Patterico's Pontifications

10/4/2010

Gloria Allred: No, I Won’t Say Whether the Person Who Referred the Illegal Maid to Me Was Connected to Jerry Brown

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 7:12 pm



There’s no reason not to answer, unless she has something to hide. Which she clearly does:

Whitman should clip the early question and answer and run it on a loop.

52 Responses to “Gloria Allred: No, I Won’t Say Whether the Person Who Referred the Illegal Maid to Me Was Connected to Jerry Brown”

  1. Allred’s ruse is a dirty political trick in a time-honored fashion by both parties.

    I don’t know how it will play in California, I don’t live there. I have little knowledge of Whitman other than her past as CEO of eBay.

    I do know a lot about Brown and, maybe, California wants to go around the circle again with Gov. Moonbeam.

    But I do know that this kind of chicanery is the type of thing that has contributed to the general discontent of the electorate.

    Ag80 (93f9d9)

  2. Case closed. Brown exploits an illegal, subjecting them to personal destruction, even, in order to smear a competitor. Even when the competitor is innocent (I would feel a lot differently if Meg actually employed an illegal, knowingly).

    I’m amazed Allred is showing up on these programs, knowing that she looks awful over and over.

    This litany of ‘abuse’ sounds an awful lot like stuff I did today, not only with no complaint, but happily.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  3. I do not have a word for Gloria Allred that does not rhyme with poochie.

    JD (65e1db)

  4. ooo, JD wants to give Gloria a smoochie!

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  5. Misogynist.

    Leviticus (30ac20)

  6. Unless you meant “Stanley Tucci”

    Leviticus (30ac20)

  7. Did Allred’s jacket cover up her Brown for Governor button or did she forget to put it on?

    I’m sure she wears Brown for Gov panties and the bras she burned had Brown all over them.

    But like Acorn, she is non-partisan.

    MU789 (0441a8)

  8. Ewwwwww, Dustin. NTTAWWT, but I prefer women.

    JD (65e1db)

  9. I will give Allred credit, though. She has turned the election. I would bet better than even money Brown will win.

    All Allred had to do was introduce the “illegal alien hired by a Republican” meme into the chorus. She did so and the facts don’t matter.

    We’ve seen this kind of tactic work over and over.

    Whitman is bad, Brown is pure as the driven snow. When the media is complicit in the charade, the results are predictable, especially in a left-center state.

    Ag80 (93f9d9)

  10. Damn straight, AG80. California was both warm enough to a jackass like Brown, and susceptible enough to this kind of stunt, that Allred has turned the election.

    One thing a scandal can do is force one particular issue to stick around for as long as needed. Some Spanish channels are aggressively biased anyway, and will repeatedly cover a issue their audience didn’t love Meg on, anyway.

    Talking about Brown’s record, or California’s budget? They will keep that off the air as long as possible. One thing I find interesting is that this is too early, and Allred is showing up on unfavorable forums. I expect another shoe to drop (probably no more honest than the last one). Perhaps a recording of her telling the maid what to do, or that voice mail. Something like that.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  11. I said this in another thread and it seem appropos here:

    To be fair to brown, i wouldn’t assume that [he was behind Allred’s idiocy]. i mean you don’t need to coordinate with brown to cause any of this.

    For instance, picture this scenario. the maid decides she is mad at whitman and either for pure politics or a misplaced sense of entitlement (as a lawyer, I see THAT all the time–people who will not listen when you say “person X owed you nothing”). So she says, “i want to hurt her. who will help me hurt her?” Given what a publicity whore Allred was, it seems reasonable to think the maid 1) would know who allred is, and 2) would seek her out. And allred doesn’t need to coordinate with brown to know 1) this might hurt whitman and 2) to wait until around october to bring this up.

    to me there is right now only one piece of evidence supporting the notion that brown is behind it: the fact that allred won’t rule it out in the interview [with megyn kelly].

    i mean patterico is right to say that she could answer that question. But to be fair kelly was putting her on the spot, and alot of people, especially lawyers, when in doubt, refuse to answer.

    But with time and reflection, i expect allred to figure out she HAS to answer the question. so i give her 48 hours to either deny it or i consider her to be hiding something. Which might be too generous, but oh well…

    Aaron Worthing (f97997)

  12. Do I think Brown himself drove this lady to Allred’s office? No.

    Has he capitalized on this scandal in a dishonest manner? Without any doubt, whatsoever, and with his own lips.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  13. Allred won’t have to answer the question. It doesn’t matter anymore. Hell, I watch Fox News.
    The die is cast.

    There is nothing Whitman can say at this point. The ball is in Brown’s court. He will exploit this until the last ballot is counted.

    It doesn’t matter whether Whitman is right or wrong. All that matters is “Whitman hires illegal aliens and does bad things.”

