Whitman wants personal apology for 'whore' comment

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: ABC

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman's campaign is calling on Democratic rival Jerry Brown to apologize personally for an offensive remark made by one of his campaign aides.

The Whitman camp also wants Brown to identify the aide who called Whitman a "whore."

Brown's campaign issued a public apology for the remark, but Whitman's' camp wants more.

A spokesperson for Whitman issued a statement saying, "After spending months avoiding his 40 year political record, now Jerry Brown is continuing to insult the voters of California by avoiding taking responsibility for his own actions and the actions of his campaign staff."

Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/politics&id=7716109

---

"...avoiding taking responsibility for his own actions..."

A.K.A. throwing Brown's debate remarks about Whitman "avoiding taking responsibility for her own actions" back at him.

[opihimoimoi]

1. She DEMANDS???? Good luck girl....eat shit and fucking die...

[NYC_SKP]

2. Ignore her.

Ignore the drama.

Address the substantive issues facing California.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

9. Two thoughts along those lines...

First, I agree completely. The two reactions I had to the story:

1). If Brown takes the bait and offers a "personal" apology, she wins. It's easy to see why Whitman keeps making "California needs to be run like a business" remarks. I went through a year and a half of this kind of crap when I worked at Cisco. The happiest day of my life was when I walked out the door for the last time.

2). By focusing on the drama, Whitman is making a statement that the "substantive issues facing California"...which are breaking the state's BACK...are secondary to her need for "payback" (especially the "demand" to identify the aide).I just wonder if California voters can see that.

:patriot:

[NYC_SKP]

33. What you say is spot on. Let her ramble on about this second hand personal crap.

Empty suits have a way of exposing themselves, let her run with it.

"Ramble On": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3HemKGDavw

:hi:

[napi21]

3. She already got her personal apology from the candidate, and

unless the candidate asked me to apologize personally, I wouldn't do it! She IS a whore for the corporate community.

[bluestateguy]

4. I am hoping and assuming that Jerry Brown is not like Dick Durbin

who takes to the Senate floor to make a blubbering apology as soon as talk radio hosts get upset.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

12. I'm making the same assumption

It's not about an "apology." It's about Brown's ability to recognize the game that's being played here, and I do believe he recognizes it.

[shanti]

5. not to worry

jerry's got this. i have no doubt, though, that pete wilson is coaching nutmeg.

[FarLeftFist]

6. He should say:

What I actually meant was "corporate whore", literally, being you've been with and quit numerous corporations. Aren't Californians worried that she may not finish a full term?

[LiberalFighter]

8. To be clear. Brown was not the person making the statement.

The person to make that clarification would be the one talking to Brown.

[FarLeftFist]

24. Yes but if anyone is going to apologize it will be him

Sending in someone else would just look amateur, he's the one running for office. I'm not even sure he should apologize anyway.

[Ken Burch]

7. I'm guessing the sex workers of California want an apology, too.

Nobody could pay them enough to run as Republicans.

[JI7]

10. Apologize even if it's true ?

[The_Casual_Observer]

11. I guess i'd be a liitle testy too, after spending 150 million on an ego/vanity

/power trip campaign & then to get insulted by a "nobody".

[Liberty Belle]

13. Well since she wants to screw California, I think the term is fitting.

Brown should say she's the one who owes the apology to all the poor folks and students she wants to fuck over.

[BillH76]

42. No, she's paying California, not the other way around.

[Historic NY]

14. Hey Meg sorry for the whore thing but just just go f--k yourself.

[wtmusic]

16. She wants an apology from you too.

:D

[wtmusic]

15. Beat that dead horse all you want, Meg

No candidate has ever won an election on a righteousness platform.

[tridim]

17. Fuck you Nutmeg and the corporations you whore for.

[still_one]

18. Ms. Whitman I apologize to all prostitues for associating them with you /nt

[unblock]

19. yes! apologize! i've got the script right here:

Judge Roy Bean: I understand you have taken exception to my calling you whores. I'm sorry. I apologize. I ask you to note that I did not call you callous-ass strumpets, fornicatresses, or low-born gutter sluts. But I did say "whores." No escaping that. And for that slip of the tongue, I apologize.

[RufusTFirefly]

20. And this relates to governing California how?

This whole campaign has devolved into a pathetic circus.

