{"id":1100,"date":"2016-03-21T21:01:02","date_gmt":"2016-03-22T02:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=1100"},"modified":"2016-03-21T21:01:02","modified_gmt":"2016-03-22T02:01:02","slug":"three-candidates-propose-a-theatrical-performance-but-wait-theyre-calling-it-a-forum","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=1100","title":{"rendered":"Three Candidates Propose A Theatrical Performance But Wait, They\u2019re Calling It A \u201cForum?\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three Candidates Propose A Theatrical Performance
\n<\/strong>But Wait, They\u2019re Calling It A \u201cForum?\u201d
\n<\/strong>By Susan M. Halper
\n<\/strong>Former Addison Councilmember (1992-1999)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I predict that in mid-April, three candidates (not six) will appear at a venue (the Addison Conference Center) and will put on a theatrical performance.\u00a0 They will pretend to be answering questions extemporaneously but, in reality, they will be answering questions they asked to be asked, or that were otherwise provided to them in advance.\u00a0 They will recite their prepared answers in the hopes of convincing the audience that they actually know something.\u00a0 In truth, the only thing that will be tested will be their acting skills.<\/p>\n

Although it appears that other candidates were consulted about the details, the organizers of this event did not ask about the availability of candidates Jim Duffy, Paul Walden and Al Angell.\u00a0 These three simply received a March 13, 2016 email that began with \u201cas you are aware\u201d and announced all the details of the event.\u00a0 How they were supposedly \u201caware\u201d is unknown, but they weren\u2019t aware.\u00a0 As it turns out, both Mr. Walden and Mr. Angell are out of town on the date someone chose without asking them.<\/p>\n

Mssrs. Duffy, Walden and Angell were also not asked whether they would agree to the format, which includes having the candidates submit questions they want to be asked in advance<\/em>.\u00a0 You heard that right: the email directs the candidates to submit 4-5 questions that \u201cfocus on key messages [they] personally want to deliver to the voters.\u201d\u00a0 Other questions are to be chosen by one or more persons identified only as \u201cwe,\u201d including questions the \u201cwe\u201d group chooses out of those submitted by the audience.\u00a0 In other words, there is no opportunity for the audience to directly question the candidates.\u00a0 The whole process is fraught with problems, particularly if Meier and\/or his cadre are the chosen \u201cwe\u201d group that picks the questions, since they obviously will pick questions for which their chosen candidates were prepared.<\/p>\n

Sound familiar?\u00a0 It should.\u00a0 It\u2019s just like the quiz shows of the 1950\u2019s, where the contestants were given the answers in advance.\u00a0 The audience was deceived by contestants who appeared to be smart but in reality were fed the answers by the shows\u2019 producers.\u00a0 Congress didn\u2019t think much of the whole thing, and in due course amended the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit producers from rigging the shows in the future.\u00a0 Because it\u2019s deceptive and that\u2019s wrong<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Shouldn\u2019t the same basic principles apply here?\u00a0 When the event involves an important election?<\/p>\n

To no one\u2019s surprise, this illusive format is the brainchild of Addison\u2019s misguided mayor.\u00a0 In 2014, Meier even appointed himself as the guy who picked the questions, even though he was heavily involved in endorsing candidates.\u00a0 I and others objected, including in a strongly worded letter to the Addison Business Association and the Metrocrest Chamber, who were then sponsoring the event.\u00a0 Meier was ultimately forced to step aside, but he still hand-picked the group that screened the questions.\u00a0 He just can\u2019t let go\u2026<\/p>\n

Significantly, both the Addison Business Association and the Metrocrest Chamber have declined to be involved with this year\u2019s event.\u00a0 Good for them.\u00a0 And yet, this misleading format endures.<\/p>\n

So, I have a better idea.\u00a0 How about all six candidates agreeing to a forum that\u2019s really a forum?\u00a0 An event held on an agreed-upon date, with an agreed-upon moderator, at an agreed-upon location, where the candidates answer questions from the audience?\u00a0 You know, so the voters can see who actually knows their stuff, rather than who can recite answers they were fed in advance?\u00a0 Then voters can make their own judgments about who can \u201cdeliver key messages.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, if you think that this event is designed to get you extemporaneous answers to the tough questions, forget it.\u00a0 This is theater, not a forum.\u00a0 I would refuse to participate in such a ruse as a candidate, and I won\u2019t waste my time as a voter, since I won\u2019t learn anything useful when it\u2019s Quiz Show all over again.\u00a0 In fact, we should all vote with our feet on this one.\u00a0 Join me in refusing to attend such a ridiculous event, and demanding a real forum.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, if you do go, don\u2019t be surprised if all you see at this non-forum is three actors instead of six candidates.<\/p>\n

Addison\u2019s voters deserve far better.<\/p>\n

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