Fun with mayoral candidates
Last night’s Manchester mayoral candidate debate at St. Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics was too short. As the event came to an end, moderator Scott Spradling had numerous questions left to ask, and the audience did not appear the least bit restless.
The informal format, consistent with other Manchester Young Professional Network events, suited both candidates and allowed each to elaborate when the impulse arose. Often, when audience members get to ask questions of candidates, the event quickly devolves into an MTV-style trivialization of the campaign. But this was an intelligent audience that asked serious questions. But there was one frivolous question. Someone asked the candidates which movie they last saw in a theater and what they thought about it.
Neither candidate could answer it. Guinta, who has two small children, said he couldn’t remember the last time he went to the theater. He also couldn’t remember the last film he saw on dvd, but he said Rudy was one of his favorites.
Baines joked that Jaws might’ve been the last film he saw in a theater. He said he always rents comedies, but he couldn’t remember any that he’d seen recently, though he was sure he enjoyed the last one and it relieved his stress.
This type of question keeps popping up in candidate interviews, as if the answer might provide some deep insight into the candidate’s psyche. But really, it’s just a waste of time. It can’t possibly matter to the city whether the mayor likes comedies or dramas, mob movies or spy flicks, thrillers or horror films. And yet, people keep asking. During the Presidential campaign, John Edwards was totally stumped when asked what his favorite movie was. Though the question is irrelevant to races for high office, candidates probably should prepare for it like they prepare for questions on fiscal and social policy, because evidently it is here to stay. If I were a political consultant, I’d advise my candidate to have a ready answer to each of the following inane questions:
1. What is your favorite movie/last movie watched?
2. What is your favorite band/most-played song on your iPod?
3. What is your favorite book/last book read?
4. What is your favorite food?
5. Who is your favorite Hollywood star?
6. What is your favorite color?
7. If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
8. What superpower would you like to have?
9. Who is your favorite athlete?
10. What is your policy on lunch?
The best bit of the debate came when Baines was talking about nightlife downtown. Guinta criticized Baines for criticizing the crime associated with some bars and nightclubs. Baines reiterated his criticism, but prefaced it by saying he was not against bars and clubs. “I like to have fun as much as anybody else,” he said. “I might go out and have some fun tonight.”
