Today I had the opportunity to speak with Meg Whitman as she addressed the top three gubernatorial issues from last week:

• CNA’s refusal to allow Whitman to send a personal letter to each nurse.
• Jerry Brown’s accusation that Meg’s campaign is being operated like a Nazi-styled propaganda machine.
• The New York Times report that Meg had paid $200,000 to an eBay employee after a brief “encounter” in 2007.

Nurses:

“I’ve been trying to reach out to people across California in all different businesses and industries and the nurses are someone I think would actually respond very well to my message surrounding jobs.”

“They’re only hearing one side of the story from the CNA. Give me a ‘fair hearing’ with the CNA and the nurses of the union.”

“I want nurses to know that my husband is a physician, and we understand the necessity and importance of nursing.”

“One of the things the nurses need to know is how much money the CNA is spending of their union dues on political activities, and how their conducting themselves. And then they can make a decision; is that something they want their profession to be behind?”

Jerry Brown’s Nazi Comparison:

“I think it’s bazaar and somewhat disturbing. And, it’s sort of remarkable to me, really. And, with regard to the fact that he didn’t know he was on the record – Jerry Brown has been in politics for 40-years (slight chuckle). Jerry Brown knows exactly how this game works. I think that is a belated excuse for an inappropriate comment.”

Hogue: Has there been any communication of apology?

“No (chuckle).

Hogue: Do you expect it to happen?

“That would be surprising to me. It would be a nice thing to do, but I don’t think we’re going to be hearing from the Brown Campaign on this issue.”

Hogue: Is there every a moment that – as a candidate – you’re off-record?

“No (full laugh). You’re on record all the time, because this is politics. It’s a very high profile race and so you have to be aware of who you’re talking to all the time.”

You can listen to Meg’s answer to all three of these issues here: