Yelper to Meg Whitman: "Why would you knowingly and purposely run a campaign that is based on lies?

[keepCAblue]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

The star of Meg Whitman's 40-minute appearance Wednesday at Yelp headquarters in San Francisco was Susan McKay. The 24-year-old account exec from Walnut Creek fired a question at the GOP guv that's been the talk of the nation (and the subject of our story the other day): Meg's widely-discredited ad featuring a 1992 clip of Bill Clinton ripping Jerry Brown's tax record as CA guv.

The short version of Susan's question -- uttered there before her fellow Yelp employees and bosses:

"Why are you refusing to remove an ad that has been proven to be false and therefore misleading? Why would you knowingly and purposely run a campaign that is based on lies?

Why have you made smear tactics and an overall negative focus such hallmarks of your campaign? It doesn't seem to me that defaming your opponent will help California in any way?"

The room burst into applause.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=72438#ixzz0ziVNvw3P

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=72438

[corpseratemedia]

1. I truly hope whitman has wasted every single cent of her 100m spent on her campaign

I hope it was all for nothing...the whole room bursting into applause is telling.

[DeSwiss]

20. +1

[BrklynLiberal]

43. I hope she spends lots more millions and still loses..by a wide margin..

[Iwillnevergiveup]

55. Now up to $119 million n/t

[wordpix]

70. she could have done a lot of good for CA by helping poor families & public schools

instead of hiring campaign workers who are mostly the kids of richies.

[Dulcinea]

65. Why does she even want this job?

Wouldn't it be a big pay cut? Is she that hungry for power? If so, why did she leave eBay?

[lsewpershad]

67. Yes we can

"WE the people" can make this happen.

[No Elephants]

2. She's a Republican. Duh. Lies, dirty tricks, etc. It's what they do.

[glitch]

21. That and rigging elections are really the only way they can "win" so of course they do it.

It's how they roll. :P

[gratuitous]

3. Because it works, at least for Republicans

Next question.

[formercia]

4. How do you think she became Rich?

jus' askin'

[onehandle]

5. I can't believe that this race is even close.

What the fuck, California?

You elected Der Gropenfurer. You voted Yes to attacking teh gay. And now this $#@*&#$ %@#$ is ahead in the polls.

What. The. Fuck.

[Tempest]

12. It's not

Polling companies are not weighting their polls upon population centers like San Francisco and Los Angeles.

If the polls were weighted, they would show Brown with a comfortable lead.

[savalez]

14. that's right. And even so polls are showing a dead heat. Brown just started campaigning too.

[demwing]

15. Are you saying that SF and LA are not being polled?

or that they're not being polled relative to their size?

Either way, is there some way you know this? To my knowledge, geographic areas are not revealed in polling data.

[Tempest]

18. Relative to size

No pollster I've looked into weight their polls, which is why I ignore them.


"To my knowledge, geographic areas are not revealed in polling data"

You can find that information by using the area codes pollsters are calling, which can be gotten from the pollsters if you ask for their aggragate data set when investigating their methodology.

[truedelphi]

26. That is an important thing for polling companies to do

It means that the M$M will be headlining how Meg is abut to triumph over Brown, and that headline will allow for the cover story when the totally hackable election machinery ends up giving the state to Whitman, much as the Prop hate people were given their victory.

[crikkett]

63. We use paper ballots here. The machines were decertified.

[NewJeffCT]

32. Money can really help shape perceptions

spending tens of millions on negative ads and sooner or later, some of it will sink in.

[Booster]

45. I apologize and I'm embarrassed.

Of course they have to make the race look "close" so they can steal it. Although I have to say I wish the Dems had someone else to run; someone younger and with some fresh ideas. Oh, well.

[Patchuli]

49. How is younger better?

Sounds discriminatory to me. He did a great job before and he can do it again. God knows California needs help. Besides, we have a younger president and that isn't working out so hot either.

[Booster]

52. Oh, I will vote for him, but I would have liked to have seen John

Garamendi run. I'm 67 and Jerry's 72; I admit I have no fresh ideas for just about anything and I really do believe that we should have an age cap on every public office there is. 70 sounds about right to me. Flame me all you want but I still believe younger is fresher.

