Defense

Whitman Points Finger at Brown

For maid scandal during CA gov. debate.

The gloves are coming off in California’s governor's race. At a crucial Spanish-language debate on Saturday—aimed at the state’s large Latino electorate—allegations that Republican candidate Meg Whitman knowingly employed an illegal immigrant as a housekeeper for nine years were front and center. Whitman attempted to pin the scandal on her Democratic opponent Jerry Brown: “Jerry, you should be ashamed,” she said, alleging that he was behind the negative publicity. “You and your surrogates put her deportation at risk.” Brown struck back, saying, “You blamed her, blamed me, blamed the left, blamed the unions, but you don’t take accountability.” The maid issue puts Whitman’s credibility at risk with the important bloc. She opposes instituting a citizenship path for undocumented immigrants; Brown accused her of “talking out both sides of her mouth” on immigration.