Calif. Gubernatorial Candidate: 'I Don't Listen To NPR'
Calif. Gubernatorial Candidate: 'I Don't Listen To NPR'
At a recent debate between California's Republican gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, Whitman mentioned that she had heard an interview on NPR with the governor of Maine. Poizner retorted, "Another difference between Meg and me: I don't listen to NPR." Host Guy Raz recaps the exchange for everyone who is listening.
GUY RAZ, host:
Here in Southern California, where we're broadcasting from this weekend, we got part of the Republican gubernatorial debate that took place on Monday. Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman faced off against state insurance commissioner Steve Poizner. They've both vying for the party's nomination in the June primary.
Now, California has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country; and during the debate, we were delighted to hear Meg Whitman give your friends here at NPR a tip of the hat.
Ms. MEG WHITMAN (Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, California): You know, I was listening to the governor of Maine, who's a Democrat, the other day on NPR, and he said: I've had an aha. Without employers, there are no employees. Yes, exactly. So if I could do one thing as governor, what I would want to do is improve the business climate in California. This has to be the very...
RAZ: Whitman went on for about a minute to talk about how she plans to keep jobs in the state of California. And when it was Steve Poizner's turn to reply, he said this:
Mr. STEVE POIZNER (Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, California): Well, another major difference between Meg and me: I don't listen to NPR.
(Soundbite of laughter)
RAZ: We called up Steve Poizner to find out why. He didn't return our calls. So we're looking into the possibility of sending him an NPR tote bag in the hope that he reconsiders.
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