FCNL: 34 Days Left: Questions for Candidates: Participating in Candidate Forums

[Guest guest]

34 Days Left: Questions for Candidates: Participating in

Candidate Forums

 

FCNL has prepared " Questions for Candidates " to ask

candidates about issues such as civil liberties, disarmament, and

peaceful prevention of deadly conflict. One way to use

them is to ask them of congressional candidates at town hall

meetings, debates and other public events. What are the

benefits?

 

.. Raising important questions that have been missed or

superficially treated in the campaign.

 

.. Signaling the candidates that informed, active voters

are concerned about particular issues.

 

.. Putting the candidates on public record in front of

voters and the media.

 

.. Using the answer to hold candidates to their positions

(or challenge them) later, particularly if they win their

races and take office.

 

.. Educating and mobilizing your community around issues

about which you are concerned.

 

How to Participate in Candidate Forums

 

1. Find out about candidate appearances through local

League of Women Voters chapters (http://www.lwv.org

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27010)

), candidate and political party web sites, and newspapers

and other local media.

 

2. Go to the FCNL web site to read candidates' positions

and, if incumbents voting records

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27011)

 

3. Chose one of FCNL's Questions to ask candidates.

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27012)

or write your own. Practicing your questions with a friend

will help you stay focused when you're on the spot later.

 

4. Work in teams. Spread several questioners out at the

event to increase your chances of getting heard. Have a note

taker write down the answer so you can follow-up later.

 

5. Stay calm and speak politely. A well-worded,

respectfully asked question will be taken more seriously by the

candidate and the audience.

 

6. Consider opening with a compliment to show good will.

Example: " Senator Billwriter, thank you for working to

uncover the terrible mistreatment of prisoners in Iraq. What

will you do to ensure the fair treatment of detainees held

at Guantanamo Bay? "

 

After the event, write a letter to the editor praising the

candidate or taking to them to task, and propose that they

stick to or change their position, as appropriate. Also,

consider sharing the candidate's responses with relevant

advocacy organizations who may find the information

beneficial.

 

Questioning candidates in public forums brings needed

perspectives to election debates and tells candidates that

voters are carefully weighing important issues as they decide

how to vote.

 

 

________

Join FCNL's Build Democracy Vote Campaign:

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27013)

 

Congressional Information:

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27014)

 

Order FCNL publications and " War is Not the Answer " and

Vote campaign bumper stickers, buttons, and yard signs:

To order FCNL publications,

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27017)

To order " War Is Not the Answer " materials,

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27016)

 

To order VOTE 2004 resources,

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27015)

 

Contribute to FCNL:

http://www.fcnl.org/suprt/indx.htm

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27018)

 

 

To Un to this list: Please at

the end of this email.

 

SUBSCRIBE to FCNL's listserves

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27019)

 

_______

Friends Committee on National Legislation

245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795

fcnl (fcnl) * www.fcnl.org

(https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=27021)

phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330

 

We seek a world free of war and the threat of war

We seek a society with equity and justice for all

We seek a community where every person's potential may be

fulfilled

We seek an earth restored.

 

 

 

http://pets.care2.com/

 

" The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. " --

Plato

" Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing

health care to all Americans is socialism. " -- anon