In the San Francisco Chronicle this morning, there was a headline that caught my eye — Whitman softens stance on U.S. Healthcare Law.
What? Whitman is warming up to Obamacare? NO WAY.
Here is a section of the article where you can see the distinction that the reporter is trying to draw between the then vs. now answer:
The most recent statements by Whitman’s campaign are much more equivocal than the position she took in March, during the Republican primary. When supporters at a campaign event asked her whether she would "force (her) attorney general" to join the health care suit, she said yes.
Questioned by reporters later that day, Whitman acknowledged that a governor couldn’t order the independently elected attorney general to sue, but said she would "strongly encourage" a suit.
Last week, however, campaign spokesman Darrel Ng said Whitman might not take either of those actions, even though she still objects to parts of the new law.
"Whether she does a new (legal) effort, encourages the new AG (attorney general) to join an effort or not is really irrelevant," Ng said by e-mail. He said a pending lawsuit by Virginia’s attorney general "will decide the issue." With the future of that case unknown, he said, "it would be premature to make a decision."
I reached out to the Whitman campaign to seek clarification.
I spoke with FR friend and spokesman Darrell Ng, who assured me that Whitman was still vehemently opposed to Obamacare: "The story is simply wrong. Meg Whitman stridently opposes the federal health care overhaul that has an estimated $3 billion cost to an already beleaguered state budget. She has always and emphatically supported the opposition that is currently manifested in the litigation making its way through the court system. As Governor, she will obviously continue her steadfast opposition to a massive expansion of government that California simply cannot afford."
Ng went on to tell me that Whitman is supportive of the lawsuit filed by the various states and his hopeful for a positive outcome.
End of story. Or perhaps a new story – Chronicle, again, overreaches on a headline.
August 23rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Typical of the Chronicle’s daily hit pieces on Republican candidates.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Whitman has to be having trouble remembering who she has talked to….Ask John and Ken….they have the scoop on Whitman and Brown…it ain’t pretty!!!!
September 9th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Who knows man…who knows? eMeg will say anything to get elected.
Just Like Arnold.