In a multi-million dollar TV ad blitz that will air throughout the state next week, GOP candidate Meg Whitman will announce that she’s auctioning parts of her campaign platform on eBay to shape her priorities as Governor.  “I’ve been on a listening tour for months,” she explained – in a tightly controlled press conference where reporters were not allowed to ask questions.  “And one thing I have learned over and over again is how California has innovative people with good ideas – who are willing to put their money where their mouth is.  We must tap into that entrepreneurial spirit if we’re going to cut taxes, fix education and balance the budget.”  While her Republican primary opponent Steve Poizner insults East San Jose kids by saying they lack “Silicon Valley ambition and smarts,” Whitman is taking her case directly to the people – who can speak by putting down bids.  Observers also say it will present a good contrast with her Democratic opponent, Jerry Brown.

Whitman explained that she got the idea from Arnold Schwarzenegger – who last July announced that he would cut the deficit by autographing state-commissioned cars, and then auction them to the highest bidder.  “It started as a suggestion that the Governor got from Twitter,” said Whitman, “so it very nicely proves how we use the Internet to solicit good ideas.  But I want to take Arnold’s idea a step further.  When people use money, they get results.”

Citing the Citizens United case which re-affirmed the First Amendment principle that money is speech, Whitman’s handlers told the press that collective bids on particular platform items will shape how her Administration will govern California.  Users can put bids on her proposals they like the most – such as:

* eliminate the state capital gains tax

* reform workers compensation laws

* repeal AB 32 (the global warming bill)

* defend the two-thirds budget rule

* place a strict spending cap

* lay off 40,000 state employees

* deny prisoners health care

* tighten welfare rules

* more charter schools, and

* end Sanctuary cities.

“All these proposals are in my platform already – and can be viewed at my campaign website,” said Whitman.  “But I want to know what should be my priorities – and people who can put their money down can show which issues will matter the most.  I’m excited to see how high the bids will go, and how much money it will raise for my campaign.”

Executives at Chevron in San Ramon expressed great enthusiasm for repealing AB 32, and expect to donate several thousand dollars for that platform item.  Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Association is excited about protecting the two-thirds budget requirement – and will be asking its members to submit their bids to target that priority.

BeyondChron sent an e-mail to the Jerry Brown campaign to ask for a reaction to Meg Whitman’s proposal.  As of our deadline we had not yet gotten a response, and there is no public statement about it on his website.

First published at BeyondChron.