[JDPriestly]

53. 67 and no fresh ideas. I'm also 67, and I have fresh ideas, lots of them.

It's not about age. It's about the individual. I know 30-year-olds who are incapable of fresh ideas.

[zonkers]

68. I have never seen dumber... and smarter young people.

[Patchuli]

57. I like Garamendi

but I would always like wisdom over freshness. Sometimes that can come from the young but it's rare...

[demwing]

66. Fresher does not always mean better

we don't have to reinvent the wheel, just get the damn state rolling again

[Semi_subversive]

69. Me, too

I'm the #1 JG fan. It was wonderful working for a true leader and an absolute public servant.

[wordpix]

71. +1 plenty of 80 year olds still have all their marbles & Jerry will be a great gov---again

[CountAllVotes]

6. liar liar pants on fire!!!

n/t

:dem: :kick: & recommend.

[Amaril]

7. But she's Meg Whitman - what could possibly go wrong?

Just look at how sucessful she was at turning ebay arou.........

Oh. Nevermind.


**edit to fix typo**

[jhrobbins]

61. Does this mean I won't be getting my handpainted china chocolate pot

with 24 karat gold leaf around the rims and free shipping?

[Amaril]

62. Ooooh. Sorry. No.

Probably not, but at least you'll be able to dispute the charge with your credit card.

You....ummmm.....did pay with a credit card, right? Please tell me you paid with a credit card.

[jhrobbins]

76. Uh, no...they wanted it in 5's and 10's. It was a genuine French

chocolate pot that was once owned by Napoleon and it was only $5000.00. Not bad for a pot owned by the Emperor of France. They are sending a note from their grandmother saying it was his.
Was I wrong?

:rofl:

[Amaril]

77. Sounds fabulous!

** a note from Grandma ** -- the gold standard of authenticity verification.

I'm sure it will be fine. After all, it's the internets we're talking about here.........and it's not like anybody would ever lie on the internets.


:rofl:

[The Wizard]

8. New Jersey had a Governor Whitman

and she ran the state into a deep hole that every governor after her hasn't been able to fill.
Now New Jersey has another Christie in the Governor's office and he's not even big enough to fill the hole without firing half the state employees and eliminating almost all services for the disadvantaged. Of course he gave the millionaires a tax cut. Good luck California.

[devilgrrl]

9. Prop 13 is a fraud and a rip-off

eom

[savalez]

13. I'm curious. Do you own a home in California?

[KamaAina]

16. She lives here.

Renters like myself are just as much a part of the body politic as homeowners -- or, more to the point, commercial property owners, who are the real beneficiaries of Prop 13.

[savalez]

19. I didn't imply renters were not part of the body politic.

Just wanted to know why the disdain for Prop 13. Hopefully she'll answer.

[KansDem]

23. Prop.13 created artificially-low property taxes in an environment of booming home values.

I knew a couple who swore up and down that they'd have to move out of California if Prop.13 didn't pass. It did, and the couple bought a second home in Big Bear.

They must have confused entitlement with need.

And "yes," I was a renter living in California at the time.

[soleiri]

29. I'm a homeowner in CA

and I share her disdain for prop 13.

[JDPriestly]

54. We are buying our home and are retired and on Social Security.

Even though we have lived in our house for over 20 years, we pay property taxes just as high as relatives living in the midwest. True, property taxes did not rise much with Prop. 13, but actually, they are not that much lower, if they are lower at all, than taxes in other states.

If you rent, you pay the property taxes. That is a cost that your landlord passes on to you. So, yes, Prop. 13 affects renters too.

Prop. 13 only helps people who have owned their home a long time and bought it when prices were lower than they are currently. And even those of us in that situation have paid higher taxes each year as long as property values have held up.

[DainBramaged]

22. But, because of Prop 13, the burden is on homeowners

http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2010/05/28/tax-burden-falls-to-homeowners-not-businesses-in-prop-13s-wake/58109/

[savalez]

30. Thanks for the link. Interesting reading.

So the loop holes that prevent reassessment of commercial properties do not exist in residential properties.

So is the argument that the commercial property loopholes be plugged so that they pay more taxes?

Or is it that loopholes be applied to residential properties so that they pay less taxes?

