Dickerson Outshines Carson In TV Appearance

WTHR's "Political Insiders" aired short interviews with Rep. Julia Carson (D) and Eric Dickerson (R) this morning. Dickerson completely outshined Carson, demonstrating energy and vitality in his delivery in sharp comparison to a tired and worn presentation by Carson. The interview format, however, was totally inadequate. Each candidate was allowed less than 10 minutes, including the time it took interviewers Matt Tully and Kevin Rader to ask the questions.

Dickerson, at the outset of the interview, sought to distinghish himself from President Bush. While Dickerson supported Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq, he thinks Bush has failed to adjust the war plan to meet changed circumstances. Specifically, he believes a "train and support" focus for the Iraqis has been overlooked. Comparing the three months it took the U.S. Marines to convert him from a long-haired, wild college student to a well-trained soldier, Dickerson thinks our military should be taking would-be Iraqi soldiers to bases outside of Iraq for 3 months of intensive training and sending them back to the front lines to defend the democratically-elected government against insurgents. Trained Iraqis would replace American soldiers currently serving on the front lines, whose role would become secondary and whose numbers would be significantly reduced.

Dickerson was also critical of Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina. He thinks he was too slow to respond to the need. He should not, according to Dickerson, have waited until the cries of help came from locals before stepping in with federal assistance. The only other substantive question Dickerson was asked related to immigration at the tale end of his interview. With only a short time to respond, Dickerson said that he felt that current immigration laws should be enforced, and that he opposed granting amnesty to those who are here illegally. As to business and personal issues which have arisen in this campaign, Dickerson explained that the process of selling a car dealership can take up to a year. He sold his dealership this summer, he explained, because of GM's downsizing and the fact that the Buick line, which he sold, will likely not even be around in another year. As to his 15-year-old arrest, he said the appropriate authorities had looked into the matter and dismissed it without further action. It was a personal matter that he and his wife had long since put behind them, and that he had moved on with his life.

Tully, once again, wanted to focus on Dickerson's lack of support from the Republican Party and the relatively small amount of funds he's raised for his campaign. Dickerson conceded that he had been offered an office, telephone and fundraising assistance from the Marion Co. GOP, but that he had turned it down. He said he had his own office, telephones and supporters and appreciated but did not need the help. He said such offers come with "strings attached", and that he wants to win without those attached strings. He also explained that he would not need $200,000 to win the race. He said he had already invested $2 million in branding his name from the advertising of his Buick dealership over the past few years. He didn't need an expensive media campaign to tell voters about him he said.

Carson, sitting in a slumped position in her chair and appearing very worn and tired, opened her interview by saying that the country would be "far better off" with a Democratic majority in the House. She described Nancy Pelosi, who will likely become Speaker of the House if Democrats win a majority, as a "very articulate" and "very insightful" person to whom she looks for leadership. Noting that she had voted against the war in Iraq, Carson was asked if the Democrats had a plan for dealing with Iraq. "I think there's a plan," Carson said. She wasn't sure what it was though. In her mind, the plan should be to "just do it"--suggesting we should cut and run from Iraq now and not mess with any time frame for future withdrawal.

Carson's response to a question about immigration seemed to conflict with the position she had previously staked out. She voted against a harsh immigration law House Republican past last year, which increased enforcement and penalties and provided no amnesty or path to legalization for the 12 million undocumented aliens in America. Her answer to this question seemed to more closely mirror the position of many House Republicans who supported the legislation she voted against last year. She said we should not reward people who broke the rules to come here. They should "stand in line" with everyone else. Those are the same arguments made by the supporters of the legislation she voted against. Her position has shifted and now seems to be the same position Dickerson has taken.

As for the controversial bar in the Julia Carson Government Center, Carson first began her answer by pointing out government buildings like the Ronald Reagan Center and airports in which there are establishments which serve alcohol, but she insists she is neither for or against the 300 East bar. "I have no nickel in that dime," she said. She suggested that Carl Drummer, Lacy Johnson and Bill Mays should follow the proper rules though. Asked if she thought that hadn't followed the rules, she said they didn't according to at least one newspaper.

Carson insisted her health was not an issue for voters to concern themselves with. She cited the fact that Sen. Richard Lugar (R), who is running for re-election this year unopposed, is older than her. As she described his years of public service, she referred to him as a former Mayor of Indiana before correcting herself.

At the end of the interview, Carson was asked to explain why the voters should re-elect her. She said, "I am a person of a lot of integrity, motivation and foresight." She said she had never had any plans to become a politician, saying she is more of a public servant than a politician after four decades of government service. At this point in the interview, Carson's mind appeared to wander. She talked about how she had wanted to expand her work for children, and that some little girl had come up to her for help. "The little girl disappeared, and I don't know where she went," she digressed. It reminded me of that moment during the 1992 presidential campaign when Ross Perot's running mate, James Stockdale, appearing confused, asked during a debate with the vice-presidential candidates: "Who am I? Why am I here?" Stockdale died last year after a battle with Alzheimer's disease for several years.