In English, “Met Whitman Has Two Faces.” That’s on a Spanish-language billboard ad from Jerry Brown’s campaign, pointing out how post-primary Whitman is saying different things than pre-primary Whitman on issues like illegal immigration and halting AB 32, California’s strict global warming law.
KFI’s John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou (get their podcasts at the link) say that duplicity . . .er . . . sophisticated campaign management, is the work of her senior political adviser, Rob Stuzman. And when the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out these two-faced positions, Stutzman did what sophisticated campaign managers do: change the subject and blame those who pointed out the double-speak. In this case, John & Ken.
“We have the resources to communicate … to Spanish-language media, which has huge audiences in the state, and we are not going to apologize for that,” Stutzman said. “Just because shock radio jocks have to have immigration as part of their shtick, it does not mean there is erosion in the GOP base.”
“Shock radio jocks?” “Shtick?” As you can imagine, John and Ken were not pleased with that characterization, especially since Whitman appeared on the John & Ken show last October to fish for votes. On that show, she discussed how sanctuary cities made her “blood boil” and how she would fight illegal immigration.
But that was before the primary, and Whitman doesn’t need John & Ken now. So they say Whitman is just doing what sophisticated politicians do: Pander. After saying one thing in English on illegal immigration, Whitman (or morely likely another adviser) wrote in a Spanish-language that she and Democratic opponent Jerry Brown have little difference on illegal immigration.
Whitman sure didn’t sound that way when speaking to those “shock radio jocks’ last October. Listen to Meg herself, in MP3 format.
And, again in MP3, here are those “shock radio jocks,” discussing that conversation after they replayed it last month. At 1:10 into the clip, you’ll hear them explain how the likes of Stutzman work — hey Meg, you’ve already got the anti-illegal immigration vote, now time to campaign in Spanish and troll for votes by pandering on illegal immigration.
Then, here’s John and Ken explaining the real meaning of “shtick” — go to 1:27 in the clip to hear it. J&K’s point is that if Whitman can switch on such big issues as illegal immigration and suspending the AB 32 global warming law, how can you trust her on anything else? The kind of person who would cynically view such issues as mere ways to get votes would do that on any issue.
Bottom line, according to John & Ken, is that Whitman is shaping up much like another Gov. Schwarzenegger. If Whitman doesn’t quickly stop the pandering and choose sides, they’re not going to support her. And that message is no shtick.
Rob Stutzman's head on a shtick
However, J&K’s placement of Stutzman’s head on a stick was shtick. It’s obviously meant for comical effect. But those who dismiss John and Ken and their 1 million-plus listeners as only in it for the shtick are making a big mistake. Of course, Stutzman has a personal animus against John & Ken, since he worked for the Governator. And for the last few years, the shock radio jocks have been mercilessly lampooning Schwarzenegger at every opportunity. Click the preceding link to hear an MP3 clip of what John & Ken made out of Schwarzenegger’s trip to Vancouver to the Winter Olympics.