Title: Our Choice
Ben quietly slipped through his Dad’s office door and took a seat on the chair in the
corner. He opened his notebook and began to take some notes on the meeting taking
place between his dad and a very serious man sitting across from him.
Ben had already decided, in the way that children have, that he didn’t like this man. It
started at the door when the man had first come in. He had all but ignored Ben when he
had been introduced to him and then the man had done the unforgivable; the dreaded
hair tousle as he passed Ben on his way to the office. There was nothing worse in the
mind of a ten year old boy.
So Ben settled down to take notes and figure out how to get rid of this guy. Dad always
wanted a reason.
“I’ve extensively studied the demographics and aligned my policies and issue statements
around the numbers that support them.” Warren Taylor was explaining. “Once I declare
and issue my policy statements, I’ll have a minimum of 56% of public support already.”
Ben snickered and Taylor shot an annoyed look at him. Josh had to smother a grin.
“Maybe it would be better to discuss these issues without children present.” Taylor
suggested.
“Children are 38% of your district.” Ben announced and Taylor bobbled the cup of coffee
he was holding.
“They don’t vote.” Taylor noted when he recovered his speech.
“They influence the ones that do.” Josh pointed out. “Tell me about your experience as
Mayor.”
“I got a lot done during my tenure there. I could have accomplished even more if the
council hadn’t been made up of squabbling children. I wasted a lot of time with their petty
bickering.”
“I noticed that while you were Mayor you voted for a measure that reduced your tax base,
yet on your policy sheet for Representative you state that you’re for increasing the tax
base.” Josh sated.
“When you’re running for Mayor, it’s a matter of retail politics.” Taylor threw out the term
peppered throughout Josh’s best selling book on political campaigns. “Running for
Representative, I have to think more globally about the whole Democratic and
Independent base.”
Ben hurriedly scribbled down more notes and Taylor sent a puzzled look Ben’s way. Just
who was doing this interview anyway?
“Why do you want our consulting firm to manage your campaign?” Josh asked the final
question and Ben looked up to see and hear the final answer.
“With Josh Lyman behind me, I’d skate through the primary and be practically anointed to
the House of Representatives. Backing me, you’d get another win in your column and
increase your reputation as a King maker. It’s a win/win.” Taylor attempted to close the
deal.
Liz knocked on the semi open door. “Josh, your next appointment is here.” Josh nodded
at Ben who went out to greet their next potential candidate.
Ben took a survey the way his parents had taught him. This one met his eyes and smiled
warmly. She was dressed professionally, just like Taylor was, but her posture and
expression seemed more relaxed. Ben knew, from listening to his parents discussion, that
she didn’t have the experience that Taylor did.
“Miss Peterson? I’m Ben Lyman. My dad will be right with you.”
“Thanks, Ben.” She smiled again.
“Would you like some coffee, Miss Peterson?” Ben offered.
“No, thank you. I think I’m too nervous to hold onto a cup. Please call me Julie.” She
replied and her points just went up in Ben’s book.
“Don’t be nervous.” Ben advised her. “My dad isn’t scary or anything.”
“Maybe not, but I’m still nervous.” Julie admitted. “I’m not your typical candidate.”
She had barely finished her sentence when Warren Taylor walked out all cocky and
condescending. Ben rolled his eyes at Julie and Julie had to turn a laugh into a cough.
Once the outer door closed behind Taylor, both of them erupted into giggles.
“Well it looks like I’m missing the party.” Josh stated from the doorway. Both individuals
tried to sober up.
“Dad, this is Julie Peterson. She’s nervous, so be nice.” Ben told him and Julie’s face
reddened.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lyman.” She recovered enough to stutter out.
“Come on back.” Josh invited her and Ben tagged along behind them. “I’m glad you could
manage the trip out here.”
“I was thrilled to receive an invitation.” Julie admitted.
“You have an unusual resume, Ms. Peterson.” Josh noted.
“Julie, please, and I’m aware that I’ve taken a rather circuitous route here, but I know this
is where I need to be.”
“Looking at your issues, you may have a tough road in your home district. Have you
considered easing up on some of your positions?” Josh asked.
“I realize that they may not be the most popular positions, but I sincerely believe in them.
If I can’t persuade the electorate to come around to my point of view, then I don’t get
elected, but no, I won’t consider changing my positions.” Julie declared.
Ben smiled and wrote something in his notebook. This was ‘the one’. He just knew it.
“Tell me about your experience as Chief of Staff to Senator Moorehouse.” Josh
requested.
“Working in the Senator’s office provided me with a tremendous amount of hands on
experience. Senator Moorehouse is a man of great integrity and the Senate is going to
miss his skills and judgment now that he’s retired. He assembled a great team and we all
worked together to get things done. It wasn’t easy, and I lost track of all the hours we
spent in that office, but at the end of the day, we got the job done and I never left there
feeling let down by our team.”
“Is he the one who encouraged you to get your law degree?” Josh asked.
“Yes. He said he saw something in me when I started as an assistant in his office and
encouraged me to go back to school. He adjusted work hours so I could make it work and
even helped me argue through some of my positions. The things I believe in were forged
during those conversations with him.”
“Why would you want our consulting firm to manage your campaign?” Josh tossed out as
a matter of form.
“Your team has a reputation for integrity that reminds me of Senator Moorehouse.” Julie
told him. “I read the story in Newsweek that covered your unorthodox campaign
techniques and it intrigued me. I know that your firm has a variety of experts who know
how to win, but they won’t do anything just to win. That’s important to me.” she paused.
“May I ask, why is your firm considering managing my campaign?”
