KEPPELER: More questions than answers

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February 4, 2010

Anonymous The Tonawanda News Thu Feb 04, 2010, 01:01 AM EST

That’s pretty much what I have this week.

• If Andrew Cuomo doesn’t want the press asking questions (gasp!) as attorney general, what’s he going to be like if he wins the governor job?

In case you hadn’t heard, on Tuesday, the attorney general visited Kenmore East High School to do yet another rah-rah stop. He made his case (essentially, “sex offenders bad,” something with which few people are likely to argue) in front of a preselected audience, then tried to make his exit. There were reporters present.

Well, reporters ask questions. That’s their job — and, for most of the good ones of my acquaintance, their nature. Expecting them not to do so is like expecting a fish not to swim, or a lion to ignore a nice juicy steak.

And no matter what grandstanding, aren’t-I-great topic the event was ostensibly about, any good reporter is going to be at least curious about one of the biggest state-related questions out there right now — when will Cuomo confirm he’s running for governor? (I won’t insult anyone’s intelligence by suggesting that he won’t, barring some sort of Spitzeresqe crash.)

And on Tuesday, the lions behaved like lions — they went after the steak instead of the salad. The reporters asked real questions, despite ample encouragement not to do so. Surprise, surprise.

By all accounts, Cuomo handled the situation with some grace — but that’s largely negated by the image of one of his staff throwing a hissy fit (and even a shove) at a public event in a public school.

If you’re a politician of any stripe, you should expect non-scripted questions. I’ll go as far as saying you have a duty to at least acknowledge them, even without a clear answer on the spot (which would be much preferred.) Doing anything different — or allowing your people to do so — makes me seriously wonder if you’re really fit for the office.

And it sure as heck doesn’t make me want to vote for the guy.

And, on the lighter side:

• Things that annoy me: In this day and age, is it really good business to suggest that woman can’t possibly want to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday, so they must need an alternative occupation? Something girly, something frivolous ...

Something condescending.

Over the years, I’ve seen many different promotions featuring “ladies’” events for Sunday. “Don’t let the men have all the fun on Sunday!” one enthuses, reeking of patronization.

That generalization was probably true once. I truly don’t think it is now. Many of my friends and family members — men and women alike — will be watching the game, with a comparable level of understanding and interest.

As far as it goes, I’ll be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday (as closely as my children allow, anyway). I’ll know a lot about the teams going into it. I’ll have strong opinions about their strengths and weaknesses, who I think will win and who I’d like to see win.

You can give your “ladies-only” promotions to the birds.

Jill Keppeler is a columnist and page designer for the Tonawanda News. She can be reached at jill.keppeler@tonawanda-news.com

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