We might as well call her Cindy “Hide” Smith.
Even at a debate, Mississippi’s interim junior U.S. Senator showed an almost pathological aversion to answering non-scripted questions.
For more than a week, Mississippians had waited for an opportunity to hear from Smith, the Republicans candidate in the run-off election for the Senate against Democrat Mike Espy, speak before a non-partisan gathering.
For an hour Tuesday evening the candidates fielded questions in a televised debate sponsored by Mississippi Farm Bureau.
But it was clear even before the debate began that it would be a carefully choreographed event. At the Smith campaign’s insistence, no audience or media were allowed in the auditorium and candidates were allowed to bring notes with them. The format — candidates had two-minutes to answer a question followed by a one-minute rebuttal — provided no opportunity for the candidates to challenge each other and, well, debate. This was a debate in name only, a sham.
About the only truly interesting moment came when Smith was asked about her “public hanging” comments. Until Tuesday, she had steadfastly refused to elaborate beyond a statement she had released shortly after the comment came to light that said anyone who found the comment racist was being “ridiculous.”
Tuesday, Smith responded to the question with a Siri-like response she read from her notes.
She really didn’t have much of a choice but to apologize after Walmart asked for her to return their $2,000 campaign donation. Look, when Walmart wants a refund, you’ve stepped in a pretty big pile.
Following the faux debate, reporters who had been stuffed in a closet were allowed to emerge and ask questions of the candidates. Well, make that “candidate.”
While Espy stuck around to answer questions, Smith had left the building like it was on fire.
Sen. Roger Wicker stood in for Smith instead because — let’s face it — even in a Senate race, a good Mississippi Republican woman must have a man speak for her when she’s confronted with those mean old reporters.
Wicker offered a pretty lame excuse for her hasty departure: She had to rush home to Brookhaven to see her husband, who did not attend the debate because he was at a prayer meeting.
But you can’t fool Mississippians with that excuse: Every person in the state over the age of 4 knows Mississippi “prayer meetins” are never held on Tuesdays. You know who has pray meetins’ on Tuesdays? Muslims. Just sayin’ …
So, in many respects, Tuesday was no different than any other day where Smith’s interactions with the media are concerned. Clearly, the woman who would be Senator is terrified of anybody with a camera or a notepad in hand.
On Tuesday, Mississippians will go to the polls (before prayer meetin’) to choose between Smith and Espy and that choice will almost certainly fall along party and ideological lines.
People in our state pick sides and stick with them. We are simple people in that regard. You can’t find a shade of gray between Pascagoula and Southaven. You are either conservative or progressive, Republican or Democrat. Yep, in our state politics is black-and-white, figuratively and, to a great extent, literally.
Although this is the closest race in more than 30 years — the Democrat and Republican are in a virtual deadlock in the polling — Smith has to be considered the favorite. She’s the red candidate in a state so red a July tomato looks pink by comparison.
Even so, it should be clear to even the staunchest Republican that she is a weak, timid, thoroughly vacuous candidate.
She is an embarrassment, but, by god, she is a Republican.
That means Smith can not only run.
She can hide.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.