A Question The Candidates Couldn't Answer

I went to the Wisconsin 53rd Assembly Primary Debates tonight. I filled out, and handed in my question "from the audience". To no shock, it wasn't choosen to be asked. By now your wondering what the question was, keep reading.

The debate finished, the two Democrats, and two Republicans (one is an Incumbent) stood up, and started for the hall.

I tracked each one down and asked them one simple question:

What does Article 4 of the State [Wisconsin] Constitution relate to?

I will detail their replies and the answer below.


Owens (R) Incumbent

Me: "Hi, I'm so-and-so, can I ask you a quick question?"

Owens: "Sure"

Me: "What does Article 4 of the State Constitution relate to?"

She seemed confused, and said, there are only three articles.

Me:"No, the State Constitution." I believe she thought the I meant the U.S. Constitution, which has MORE than 3 Articles, it has 7!

She finally figured out that I was talking about the Wisconsin Constitution, and became quite irritated about the question.

Owens: "I dont know."

I told her the answer, and she was quite stirred up.
And walked away upset over a simple question.

Spanbauer (R)

Me: "Hi, can I ask you a quick question? Answer this question and you'll get my vote, period."

Them: "Sure"

Me: "What does Article 4 of the State Constitution relate to?"

Spanbauer: "Of the State Constitution?"

Me: "Yep."

Spanbauer: "I'm not sure."

Me: "Ok that's fine, you just aren't getting my vote."

Spanbauer: "That's fine, I didn't want your vote anyways."

I then reveal the answer, and walk away, as he trys to brush me off in front of several people.

Bird (D)

Me: "Hi, can I ask you a quick question?"

Bird: "Sure, can you walk outside with me?"

Me: "Yeah. What does Article 4 of the State Constitution relate to?"

As we walk down the stairs, she replies more friendlier than the previous two.

Bird: "You know, I just don't know, I could look it up."

Bird: "I know alot about the education Statutes." (She was on the school board)

Me: "That's ok, so far it's 0 for 3."

I say, after I tell her the answer.

We walk out the door and I see DeDow smoking a cigarette, and start to move towards him, but Owen's sees me and asks me.

Owens: "Sir, what's the 18th amendment?"

Me: "The prohibition amendment."

Owens: "No, the State Constitution."

I think about it, to no avail.

Me: "To be honest, I'm not sure."

Owens walks away as though she won the fight, I turn and smile, thinking too late, "Your the Assembly person, you tell me."

I continue back to DeDow.

DeDow (D)

Me: "Hi, can I ask you a question?"

DeDow: "Yeah"

Me: "What does Article 4 of the State Constitution relate to?"

DeDow: "Hmm....I don't know."

I tell him the answer and follow up with another question; in the debates he mentioned how he'd read the US Constitution 12 times recently.

Me: "What does Article 3 of the US Constitution relate to?"

DeDow: "I don't know."

Me: "The Judicial Branch."

I introduce myself, and *click* a light went off in his head.

DeDow: "Oh, your that free-speech guy, the Libertarian. I get ya."

He then tried to cover his bases, talking about how freedoms reign, ya'da, ya'da.

Well, want to know what Article 4 of the State Constitution relates to?

The Legislature
An Article I hope they'd know exists!

THEY HATE THE REAL QUESTIONS!
ASK THE REAL QUESTIONS!
MAKE THEM ASHAMED!

But now the question is, who do I vote for?

[edit on 9-3-2004 by BeingWatchedByThem]

Must've been fun

Try doing that with Bush & Co, good chances you get a 1 way ticket to jail for harassing them :p

Originally posted by thematrix
Must've been fun

Try doing that with Bush & Co, good chances you get a 1 way ticket to jail for harassing them :p

Yeah, I see it already.

Me: "Bush, what does Article 2 of the US Constitution relate to?"

Bush: "Ahhhh......errrr........HELP!"

Then I'm detained until he leaves office.

And then there some of them that will challenge you to a dual :p

Yeah sick it to them! What academic content is there to a political science course, or a international relations course?!? Well the little law they were given didn't seem to sink in.

Even at school you are told to shut up and stop aking diffucult questions!!

Well at least i was!



Hang on thats not really funny now is it when you think about it? And its not just the education system.. I have seen parents react like that when their kid asks a difficult question.

School teaches us to be ashamed of not knowing something.. and admitting you dont know the answer to a question brings this feeling of shame straight back.

BeingWatchedByThem, you are a genius. Everyone should go to their local city council meetings and ask questions about the State constitutions to members. Put them on the spot!

Originally posted by BeingWatchedByThem

Originally posted by thematrix
Must've been fun

Try doing that with Bush & Co, good chances you get a 1 way ticket to jail for harassing them :p

Yeah, I see it already.

Me: "Bush, what does Article 2 of the US Constitution relate to?"

Bush: "Ahhhh......errrr........HELP!"

Then I'm detained until he leaves office.

I doubt that, Bush is not as dumb as the democrats make him out to be. You would only be detained if you try to attack Bush.

Originally posted by ThunderCloud
BeingWatchedByThem, you are a genius.

Thanks! And yes, it absolutely put them on the spot. They had no answer, and were embarrassed, rightly so.

Let me put it this way.

You work for a company, they expect you to know they rules and policies for the company.

The people fighting for the assembly seat don't even know the company rules and policies (The State Constitution, even worst, the Legislative Article).

A doctor can't be a doctor without knowing something about human body, but how can a statesman be a statesman without knowing the Constitution?

I DEMAND BETTER CANDIDATES! I DEMAND LIBERTARIANS!

BeingWatchedByThem...

I was impressed with 'the sign incident,' but after this you are officially my new hero.

Originally posted by HoonieSkoba
BeingWatchedByThem...

I was impressed with 'the sign incident,' but after this you are officially my new hero.

Thanks! (I've been saying that alot)

Just being a ACTIVE Libertarian, an uncommon thing I guess.

I know it's easier to sit back and talk, but that is only as far as talk gets you.

If you want to make a change you have to work for it, things do not just fall into you lap, you have to work towards your goals.

That's all I'm doing; working towards my goals.

And if you want a change, I suggest you do the same.

My favorite part of your post was:

Originally posted by BeingWatchedByThem
DeDow: "Oh, your that free-speech guy, the Libertarian. I get ya."

BeingWatchedByThem...sounds like you stuck the real hard questions to them. If only all reporters and journalists were like you. Keep up the good work...this is the kind of "free speech in action" that makes me think there just may be one intelligent person out there.

PS- I wish I could have been there to see it, because Im sure I would have been rolling on the ground from laughter

Wow. Have you ever thought about running for public office? It seems like you would make an excellent Libertarian candidate. Especially with all of this free press you have been receiving lately, many of the locals will know your name, who you are, and what you represent. I would suggest you do; with this type of ambition, you could do amazing in a campaign. I'd vote for ya!

Although you do realize that you are going to have to keep this up... Suprising us with new situations that you get yourself into every couple of weeks:p Actually, you should start a website or blog of your "political stunts" to draw attention to the LP and keep us all entertained and ambitious!





[edit on 3-9-2004 by sillinous]