I wish the headline above denoted that this article was about Meg Whitman’s problem with men who wear boxers instead of briefs. Alas, it is about Ms. Whitman’s support for Barbara “Call me Senator” Boxer in past election cycles.
I was an early, and continue to be, a supporter of Meg Whitman. For now.
Before discussing the Whitman-Boxer issue I want to cover the Whitman-Jones dust-up first. During the Van Jones controversy someone leaked a video of Ms. Whitman praising Van Jones with the following statement:
There’s a guy over in Oakland, I think his name is Van Jones. And he and I were on a cruise last summer in the Arctic, on climate change. And I got to know him very well. And a lot of the work he’s doing to enfranchise broader communities I’m a big fan of. He’s doing a marvelous job… I’m a huge fan of his. He is very bright, very articulate, very passionate. I think he is exactly right.
Shortly after the video appeared Ms. Whitman released the following statement:
My husband and I met him and many others on a cruise sponsored by National Geographic and The Aspen Institute. He talked about supporting job growth in California, but of course I did not do a background check of his past over dinner. As these reports have surfaced, it’s clear that he holds views that I entirely reject; any suggestion otherwise is ridiculous.
Ridiculous? Hmm, your earlier statement mentioned that you “got to know him very well.” Let’s let that one go, anyone in politics can make this kind of mistake. Situation resolved. Just like Van Jones didn’t know that he was actually a 9/11 Truther. But, I digress.
California Senator Barbara Boxer.
Two weeks ago The San Francisco Chronicle revealed that Ms. Whitman was one of the heads of a group of techies, Technology Leaders for Boxer, that supported Ms. Boxers 2004 reelection bid. I’m all for politicians crossing party lines when a candidate from the other side meets their standards, but Barbara Boxer? Ms. Whitman also gave Senator Boxer $4,000 for her reelection efforts. At the time Meg Whitman referred to Barbara Boxer as “a courageous leader and friend of California’s technology industry.” In early eighties Valley Girl parlance, “Gag me with a spoon.”
So we have Meg Whitman, Republican, on record supporting not one but two GOP lightning rods. Good luck spinning that with the Republican rank and file.
In the Chronicle article Jon Fleischman, a California Republican Party vice chairman is quoted as saying “What she really needs to say is there is no excuse. There’s no acceptable reason why any Republican should support a socialist like Barbara Boxer.”
I’m not sure if she needs to go that far, but some clear explanation needs to be given. In reality, Ms. Whitman and crew were attempting to lobby Ms. Boxer against internet taxes.
I hope she can pull it off, as I think she’d make a good Governor. It will be tough however. Oh and Meg, don’t look for Barbara Boxer to return the favor. She will back who ever the Democrats nominate and may even actively campaign against you.
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John Romano is the publisher Yes, But However!, the lead singer of the rock band The Sugarmen, a political correspondent for BBC Radio London and a and a serial web entrepreneur. Oh, and his nickname is Johnny Rome, has been for 15 years.
