jbjd

©2012 jbjd

I like Buddy Roemer. In fact, I like him so much that for the first time in this general election cycle I donated money to a candidate’s campaign. His campaign. The “American Needs Buddy for President 2012″ campaign. Twice. Well, almost twice. Actually, not at all.

See, I had sat on the fence long enough to lose the excuse, none of the current candidates for President who had reached my radar; merited my vote solely on the basis of ‘anything but Obama.’ Now, I was resigned to having to choose from among the least of all evils. And when I say, ‘evil,’ I do not mean, espousing views with which I disagree, because I am not primarily an issues voter. Everyone has issues; who’s to say, mine should take priority over everyone else’s? (Or theirs over mine.) Besides, who can accurately predict those issues which are yet to occur? That’s why I tend to look first for smart candidates able to think on their feet.

(This is why, as a teacher, I prefer open book tests. That is, for example, memorizing information can enable a user to operate a computerized industrial pneumatic drill. But without the ability to understand how this machine works, and how its work fits into the overall manufacture process; or to read and apply the operation manual; workers confronted with ‘glitches’ in operations, or documentation of software updates that will cure these ‘glitches’ will be  unable to implement these fixes without retraining.)

Then, just when I rationalized, I had to pick someone, anyone for President; Governor Roemer showed up on my screen. And I picked him. Not just because, he is the ‘best of the worst.’  And not because, theoretically, he is this smart comprehensive thinker. He actually has the track record that establishes, it’s true. (That points to another trait that attracts my attention: experience.)

But there is more that elevates Buddy Roemer above the rest of the political pack. Watch this.

Having done my homework with my new best candidate; I then decided to donate to his campaign, just one of the millions of small money donors he will need to offset the windfall contributions from big money contributors he has rejected. So, I went to the donation page on his campaign web site, and filled out the form. I pressed “Submit.” The form reappeared with instructions in bright red letters: ‘You made a mistake; check your information.’ So, I checked and re-checked the information and, again, pressed “Submit.” Same thing happened.

Just in case, I checked my bank account; and both contributions had been debited to my account! Now, I was guardedly upset. My chosen candidate, guilty of a campaign contribution scam? Say it ain’t so! I began searching for an email address and a phone number to the campaign so that I could advise them of the glitch on the campaign web site and, hopefully, reverse the double debit. I left messages explaining what had gone wrong.

That was 2 days ago, Saturday, New Year’s eve. Well, I just received a call back from a very pleasant man identifying himself as the FEC compliance officer for Mr. Roemer’s campaign. He explained, my message about the contribution glitch had been passed on to him; and he was eager to resolve my concerns. While we were on the phone, I pulled up my bank account on the computer. Sure enough, the debits no longer showed; and not because the double debit had been removed but because I hadn’t actually been double debited at all. Or even once.

See, the information relayed by pressing the “Submit” button on Roehmer’s site; appeared on my account moments before it was subsequently erased by the information relayed from Roemer’s site saying, ‘There is a problem with this form.’ And if I had checked the account again minutes later, I would have seen, my donationt had not been recorded at all. (Knowing what I know now, I can hypothesize that the reason my billing information was rejected likely originated at my bank, and was intended to protect the account from unauthorized withdrawals.)

In other words, I hadn’t actually donated at all to Mr. Roemer’s Presidential campaign. But I want to; the man gave me their mailing address so that I can make my contribution via the old-fashioned way.

This incident proved my point. That is, by endorsing Buddy Roemer for President, I had chosen the best candidate for the job. (Actually liking that choice came as a most pleasant surprise!)