Steve Lopez: The real outrage behind the Whitman 'whore' remark

All right, sure. I think we can all agree that it's inappropriate for either Jerry Brown or one of his staffers to refer to Meg Whitman, his rival, as a whore.

What are all the impressionable young students in civics classes supposed to think? Wait, do we still fund civics classes in California?

If you saw the story about a recorded phone conversation Brown had with the Los Angeles Police Protective League, whose endorsement he was shopping for, it's not clear whether it was Brown or one of his snarky minions who used the "prostitute" reference.

But here's the deal: The endorsement went to Whitman, who would have you believe that public-employee unions are public enemy No. 1 and that they've got Brown in their pocket, making him incapable of reining in spending or balancing a budget.

And yet Meg had agreed to exempt public-safety employees from a pension reform plan in which she would move state workers into 401(k)s. Yeah, she's tough as nails, but she'll sell her soul for an endorsement.

If "whore" is the wrong word for that, is "hypocrite" the right one? You be the judge.

Talk to me, California.

-- Steve Lopez

Photos: Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Mike simms]

I like Whore much better. It's got a ring to it.

[Bruce]

Whore or hypocrite? It is difficult to differentiate when one has taken out a fourth mortgage on their soul.

[Pedro]

I believe the correct term is "Politician".

It's probably a good bet that most of the public will see that Whitman has the backing of the public safety union (politically a good thing) and won't really ask why they support her(politically a tricky thing). If I were her I'd let the name calling issue go and hope that no one looks to closely at what the flap was all about. Because really--does she get anything from pointing out that Jerry Brown might not like her that much?

[Bobby]

Funny, I thought Jerry said 'bore.' Which is also appropriate.

[Bennett Cane]

Public safety- employees - police, firefighters,prison guards,etc i.e all those who, in the course of performing their duties, put their life in jepordy deserve to be exempt from pension reform . All others ,of which there are tens of thousands do not.

[Bogiewheel]

Hey everyone................stop the stupid name calling.

The WORD to use is POLITICS.....Good old roll-in-the-mud POLITICS

[Clifford Isaac]

How can you trust a women like Meg Whitmen who has made it her business not to help any one "EVER" but her self and her faimly and no one else. Now she claims she wants to help me and others in this state. She claims she is for the middle class but at the same time she is making sure she cut deals in secret with sharks before she ever takes office. That is called a Political WHORE. Thank God Los Angeles Police Protective League released the tape. I know now who and what she really is. Also I know that I can trust Jerry Brown not to cut back room deals after learning of his phone message. I wish I could tell all of California WISE UP to this Billionair "GONE WILD" Megawho.

[Chris]

Really have no idea how someone can support someone who previously sold (campaign contributions) nearly three hundred children to Jim Jones so he could poison them and murder them in a Jungle. Nice.

[Dave Wyman]

PERRYinLA writes:

"3: a venal or unscrupulous person

"The problem is everyone is jumping on definition #1, when the actual usage was #3."

+1 to that!

[Alane Baker]

I don't really think referring to an opponent in an inappropriate, snarky way...behind closed doors... is the issue that needs to be focussed on here in California...we are all human and I would assume most of us, at least those of us in LA, have used worse language in traffic on the 101 Fwy because some yahoo is weaving back and forth checking their email. The real issue is that the endorsement was up for sale in the first place. Isn't that a bigger issue...that the Police Protective League is just willing to support the highest bidder or has California just become another product you can purchase on that Big Online Garage Sale(Ebay) that made her some much money in the first place. Bravo LA Police Protective League...Bravo!

[willieworks]

Neither 'whore' nor 'hypocrite' quite cover it for me. And besides a whore dosen't pay $120,000,000 to get the job. Is there a word for someone willing to sell their soul?

[Dave Wyman]

Joanne wrote:

"Even if it wasn't Jerry Brown, he didn't speak up against it. I was starting to lean toward Brown, but now I'm at a loss as to who to vote for."

So Joanne decides who to vote for based on an anonymous comment, and not the issue or character of a person? I don't think Brown needs Joanne's vote.

[c.]

Meg and Carly are both whores and hypocrites

[pomonasi]

i agree that these service people deserve to be excempt.

but, how can whitman decide to give the exemption at the 11th hour when during this entire time, based brown for being in the pockets of unions? wasnt whitman the one who wanted to be the hard nails about pension reform?

another flip flop in my opinion...

[BT Burke]

You are correct in looking at the substance and true impact of the candidates political decision.

Just the self-serving ploy of the Los the Angeles Police Protective League (discarding concerns for the rest of CA's public employees and negotiating for Meg's personal back scratch) is certainly disturbing.

Unfortunately most voters I suspect will be simply distracted by Whitman's outrage over a recorded comment, and ignore the substance (and hypocrisy) of her views.

But as Whitman seems determined to become a top 'John' on the street, tossing cash from the balcony as if it were mardi gras , bidding wildly for our votes, our services, you might say, I begin to wonder -- who's being prostituted by whom.

.

[CC]

I don' think "whore" is a strong enough word. Traditional prostitutes only sell their bodies. Polititcians (and not just Whitman, but many others as well), have sold their ideals, their communities and their souls for power. "Whore" just doesn't cut it. Brown and his staff were being polite - possibly for fear of "pot-calling-kettle" since they are politicians as well.

[Jesus-of-Nevada]

Brown did not use the W-word.

More importantly, the topic of discussion was the FACT that Whitman has already sold-out her ability to challenge outrageous pension plans just trying to get elected. Do her supporters really desire this?

Ironically, Whitman consistently paints Brown as the union shill.

[Robin]

People talk about pandering all the time. A pander is a pimp or brothel madam. So...what's the difference?

[Astonished]

I would gladly vote for anyone OTHER than these two, if someone can point out a candidate thats running who can actually do the job. As I see it, the problem California has is deciding between the lesser of two very undesirable evils. So, who else is there? hummmm?

[Mike]

Using the term "whore" is inexcusable. This will cost Brown some support. Too bad, though, that Brown didn't correct his aide and reply, "She's not a whore, but she certainly is a hypocrite." You're right about this Steve, that Megabucks Whitman is a hypocrite, not just on this pension issue, but on immigration and taxes and jobs. Because she nuances her every statement, she is able to claim the 'supporting' side of most every issue depending on whom she's speaking to, and in her 'half-truths-laden' and 'correct-by-omission' commercials. Shame on Brown's aide for using the term "whore," but shame on the electorate if we reward Whitman with our vote! $120 million 'Megabucks' so far and counting...

[Candie Goodtyme]

I am a prostitute and I find this slur to be beneath contempt. How dare those politicians claim refer to one another as having such elevated status! Pimp, maybe ...

[MikePost]

"whore" as a methaphor is correct; maybe not politically correct or polite,
but nevertheless apt in this situation... Meg did something wrong for an
endorsement and money.

[jack]

So Whitman is cutting backroom deals with unions...exactly the opposite of what she's been saying throughout her campaign?

Outrageous.

If Whitman promised California the sun always comes up in the east...a week later she'd get caught promising someone else it comes up in the north. Just like her two-faced lying about illegal immigration and everything else...she'll lie about anything to buy herself one of those "governorship thingies" so popular among the very rich these days.

Hey Whitman...if you want to impress your billionaire friends...go buy yourself another yacht or private jet...California doesn't want you.

[Dereck]

I think it's terrible Jerry Brown or a Brown aide called Meg Whitman a whore. That's an insult to whores everywhere.

[your mama twane]

Yep, Meg's a whore...but we already knew that.