Whitman Brown Debate Focuses on Immigration

By Jeralyn, Section Elections
Posted on Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 07:22:30 PM EST
Tags: Meg Whitman, Jerry Brown (all tags)

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The accusations flew in the Meg Whitman-Jerry Brown California gubernatorial debate today.

Here are some excerpts. Whitman:

"The real tragedy here is Nicky. After Nov. 2, no one's going to be watching out for Nicky Diaz. And Jerry, you know you should be ashamed, you and your surrogates ... put her deportation at risk. You put it out there and you should be ashamed for sacrificing Nicky Diaz on the altar of your political ambitions."

Brown:

"You have blamed her, blamed me, blamed the left, blamed the unions, but you don't take accountability and you can't be a leader unless you're willing to stand on your own two feet and say 'Yep, I made a mistake.'"

[More...]

What's being overlooked by many is that Whitman opposes the Dream Act and any path to legalization.

Whitman reiterated her opposition to a path to citizenship and tried to shift blame for immigration problems to the federal government, saying the first priority should be securing the border with Mexico. Brown said he would treat all Californians equally "as God's children."

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Whitman Brown Debate Focuses on Immigration | 11 comments (11 topical)

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I think this round goes to Jerry, (5.00 / 5) (#1)
by Anne on Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 07:50:59 PM EST

if what Whitman had hoped to do was court the Latino vote:

"You don't just bring in semi-serfs and say do our dirty work, and then we're finished with you like an orange and just throw it away. That's after you've squeezed it. That's not right," he said.

I just don't find Whitman at all believable, or at all sympathetic; I get the feeling that this was one of those our-employee-is-just-like-family cases where the employer - Whitman - doesn't know jack squat about her employee - the woman who worked for her for essentially minimum wage for 9 years.

When you combine Whitman's position on immigration, with her opposition to the DREAM act and her utter coldness about the human lives affected, it's hard to believe Gazillionaire Whitman on the subject of her "just like family" housekeeper/nanny/errand-runner...

If she'd treat a member of her family like this...

: she did come off as cold (5.00 / 0) (#3)
by nycstray on Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 07:59:12 PM EST

I need to re-watch the first part of the debate as I was having trouble with closed caption on the tube and online streaming (univision opens new windows based on language, so i had spanish playing behind english until i figured it out :P)

: I agree (5.00 / 0) (#6)
by Ga6thDem on Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 08:20:21 PM EST

with you. She gets a letter. She does whatever with it. I also don't buy the story about the employment agency doing the screening. Meg is a business person and does she not know that she will be the one fined if she's caught and not the agency?
She knew full well she was hiring an undocumented worker and that worked to her advantage because she could wield control over her.

: Whitman's Story (5.00 / 0) (#7)
by norris morris on Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 08:30:51 PM EST

Is not believable. This lady worked for her for years, and she didn't know...bla, bla?
Her aloofness and lack of warmth emphasize
her indifference to us common folks.

: Good insight, Anne (5.00 / 0) (#9)
by christinep on Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 08:46:57 PM EST

Out of curiosity, earlier today, I looked at some of the news in California's Central Valley (including Fresno--from where the debate emanated.) Read some stories about the "credibility" problem a number of Latinos now had with W--and, they were interviewees who were either in-the-middle/semi-open to the Republican candidate or Republicans. You called it: This one goes to Jerry.
My husband & I were ruminating over dinner about what a second-time-around Brown administration might be like. Knock wood (I don't want to assume.) One thing, I'll warrant: The dynamics from the West Coast could be quite enlivening.

And Meg is watching out for Nicky? (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by nycstray on Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 07:52:49 PM EST

On (5.00 / 0) (#5)
by Ga6thDem on Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 08:17:56 PM EST

another blog, someone posted that Meg praised Rick Perry of Texas. Is she insane?

: Meg's Sanity? (5.00 / 0) (#8)
by norris morris on Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 08:32:47 PM EST

No she's not insane.
She's just another Republican wannabe.

Enployer form required by law not signed? (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by MO Blue on Sun Oct 03, 2010 at 11:35:54 AM EST

Immigration attorney Greg Siskind has examined copies of the I-9 and employee application completed by Harsh/Whitman housekeeper Nicandra Diaz Santillan, with this finding: the employer (Whitman) never signed the I-9 employment paperwork. This makes Meg's claim that she examined the paperwork and found it acceptable impossible to prove.
There's no way for Meg Whitman to claim she ever saw the paperwork, as required by law. Neither she -- nor her husband -- ever signed the I-9, as required by law. FDL

Whitman's Immigration Letter (none / 0) (#12)
by Amaliada on Sun Oct 03, 2010 at 01:19:16 AM EST

It is my understanding, after reading news reports and watching TV, that the Whitman family got the letter in 2003. The worker wasn't fired until 2009 - about the time Ms. Whitman was considering running for Governor.

Sorry - Jerry wins this round!

Love him or hate him (none / 0) (#13)
by ruffian on Sun Oct 03, 2010 at 06:10:41 AM EST

I would have to think that debating Jerry Brown about California would be akin to a suicide mission. Whitman gets points for showing up.