I could use a review to see how am I doing with this story. I know I made a lot of changes and I hope it worked.
Chapter Twenty-Eight:
Lang was walking wife Eve and Roderick to the stage.
"Just stay calm you'll be fine, honey," she said sweetly.
"And stay on point. Don't let her drag you off topic," Roderick said.
"I will," as they approached the stage. "Thank you and now let's show Miranda Reid how a real debate is won."
He hugged his wife and then approached Miranda. They shook hands. Her smile never wavered and neither did his.
"The first question is for you Mr. President," the moderator Sara Bryers said. "It comes from David Cornel. Mr. Cornel?"
A man in his mid-fifties in a suit jacket stood up. "Mr. President, are you planning to change the health care laws to make it easier for access for people like me?"
"Excellent question David," Lang said with a warm smile. "I have several proposals planned that should make it easier to access health care. I believe it will get through both the House and the Senate with little trouble."
"It is your turn to respond Congresswoman."
"Thank you for coming David. I have seen drafts of his proposals. They are well though-out and show great sensitivity to the needs of the average American. What you and the people at home need to remember David is that while we have our differences we still want what is best for the American people."
Lang was taken aback by this approach. She could have torn apart those proposals easily with what she probably know about his campaign's ties to pharmaceuticals. But she was play nice instead. He would have to show her what really nice was. Lang smiled and nodded his head in agreement.
"The next question if for Congresswoman from John Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins?"
A man in his early thirties stood up.
"Congresswoman Reid, where do you stand on the issue of enhanced interrogation methods such as torture?"
She paused less than half a second. Lang could tell she was thinking about her husband.
"The majority of research has shown that enhanced interrogation methods such as torture do not yield useful results. I stand firmly against using these methods as they are dehumanizing and erode our values when have to resort to these tactics."
Lang realized in that moment how badly he wanted to win. She should be down by eight points not by a slim margin of error. He wanted to show the world who Miranda Reid really was.
"Mr. President?"
He looked up.
"You're response Mr. President."
"I'm sorry Sarah. Thank you for the great question John. I was just thinking of how while degrading, they do yield some results. You know that personally don't you Congresswoman?"
He knew it was a risk but if she physically attacked him it would be worth it.
Miranda blinked. She slowly stood up.
"Thank you all for coming tonight. I am sorry we won't be able to get to more questions but at this time I am going to forfeit the debate. For those wondering, President Lang is referring to how my husband was compelled to reveal a "sin" while being tortured by a sadist."
She approached him. "You have lost all my respect, Mr. President. I will not debate you. This is the last time we will be in the same room. Do you have anything to else to say to me?"
"I'm sorry I offended you," he said calmly. "It was not intended as attack on your husband but merely me observing that you know more about enhanced interrogation methods than you let on."
She turned and face the audience. "Thank you for the apology Sir, but the damage has been done. Good night everyone."
Miranda waved and walked off stage.
Not a single person spoke.
"Mr. President," Bryers said. "Do you have any additional comments to make."
Lang was a politician to the core, he knew the art of backpedaling perfectly.
"I am sorry I offended the congresswoman in a way that she felt she had to walk away from the chance to speak directly to you the people. If I had known my simple remark would have offended her in such a way I wouldn't have said it. While I respect her decision, I feel she is denying the American people a chance to show how she can handle a discussion in a reasonable way. I was looking forward to continuing our debates as I believe they are part of the foundation by which presidential candidates are elected. Again, I am sorry I offended her and I wish you all a good night."
There was a smattering of applause. Lang smiled and nodded. He waved and shook hands with members of the town hall and then went and shook hands with Bryers. Her smile wasn't particularly broad.
"Have a good night Sara," he said.
"You too sir," she said in a low tone.
His wife waiting just off stage. He hugged her and they walked out the main area hand in hand.
Secret service escorting them through a back hallway.
"Don't you have anything to say dear?" he asked politely.
"Not here honey," she said sweetly.
They went into the limo waiting. Roderick was inside. Once the door was closed the drive began his wife and his chief of staff turned and glared at him.
"What were you thinking!?" they both said at the same time.
"I wanted a win," he said timidly like a scolded schoolboy.
"You really thought Reid was going to smack you for going after her husband?"
"It could have worked."
"It blew up in our faces," Eve said.
"I thought I salvaged the situation," he said more firmly.
Roderick turned to Eve who glared at him.
"I think he's delusional too!"
He never heard his wife say things about him like that.
"Eve!" he said.
She looked like she was ready to explode.
Roderick broke the tension.
"Patricia has agreed to stay on board out of loyalty to the party. She can't guarantee, how many of her staff will do the same."
"I'm sure she'll come up with something to do during the time when final debate would have been held. I trust."
Roderick and Eve exchanged a look.
"I think that enough strategizing for tonight," Roderick said. "Let's all just go to our respective homes and sleep on what happened tonight."
"That sounds like a great idea," Eve said.
No one spoke for the rest of the ride home.