California has real and serious problems, and yet the most publicized issues in this campaign have been People magazine type fodder.

[FirstTimeVoterAt37]

21. Somebody doesn't like commoners talking back to her

You're a little old to play the princess, Meg. Sorry about that.

[Brother Buzz]

22. Whitman is pissed because, like the voicemail tape, the Brown campaign apology didn't grow legs

I suspect Whitman will be anxious to broach the subject during Tuesday's debate, and Brown, the sage, will handle it in a very appropriate fashion.

[meowomon]

23. Brown didn't say it. He apologized.

I think the staffer should be fired too.

[thelordofhell]

25. Future Governor Jerry Brown apologizes to all the whores

He's sorry that Meg Whitman will do anything for a vote.

1001

[Kind of Blue]

26. I'm sure whores want an apology from

the Brown camp as well, for using Whitman to malign them.

[McCamy Taylor]

27. Ha! Sexist rhetoric is still accepted in US politics. Whitman better toughen up.

[Bitwit1234]

28. Tell her she'll get one when Angle apologizes for her

calling Reid one. And Brown didn't call her one. One of the aides in the background did. But then the truth in her case hurts. Reid fluffed it off.

[rasputin1952]

29. Why? She is a whore.

n/t

[Democat]

30. Has Whitman apologized for allegedly mistreating her illegal maid yet?

Has she apologized for the way she treated and dismissed her longtime maid?

[TheCowsCameHome]

31. "She-beast" has a warmer ring to it, but

"whore" will do in the meantime.

[Vinca]

32. Maybe she stop selling herself for votes.

[KurtNYC]

34. what person in politics in this country has NOTbeen called a whore?

If she is that thin skinned then she shouldn't even be running for office.

Let Whitman personally apologize to every unemployed American for not hiring ONE OF THEM instead of the person she knowingly unlawfully employed for 9 YEARS!

[droidamus2]

35. Her point

I don't think Whitman gives a damn whether she gets a 'personal' apology or not what she really wants is the ability to say 'he should take responsibility for his actions'. This is the same thing people have said about her when it comes to her 'illegal' house worker. In her and conservative/Republican minds in general if they can accuse you of what you are accusing them of, in this case irresponsibility, then you can now say nothing about it. So they think they have Brown in a Catch 22 situation. On one hand he apologizes personally and comes out looking weak or they beat him over the head with being responsible so the focus becomes whether Brown is responsible instead of Whitman.

Another thing I have a problem with in these situations is the right-wings use of what I call 'situational ignorance'. By that I mean the following, in general it is the idea that something is said or an action is taken by someone seen to be on the left. Independents and liberals, hear or see it and quickly draw what I believe is the appropriate response and interpretation (in the Brown/Whitman case that the word 'whore' did not refer to a promiscuous woman or sex worker but instead as some here have pointed out the idea of a 'corporate whore' which obviously has a whole other connotation). While the right-wing feigns the inability to draw the same distinction and focus in the 'only interpretation possible' that is to their propagandistic (is that a word?) purposes. They, meaning Whitman and her cronies, see 'Whitman is a woman. Brown or his associate used the word 'whore'. Whore is a derogatory slur used against women that are seen as sexually promiscuous or working in the sex trade. Women and some men will resent them implying that about Whitman. So lets ignore the possibility that 'whore' is also used in phrases like 'corporate whore' and go with 'sexual whore' as the basis of our complaint'. They full well know that there is no way anybody Brown or other would suggest creating an ad calling a woman opponent a 'sexual' whore but they pretend to not see that possibility (situational ignorance) because it plays to their propaganda needs.

[karynnj]

38. Nice analysis

I would also add that in ALaska, Murkowski got little support when Miller - the candidate himself - indirectly compared her to a prostitute. This is one very important step away - Brown did not say it. That alone counters his "not taking responsibility for his actions" It really doesn't compare to the charges against Whitman, which were about her actions over nearly a decade.

[BillH76]

43. Brown should fire the aide and move on.

BTW, Meg is a right-wing egomaniac, but Jerry Brown is no prize. He loves to cut and slash in the name of "fiscal responsibility." I remember his first two terms.

The lesser of two evils is still an evil.

