BOOMER POLL
Thursday, August 13, 1998
Fisher |
With Baby Boomers playing such a major role in elections, we asked the two candidates for governor, Lee Fisher and Bob Taft, to answer some light-hearted and not-so-light-hearted questions. |
Taft |
In your opinion, what was the defining moment of the '60s?
Fisher: "I think it was the assassination of President Kennedy, because in that moment of great sadness and tragedy, the country came together, unified, and for a brief moment in time put aside political and racial and religious differences. In our grief, we had a sense of unity that this country probably hasn't seen since."
Taft: "I think it was the Kennedy assassination. I was in Africa in the Peace Corps. Before that event, there was tremendous hope and idealism about the way the country was moving and about our role in the world. A lot of countries were becoming independent. It was an exciting time. That was the first event in a series of events that dramatically changed the country."
Which was a greater accomplishment for JFK: His creation of the Peace Corps or his commitment to put a man on the moon, and why?
Fisher: "I think the Peace Corps. The focus on helping people on Earth has to take precedence over reaching out into the universe."
Taft: "Although I really enjoyed the Peace Corps and thought it was an excellent program . . . the greater achievement would have been setting the goal and putting a man on the moon."
How long is the longest your hair ever got?
Fisher: "Over my ears, but I don't think it ever got shoulder length. I believed the more I had, the longer it would last. I was obviously wrong."
Taft: "I never had too much of it. It might have come over the tops of my ears a little bit. I did have a mustache when I worked in Illinois."
Outside of Ohio, who is the best U.S. senator in office today and why?
Fisher: New York Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan. "He is independent, bright, thoughtful and speaks his conscience."
Taft: Indiana Republican Richard Lugar. "He takes his job very seriously, he is a student of foreign affairs . . . and he's also a leader on domestic policy."
Who would you rather have breakfast with: actress Ann Margaret or anthropologist Margaret Meade?
Fisher: "Margaret Meade."
Taft: "That's not fair. I'm going to be a stick in the mud and say Margaret Meade."
Who would you rather have dinner with: Dick Celeste, Dick Clark or Dick Van Dyke?
Fisher: "Dick Van Dyke."
Taft:: "Dick Celeste." (Campaign aides called later to see whether if he could change his answer. We said we're going be a stick in the mud, so the answer is, "No.")
Who would you rather have lunch with: author Ken Kesey, White House independent counsel Ken Starr or state Treasurer Ken Blackwell?
Fisher: "Ken Kesey."
Taft: "Ken Kesey."
Which was worse for Ohio -- Home State or Kent State -- and why?
Fisher: "Kent State because it involved the loss of life. . . . These were students who had not engaged in any acts of violence and they were shot . . . and their lives ended very young."
Taft: "I'm going to say Kent State . . . . While there were protests occurring around the country, the over-reaction and the mishandling by public officials was a real shortcoming. Of course, it led to tragic personal consequences."
Which was worse for America: The Monica Lewinsky scandal or the Bob Packwood scandal -- and why?
Fisher: "The Bob Packwood scandal, because in the Packwood scandal, all the facts have come out. It was clear he engaged in a pattern of sexual harassment. In the Monica Lewinsky situation, all the facts have yet to come out."
Taft: "That's a tough one because we don't know how the one is going to come out. We don't know if there's been obstruction of justice, if there were any criminal offenses. It's too early to judge."
Did you ever smoke pot?
Fisher: "I tried it a few times my freshman year of college, I didn't like it and didn't try it again."
Taft: "Nope."
When you're alone in the car, what kind of music do you listen to today?
Fisher: "Mary Chapin Carpenter, James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel."
Taft: "Mostly classical, sometimes country, sometimes oldies."
Who is your favorite Beatle and why?
Fisher: "Paul McCartney. I like him. He had a great voice. He had a great wife. I felt that he was the most talented of the four in terms of his writing."
Taft: "I don't know. I was in Africa (in the Peace Corps during the Beatles' heyday)."
What was the first record you bought?
Fisher: "I think it was a Beatle record, 'Can't Buy Me Love.' "
Taft: "It might have been a series of songs by Burl Ives with 'Big Rock Candy Mountain' and 'Foggy, Foggy Dew.' "
Who was a better father: Ozzie on Ozzie & Harriet, Archie Bunker on All in the Family, or Andy on The Andy Griffith Show?
Fisher: "I give it to Ozzie in a close one because I saw him in more settings with his kids."
Taft: "Ozzie's my guy."
In the 1972 presidential contest between Democrat George McGovern and Republican Richard Nixon, for whom did you vote and how do you feel about that vote today?
Fisher: "Geo-rge McGovern, and I would vote for him again today. I wish we had had choices on both sides." (Fisher supported Ed Muskie in the primary.)
Taft: "I don't know if I can remember how I voted . . . I guess I was in law school. I must have voted for Nixon . . I feel that Nixon could have been a great president. In 1972, we weren't fully aware of his personal weaknesses in terms of the dirty tricks mentality that seemed to pervade the White House at the time." (He termed Watergate "certainly a big disappointment to me.")
Have you ever owned a motorcycle, VW or Mustang?
Fisher: "A 1967 Mustang, a turquoise one."
Taft: "No"
Local Headlines For Thursday, August 13, 1998
160 citations issued for violations in buildings
5 Pleasant Ridge churches plagued with burglaries
ATP serves up plenty of parties
Boehner expected to pose drug testing to GOP colleagues
Camp shows arts in new light
Candidates want to rock 'n' roll
Convicted cop-killer: "I had nothing to do with shooting"
Council puts off fire - EMS decision
Culberson searchers drain a pond
Democrats issue challenge on HMO reform
Dowlin issues challenge over stadium snarl
Festival soon to be a' rockin
Flood victims to get $1.5M from county
Florence won't back housing plan
Girl beaten, bound, gagged and left beside railroad tracks
GOP stars stump for candidate
Hamilton city offices moving to $15M tower
Intrigue? Scheming? Local politics eclipses soap operas
Lemon-Monroe repairs in race with opening day
Lucas TV ad attacks Williams
Man gets 3 years after deadly scuffle
Mason's focus: 1 student at a time
Medicare HMOs ahead
Millionaire indicted in plot
NKU gift officers to help raise funds
Paula Howard tells the secret of being alive
Pictures to help fix up downtown
Planners reject pregnancy center
Problems with foundation won't push back opening
Propane blast claims worker's life
School board to consider permanent improvement levy
Sitting pretty
Slow hiring process delays jail opening
Suspect swims away during police chase
Tibbetts jury hears about drug problems
Walnut bridge closing
West Chester gets bus shuttle
Zoning board OKs Jewish Hospital helipad on Kenwood