    Sense is out the window.

    Ag80 (93f9d9)

  14. A pot smoking degenerate hippie, unable to look at video and conclude Acorn didnt need to be prosecuted, a fakey fake faker faikir, who pretends to be frugal while flying in private gulfstreams, if he is POLLING anywhere above 40%

    Then California is doomed

    A Gov who has been rejected sooo many times by the voters before

    EricPWJohnson (f666b2)

  15. I’ve been more or less involved with Texas politics for many years, and this kind of crap generally doesn’t work here.

    I recall the Frost vs Sessions race in 200… 4? and both of them were pretty loathed for their jerky behavior. But statewide? This kind of demeanor is not tolerated. Ann Richards was very fortunate to have an ass for an opponent. Perry, KBH, and White wouldn’t touch this kind of attack with a 100 mile long pole (Texas poles are bigger).

    And while things here are not perfect, we seem to be so much better off. This kind of attack speaks to a thirst for power that is unhealthy. I believe White and Perry, though thirsty for power, are much more interested in Texas being a success.

    AG80’s right that this is going to be practically impossible to overcome, in California. In Texas, I think such a stunt would have ruined her opponent’s chances. We could play games with his fingerprints being hard to prove, but at the end of the day, politics suck a lot in California for letting this work.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  16. Dustin

    on whether it will backfire or not…

    i say give it time. for instance, i have not seen allred give a single 1 on 1 interview where she managed to look GOOD. so there is that.

    And i think there is an enthusiasm gap. Even if they are not thrilled with whitman, you can bet the boxer race will bring out the republicans and tea partiers, and they might help whitman too.

    Aaron Worthing (f97997)

  17. I think Greta’s right–she ought to get referred to the STate bar.

    Patricia (9b018a)

  18. California may not get it still. I would rather see Willie Brown run for governor because he has learned what a disaster the public employee unions are. The problem is that he has said so and would, therefore, never get the nomination. I agree that this could be fatal to Whitman. One problem is that she has been squish on so many issues that she does not have a strong base in what is left of the conservatives in California.

    Mike K (568408)

  19. Aaron, those are good points. And frankly, I have calculated that Allred understands those points. Her case was weak, and she really knew that she would look partisan and unfair, before she appeared on Levin’s program or Hewitt’s. She obviously did not expect to emerge from a shill like Levin looking good. It’s not possible.

    So I think the smear is only in phase 1. When phase 2 emerges a week or so before the election, think of me as the oracle of the obvious.

    Say, for example, that this maid was litigiously minded enough to keep the voice mail recording we have heard mentioned. I would hold that, maybe even sugarcoat it when describing it, and ‘leak’ it late. I notice that a lot of independents try to take a position on scandals where ‘both sides suck’ and they teeter on ambivalence (think of this as a zeroed scale, that isn’t really on zero). They are thus positioned well for a final push of info.

    Let’s hope I’m being paranoid, but I’m surprised they would run with this so early, for the very reason you noted.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  20. Dustin:

    You know, of course, after California goes off the cliff, Texas is the next target.

    All the Aggies in the world can’t stop the t.u. juggernaut of one-world kumbayaism. 🙂

    Ag80 (93f9d9)

  21. Great response Whitman should have made when the poop hit the fan. Turn it around, shut it down, move on, don’t dither and keep answering questions from opponents because it just gives validity to the claim(s).

    “What? You’re asking me why after I paid my maid three times the minimum wage, checked her paperwork, paid taxes on her – and she turns out to have defrauded me – I’m the bad guy? Next question.”

    Dana (8ba2fb)

  22. LOL, they’ll try, AG80. I’m just up the road from one of Austin’s boondoggle train stations. I see that empty train (from my pickup) twice a day.

    Indeed, a TON of California transplants are attempting to create a liberal hellhole in a few parts of Texas. I think they are simply too late. Progressivism is repudiated. Perry is surprisingly weak for the political climate here (6 points ahead among likelies), but Perry’s … well, you know, I’m sure.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  23. Ag80:

    All the Aggies in the world can’t stop the t.u. juggernaut of one-world kumbayaism.

    You really think UT alums will spell doom for Texas and only Aggies can save it? I have two words for you: Clayton Williams.

    DRJ (d43dcd)

  24. “Claytie” Williams!
    That brings back fond memories of political campaigns dumped into a two-holer.
    A real piece of work, and eternal embarrassment to the Gentlemen of Texas.

    AD-RtR/OS! (878407)

  25. The key audiences here those who are very upset over illegal immigration (many of whom see it as THE issue) and the moderately inclined Latinos Whitman has been courting. This whole episode hurts Whitman far more than Brown with both groups. The fact that Whitman’s ex-employee is cooperating fully in the publicity pretty much takes the wind out of Whitman’s attack on Brown. The chances that that $119 million of hers is going to go to waste just got a lot bigger.

