We can all agree that political candidates, especially for state and federal offices, are constantly deluged with interviews, speaking engagements and other opportunities to have their opinions disseminated to the voting public. They have to be constantly on guard for slipups, misstatements and “gotcha” type questions. It means being prepared to not only state their reasons for running, but also to take positions on controversial issues. It’s how we the people decide whether the candidate is knowledgeable on a variety of subjects pertaining to the office he/she seeks, but it also gives us some clues as to how the aspiring leader uses judgment in dealing with the unexpected. It’s called being able to think on your feet. That doesn’t mean that we expect them to recite facts and figures like an ardent Wikipedia disciple. In fact, it can be refreshing to occasionally see a candidate appear a bit stumped and admit that they haven’t done extensive enough research on a given topic; hence, they don’t have an educated response at the moment. 

    Last Friday, when Debra Medina, Texas gubernatorial candidate, was asked a question on the Glenn Beck radio show, her answer was not only shocking to the host, but to every reasonable person who, prior to that answer, may have been ready to check the box next to Medina’s name in the Primary Election on March 2. In response to a question by Beck, Medina said she had not taken a position on whether the US government was involved in the 9/11 attack on America. “I think some very good questions have been raised in that regard,” she said. “There's [sic] some very good arguments and I think the American people have not seen all the evidence there, so I've not taken a position,” she added. Not taken a position? She’s running for an office that carries enormous responsibility and a very loud bully pulpit. Yet, the best judgment she can muster is to say that this country may have conspired to attack itself, kill 3000 innocent civilians and severely damage its economy? Then, evidently continuing the conspiracy theme, she later blamed her remarks on a “coordinated attack” from her campaign rivals. Hopefully, this stunning example of egregious judgment will save us from a runoff election.