Meg Whitman defends politics as usual, wrong about debates

February 3, 2010

For Immediate Release

Meg Whitman Defends Politics As Usual, Wrong About Debates

Poizner Communications Director Jarrod Agen issued the following statement today:

“Meg Whitman is no reformer and she is running a campaign defending the back room deals and unethical insider tactics which stifles the voice of voters. The California Republican Party’s convention is after the March 12th filing deadline for gubernatorial candidates. Republicans across the state want to see a debate at the GOP convention and Meg Whitman should stop attempting to shut out the California Republican Party, just like she tried to deny Republicans a vote in this primary.” – Jarrod Agen, Communications Director

BACKGROUND

Whitman Spokesman Tucker Bounds Said The Whitman Campaign’s Threatening E-Mail Was Politics As Usual. TUCKER BOUNDS “So really, I think that this is the sort of thing that happens in politics.” (KTKZ’s “Capitol Hour With Eric Hogue,” 2/3/10)

• Poizner Wants To Move Past “Politics As Usual” And Get California “Back On Track.” STEVE POIZNER: “I’m a reformer and when I see this kind of thing happening in Sacramento, I’m going to point it out. Politics as usual is what destroyed this great state. I’m running for governor to get this great state back on track. I’m a game changer, I’m proposing a new way of putting together a coalition of people from across the political spectrum to finally start solving some of the very serious problems facing the state of California.” (KGO’s “Gil Gross Show,” 2/2/10)

Bounds Said Steve Poizner Is Trying To “Dodge Debates” With Meg Whitman. TUCKER BOUNDS “[Steve Poizner] has not agreed to be in the [New Majority] debate, and if you ask me, I think that Steve Poizner is trying to dodge debates.” (KTKZ’s “Capitol Hour With Eric Hogue,” 2/3/10)
FACT: Steve Poizner Has Participated In Four Debates Since Announcing His Run For Governor; Meg Whitman Has Participated In Zero. “Whitman’s relationship with the press has been strained–some might say tortured–thus far. She is known for taking only a handful of queries after campaign events before being whisked away, and her press handlers aren’t shy about interrupting her conversations with journalists. Her opponents scream about the fact that she won’t debate them; they have already faced off four times, while Whitman has committed to just one debate in March.” (Sheelah Kolhatkar, “Meg’s Run,” Time, 12/14/09)

Commissioner Steve Poizner And Tom Campbell Debated Four Times In 2009:

• California Republican Party On April 18
• The Sacramento Press Club On May 18
• KGO’s The Ronn Owens Show On September 10
• Brandman University On October 28

NOTE: Meg Whitman Did Not Appear At Any Of The Debates.

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