Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Into The Void with John Miller

Tuesday night's forum between the two candidates for Fourth District House of Representatives come off as planned.

First, and to no one's surprise, Congressman Jay Dickey was a no-show, sending his son, Ted, in his place. Ted proved to be his father's son, as he opened by asking Ross to be nice as he'd brought his wife and 11-month-old child, then attacking. The audience was cheated out of being properly able to question Dickey, as sonny responded in programmed answers, or the way he thought "daddy" would respond.

Ross stood on his own, but was obviously vexed at Dickey being a no-show and sending his boy to fight his battles for him.

The next problem was the panel was told at the last minute each member could ask one question, and said query had to be non-partisan. All other questions would come from the audience and be read by the panelists.

As a member of said panel, I personally, was irritated because this tied my hands. I was also irked at Dickey again showing his true colors by being elsewhere (in Washington, D.C., according to his son, though the congressman had been in Camden late Monday afternoon and a third such forum was scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Hot Springs).

Granted, the audience had every right to get its questions asked and answered, but not by sonny. Daddy should have been on hand and taken his medicine like a man. Not that most of the questions put before the two were terribly hard.

Frankly, I would like to get the two face-to-face and get a list of questions answered honestly, or at least as honestly as they could.

Perhaps our esteemed congressman will deign to respond to this column and answer the following questions. Ross can be tracked down easily enough and asked in person.

(1) In 1992, Mr. Dickey, when you first ran for office, you said term limits wouldn't be needed in your case as you would serve no more than three terms. Why haven't you kept your word? Now, it's been said you never uttered this statement, but you did  to me when I was editor of the Hope Star.

(2) You have voted yourself three pay raises in six years, yet voted against raising the minimum wage three times. You have also said you were worth everything you're being paid and more. The question is, what makes you worth more than the average working person, who you seem to think isn't worth a paltry $6 an hour.

(3) Specifically what legislation have you ever brought before the Congress? While you have signed on as co-sponsor for other legislation, have you not had an original thought while in D.C.?

(4) During your lackluster career in Congress, you have, time and time again, voted party line with the GOP. In fact, your record shows an astounding 90 percent plus party line vote. How can you believe the Republican Party has the people's best interest at heart this much, especially where Social Security, Medicare and education are concerned?

(5) You claim to be in favor of public education, yet have supported the voucher system. Which is your true face?

(6) You say you don't like negative campaigning tactics, but fired the first and most negative ads in this one. Why?

(7) During the forum you missed, your son said you take no PAC money and had no control over the ads ran by the Republican National Committee. Yet on the website, opensecrets.com, there is a list of those who contributed to your campaign with no occupation listed. Why? And, have you even once asked the RNC to pull its negative ads or publicly denounced the RNC for running them?

(8) Please explain your vote for HR-3064 which would have stripped the Social Security trust fund of more than $17 billion, and, while we're on the topic, why do the rich need a $17 billion tax cut while the middle class of America is rapidly becoming extinct because of its tax burden?

(9) Last question. Why should the taxpayers of Arkansas' Fourth District pick up the tab for your home on Lake Michigan and pay to have its beach repaired, while the folks back home struggle to make a living, pay their taxes and put their children through school?

Jay, these are some of the questions I would have loved to ask you in person, but only one of us was at the forum. As you weren't there, perhaps you would care to respond.

Please don't worry about your answers, if you bother, not being published because they'll come in before the election. I'm sure another paper or the wire services would be more than happy to take the story I'd write before Nov. 7, unless you don't respond before then.

Ball's in your court, Jay.