Or should it be that all prop 13 protections be abandoned so that both residential and commercial owners pay more taxes?

[truedelphi]

46. In some cases, when a family is super legal savvy, they simply incorporate and

Consider the Matriarch or Partriarch's dwelling to be the company headquarters, and then as a corporation, they receive the commercial loopholes that the normal businesses receive. And those get passed on through the generations.

But most people don't do that.

And what should happen first off is that there should be a re-defining of Prop Thirteen, so that the benefits only go to the residential home owners.

However since Big Money talks and carries the weight of the game plan in Sacramento just as in Washington DC, that is probably not too likely.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

34. This coming from the 31st largest economy in the world.

Amazing numbers.

[crikkett]

64. down from the 5th just a few short years ago. sigh.

[xxqqqzme]

36. Now factor in this tax information

2009 - Family of 4 (2 children) had a tax threshold of $36,325/yr - this was because of the February, 2009, budget 'agreement' (4 rethugs holding the state hostage)

Now before that 'agreement', the '08 tax threshold for that family of 4 was $51,335. The norquistian 'Taxpayer Protection Pledge', ALL the rethugs signed, was partially broken. They did protect their corporate taxpayer/masters though.

http://www.cbp.org/pdfs/2010/100412_pp_who_pays_taxes.pdf

[CAcyclist]

37. Good point nm

[MrModerate]

51. I do, and can say with experience that Prop 13 has been . . .

An utter disaster. And a fraud that primarily benefitted large owners at the expense of everyone who didn't own property the day it was passed. And meant that from that day forward, funding State services was going to be extremely difficult and uncertain.

Standard plutocratic huggermugger -- grabbing theirs and leaving those who come after to pay the freight.

[DBoon]

24. I own a home and I agree

While it is sweet to have my tax increases capped, much of prop 13 is simply a "drown government in the bathtub" initiative

And past a point, low taxes aren't worth it when you end up paying for private schools, private services, private security (police) protection, etc.

Had other, less reactionary tax relief proposals passed, we would not be in this mess

and PS I've met devilgrrl and will gladly support her on this position

[Staph]

10. In Jay Rockefeller's first senatorial campaign,

the Republicans plastered the state of West Virginia with signs that said "Make him spend it all!".

I propose that California Democrats appropriate the same slogan.

[xxqqqzme]

39. That is being used for the other

self-funded campaign - Boxer's opponent. C___y, make her spend it all!'

[Bluenorthwest]

11. Ah, Susan McKay gives me hope for CA!

I expect Meg to spend until she loses, and then whine and cry and stomp her feet. She's been a cash cow to so many GOP 'consultants' and such, and frankly she has no where left to go but down.

[alfredo]

17. Defaming the Attorney General of California isn't very smart either.

[AC_Mem]

25. Interview with Ms. McKay at the link

Very worthwhile viewing. Bright, articulate and on the money.

[arbusto_baboso]

27. Lies are all Nutmeg has.

She is at least smart enough to know that she couldn't possibly win by telling the truth.

Hopefully for my state, she won't win anyway.

[DailyGrind51]

28. Now, this is what we need more of at Republican gatherings, candid questions!

[MrScorpio]

31. So, Why would a Republican billionaire run for governor of a state?

Because that's where the money is.

[JDPriestly]

56. Especially good question (why would a Republican billionaire

run for governor of a state?). Especially good, since Whitman hasn't voted much if at all, and hasn't really shown much interest in politics. Why is she suddenly so interested that she wants to waste millions of her own money on her campaign? Seems like a sort of irrational thing to do. Could she possibly really have any idea what she is getting into?

Schwarzenegger was bad enough. But Meg Whitman. She is just unbelievably in over her head.

[wordpix]

72. or she just wants her name in lights every day

[SoapBox]

33. It is NONSTOP NutMeg, 24/7 on all channels...

I could just scream, I am SO over hearing her lying ads.

And that one that has been proven a lie...they are running
it even more...and the b!tch arrogantly refuses to remove it.

This is the GO-BPer, RushTurdLican't and TeaHaterBagger way.

Lie, Lie, Lie...As long as the candidate has an "R" next to their
name, they will do anything, ANYTHING to get them into office.

