Thread: MAMMOTH CALIFORNIA HISPANDERING DEBATE SET FOR TODAY

A voter's guide to the Fresno debate

Posted at 10:57 PM on Friday, Oct. 01, 2010
Compiled by the staffs of The Fresno Bee and The Sacramento Bee - Fresno


Gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown will meet at 11 a.m. today at Fresno State's Satellite Student Union for the second of three televised debates before the Nov. 2 election. The debate is sponsored by the city of Fresno, the Fresno-Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fresno State, Univision and The Bee. The debate will be moderated by Maria Elena Salinas, co-anchor of "Noticiero Univision," Univision's network evening news program. Admission to the debate is by invitation only.
Here is a guide to watching the debate, with assessments of the candidates gleaned from political experts; the candidates' answers to a few questions; and a look back at some memorable California debate moments.


JERRY BROWN, Democrat
His strengths

What he should do

Brown, at 72, must demonstrate he is modern, his ideas relevant today, experts say. He must avoid coming across as arrogant or gruff.


MEG WHITMAN, Republican
Her strengths

Whitman is a skilled public speaker, highly aware of how she is perceived.

She delivers succinct, memorable answers and tends to stay on message.

Given her highly organized campaign, she is likely to have prepared well.
Her weaknesses

Whitman is not as experienced at debating as Brown, nor is she as familiar with government. She also will have to burn valuable debate time addressing the issue of her illegal immigrant housekeeper.


Her scripted style could leave viewers without the feeling -- important in such debates -- that they saw her mind at work.

What she should do

Whitman, the former eBay CEO, must show she is gubernatorial -- something more than a billionaire, self-funded candidate, experts say. She must prove she can match Brown in a debate about government, his area of expertise.


HE SAID & SHE SAID

The Bee asked the candidates for their views on issues of importance to Hispanic voters and Valley residents. Here are the questions, and what the candidates had to say.

Question: Do you support adopting a law in California like Arizona's law that empowers police to stop suspected illegal immigrants?

Answer: Whitman and Brown both said they do not support such a law in California. Whitman said it would be divisive and would likely be tied up in the courts.

What do you think should happen with people who have worked and lived illegally in this country for years?

Brown said he supports comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, including a process by which undocumented workers pay some consequences but can achieve legal status. Whitman did not directly answer the question. She did say the government must crack down on sanctuary cities and employers who knowingly break federal immigration law. Once that's done, she said she would support looking into how to create a guest worker program for industries such as agriculture that depend on seasonal labor.

Would you sign or veto legislation -- much like that vetoed twice by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- giving driver's licenses to people who are in the state illegally? Explain your position.


Both candidates said they oppose giving driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

How do we ensure agriculture that is dependent on Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water can get an adequate supply, while still maintaining the estuary's health -- which affects the state's salmon-fishing industry -- and adhering to the federal Endangered Species Act?

Whitman said she believes the water bond now scheduled for the 2012 ballot is a first step to address the Valley's water needs and restore the health of the delta. She supports a peripheral canal around the delta, additional below- and above-ground storage and conservation measures. Brown did not answer the question.

Should the state proceed with planning and construction of a high-speed rail system? If not, what would you do with bond money already approved by state voters for the project as well as any federal monies given to California?

Whitman said the state cannot afford high-speed rail. She did not explain what she would do with the state bond money that voters already have approved. Brown supports the high-speed rail proposal and said the state should try to make it work.

DEBATE MOMENTS

Political debates in California have provided a stage for some pivotal campaign moments.

2002: Republican nominee Bill Simon alleged incumbent Democratic Gov. Gray Davis had accepted campaign contributions on state property, which is illegal. The stunt backfired, as evidence produced by Simon's campaign unraveled over the next 72 hours. Simon, a former federal prosecutor under Rudolph Giuliani, was embarrassed. Voters returned Davis to office.

1990: Republican Pete Wilson boosted his chances against Dianne Feinstein during the debate by declaring his support for a strict legislative term limits measure, Proposition 140. Feinstein was called out after the debate for having written notes on her hand (against the rules). Wilson won the news cycle with his declaration and Feinstein's inky hand. He also won the election, as did Proposition 140.

1982: It wasn't a gubernatorial debate, but then Gov. Jerry Brown faced off with then-San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson for the U.S. Senate. Brown thought he could stump Wilson with an obscure inquiry about the African nation of Namibia. Wilson calmly delivered a detailed response. Wilson won the debate and the election.



Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/10/01/210 ... z11DGZs8TV

Gee it would have been nice if people here in California who don't speak Spanish could have also listened to their gubernatorial debate.

Wonder who will promise 'the Latinos' more...Brown or Whitman. :P What a joke.

Brown agrees to Fresno debate with Whitman
By Jim Boren on September 8, 2010 9:04 AM

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown announced today that he will debate Republican opponent Meg Whitman in Fresno Oct. 2 in a forum that will be televised to a statewide audience in Spanish on Univision. Whitman had already accepted the debate invitation.

The debate will be held at Fresno State and is sponsored by Univision, the city of Fresno, Fresno State, the Fresno-Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and The Bee.

Both candidates are courting Latino voters, so this session now will be a major part of that important voter outreach. More than 21% of California's registered voters are Hispanic.

Univision has made a huge commitment to this debate and has even commited its national anchor Maria Elena Salinas -- to moderate the debate. It will be taped at 11 a.m. and shown statewide at 4 p.m. on all Univision stations in California.

In accepting the Fresno debate, Brown again challenged Whitman to debate him in Los Angeles. So far, she has ducked debate invitations from voter-rich Southern California.

"I have always believed the voters should hear from the candidates directly, which is why I asked for 10 debates at the start of the campaign," Brown said in a statement released by his campaign. "I'm looking forward to debating in Fresno, Sacramento and San Rafael, and I call on my opponent to stop ignoring Los Angeles, and give voters in that important region a chance to see and participate in a debate as well."