    Angeleno (196ff8)

  26. i mean patterico is right to say that she could answer that question. But to be fair kelly was putting her on the spot, and alot of people, especially lawyers, when in doubt, refuse to answer.

    Actually, there is a valid reason why she would not be able to say who sent the maid to her–client confidentiality. If the maid doesn’t want her to state the name in public, then Allred is obliged to keep silent.

    Or Allred may not know who made the referral. The following imaginary conversation might realistically happen
    Allred: Who told you to come to me?
    Maid: Oh, someone did, but they told me not to say who they were, because they don’t want to be involved in this, so I’m not going to.
    Allred, having no motivation to press the issue, doesn’t ask further questions.

    BTW, anyone else notice the color symbolism is AllRED’s name?

    kishnevi (c364a7)

  27. I’ll be very interested in what Rasmussen has to report, and the impressions of Michael Barone and John Fund.
    Ultimately, the argument will end on 11/2.

    AD-RtR/OS! (878407)

  28. Women are women’s worst friend. Ugly indeed.

    Sycophantshateme (4f78d0)

  29. No

    I missed the symbolism; on all three hundred layers.

    Who is employing the illegal alien now?

    SteveG (cc5dc9)

  30. kishnevi, that’s moving the goalpost a bit.

    IF the maid told Allred specifically not to inform the public whether or not the Brown campaign referred her to Allred, then indeed, Allred shouldn’t answer.

    However, that’s all Kelly wanted to know… not a specific name, just a yes or no if the referral was related to the campaign. Whoever, maid or Allred or Brown, decided to refuse to answer, they probably did so because the answer is “Hell Yes.”

    Allred’s smart enough to see that “No” adds credibility and costs nothing. And there’s absolutely no way her client directed her to refuse to answer that question if the answer is “No”.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  31. She’s probably receiving a stipend from Mecha.

    AD-RtR/OS! (878407)

  32. Indeed, it’s hilarious to consider if Allred is keeping this secret for her client’s sake, when she’s blabbing to the world that her client defrauded folks and as an illegal.

    Sure, it’s possible poor Nicki’s lawyer won’t divulge helpful information, and divulges extremely harmful stuff, on accident. But maybe it lines up perfectly with Brown’s campaign’s needs because Allred’s real client here is Brown, not Nicki.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  33. That was far worse for Allred than her Van Susteren appearance. By refusing to say whether the Brown campaign was the source, Allred not only looks evasive, she also opens the door to questioning Brown about the issue. And if Brown denies it, he risks being put in the exact position Whitman was in.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (fb9e90)

  34. There is a whole month left in this thing. The absolute worst thing for Whitman to do is to talk about this one more day.

    She should instead talk about how to fix California, and how she’s the gal to do it.

    Kevin Murphy (298030)

  35. I don’t have no respect for Gloria Allred. She need to stay away from the news media. I don’t think she is not doing her job as attorney in California. Ms. Allred just wanted some media attention. Fox News Network shouldn’t invite her to their program because she is a liberal. I think she must be tie to Jerry Brown. If Mr. Brown does win in Californa, he will raise more taxes and the state of California will continue to be broke.

    ml (fc559b)

  36. kish

    unless allred is lying (imagine that) i think she was pretty clear that she knew exactly who referred her, but was refusing to tell.

    As for client confidentiality, i doubt the client has said “don’t disclose it” unless there was a REASON not to disclose it. And either way, if Allred feels she needs to have permission to say it, then the ball’s in her client’s court, and you have to answer why the client is keeping that fact–whether it is anyone connected to the brown campaign–hidden. As far as i am concerned, the maid has been asked as much as Allred, when Kelly asked Allred that question. So my 48 hour rule applies to her, too.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  37. you have to answer why the client is keeping that fact–whether it is anyone connected to the brown campaign–hidden.

    IMO, the most logical answer to that question is that she was told to keep quiet when whoever sent her to Allred sent her, and she’s sticking to her instructions.

    kishnevi (3a3033)

  38. fair enough, but if the maid is demanding it be kept quiet than it raises percisely the same question. allred is not asking for the person’s name (although i can’t think of any good reason not to give it), just whether they are affiliated with the brown campaign.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  39. just whether they are affiliated with the brown campaign

    I guess I view that as much less important than you do. Does it really matter if that person was officially attached to the campaign? Would it be less on the skullduggery scale if it was merely someone who was pro-Brown–say, a member of the state government employee’s union? And supposing it was someone actually attached to the Brown campaign–is resorting to a fairly standard garden variety political tactic (ie, launch a personal attack not related to the issues that is based on a distorted reading of the facts) more than usually malicious?

