Health & Fitness
From The Sidelines: The Tea Party and Me
Candidates have an obligation to debate even with those that oppose them.
Through 15 years of service on the Montville Township Committee and the many elections it took to get there and stay there, I have had lots of debates. For many years they were sponsored by the League of Woman Voters and the Lake Valhalla Civic Association. These were both non-partisan debates run by neutral parties for the most part. It should be known that I am a square peg in a round hole in that I am not just a Democrat but a vocal Democrat in a township and county that is overwhelmingly Republican. I have also won more (five) and lost more elections than any Democrat in the history of the township. Given the overwhelming majority of Republican voters over Democratic ones, I am pretty proud of that history.
The audiences, such as they were, were mainly Republican supporters and club members, former Republican office holders, etc. Some Democratic supporters would show up and occasionally a real person looking to really decide who they were going to vote for. I always was the same. I am a life-long resident of the township and am going to state how I feel on any given issue that concerns the township. I answer any question about my service and previous votes. That is my history.
Now comes the Tea Party Debate. This will be interesting. Can they stick to local government and the needs of Montville Township or will the national agenda take charge? I have made no secret of the fact that on almost any national issue I am opposed to the Tea Party. I picketed one of their earlier appearances on the Morristown Green and have engaged in numerous forum exchanges with self-identified Tea Party people. Some of those were admittedly over the top. I read the Tea Party issued 13 reasons to vote Democratic and I want to show up at their debate even if it is to show them that my head is indeed on my shoulders not anywhere else on (or in) my body. I do have to admit that I moderated a Tea Party debate last year and it was a very civil affair, but I was a moderator not a candidate. I am hoping for a good attendance of all political sides and as I understand it, all are invited.
