Man on the Street Q&A

Yes, we all know politics is local. Sometimes, it's also individual. Yesterday morning I was biking to work and came across about eight people spread across all corners of a major intersection, holding up signs for one of the major candidates running in the Washington, DC, primary election September 12.

It just so happened that a friend of mine this weekend expressed his concern over a field worker of this candidate, saying he was racist. He wondered why the candidate didn't distance himself from him. I figured I could be a little late for work and ask for a response right there on the spot. The first guy I talked to was a campaign volunteer and way too gung ho and uninformed for me. But he pointed out a guy across the street who is the candidate's policy director.

Straight from the horse's mouth, or at least the staff of the horse, I was told that 80 percent of what I'd heard was untrue. Of course, that means there's something to why this issue arose. Up to 20 percent worth. He explained why the stories came to be and about the listservs that are fueling continued stories. Now it's up to me decide whose side I believe. But what an opportunity.

I will be looking for more people on the street who can answer my very own questions. Ain't election season great?