Sacramento, Calif., Nov. 6, 2009
Carly Fiorina Sorry for Poor Voting Record
Recently Announced Republican Senate Candidate in California Says "Shame on Me" for Not Voting More
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Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, speaks at the North State Building Industry Association conference in Sacramento, Calif. on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
The former head of Hewlett-Packard, who is running for the seat now held by Democrat Barbara Boxer, said she has no excuse for not voting more often when people have died for that right.
"I'm a lifelong registered Republican but I haven't always voted," she said Thursday during an event in Sacramento. "And I will provide no excuse for it. You know, people die for the right to vote. And there are many, many Californians and Americans who exercise that civic duty on a regular basis. I didn't. Shame on me."
Fiorina's frank assessment of her inconsistent past appears to be a campaign strategy to blunt potential criticism after Whitman found herself in the middle of a political firestorm over her poor voting record. Several newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News, began raising questions about Fiornia's voting records even before she announced her candidacy Wednesday.
Whitman's voting became a hot-button campaign issue after the former chief executive of eBay refused to answer questions about her voting record during the state GOP convention in September. Whitman explained a few days later that she was focused on her family and it wasn't until she was in a Silicon Valley leadership position that she realized why she should vote.
Whitman called her voting record unacceptable.
According to Fiorina's campaign, she voted in six of 14 elections in California since 2000. She lived in New Jersey for the previous 10 years but never voted.
Fiorina's spokeswoman, Julie Soderlund, said the campaign is working on digging up Fiorina's complete voting record but hasn't been able to thus far.
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- So Carly and Meg are so rich, powerful and successful that they don't have time to stand in a damm line to vote. Gee, isn't that special!
Carly was fired from HP for being an incompetent CEO who bungled the integration of Compaq after overselling the deal to investors, Wall Street and her board of directors.
The board also fired her for spending too much time on creating her rock star celebrity image.
CBS New should look into her role in booking phantom sales will she was in charge of sales for Lucent. This was one of the early accounting scandals. - Reply to this comment
- So Carly and Meg are so rich, powerful and successful that they don't have time to stand in a damm line to vote. Gee, isn't that special!
Carly was fired from HP for being an incompetent CEO who bungled the integration of Compaq after overselling the deal to investors, Wall Street and her board of directors.
The board also fired her for spending too much time on creating her rock star celebrity image.
CBS New should look into her role in booking phantom sales will she was in charge of sales for Lucent. This was one of the early accounting scandals. - Reply to this comment
- Fiorina didn't vote, but believes you should. How Republican! Do as I say, not as I do!
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- It is going to be my pleasure to continue to exercise my right and RESPONSIBILITY as an American -- and a Californian -- when I give my vote to Barbara Boxer.
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- Keep in mind that republicans worship Cheney and Bush. They think Sarah Palin has something worthwhile to say. They adore Rush Limbaugh, an admitted drug addict and draft dodger.
For republicans, principals are phrases that are mouthed when the appropriate subject comes up. Principals have nothing whatever to do with their behavior.
Why wouldn't they vote for a blatant failure? They voted for George Bush. They voted for Palin. That should tell you everything you need to know about their principals and their intelligence. - Reply to this comment
- Fiorina was a disaster at HP! She effectively ruined what once was the envy of the tech business world....and got fired with a $20 million golden parachute!
Why would we vote for her? - Reply to this comment
- The only chance that Carley has is if nobody voted...........except for a few of her rich friends........
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- "According to Fiorina's campaign, she voted in six of 14 elections in California since 2000. She lived in New Jersey for the previous 10 years but never voted."
Add to that Fiorina record as the CEO who destroyed Hewlett-Packard--one of the world's pioneering computer companies.
Fiorina doesn't deserve to be nominated for anything.
But, OTOH, Fiorina is likely anti-gay marriage and anti-abortion, and that's all you need to be vaulted into the Republican limelight. - Reply to this comment
- Fired Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate?
Is it me, or is the GOP in self-destruct mode? - Reply to this comment
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- Sorry for her poor voting record? Is she sorry for all the Americans she put out of work when she outsourced their jobs to India while she was at HP? Is she sorry she got fired from HP and walked away with a 20+ million dollar severance package? This is what the GOP has to offer?
- Yes, they sure are, but they are too hard headed (that's being kind) to realize it.
I'm really starting to rethink that saying "You Can't Teach Stupid".
This is the same woman that was forbidden to speak on behalf of the republican party after she inserted her foot in her mouth during the presidential election. Do you really think that will not become an issue?
