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Tardiness, Tight Schedules Make For A Dull DebateBy James Jardine, Caledionian Record
July 31, 2006 CRAFTSBURY, VERMONT -- Billed as the "Conversation on the Green," three candidates and a celebrity moderator showed up for a campaign event that was over almost before it started. Scheduled as an hour-long event beginning at 5 p.m., Republican candidate Mark Shepard, a Bennington County state senator, was about a half-hour late. Bill "The Spaceman" Lee, a retired Red Sox pitcher who lives in Craftsbury, had agreed to moderate the campaign debate. He arrived even later, showing up behind Shepard. Also present were Democrat Peter Welch, a state senator from Windsor County and the Vermont Senate Pro Tem, and independent candidate Keith Stern, a small-business owner from Springfield. Martha Rainville, another Republican candidate, decided not to attend any of the four scheduled candidate forums. Dennis Morrisseau, who was running as a Republican but announced recently that he has switched and is now running as an Independent, was a no-show. Counting campaign workers and the press, there were about 30 people in attendance on the Common. Lee's late arrival interrupted opening statements, and Lee engaged in a bit of a monologue, letting the audience know where he stood on the issues. On the issues, Welch said he wants to lead the United States in a new direction. He believes President Bush and the Republican majority in Congress are taking the country in the wrong direction. He said he would work for new energy policies with an emphasis on renewable energy, would support a federal health-care system for everyone and would work to eliminate the federal deficit. On foreign policy, Welch said he would bring home U.S. troops from Iraq and said it was time for the Iraqis to take responsibility for the security of their country. He said the attitude of the Republicans was to tell citizens who needed help: "You are on your own." Shepard believes government has acquired too much control over our lives and that the country's increasing dependence upon government can mean disaster, citing the failed government response to Hurricane Katrina. The problem, Shepard said, was the victims were unprepared to do anything for themselves. Shepard said the most responsive, best government was at the local level, closest to the people, particularly town government. According to Shepard, as government grew more removed from citizens on the state and federal level, decision-making was disconnected from the citizens served. Keith Stern believes millionaires do not pay their fair share of taxes and the working class pays too much in taxes. He believes government spending is completely out of control and that federal spending could probably be cut in half without losing any services. Bill Lee, the moderator, told the crowd the Earth had moved about 2,500 miles while they were attending the event. At 6 p.m., Welch announced he had to leave for another scheduled event in Morrisville. The two remaining candidates remained a while longer, as the audience slowly drifted away. Castleton and Bellow Falls have also hosted "Conservation on the Green" events. The final "conversation" will be held in Bristol. |
"... many politicians talk the talk about doing something tangible about new jobs and it doesn't go much further. Sen. Shepard walked the walk." Bennington Banner State Senator Endorsement Editorial, October 29, 2004
Copyright © 2006, Shepard for Congress Committee. All rights reserved. |