[Thor_MN]

36. One wonders if she take a cash settlement instead,,,

[mulsh]

37. I just realized, Meg is unemployable, that's why she's spending so much

She could make a lot more money in the private sector. for most of her life she shows very little interest in politics. She must have joined the ranks of the unemployed who have given up on finding a job.

Besides, whores provide a needed service Meg is just a Corp drone.
My across the street neighbor knows Meg in private life. He describes her as a "real C***". His partner says "she's a bitch" and these guys just know her socially.

I think Meg needs to apologize to us Californians for spending so much to try to buy a job the retire to well earned anonymity.

[NYC Liberal]

39. Why should BROWN apologize? Let the aide apologize if anything.

If someone's teenager says something offensive to somebody, the parent(s) might say "We're so sorry about Johnny" but the actual apology will come from the kid.

[lunatica]

40. snap! Out comes the victim card!!

Meg, put your big girl skirt on. You gotta be much tougher than that to make it in government. Just ask the successful Congresswomen and Senators. Ask Hillary Clinton. Stop whining.

[Chan790]

41. I'm sorry Meg, but...

as any 1st year law student knows after reading about J.P. Zenger:

The truth is an absolute defense against libel.

[activa8tr]

46. Cute and well stated... is THAT the guy J. P Zenger in that

drawing? NO, I bet it's Diderot!

Cool!

[Chan790]

48. John Maynard Keynes.

A liberal economist whose economic policies were considered to be absolute and unassailable until conservatives decided they didn't like them because Keynes believed in spending and social welfare and thought tax cuts and "monetary policy" solved just about nothing. Mind you, they didn't ever disprove his work, they just got someone (Milton Friedman) to write a opposing economic philosophy that they liked better. Then they systemically went about getting that policy implemented under Reagan....then the Democratic corporatists bought into Friedmanist free-market and monetarist theory.

Keynesianism is having a slight resurgence as a economic philosophy as people figure out that Friedmanism is nothing more than a justification for rampant tax-cutting, trickle-down economics and starving-off social services funding.

[Kurovski]

44. How about someone just tosses a few thou into her campaign.

Money talks loud, don't it?

[Bluestar]

45. Dear Meg: I'm Spartacus! We all think you're a whore so put all of

our names on the list. Nice attempt to keep this issue alive. I hope Jerry Brown gives her "crickets".

[Mz Pip]

47. Diversionary tactics

Nutmeg doesn't want to try to explain how she will create more jobs by laying off state workers.

[eilen]

49. Considering it was a private conversation that inadvertantly was

taped and leaked by the police dept.-- perhaps they should be offering her an apology for making the "whore" observation public. Not that no one else in California was thinking that all along....

I wouldn't apologize "personally" as the comment was "not personal" just politics. Similar to that case -- was it Samantha Brown? that commented to a reporter in a convo she thought was off the record that Hillary was "a monster" which in retrospect, I don't know why that would have offended her either as it would indicate (to me anyway) that her tactics to psychologically overwhelm her opponent were working.

So Whitman, who appears to be a liar, a cheat and a WASPy soul-less corporate bitch already, now is upset that someone thinks she is a whore (sell-out) too? I think the horse jumped that fence a long time ago. Faux outrage, it's so so Palinistic--(yet another political fame whore).

[Old Troop]

50. Sorry, calling any woman a whore is misogynist.

[kiranon]

51. Demanding an apology makes Meg look weak - if you can't take

the heat, stay out of politics. Sen. Barbara Boxer is tough and that is why she wins and will win again. Meg comes across as an upper class milk toast who can't stand being called a bad name after she threw everything at Poisner in the primary and Brown in the general election. Apologize and move on.

[TexasObserver]

52. I demand that Whitman apologize for being a cheap, mean employer.

[MARALE]

53. It should read...

"Whitman Wants to keep this in the news for as long as possible" She knows that this is a distractor and if she keeps this in the news some people will think that Jerry said it himself.

[wordpix]

54. ignore it, Jerry, even though she IS a corporate whore

[arbusto_baboso]

55. Here ya go: "Meg Whitman, I'm sorry you're such a corporate whore."

"I am sincerely and deeply regretful that I pointed out in any way what a complete whore and money shill you are. You have my sincerest apologies for outing you as a corporate whore."

THAT is the apology the Brown camp should issue. At a fucking press conference.