“Blake! Get your head in the game!” I hear Beaumont bark. “This is no time for daydreaming. Do you have my index cards?”
“Right here, congressman.”
He must be so much fun to work for. Pol Pot has a sunnier disposition, and he ran the Khmer Rouge. Robinson Howell is a pleasure to deal with by comparison.
The lighting from the stage area flashes and the house lights dim, the signals for us to take our respective positions in the wings. I give my students quick high-fives and turn toward my future wife. Well, theoretically she’ll be the future Mrs. Bennit.
“Wish me luck.”
“Knock ‘em dead,” she deadpans coolly.
I get into position, trying to force the decline of our engagement out of my mind. I cannot afford to be focused on that right now. As the moderator begins to speak, Winston joins me in the left wing. I drew the center podium, so we get to enter from the same side of the stage. “Welcome to Western Connecticut State University, sight of the live debate between candidates for Congress from the …“
“Tonight you’re going to find out just how out of my league you are,” I hear Winston say over the booming voice of the moderator. “Like a boa constrictor, I will squeeze the life out of you and your farcical campaign.”
“You know, congressman, people have been telling me for months you’re a snake. Until now I thought they were just speaking metaphorically.”
“I am going to enjoy destroying you,” Winston decries, finishing the brief exchange.
“This debate is scheduled to last ninety minutes, so without further ado, let's bring out our candidates,” the moderator says, completing his introduction.
We get prompted by the production staff and all step out from the wings onto the brightly lit stage to thunderous applause. I can only think how exhilarating it must be to be a rock star. We walk to our respective podiums, mine in the center, Winston stage left and Richard stage right.
“The rules for tonight’s debate are simple. Each candidate is entitled to a two minute opening statement. Following those statements, the debate is a free format where the candidates can question each other on the issues. As moderator, I will only keep the debate moving forward as necessary. Following that, each candidate will be given two minutes for their closing statements. So, let’s begin. Congressman Beaumont, you drew the opportunity to speak first while backstage and may make your opening statement.”
“Thank you, and allow me be the first to welcome Michael Bennit to the stage for his first public appearance in this race,” Beaumont says, eliciting a few snickers from the crowd. I knew a comment of this nature was coming, so all I do is broaden my smile to the audience and give a playful little shrug.
“Many of you already know me, since I have been representing this district for almost sixteen years,” Beaumont continues, looking directly into the camera. “I bring millions of federal dollars to this district, resulting in the creation of hundreds of jobs. I have decades of experience in politics, and belong to a family who has faithfully served the people of Connecticut for generations.
“But I have a question for you all to ponder tonight as Michael Bennit makes his opening statement. How do you think he’s qualified to run for this office? I mean, can we take a campaign run by a bunch of kids seriously? His antics in this race are a mockery to the process of choosing responsible elected representatives. I believe my constituents would be best served if he, and his group of Boy Scouts, just go back home and sell cookies.”
There is a smattering of applause from the audience. Winston surveys the crowd, coming to the realization that his line did not go over well. I’m sure his staff convinced him the joke would be a hit. Amanda, the ranking feminist of my little cadre of student staffers, must be going berserk backstage over the Boy Scout line. Someone forgot to inform Beaumont one inconvenient truth. Most students in my inner circle are, in fact, girls.
“Mister Bennit, you may make your two minute statement,” the moderator prompts. It’s show time.
“I'm a history teacher, not a math teacher, but I believe that was two questions, congressman,” I retort, rewarded with chuckles from the audience.
“Congressman, you have impressive credentials as a politician. I don’t think anyone watching tonight is questioning that. But more interesting is what those sixteen years in D.C. and decades in politics taught you to value. I’m sure if we ran a fact check on your opening statement, we would find that you indeed have brought millions of dollars into the district. Money used to subsidize important things, I imagine. So, instead of telling us about all the beneficial programs that enrich lives you help fund, it must be confusing to our audience why you chose to focus only on the dollar amount. The answer is simple. It’s not the people’s interests you have in mind, it’s your own.”
Beaumont grimaces slightly in disgust at the comment, shaking his head as if he wants to start an argument in the middle of my opening statement. As much as I would love to hear how he’d defend himself, these two minutes of time are precious, and I’m not about to give him the chance to interrupt.
“Loyalty, sense of duty, integrity, selfless service and the unwavering dedication to an ideal. Those are the traits people should value in a representative. It’s what any member of Congress should embody after a sixteen-year career, but instead, you only choose to measure your worth in dollars you can extract from the coffers in Washington.
“As you have said again and again ... and again,” I say, counting on my fingers as I speak and eliciting a snicker from the audience. “I have no experience in politics. In fact, being a former Green Beret, I will probably make a lousy politician using the standards you measure yourself by.
“What I will make is an outstanding representative. From the end of the twentieth century to today, the prevailing feeling in the country is our elected officials no longer serve the interests of the American people. Citizens in our district want more than money from Washington. They want to feel like they are actually represented and have a voice in the direction of our nation. Someone who is more interested in listening to the people than engaging in trivial partisan bickering. I stand before you tonight as that man.”