Then...the next step...permanently stop all Dems/Progressive and
do only what they want. Period.

Wake up America!

[karynnj]

47. Are co-workers and neighbors getting as sick of her ads as you are?

I'm not in CA, but it would seem that given the amount of advertising ghe has done, there has to be a saturation point, where no one is listening. Are you hearing from non-political people that the ad is KNOWN to be a lie.

(questions not meant to be confrontational - just curious after reading your description of what it is like.)

[liberation]

35. To me the more pertinent question regarding Whitman and Fiorina's campaign/candidacies?

Is this: Why would two people purposely spend millions of their own money to run for two positions which pay a couple hundred thousand dollars a year?

For a pair of supposedly business leaders, that seems to be two very bad return on investments... unless they have ulterior motives.

I think any wealthy person who has made their wealth out of greed and who decides to run for an office which implies a cut in their earning potential all of the sudden, should have any of their actions considered suspect, period.

[femrap]

41. I bet these two

were 'culled' from the herd by TPTB. Their egos were inflated by this. Goddess willing, they will just slither back to some unprofitable company and find they don't have as much $$$ as before.

I would hate to see either one of them representing CA. I was in Marin County when Boxer was sent to DC...it was so cool. And I was there for most of Jerry's term. I remember thinking how strange it was when he wasn't our governor anymore. I really liked the guy.

I hope he wins! Maybe I could move back then!

[Caliman73]

58. That is my suspicion as well.

Think Jan Brewer from Arizona. No wealthy business person with any shred of sense would invest their own money into something without expecting a return. If Whitman or Fiorina are elected, expect to see the Golden State get fleeced big time.

[wordpix]

73. +1 They could certainly use their million$ for a better purpose than administering the state of CA

Directly give money to improve public schools
Directly give money to improve poor communities
Directly give money to purchase properties for conservation, education and community gardens
Directly give money to establish solar, wind and conservation programs, esp. in poor communities
Directly give money to animal shelters and women's shelters
Directly give money for job skills and job creation programs, etc.

[anthroguy101]

38. I think Jerry Brown should spend all of his money during the last few weeks

That will give him a better chance of winning. Other Democratic candidates should plan on doing the same. Remember: it's the LAST FEW WEEKS that truly matter. Is that his strategy?

[barbtries]

100th rec

any video? how'd she respond? i'll go read the blog

[barbtries]

40. 100th rec

any video? how'd she respond? i'll go read the blog

[KeepItReal]

42. Ok, that put me over the top...I just joined Yelp

:evilgrin:

[myrna minx]

44. K&R n/t

[scribble]

48. Whitman won ...

I'm sorry, but Meg Whitman showed some formidable debating skills here. Lots of moderates would have been convinced, just by her tone of voice. Only progressives like us are applauding the question and have noticed the hypocracy of her answer. We are outnumbered about two to one.

Jerry Brown is the THIRD horrible candidate for Governor in a row that the California Democratic party has foisted over on us. It is almost like California party leaders are taking payoffs to consistently throw the race to bonehead Republicans.

Yes; I'll vote for Jerry Brown this November. He is running no campaign at all and is utterly out of touch with his core constituency, but I have no choice.

sc

[truedelphi]

50. I have to admit, I am not overly fond of Brown.

For whatever reason,the choice of nominee for governor slot on the dem side always ends up in Di Fi's hands. And she continues to find people that are not competent. Or charismatic.


I have no idea why she doesn't care more about the people of this state.

[Binka]

59. hypocracy????? And you have been here since 2005 and have 58 posts?

Please. Get lost.

[wordpix]

74. "moderates would have been convinced, just by her tone of voice"

A tone of voice convinces moderates? Really? Only those who don't read or follow the issues and news, maybe.

[SpiralHawk]

60. Why? Cuz Whitman got a wicked case of Republicon Family Pharisee Values

And Americans know well about that state of affairs...

[NuttyFluffers]

75. Good. I'd ask, "Why do you need to purchase the governor's seat so bad?"

That's basically what she is attempting to do, buy a political seat outright. So I am curious, qui bono? The goodness of her heart? Come on, if she's "such a success oriented business person," that answer is nothing more than a ridiculous excuse. So, what's her real reason for attempting to buy a political seat outright?