Audio of Jerry Brown – Meg Whitman Debate of 9-28-10

The first debate between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman in the 2010 gubernatorial contest was held on Sept. 28. Although video via internet was promised, I found that one feed did not work at all and another was sporadic and often froze. Although public radio stations KCRW and KPCC did carry the audio, local TV stations did not. (I note in that respect that KCET – which now has 4 digital over-the-air channels – did not bother to carry the debate.)

Bottom line: Only audio could be recorded. There may be other sources for the audio. But I have posted it below in 5 segments to meet Yahoo-video limitations. (Audio with a still picture.) You won’t find any gaffes. My guess is that the polls – which show the two candidates in a tie (with maybe a slight edge for Brown) – won’t be budged. If you have followed past posts on this blog regarding the public pension issue, neither candidate deviated from past statements. Brown claimed credit for the two-tier idea which he says he advocated (but did not get) in 1982. Whitman pushed for defined-contribution pension plans for new hires. Brown was asked if he would roll back higher ed tuition increases and said he couldn’t in the current budget environment but would like to see the increases halt. Whitman repeated the idea of transferring a billion dollars to higher ed from cuts elsewhere, apparently “welfare.”

Comment from yours truly: Maybe the definition of insanity is repeating Einstein’s quote about it over and over again and expecting different polling results.

Below are the 5 segments:

Brown-Whitman debate 9-28-10

Part 1: Opening statements, budget, death penalty

Part 2: Job creation, 2-tier pensions, AB32, business tax breaks

Part 3: Campaign ad accuracy, higher ed tuition, Prop 13

Part 4: Immigration, campaign finance, govt. efficiency, fraud

Part 5 (end): Water, closing statements