Daniel TilsonImagine putting mainstream Floridians in charge of one of these 2014 Florida gubernatorial debates.
Not the kind of pat-on-the-head we sometimes get from debate sponsors who include a few questions for the candidates from us average folks.
I’m talking about a full hour of tough primetime TV questioning by an uncompromising panel that truly represents “We The People.”
Keep that unlikely scenario in mind while watching the “real” debates, and it just might help make them easier to endure.
“Hi, and welcome to the ‘People’s At-Bat 2014 Florida Gubernatorial Debate,’ where Main Street Floridians take hard swings at the best pitches Gov. Rick Scott and challenger Charlie Crist have to offer. I’m your moderator, Dave, a downsized former state employee out of work since 2012, foreclosed on in 2013. I’m joined on the panel by Rosaria, a single working mother of three; by Kevin, a construction worker and father of two; and by Hyacinth, a retired teacher. Rosaria, first question?”
“Thanks. Gov. Scott, you take credit for creating jobs, helping working families and fixing the economy. But I have to work two jobs and still can’t make ends meet for my kids. What’s up with creating so many bad-paying jobs that keep families like mine on public assistance? Why not raise the minimum wage and give people like me training and opportunities for better jobs?”
“That’s 643,000 jobs created since I took office, compared to 832,000 jobs lost while Charlie was governor. Wouldn’t you rather have found two not-so-hot jobs than lost one good one? And why risk losing jobs by making employers pay higher wages? C’mon, let’s keep working, Rosalita.”
“That’s Rosaria. And guess what? We got fact sheets a week ago. They say job loss under Crist had everything to do with the Great Recession, next to nothing to do with him. Job growth under you, mostly bad jobs without benefits, that’s all on you. And paying higher wages doesn’t kill jobs, it builds stronger communities, right Dave?”
“Well, I’m just the moderator. But the facts speak for themselves, and Gov. Scott…speaks for Gov. Scott. Kevin, a question for former Gov. Crist?
“Thanks. Governor – or Mr. Crist, whatever…I’m an independent voter, consider myself a mainstream moderate, like I think you do and always have. I’m wondering why more people don’t see Gov. Scott for being too conservative. I mean, he does nothing on climate change or clean energy, just to make electric companies richer. He pushes making profits from public schools and prisons. He hands out no-strings-attached big business tax breaks like candy on Halloween…”
“Kevin, let me jump in and say you’re right that I’ve always considered myself a moderate. In public service, I’ve always valued the ‘common good’ of Main Street families more highly than any rigid political ideologies, or big business interests. But there’s been a learning curve putting those values into practice, especially when I was a moderate voice in the Republican Party. Gov. Scott has tried making my political growth a negative, but I think you hit the nail on the head. It’s his extreme conservative values that are the negative for millions of working families across Florida.”
“Excuse me before the commercial, Mr. Governor Scott! I’m Hyacinth and I have to say, he’s right. I’m 77 years young and I respect a man willing to grow and change, especially when it’s about doing right by Main Street people. Why run our great state like a big bad business, with no heart or compassion? What good does that do…and for who?”
Daniel Tilson has a Boca Raton-based communications firm called Full Cup Media, specializing in online video and written content for non-profits, political candidates and organizations, and small businesses. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
