. Most, if not of us voters have punched or colored in next to some name we didn’t even know, or without know what that person stood for, or without knowing how or if they had voted or yeah, maybe even not voted at all. There are a lot more important qualities, skill and talents CA needs to survive this dearth of leadership we are suffering, not only in CA. I think, at least at this point in the Campaign, that we should still be listening with an open mind.
Worked for the Governor, right?
What a load of BS in Whitman’s lame excuse for not voting!
The right to vote is a privlege and a responsibility that any educated person in civics understands clearly. To say gee whiz I was raising kids, running a business, and being married is beyond lame, it is not acceptable!
Of the billions of people that vote each and every year most are married, have children and lots of them run businesses.
So gee whiz now that after Whitman messed up at E-Bay she wants to run California! The woman is a joke!
If she did not vote until she was in her 40’s the woman does not deserve to represent me or my votes that I have taken the time to do each and every election!
If someone is critiquing another, it might be useful to list your job/accomplishments to see how much weight to attach to your input …
I’ve always voted.
I will vote in the next election.
But not for Whitman.
Money can’t buy votes any more.
She said cut taxes, yeah right, while she was running ebay, she continuously raise the seller fees to increase ebay’s profit & many sellers revolt. All she cares is her stock options so she can max. her wealth. Now she has wealth, she wants power so she can lower her own taxes. Ebay is making money & she raised fees. How on earth can she cut taxes when Calif. is in a deficit? A typical republican snake oil salesman who want you to believe tax cut cures all. Can anyone trust her?
Meg, with all due respect, there is no record for people to judge you by. Your business credentials are admireable but you need more substance than simply saying you worked for these companies. The fact that you registered as a republican only 2 years ago is not acceptable for you to be asking for the ticket. John McCain was the wrong person to get your political bearings from. Your latest commercials say nothing about cutting taxes? C’mon Meg. If you want to run as a republican then make some noise and bring some BIG ideas and issues to the table.
Meg Whitman …. “I am a big fan of Van Jones, he is doing a marvelous job.”
Meg Whitman is a RINO … she is a true liberal Democrat under all the fake supposed conservative business expertise. She will say anything to get elected … then turn, just as Obama lied and faked-out everyone.
Tom, if she is in fact a RINO, she should hurry up and admit that. She might actually have a chance of getting elected. In case you haven’t noticed, Californians don’t care for “real” Republicans.
To Anthony the Hunter
I have my doubts if you are really pro 2nd Amendment with your statement about so-called assault weapons. there are folks that use AR15’s to hunt, for varmit eradication on farms and ranches and competetive target shooting. A person with a hunting rifle or shotgun can be as dangerous as one with a AR15 or AK47 if they are a criminal. They can also be as dangerous with a Ginzu knife or an automobile if they are deranged or a criminal. No I’m not convinced that you are a true 2nd Amendment advocate. I think you are a Liberal in disguise
Nevermind the issues … in the top photo, what’s that thing where her neck is supposed to be?
What? That IS her neck???
I’d recommend a scarf or turtleneck sweater for future appearances.
Excellent point, r. black.
What good does it do to vote where the outcome is a foregone conclusion? If nobody really knows what the candidate stands for? Or it makes no difference because the choice has been made for us, and neither choice is accepbable?
Forget about not voting. Her 2003 endorsement of and financial contribution to (I’m gagging just typing her name here) Barbara Boxer says it all. There is NO excuse or explanation for that. It would have been one thing perhaps endorsing Joe Lieberman a few years back or being buddies with an old-school D in the ’60’s or ’70’s, but endorsing and contributing money to that lunatic Boxer just 6 years ago is unforgivable!
Jesus forgives, so should you.
As most of the Replies here wisely indicate, Ms. Whitman’s words in this interview are total baloney—a public relation firm’s thinking that she has memorized by rote. (At least, past the “Uhms” and the “Yeahs,” she can apparently rehearse a little bit.) There is not the slightest bit of substance–even of Republican substance–in her cliches. Every businessperson ever running for public office makes these exact same claims: few, if any at all, have ever successfully delivered their “business acumen” to the complex arena of public governance. I wouldn’t bid a penny for her on eBay!
I heard that Whitman donated money to Boxer’s last run for the senate and endorsed her. Why would a “republican” do that? Are we getting more BS shoveled onto the political arena? Haven’t we had enough of that for awhile? Why not just some plain old truth for once? Asking too much?
I want to know what her position is regarding medical marijuana and/or legalization.