Friday I did my shift for our local Democratic County Party at the Deschutes County Fair. I was involved in a confrontation with a Republican that in hindsight I could have chosen to handle much differently. Here is as quick synapse of my version of events:
One of Republicans from their booth came over to our fair booth to ask, I guess what he thought was a very important pertinent question. He asked "Why do you guys call yourself the Democratic Party when though-out history you have been known has the Democrat Party?" Of course being the stand-up Democrat that I'm (I will never back down from these people) I responded by stating: "No! We have always been the Democratic Party and anyone who says any different is a liar!" Apparently I ruffled his manhood feathers which resulted in a school yard type stare down. For a moment I thought I time travelled back the the 5th grade. How silly.
Of course after contemplating this interaction I realize I could have handled this much more effectively. I find it ironic that the Republicans come over to our booth occasionally to bate us with these types of questions and I realize I fell into their trap. Next time here is how I would have handled it. In aloud clear voice I would call for the attention of all of our booth and everyone in the surrounding area. "Hey everybody Mr. Republican wants to ask us a very important question. Oh! I'm sorry, I called you Mr. Republican because I saw you over at the Republican booth and that's just wrong - calling you Mr. Republican is a label and I apologize I should be more respectful. What name do you choose to be called by?" If he chose to state is name I would have then asked him to state his question aloud so everyone could hear. If he would have fallen into my trap I would have stated. "We call ourselves the Democratic Party because that's what we choose to call ourselves." "I call myself Phil and sometimes my Mother and a few close friends and relatives call me Philip. But, most everyone is respectful and calls me by the name I choose to be called by - Phil."
"Now we have young men and women dying in Iraq. We are spending 10 Billion dollars a week in Iraq. Next years deficit will be 490 Billion dollars. Almost 50 million Americans are without Health Care Insurance. More than a million American's have their homes up for foreclosure. Gas price are over 4 dollars per gallon. Unemployment is rising and polls show that 80% of Americans feel we are headed in the wrong direction. What we Democrats choose to call ourselves is the burning questions that Republicans feel we must answer."
What was your question again?
I suggest that all County Fair Booth Volunteers do some role playing and we might be able to head off falling into such traps.