Read more: http://fresnobeehive.com/opinion/2010/0 ... z11DgNLA2G

Hispanic issues loom large in Fresno gov. debate
Posted at 02:48 PM on Friday, Oct. 01, 2010
By John Ellis / The Fresno Bee Share23
Buzz up!
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â–*Whitman looks to regain momentum in second debate

Whitman looks to regain momentum in second debate

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman had hoped Saturday's debate in the heart of California's Central Valley would showcase her economic credentials and help siphon the support of independent and Hispanic votes away from Democrat Jerry Brown.
Instead, Whitman finds herself on the defensive and seeking to regain momentum with those voters after a tumultuous week in which she was forced to explain how she had an illegal immigrant housekeeper on the payroll for nine years and, according to her, didn't know it.
She also is addressing allegations from the housekeeper's attorney that she and her husband should have suspected the worker's status because of a Social Security Administration letter mailed to their home in 2003.


â–*Whitman looks to regain momentum in second debate

Whitman looks to regain momentum in second debate

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman had hoped Saturday's debate in the heart of California's Central Valley would showcase her economic credentials and help siphon the support of independent and Hispanic votes away from Democrat Jerry Brown.
Instead, Whitman finds herself on the defensive and seeking to regain momentum with those voters after a tumultuous week in which she was forced to explain how she had an illegal immigrant housekeeper on the payroll for nine years and, according to her, didn't know it.
She also is addressing allegations from the housekeeper's attorney that she and her husband should have suspected the worker's status because of a Social Security Administration letter mailed to their home in 2003.


â–*Maid dispute could hurt Whitman's Latino strategy

Maid dispute could hurt Whitman's Latino strategy

The airwaves in California have been dominated by images of a teary immigrant housekeeper claiming she was mistreated by her billionaire employer and turned away when she asked for citizenship help.
It's far from the message Republican Meg Whitman wants to send to the state's crucial Latino voting bloc as she runs for governor.
Whitman is accused of knowingly having the illegal immigrant housekeeper from Mexico on her payroll for several years in a revelation that has throttled her campaign just as she prepares for a Spanish-language debate Saturday against Democratic opponent Jerry Brown. She needs Latino voters to win in Democratic-leaning California.


â–*Maid dispute could hurt Whitman's Latino strategy

Maid dispute could hurt Whitman's Latino strategy

The airwaves in California have been dominated by images of a teary immigrant housekeeper claiming she was mistreated by her billionaire employer and turned away when she asked for citizenship help.

It's far from the message Republican Meg Whitman wants to send to the state's crucial Latino voting bloc as she runs for governor.

Whitman is accused of knowingly having the illegal immigrant housekeeper from Mexico on her payroll for several years in a revelation that has throttled her campaign just as she prepares for a Spanish-language debate Saturday against Democratic opponent Jerry Brown. She needs Latino voters to win in Democratic-leaning California.


â–*Whitman fires back about illegal immigrant maid

Whitman fires back about illegal immigrant maid

Meg Whitman said Thursday that her former housekeeper might have intercepted a 2003 government letter warning that the maid could be in the country illegally as the Republican gubernatorial candidate denounced the story as a "baseless smear attack."

For a second straight day, Whitman forcefully denied that she knew her housekeeper was in the country illegally for years and called the allegations a "political smear on me, on my family, and based on lies." She said her Democratic opponent, Jerry Brown, was behind the story and that the housekeeper was being manipulated for political gain.

The housekeeper's attorney, Gloria Allred, has said she will release evidence later Thursday to show Whitman knew she employed an illegal worker.

11:25 a.m.: The first question has just been asked regarding the housekeeper issue. Whitman responded by telling Brown: "You should be ashamed for sacrificing Nicky Diaz on the altar of your political ambitions."



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11:14 a.m.: The two candidates have begun answering questions. In the first round, Jerry Brown invoked labor leader Cesar Chavez and highlighted his support for farmworkers. Meg Whitman stressed that she knows how to create jobs and has 30 years of experience in the private sector.



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11:05 a.m.: As things get started, the debate moderator, Maria Elena Salinas of Univision, says that she feels this is the most important debate, and first one broadcast in Spanish.



By Eric Zamora / The Fresno Bee
California gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown shake hands at the start of their debate in Fresno.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILEJerry Brown and Meg Whitman
CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS

WHERE TO SEE IT
The 11 a.m. Saturday gubernatorial debate in Fresno between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman is invitation-only and will not be aired live.

Twitter: John Ellis will post live updates from the debate on Twitter. Find him at @johnellis24 or #559vote.

Video: The debate will be shown at 4 p.m. Saturday on KFTV (Channel 21.1) and at univisionfresno.com.

On Sunday, Univision Radio Fresno will air the debate in Spanish on KOND (FM 92.1) at 5 a.m., KLLE (FM 107.9) at 5:30 a.m., and KRDA (FM 107.5) at 6:30 a.m.

A voter's guide to the Fresno debate Whitman scandal turns away some Valley Latinos Election 2010 coverage and resources Governor's Race 2010 (sacbee.com) Questions to candidates will be in Spanish, and they will hear English transitions.



Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/10/01/210 ... z11EAvEjot

Questions to candidates will be in Spanish, and they will hear English transitions.

Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/10/01/210 ... z11EBjS9sO

11:05 a.m.: As things get started, the debate moderator, Maria Elena Salinas of Univision, says that she feels this is the most important debate, and first one broadcast in Spanish.


WHERE TO SEE IT

The 11 a.m. Saturday gubernatorial debate in Fresno between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman is invitation-only and will not be aired live.

Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/10/01/210 ... z11ECSNvH0