    Actually, those folks in California might have the TV and movie industry but they have absolutely no imagination. Here in Florida we’ve got some truly whacked out ones, including a Congressional candidate named David Rubio being accused of (during a previous election when he was in the state Legislature)ramming a delivery van on the expressway in order to impede distribution of campaign flyers by his then opponent. He’s the Republican: I have no idea of what the truth is on that one (I do remember hearing something about it at the time it happened, so there probably is some layer of truth there), but I’m glad that’s not my district, and I don’t have to vote for either him or his opponent.

    kishnevi (058654)

  40. Excuse me, I messed up the name of that Congressional candidate: it’s David Rivera.

    kishnevi (3a3033)

  41. kish

    if it doesn’t matter, then why not tell us?

    But of course it does. this entire thing is a dirty trick. and if it is tied to brown, then you can say it reflects on his character.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  42. kishnevi,
    I guess I view that as much less important than you do. Does it really matter if that person was officially attached to the campaign?

    Yes, because Brown is presumed to be in control of his own campaign.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (fb9e90)

  43. “The conventional viewpoint says we need a jobs program and we need to cut welfare. Just the opposite! We need more welfare and fewer jobs.” – Jerry Brown

    Michael Ejercito (249c90)

  44. It doesn’t matter whether Whitman is right or wrong. All that matters is “Whitman hires illegal aliens and does bad things.”

    But it was already proven false.

    Michael Ejercito (249c90)

  45. Companeros:

    Why do you resist the sea-change of progress? Do you not realize that California must have one party, one future, one volk…er – one “La raza”? Sure….the leadership looks the same – but they really really care about the great unwashed they purport to represent. Just ask them. And that is why the best way to reform the state and in particular address the public employee pension unexploded bomb is to elect Gov. Moonbeam so he can work with the public employee unions he is in bondage to.

    Californio (e3e751)

  46. Allred’s refusal to admit or deny is a an admission. If she wasn’t acting on Brown’s behalf there would be no reason to deny it.

    Brown is singularly responsible for creating the conditions that have resulted in California’s debacle and yet the most important thing in this campaign is whether or not Whitman knowingly hired an illegal maid and then discriminated against the maid (that she paid nearly 1 thousand dollars a week to) by firing her when the maid could prove she was here legally?

    I don’t know what is in the air or in the water in CA but whatever the case might be it sure is an incredibly potent form of stupidity.

    cubanbob (409ac2)

  47. “…Does it really matter if that person was officially attached to the campaign?…”

    Anyone know what Bob Mulholland is up to lately?

    AD-RtR/OS! (adf61c)

  48. But of course it does. this entire thing is a dirty trick.

    I don’t think of it as a dirty trick; just a standard political maneuver. And given how often candidates and nominees have been messed up by having illegals work for them, not even a very imaginative one. It’s meant to distract attention from the real issues.

    Or if you want to phrase it from another perspective, dirty tricks are par for the course in politics. Unless there’s something criminal in the way it was carried out which does seem to have happened. The only criminality I can see is the maid herself being here illegally.

    Myself, if I’m going to label something as a dirty trick, I’ll do it for something like the adsdescribed in this post The victim is the same David Rivera I referred to my earlier comment. The transcript of the ad given in the post, but leaves out the vocal emphases the actor uses to imply that Rivera’s positions are really extreme. They’re running on TV, and all the listener hears is the name of an organization which, from the name, sounds impartial and fair, and gives no clue as to who actually financed it. Hopefully people have gotten used to this sort of ad, and recognize it for what it is.

    kishnevi (a117ab)

  49. Gloria’s same schtick as last time. She brought out the sexual harassmrnt suit against Arnold just before the election. It had no basis and was thrown out later but she got her press.

    Gene (677d23)

  50. At this point, the only people who would still hold these accusations against Meg Whitman are people whose dishonesty and invincible ignorance is at the same magnitude as that of creationists, anti-gunners, and Holocaust deniers.

    Michael Ejercito (249c90)

  51. Btw, very funny quote from an article on this. Allred trots out the maid to dispell the notion that she is being manipulated by others. So we get this hilarious statement from the AP

    “I make my own decisions and I am not anyone’s puppet,” Diaz Santillan said in a prepared statement she read at the Los Angeles office of her attorney, Gloria Allred. “Nobody made me do it.”

    No better way to show your independant nature, than by reading a prepared statement in your lawyer’s office.

    I post about it here: http://allergic2bull.blogspot.com/2010/10/quote-of-day-or-how-not-to-show-your.html

    We can be appropriately skeptical of the independance of this woman even as we acknowledge we can’t prove allred is manipulating her.

    Aaron Worthing (f97997)

  52. Allred may not be manipulating her, but she certainly is using her.

    Icy Texan (40606d)


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