What would happen if a computer glitch in the voting process
resulted in one of the funniest men in the United States
becoming its new president?
That's the premise behind Man of the Year, a film starring
Robin Williams, now playing at Rainbow Cinemas downtown.
Rainbow Cinemas manager Ken Gaus took advantage of the
timing of the new film and invited Greater Sudbury municipal
candidates for a pre-screening of the movie Friday morning.
Only mayoral candidates Lynne Reynolds and Ed Pokonzie and
Ward 10 candidate Fern Cormier attended the screening.
In the film, Tom Dobbs (Williams), a national talk show
host, cracks a joke about running for president in front of a
studio audience. His comment is applauded by a single female
participant, and then dittoed by the rest of the audience. From
there, through the power of the Internet, the "Dobbs for
President" campaign takes off, supported by a public tired of
bland politicians.
The film's highlight is when Dobbs participates in the
prestigious televised presidential debate. In typical Williams
style, the character goes ballistic against his Republican and
Democratic opponents and the corruption endemic in American
politics.
"These politicians I am running against are a lot like
diapers. They should be changed more frequently otherwise they
stinik" and "Why is it that the other candidates are spending
$200 million apiece on their campaigns and I have spent
nothing. What favours will they owe if they are elected?" quips
Williams.
However the real boost comes during voter day when the new technologically advanced voting system has a glitch that favours Dobbs over his Democratic incumbent and Republican candidate. In the end, Dobbs wins the election and the United States has its first elected comedian running the country.
Mayoral candidate Lynne Reynolds said she appreciated the gist
of the movie.
"I thank Rainbow Cinemas for inviting us candidates to this
first-run screening. I think we need a little more comic relief
in this municipal campaign. Just like Tom Dobbs and the
American voters in the film, people are tired of talking
stuffed shirts," said Reynolds.
Voters could use some laughs too, said Ward 10 candidate
Fern Cormier.
"There is a lot of angst out there when I knock on doors and
I am talking about the central core of the city.  People
are asking specific questions like 'where are my taxes going?'
and 'why are user fees increasing?' I ran in the 2003 election
in this area of the city and this time that angst is multiplied
tenfold. Voters are itching for change and election day upsets
could favour upstart candidates like myself and others. There
is a surprising amount of interest by the public in this
municipal election and that is new," said Cormier.
Voters want in the decision-making process, says mayoral
candidate Ed Pokonzie.
"Inclusion is not a buzz word, it's a way of thinking. That's what the character portrayed by Robin Williams was playing to.
Where a grassroots kind of guy could by the power of his charisma and convictions make waves. I don't relate to celebrities like his character, a talk show host, but I can empathize with him. I am running myself because there always is a possibility I could win just like Tom Dobbs," said Pokonzie.