“Because your reputation for integrity reminds me of Senator Moorehouse and I don’t
think you’ll do anything just to win.” Josh parroted back and made her smile. “Any
questions, Benjamin?”
Julie turned to face Ben and gave him her attention.
“Why do you want to be the Representative from Minnesota?” Ben asked seriously,
silently rooting for her to give a good answer.
“I want to help make a difference in Congress so that the next generation in Minnesota
has a better quality of life than we do now. I want to work with my constituents to make
changes that will have a positive effect for years to come.” She replied.
“Who’s your favorite baseball team?” Ben tossed out and Josh laughed out loud, knowing
this was Ben’s version of a ‘softball’ question; he threw it out to people he liked.
“Well, the Minnesota Twins have been World Champions twice; and that’s a tough get.
Off the record? It’s all about hockey, Ben. There’s nothing like a well fought battle on the
ice.” Julie leveled with him.
“We don’t do hockey.” Ben told her.
“Maybe if you get out to Minnesota, you can give the Minnesota Wild a try and I can
change your mind about hockey.”
“Maybe.” Ben conceded.
“Thanks for making the trip out.” Josh stood, ending the interview and holding his hand
out to shake Julie’s.
“Thanks for the invitation.” She responded. “Ben, it was nice to meet you.” She extended
a hand to him as well before she walked out.
Josh turned to his computer and started typing up his impressions of both potential
candidates.
“Hey, don’t you want my notes?” Ben asked.
“I got your notes, pal. What’s your favorite baseball team?” Josh chuckled.
“It’s a good question.” Ben defended himself. “Everyone knows you love the Mets, and if
they start gushing about the Mets, you know they’re sucking up.”
“Then what did you think about Julie’s answer?” Josh shot back.
“She was honest. She likes hockey better.” Ben replied.
“And she could get you to try a hockey game?” Josh asked in disbelief.
“Maybe. I’ll still like baseball best, but I could try something different.” Ben thought about
it. Josh sat back from his computer and looked intensely at his son.
“Why?” he asked Ben
“Because she really loves hockey and when you really love something it makes other
people want to try it.” Ben attempted.
“Let’s have your notes, then.” Josh allowed.
“Taylor’s a tool.” Ben noted and Josh reminded himself to speak to Toby about using that
term with Ben…again.
“Why?” Josh asked patiently.
“He got his opinions from polls. He wants Josh Lyman to work for him so it’s easier for
him. He uses the word “I” to much, and he never talks about teamwork.” Ben read off his
list.
“Good notes.” Josh admits. “How about Peterson?”
“She doesn’t think she’ll win, but she wouldn’t change her mind even when you asked
her.” Ben read. “She talked about teamwork, like 10 times.” Teamwork was the ‘Shiboleth”
of the Lyman Consulting Firm.
“I caught that.” Josh noted. Ben nodded and got up.
“You liked her too, didn’t you Dad?” Ben wanted him to confirm his instincts.
“She doesn’t have enough experience to get through the primary, Ben.” Josh told him.
“That’s why she needs our team.” Ben countered and met his dad’s eyes.
“Maybe.” Josh answered rocking back and forth in his chair. He looked up when he saw
Liz come in.
“I suppose you have an opinion to share too?” he asked his office manager.
“Taylor’s a tool.” Liz confirmed. “But I’m just here to remind you that the D triple C expects
you on the conference call in 5 minutes.”
“Thanks, Liz.” Josh drawled.
“Dad, she’d be a good choice.” Ben pushed.
“The D triple C thinks Taylor would be a good choice.” Josh countered.
“For dog catcher.” Ben muttered.
“I don’t think that what he wants to run for.”
“He’s not the right choice, Dad.” Ben continued.
“I think you’re right.” Josh stated and saw his son’s lightening grin. He waited until Ben left
the office before calling his wife.
“Donna Lyman.” Just hearing his wife’s voice made him go soft.
“Hey, how’s it going over there?” he asked.
“Mom’s doing much better today. Ally and I will be home tomorrow.” Donna assured him.
“How did the interviews go today?”
“Between you and me…Taylor’s a tool.” Josh said quietly.
“What are you going to tell the D triple C?” Donna asked.
“That I don’t work for them and that I’ve already decided to back Peterson.” Josh
suggested.
”Peterson, huh?” Donna confirmed, tongue in cheek. It was Donna who’d brought
Peterson to Josh’s attention and had arranged the interview.
“Yeah, Peterson. She got Ben’s nod of approval too; apparently it had something to do
with hockey.”
“I didn’t even know Ben liked hockey.” Donna murmured.
“He informed me that he’s willing to give it a try.” Josh replied. “He also told me that Taylor
isn’t the right choice.”
“The kid can spot the real thing at age 10. Pretty impressive.” Donna noted.
“Well, look at who his father is.” Josh bragged.
“Excuse me?”
“I mean look at who is parents are.” He quickly amended.
“That’s more like it.” Donna agreed.
“Come home soon. I miss you.” Josh whispered into the phone.
“I miss you too. We’ll be home tomorrow.” Donna stated.
“Okay, but I’m just saying Ben and I are going solo here if you don’t start pulling your
weight.” Josh threatened.
“What’s the first word in our mission statement?” Donna asked.
“Teamwork.” Josh replied dully.
“Don’t you forget it.” She threatened back.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Donnatella.” Josh assured her and hung up the phone.
“Josh! D triple C conference call on line 2!” Liz shouted from the outer office.
“Thanks!” he shouted back and picked up the second line.
“Josh Lyman…yes, our team has had a chance to review the potential candidates and we’
ve made our choice…gentlemen, what do you know about hockey?”
The End