No one–no woman, no man–enjoys being stood up on a date. It’s even more exasperating if the cad–woman or man–makes no excuse for the absence.
That’s one–but just one–of the reasons a number of businesswomen talked of giving Illinois state senator Peter Fitzgerald an F for not appearing at a political forum that he’d said he’d be sure to attend.
Here’s the story: Last week, the Chicago-area chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners sponsored a program during which four Illinois candidates for two major offices were to discuss their positions on specific issues.
Invited were U.S. Rep. Glenn Poshard, the Democratic candidate in the Illinois governor’s race, and his Republican opponent, Secretary of State George Ryan; U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, the incumbent Democrat, and her Republican opponent, Fitzgerald.
Sometime before this fall’s elections, NAWBO’s local Public Affairs committee will issue a report card that will grade these four candidates–and possibly others–on their efforts and records on issues that have had a major impact on women’s business.
Meanwhile, the four had been invited to discuss their positions and answer questions from the audience.
Moseley-Braun and Poshard had accepted, but, on meeting day, called from Washington saying they couldn’t make it to Chicago. But Braun sent an emissary to answer queries and Poshard took questions and gave his statement that evening via conference phone from Washington. Both were forgiven by their understanding but disappointed audience.
Ryan made an impressive–though quite late–appearance, looking every bit the image of the supreme candidate, shaking hands with everyone on his path to the dais, then made a lengthy presentation of his background and answered all questions.
Fitzgerald didn’t show and, apparently, made no effort to explain.
– No comment. Because candidates will not be graded on their appearance or non-appearances before the group, NAWBO/Chicago president Jackie Vlaming said it would be inappropriate to discuss specific grades until the official report cards are issued.
Candidates will be judged only on NAWBO’s platform. Its four stands: Provide equal access to business building opportunities, for example, via procurement contracts; create opportunities to develop businesses in emerging and non-traditional industries; support legislation and programs recognizing the need to adjust traditional standards in insurance, lending and capital expansion; call for legislation to create a national certification organization (resulting in one set of standards for the certification of women-owned business at the federal, state and local levels).
– On the record. However, Vlaming did comment in her closing remarks at the program: She said the business group stood firmly behind affirmative action and other similar issues. The applause was the most exuberant thing that took place that evening.
Vlaming’s pointed wrapup referred to the non-answers given by Ryan and Poshard on affirmative action and the ERA.
“They certainly danced around those topics, didn’t they?” Vlaming said during an interview.
That they did. To the question, “What would be your stand if an ERA were to come up during your tenure?” Poshard replied during the teleconference call that he would be “in support of it,” as long as it were “abortion neutral.” Ryan replied to the same question with: “I would give it a hard look and consideration.”
At another point, Poshard replied, “I can’t remember all of the details regarding tort reform,” even though the question from the audience had nothing to do with tort reform.
Attorney Michele Kurlander, immediate past president of NAWBO’s Chicago chapter, said, “They (Poshard and Ryan) were both mouthing the words that they’re for our issues, almost as if they were reading our minds.” But, she added, it’s possible that their grades may not be too hot “when we grade them and their records on the four points in our platform.”
Many women–and a surprisingly large number of men–expressed their opinions via their actions. Quite a few individuals started streaming out early on in the program when they heard that only one of four candidates would be present and that Ryan would arrive by helicopter from Springfield much later than scheduled; others went to the bar at the back of the room and socialized as they enjoyed their wine, cheese and fruit, while Poshard delivered unbelievably long responses by teleconference.
Still others were audibly and visibly frustrated and more than annoyed that timely and provocative questions shouted from the audience were ignored in favor of written questions.
It seemed to be a situation in which a good idea went awry, though it might also have been a situation where non-appearances were inevitable. Getting two Washington lawmakers to address a women’s group in Chicago on a weeknight isn’t an easy feat; adding two whose work is in Springfield compounds things a bit.
But it was Fitzgerald’s lack of courtesy toward the group that had some murmuring, “F stands for Fitzgerald.”
– On the lookout for subcontracting? August Entrepreneur magazine lists 57 of the Fortune 500 businesses that are seeking subcontractors. Eight are right in the Chicago metro area.
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Contact Tribune business writer Genevieve Buck at the Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611.
