Brown challenges Whitman, Poizner to debates

By Steven Harmon
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 04/17/2010 02:57:07 PM PDT
Updated: 04/17/2010 03:10:40 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES — In a brazen move cheered by thousands of Democrats, Jerry Brown challenged both Republican gubernatorial candidates to a series of three-way debates starting next month.

In what looked like an attempt to shake up a primary dominated by Republicans fighting it out — and grabbing all the attention — on the airwaves, Brown lived up to his unpredictable reputation as he sprung the idea on Democratic activists gathered at the downtown convention center for the state party's annual convention.

"You gotta have TV commercials, and we'll have ours, but campaigning and democracy are not about buying hundreds of millions of dollars of 30-second TV ads," said Brown, the 72-year-old state attorney general seeking to return to the governorship. "We're not consumers of advertising, we're agents of democratic choice. We're actors in a historical drama. To be part of this process, I think we need a different framework. So today, I'm challenging Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner to three-way debates."

Referring to the gauzy TV spots that the two Republicans have been airing, he said, "come out from behind those glittery poppy fields and those beautiful car crashes over mountains. Let's have honest debates."

He proposed debates in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, and, possibly Sacramento.

"Given the massive focus on 30-second spots in the Republican primary, I believe it will be very helpful for a debate, for democracy, for the people of California to have a three-way debate," Brown said in a news conference after his 12-minute address to delegates.

"It's unique, the times are certainly unusual, and it would generate lots of interest and allow each of the candidates to be questioned," he said. "The important point is live, unscripted conversations about the issues of California. It would be helpful, it doesn't cost anything, it doesn't take that much time, and given all the expenditures of the campaigns, it would be very positive and I hope they'll accept."

Steve Poizner, the state insurance commissioner who is far behind ex-eBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman in the polls, immediately accepted the challenge. Jarrod Agen, Poizner's spokesman, said, "Steve Poizner is happy to debate his plan for California against lying corporate CEO Meg Whitman and special interest career politician Jerry Brown. We match up nicely against those two and are willing to debate anywhere, anytime."

Whitman's campaign spokeswoman, Sarah Pompei, initially said, "We're open to considering the proposal."

Later, she added: "Jerry Brown should debate his own primary opponent, Richard Aguirre, as we've done and as we will do again in two weeks."

Still later, she made it clear the campaign would not do the debates.

"We're not doing it," she said.

Brown had expressed frustration over the impatience of some Democratic activists, who called for a more aggressive campaign, with some wondering whether he should get up on air with television ads to compete with the Republicans. Whitman has poured in $59 million of her personal wealth into the campaign, while Poizner has put in close to $20 million.

With no significant opposition in the Democratic primary, Brown has been fairly low-key, sticking to his vow to hold onto the $15 million he has raised until the fall. He said he would not accept only one of the two Republicans, saying, "This has to be a full engagement of the major candidates. I want to see Ms. Whitman and Mr. Poizner join with me and come out and talk."

Brown acknowledged the likelihood of a three-way debate is not good, comparing chances for a debate with the possibility of Whitman releasing her tax returns.

"It's a close call," he said with a smile. "I wouldn't have made the challenge if I didn't take into consideration the possibility they might accept."

He said it would get more media coverage than the traditional fall debate between the two parties' nominees.

"It would be unprecedented, it would be interesting," he said. "What's the fear? If you want to deal with the Legislature, you might as well deal with me in a debate. It'll be far more civil and not as boring."

Earlier, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer framed her fight for re-election as a chance to avoid "going back to policies that got us into this mess. As much we want to forget the last eight years, they left us with a heavy burden," Boxer said, referring to two wars, the financial meltdown and joblessness.

She ridiculed her three Republican opponents — Carly Fiorina, Tom Campbell and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore — for vowing to repeal health care reform and for protecting the interest of Wall Street firms.

"We cannot go back ... to the callous disregard for working people," she said. "The lines are drawn. Yes, we are in a real fight for the direction of this country. Voters in California want someone in the Senate who won't be intimidated by special interests. I need you to be as excited as the tea party people are."

Contact Steven Harmon at 916-441-2101.

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