Four Freedoms Candidate Screening

Last night I had my first candidate screening. At least the first one I chose to attend. The Four Freedoms Democratic Club is one of Kansas City's LGBT political groups. The "Four Freedoms" come from FDR's address to the joint session of Congress back in 1941. Interestingly enough, the freedoms he spoke about; freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear, were actually his case for building up our war machine to take on Germany. I didn't get the chance to ask why this group identifies with that speech. It's not really important, I just like to know that kind of stuff... I thought the screening went well. The realist in me says the votes were not there for an endorsement of a political newcomer like me, but who knows? I particularly enjoyed an interaction I had with one of the board members over my refusal to guarantee I would appoint at least one LGBT person to a committee or some other highly public position. I maintained in one of my written answers that I would absolutely not use sexual orientation as a basis for an appointment. I will pick the best person, and if they happen to be gay, so be it. I also pointed out that by the sheer number of LGBT friends and supporters I have that the odds are very high that I will appoint an LGBT person because I know them and I know their qualifications. They would just happen to be gay. While they respected my stance, my answer wasn't good enough for some in the group. This person argued with me that their group considers highly visible positions within Kansas City government to be their last frontier for acceptance and the chance to show that they are just as much a caring part of the community as the rest of us. And is this not the longest paragraph ever? How do you break these things up? ANYWAY... This woman took me to task and pressed me to make a guarantee. I totally understood where she was coming from. It is, after all, their cause. I tried to evade the question but she would have none of it. She had me cornered and wasn't going to let me weasel out. Man I love a standoff with a highly motivated and informed person. Especially one that will call BS on me and make me really explain and justify myself. In the end I wouldn't give her that guarantee. Everyone in that room had a copy of my written answers that said I wouldn't make a guarantee. I wasn't going to double back on myself just to pander to a group. I told her I was 95% confident I would help their organization achieve its goal based on who I am as a person, and who I know as qualified individuals who might be willing to serve, and happen to be gay. Quotas based on any sort of demographic are not for me. I understood her position. I hope she understood mine. It was a fun night, and it was a good group. Now the suit is back on the hanger and it's back out to door knock. And knock, and knock, and knock...