In a remarkable political event, even for a California election, Meg Whitman offers to take a lie detector test to show she's telling the truth about her former maid.
From the LAT's Seema Mehta and Phil Willon: ""If it comes to that, absolutely," she said at a hastily called news conference in Santa Monica, her husband, Griff Harsh, at her side. "Absolutely, because we were stunned."
"But Whitman's lengthy defense was undercut by the second in a dramatic duel of widely broadcast news conferences as the housekeeper's attorney, Gloria Allred, produced a copy of a government letter sent six years before Nicandra Diaz Santillan was fired alerting the couple to potential problems. On the bottom of the letter was a note in what Allred said was Whitman's husband's handwriting: "Nicky, please check this. Thanks."
Whitman's hubby Griffith Harsh is getting a harsh look, too, reports Bruce Newman of the Mercury News.
"Griffith Rutherford Harsh IV, 57, is director of the neuro-oncology program at Stanford Hospital and Clinics, and is one of the country's leading authorities on such highly specialized brain cancers as meningiomas, chordomas and chondrosarcomas. His appearances during the campaign were rare before Thursday's news conference, at which he stood stoically -- and silently -- by his wife's side. According to a member of Whitman's staff, Harsh reads everything written about the campaign, "but he doesn't consider himself part of the story."
"Griffith Harsh and his younger brother Carter both followed in the footsteps of their father, Griffith Rutherford Harsh III, a revered neurosurgeon who was chair of the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Whitman grew up in Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; Griffith Harsh was raised on a farm in Birmingham, Ala."
Gov. Schwarzenegger -- remember him? -- waded through the last of scores of bills that the Legislature sent him before it adjourned for the year. He signed critical legislation to ease the way for new health care reforms to take effect.
Reports the Bee's Bobby Caina Calvan:
"The bills, Senate Bill 900 and Assembly Bill 1602, would establish the California Health Benefit Exchange and an independent, five-member oversight board that will be tasked with defining how the exchange would operate, in time for the federal deadline of January 2014."
"At least 2 million Californians could be eligible to immediately buy insurance from the exchange once it is open for business. The exchange would help funnel billions of dollars in subsidies to help Californians and small businesses obtain health coverage."
Meanwhile, thousands of people are flocking to Los Angeles to take advantage of the chance to rewrite their mortgages for more affordable terms. Show 'em the money!
"They came from throughout the region hoping to get
better terms on their mortgages in what was billed
as a free, five-day, around-the-clock mortgage modification bonanza, with hundreds
of counselors and scores of bank representatives in
attendance," reports the LAT's Alejandro Lazo.
"Put on by the Boston-based nonprofit Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America,
the event was a stark reminder that a weak economy,
high jobless rate and precipitous drop in home prices
still threaten to put massive numbers of people out
of their homes. The group expects about 30,000 people to attend the event that will end at 8 p.m. Monday."
And finally, from our "Long Time Gone" file, you know the times, they are a-changin' when AARP conventions start to resemble Woodstock
"This is not your grandfather's AARP. The three-day event by the mammoth seniors lobby is heavily tilted
toward the baby-boomer generation and its eternal need to be active,
entertained and youthful in old age."
"The remaking of AARP is based on the demographic imperative
that if it doesn't appeal to the next generation of
retirees, membership will die off, said Stephen Golant,
a gerontologist with the University of Florida."
"The reason they focus on 50 plus is it's clear and effective marketing. They have
to catch them when they are more likely to be receptive
to their message," Golant said.
Right on, brother...