The audience applauses with enthusiasm, and before they finish, I need to get one final comment in for Amanda before the moderator turns the floor over to Johnson. “As for the kids, I believe involvement with our youth is important in today’s society, if for no other reason that you would know that it's the Girl Scouts who sell cookies, not the Boy Scouts.”
The initial enthusiastic applause from the hall turns thunderous. Winston rocks back on his heels as if stunned by a punch.
.
-FORTY-TWO-
KYLIE
Roger Bean rubs his forehead in frustration. The first two opening statements were disasters for his boss. Beaumont fell flat with his jab and Michael was a hit with the audience. Having Beaumont’s own line used against him was like icing someone else’s cake. Roger’s reaction was restrained, unless getting taken to school was part of Beaumont’s debate strategy. If I were him, I would be breaking things.
I was careful to stay clear of Michael and his staff before he took to the stage, choosing to move backstage only after the event started. This is a restricted area for most press, but those of us doing deep background on the campaigns were granted special access.
I spend a couple of moments greeting some colleagues covering the other candidates as Richard Johnson stammers through his opening statement. Did he just say something about his mother? If he is the best the Republicans can offer, I‘m sure the voters of the district are as concerned as I am.
Bored with what he is saying, or trying to say, I head over to the monitor the kids are glued to. Call of Duty couldn’t command the attention they are giving the screen. I’m not sure if they are caught up in the moment or amazed their mentor owned one of the country’s most prominent politicians right out of the gates on national television.
“Our first topi
c this evening will be about fiscal responsibility. We will begin with Representative Beaumont.”
Beaumont sputters through the first thirty seconds of his response to a question on government spending. When the deficit and national debt balloons during your time in office, it behooves the incumbent to move off the topic quickly.
“Michael Bennit can’t understand the complexities of governmental budgeting because he’s not qualified to be in Congress! My family has been in Connecticut politics for decades! People have entrusted us in leadership roles for a reason, Mister Bennit. We deliver. Can you say that?”
Michael looks out over the audience and then to the camera with his arm outstretched, as if presenting the world to Winston Beaumont. This is the second moment of truth. Opening statements are important to help overcome nerves, but this is his first time addressing a question on stage and on camera with sixty million people watching at home.
“Did anyone else notice that the country is running trillion dollar deficits, racked up trillions and trillions in national debt, and Congressman Beaumont finished his answer by attacking me?” Michael asks with a smile, invoking a chorus of laughs. For a serious guy, he knows how to work a crowd. “Congressman, with all due respect, running up the debt is what you manage to deliver. I read about your family’s legacy in politics. They worked hard to earn their leadership positions in this state and ought to be commended. The problem is you regard your seat as a birthright. “
“I most certainly do not! I have more qualifications than you ever will to sit in this office.”
“So you have said. Since we are never going to move forward tonight until we address this, let’s review qualifications from a Constitutional perspective.”
“And here comes today's history lesson,” Vince, Peyton, Amanda, and Chelsea exclaim at the same time. I haven’t known Michael long, but even I knew that was coming.
“Article One, Section Two of the United States Constitution requires that The House of Representatives shall be composed of members who have reached an age of twenty-five years, been a United States citizen for seven years, and inhabit the state from which chosen,” he says, looking directly at Winston.
“I think you mean Article II, Mister Bennit,” Johnson croaks, clearly feeling left out of the discussion.
“What?”
“The Legislature. It’s Article II of the Constitution. The Executive Branch is most powerful, so it’s number one.”
Vince and Peyton start laughing out loud at the comment while Chelsea shakes her head in utter disbelief. Remarkably few Americans will immediately pick up on the gaffe, but they are about to get educated. The fact that Michael’s students recognized it so quickly shows how bright these kids are.
“Mister Johnson,” Michael says with a barely suppressed smile. “The Framers at the Constitutional Convention feared the legislature more than the executive. Based on their experience with the British Parliament before the Revolution, they thought it was most powerful, and most prone to corruption. Thus they spent considerable time during the summer of 1787 debating how to restrain the new assembly and it became Article I.”
Richard Johnson compounds his mistake by shaking his head no.
“I’ll tell you what, I would be happy to wait while you check in your copy of the Constitution.”
All Johnson manages to do is look at Michael sheepishly before turning and flashing a forced smile to the camera.
“Here, borrow mine,” Michael says, pulling a book from the inside his suit jacket as he walks over to Johnson’s lectern. He stands there, holding out the pocket-sized copy and waiting for the all-style, no-substance Republican to make the decision whether to accept it.
Michael is not about to walk away, and Beaumont isn’t clamoring to rescue him, so Johnson accepts the book while the audience go nuts with laughter. To make matters an order of magnitude worse, he actually begins flipping pages on camera, in front of the audience, voters in his district, and the millions of Americans watching. In this moment, one destined to become a part of American political lore, and a viral sensation on YouTube for years to come, historians will decree the campaign of Richard Johnson for Congress officially died.
