Former Hewlett-Packard boss and GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina’s management, and eventual firing, from tech giant Hewlett-Packard is fast becoming a dividing line between Republicans and Democrats over jobs and candidates with corporate backgrounds.
On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” it was former Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele taking her side with Washington Post Ruth Marcus on the attack.
Michael Steele: The way she [Fiorina] pushed back on your questions about her tenure and getting fired, I thought that sounded reasonable. And as a voter looking at that, I thought oh, okay that sounded reasonable, at least she didn’t run from it. She didn’t hide.
Ruth Marcus: I entirely, completely disagree. I don’t think we would be taking her seriously at all if she weren’t a woman. And I would love to see a woman president.
Kathleen Parker: Well, can you say the same thing about Hillary?
Steele: Thank you.
Marcus: No, no, no. Let me just finish. I think she is a failed business leader and a failed political candidate.
Parker: No, she is not a failed business leader.
Steele: What are you talking about?
Marcus: As Chuck [Todd] pointed out, she was fired from her job. She didn’t get the political job she ran for. I just don’t get why we should be taking her so seriously.
Media Research Center Vice President of Research Brent Baker explains our pick: “It’s sure nice that eight years after Barack Obama ran, Marcus has discovered an interest in experience and accomplishments in those making a presidential bid. Of course, if losing a race for office is a disqualifier, then isn’t Hillary Clinton disqualified since she lost the 2008 Democratic primary?”
Rating: Three out of five screams.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
