Whitman accepts Brown's apology
(CNN) - Heading into the final weeks of the election, Meg Whitman may be letting bygones become bygones.
"Californians deserve better than the traditional politics of slurs and personal attacks… But I accept [Jerry Brown's] apology," the Republican California gubernatorial candidate said of her opponent on Thursday in an interview on CNN's The Situation Room.
Brown issued an apology after an unknown staffer on his campaign was heard in a recorded phone conversation referring to Whitman as a "whore," implying that she had sold out to special interests.
The incident has dominated the tight race of late, culminating in a heated exchange between the two candidates during a debate earlier this week.
But Whitman told CNN Lead Political Anchor Wolf Blitzer that she wants to talk about "the issues, and which candidate is going to be better equipped to jump start the economy," instead.
Whitman also expressed relief that another scandal that has dogged her campaign seems to have subsided, saying, "I think the good news is the Gloria Allred circus has pretty much left town."
Allred created a firestorm when she, along with Whitman's former housekeeper, Nicky Diaz-Santillan, accused the Republican candidate of knowingly employing Diaz-Santillan even though she is here illegally, then firing the housekeeper for "political reasons involving Ms. Whitman's decision to run for governor."
Whitman has provided a detailed defense of the housekeeper's employment, maintaining that she fired Diaz-Santillan when she learned of her illegal status.
"We went to an employment agency to hire our housekeeper. We had three forms of identification. She was a great employee. Came to us, you know, nine years later and admitted that she was illegal, and we did what we had to do which was let her go," Whitman said.
Whitman has said that employers should be held accountable for hiring illegal immigrants, and staunchly opposes a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
Brown jumped on the allegations, saying they exposed his opponent's hypocrisy, while Whitman accused Brown's campaign of orchestrating the scandal for political gain.
"Californians understand that that was a political stunt. I did nothing wrong," Whitman said.
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Washington, under Obama and the current congress is spending almost half of our Gross Domestic Product:
Spending under Clinton: 34.28% of GDP
Spending under Bush: 34.99% of GDP
Spending under Obama: 43.09% of GDP
If all that Whitman does is to slow down Obama's spending, a vote for her will be a well cast vote.
Sorry, Meg Whitman made Jerry Brown look like Charlie Brown in the debates. Why are Democrats so afraid of people finally stepping up to put big government back where it belongs. If you cut the handouts, cut the tax funded jobs people will learn to become more self reliant. We have completely drifted away from the fundamental laws of nature, survival of the strongest and fittest, and I do not mean physically speaking. For liberals being so much about Darwinism they sure don't like to practice what they preach!
Brown's whole campagn is just a political stunt from a professional political stuntman.
Californians are not stupid enough to believe Jerry Brown will be any better than he has been his whole career. He is not what we need now. The mess would only get worse.
Meg Whitman may not be a political stuntwoman, but that's okay. We need someone to manage California and get it back on track. So what if she earned enough money to fund her own campaign? Good for her and I thank her for investing to get her good word out. She is a brilliant executive and we are fortunate that she is willing to step up and do the work Caliornia needs done in Sacramento.
The comment in question shows the failings of our politicians, not our system of governing. We, as a society have plumbed the depths we're currently at, by following people desparate for attention. Also, the people we consider leaders, are nothing more than a crop of individuals that believe that they are the chosen. They are not inclined to get their hands dirty, or put physical effort into any enterprize that might produce sweat. How we reached the level we are at is not important. What is important is elevating ourselves from this low, and pledging to ourselve not to return. This will take effort on the part of all concerned, and it may not be easy. It will only be viable once we start believing in ourselves, and not politicians.
Yes, we do indeed deserve "better" Meg, and that goes for seeing less, not more, of your obnoxious TV ads. It's routine with my family now to quickly change channels as soon as one comes on. Problem is, they come on constantly here! I'm voting Brown. He isn't perfect, but at least he's more authentic and experienced.
So after 9 happy years of employment where she was "part of the family" Ms. Millionaire couldn't at least help her find a lawyer?
i find whitman to be a terrible campaigner and an even worse convincer of the people go jerry!
She should not have accepted an apology from this bald, stooge for the public emplyee unions that have bankrupted the state. He is creepy as is anyone who votes for him.
She accepted his apology because she is the bigger person here. Jerry Brown is like the majority of Liberals and the Media and is very anti-women. Just look at what they did to Hillary if you have any doubt. It is very sad that Liberals continue to try and keep women down.
Our number 1 concern for the general public is our economy, jobs, and reducing deficits. Jerry Brown had tried and failed before. Jerry Brown with the unions on his back, pressure from the extremist environment interest, the big government ideology, and a liberal and ineffective legislature, cannot change the destruction course in California.
Whitman is a better choice.