Johnson literally looks as if he wants to crawl under his lectern and cry, and to Michael’s credit, he isn’t rubbing it in further. Not that he needs to, but he easily can take this showmanship too far and be labeled a bully. Even the moderator is at a loss for what to do when Michael walks back to his podium.
“Do I not meet any one of those qualifications, congressman?” he asks, refocusing on Winston Beaumont to the relief of Johnson.
Winston stands stunned at his own lectern, although I can’t be certain if it is because he just watched his Republican opponent get decimated or he’s now scared for himself. He fidgets nervously, probably just now realizing that he has underestimated Michael Bennit.
Beaumont clears his throat before replying, “I'm simply saying you have no experience in governing.”
“The Framers never intended the House of Representatives to be full of career legislators. The Senate was originally selected by state legislatures and the President is elected by the Electoral College,” Michael adds for Richard Johnson’s benefit. “Members of the House were the only original popularly-elected officials in the national government for a reason. They wanted an average person, elected by the people, sent to legislate for the people.”
Applause ripples through the audience, causing Winston to look around nervously.
“So I will ask you again. Are there any qualifications I don’t meet?”
“Constitutionally, no,” Beaumont mumbles, defeated.
“Excellent. So let’s move on to phase two of your debate strategy and start talking about how I never address the issues, because that’s what voters really want to hear tonight.” And with a single line, the audience erupts and Beaumont’s plan to frame his chief opponent as an undeserving novice is finished.
Michael never seemed to want to be a candidate when I first met him. He was content to let his students bask in the limelight while he sat back and watched from a distance. The tactic was one I never really understood, even as they gained ground using it.
When Beaumont went after them, the nature of the race changed. It may be a cliché, but the attacks on Vince, Peyton, and Brian awoke the sleeping giant. The loyalty Michael’s students have toward him is clearly reciprocated, because he’s not just out to win this debate, he wants to humiliate Beaumont and Johnson doing it.
.
-FORTY-THREE-
CHELSEA
The world is finding out the same thing about Mister Bennit as we did on the first day of class, and it’s entertaining to watch. If you are going to get into a debate with him, you need to have your facts straight and be quick on your feet. After the whole Constitution debacle, Richard Johnson clearly didn’t and Beaumont isn’t fairing much better.
The funny thing is, a half an hour into the debate and he still hasn’t taken a strong stand on any issue. His opponents’ attempts to box him in on foreign intervention and gay marriage still didn’t force him into a firm position. Each time, he brings the discussion back to American ideals and the importance of honest, forthright debates as a society. The public was treated to weeks of hype and speculation on what he would say, and I am surprised the audience loves his answers.
I know where he stands on many things even though he is careful not to discuss his personal views in a classroom environment. I wonder why he doesn’t share his opinions with the world at this point. We all thought that was the reason we pushed to be here. What is he trying to prove?
The next issue is announced by the moderator and I cringe. It’s a question about gun control, and a sensitive subject in this area since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown happened only a fifteen-minute drive from here. Mister Bennit jokes his idea of strict gun control means proper stance, grip, sight alignment and breath control. I’m sure the line won’t play well
in light of more recent tragedies, so I hope he doesn’t use it.
“Let me guess Mister Bennit. Your philosophy is ‘kill ‘em all and let God sort ‘em out’?” Congressman Beaumont asks, after a long-winded soliloquy.
“No, that’s a tenant of total war. Can you tell me when the last one was, congressman?”
“The last one?”
“Yes, the last total war the United States fought. Can you tell me what it was?”
The camera focuses on the flustered and visibly shaken Winston Beaumont. I can even see the small drops of sweat forming on his forehead. How did previous generations ever cope without high-definition television?
The congressman stares at his podium, stalling as he searches for a way to dodge the question. Obviously, his debate preparations didn’t include this, and Mister B won’t let the reputed political genius squirm out easily. On this stage, Mister B is the chess master and Winston Beaumont is the one playing Candyland.
“Congressman, every one of my high school students would have their hands up by now. Can you answer my question? It’s a simple one,” Mister Bennit prods, almost daring him to reply.
“Well, if you are this good of a teacher, maybe you should consider going back to it.” Oh, he left that door open.
“Right now, my students aren’t in need of the lesson more than the incumbent representative from Connecticut’s Sixth District. So what do you say?” Mister B. asks. Yup, he walked right through the door to the amusement of the audience.
“Vietnam.”
“Oh, congressman,” our mentor scolds in mock disappointment, “you would not have lasted long in my history class.” From backstage, I still can hear everyone snicker as he continues. “Vietnam was a limited war focusing more on containment and relying on the hearts and minds approach popularized by the British in Malay. World War Two was the last total war.”
The iCandidate Page 20
