WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19. 1987. PAGE 5 One of the difficulties with television debates of political candidates lies in this: newspaper columnists who dare to tell you what you saw. You've seen and read a good number of such pon- tifications yesterday. You know the stuff: how David and Larry and Bob ail got together for ninety minutes Monday night and bored us ail witb their political wit. I write this before the first newscasts have followed the Monday night debate. By definition, that also means that-I also-write this before the Tuesday papers come out with the instant analysis. During the past 24 hours, Ontario voters - most of wbom, I would guess missed seeing the debate itself - will learn from the "experts" what really happened. The unifortunate thing is that many voters will decide how to cast their votes by watcbing the news. They wil think tbey are informed.. They will be wrong. Some events don't translate so weil in the news media; political debates, for example. We watch a sporting event; someone wins; reporters and editors encapsulate the goals or scoring events of the- game; this is then broadcast as news coverage. The spor- ting idiom is handy, it is good entertainment, it wraps uP nicely in ninety seconds what took ninety minutes to un- fold. For this reason, in the past tbirty-six hours you will have heard tbe folowing: * "Bob Rae drew the pole position, so to speak, by going Up last against the Premier, and speaking last ini the debate. This is worth several points, and likely brought Rae an extra seat or two. " * " Larry Grossman. tied himself forever to Brian Mulroney's apron strings, perhaPs- to appease himself with the traditional rural ntaro Tory voters; this likely cost him any chance of becoming more than a footnote to A rîngside view of debates *"David Peterson bas stepped into the middle of the field to dominate the debate from his position of power. Whether his stumbles in mid-field at the opening kick-off cost him anything remains to be seen." * "Larry Grossman comes across well on the big screen, but whether he can convert bis glib exterior into votes we won't know at least until the first poiling samples come in later this week. David Peterson, of course, will know tomorrow morning." * " Bob Rae almost pulled off an amazing deke around David Peterson's bland colossus by firmly attaching him- self tothe accord and the accomplishments of the past two years. Whether Peterson's tendency to thentreat him as a schoolboy will help him or hinder either one remains to be * "Larry Grossman came out of his corner fighting, bobbing and weaving, and for a while it looked as though he might even be a contender. But alas 1 he couldn't keep up the pretense, and Peterson finally wore hlm down with Premier bland." *'.Bob Rae took on Grossman with style and substance, and emerged ciearly the victor on points. But there was no knockdown." *"David Peterson stood astride the centre of the ring, warding off Rae's best jabs with superior strength. But kid Rae did get beneath the defense on several occasions, most particular over the auto insurance issue."' * "So there we have it, sports fans. Peterson over Grossman, 9-3; Rae over Grossman, 5-2; and Rae over Peterson, 8-7. How that will translate into votes7 on eiec- tion day Sept. 10.we wiil just have to see." 0f course, such nonsense just won't wash. The only way to be informed about election issues is to work at it; to read newspapers; to watch (the full ninety minute) debate; to visit campaign headquarters; to confront can- didates in the flesh. Most vo ters won't do that. Instead, they'il try to elect a politician the way they buy soap. Then they'il grumble and moan about how politicians lie, and how they neyer do what they say they're going to do. But politicians don't lie, not nearly so much as you and I. Too many people are watching their every utterance for Iying to have too many advantages. Instead, many voters don't make the effort to under- stand what politicians are saying.. As a resuit, they misunderstand the solutions politicians propose. Then, when it gets ail mixed up, they blame the politicians. Maybe a boxing match would be an easier way of set- tling the whole thing. Everybody understands a bloody nose. Movieo'la Cafe opens inf ait The 5,900 Sq. foot building at 1608 Dundas St. E. wil bouse the latest Movieola Cafe restaurant and is expected to open eanly this faîl. -The restaurant is one of a quickly growing chain of fran- chised establishments that are combination of restaurant and bar, tbe cafe wii offer clientele a large video screen sbowing both 'music videos and the TSN channel. Plans for a large patio behind the building are being made. REGIONAL COUNCILLOR Tom Ed- wards and Olympie gold medal winner Anne Ottenbrite will join marathon swimmer Jocelyn Muir when she swims a couple of laps at iroquois pool on August 25. Muir will be in Whitby from 1 to 2 p.m. Free Press photo Ottenbrîte to help -welcome marathoner iympic gold medalist Anne Ottenbrite wii help give a Whit- by welcome to marathon swim- mer Jocelyn Muir August 25. Ottenbrite and Muir wil swim in Iroquois Park pool from 1 to dà p.m., along with Whitby coun- cillor Tom Edwards, during Muir's day of rest in Oshawa- Whitby.' Muir is currently nearing the end of ber 60-day, 530- nautical mile swim around Lake Ontario to raise money for multiple scierosis. The swim is scheduled to finish on Aua. 29. "I think what she is doing is great," commented Ottenbrite last Friday. "The water can be s0 powerful one minute and calm the next. You neyer know when it is going to change" Counillor Edwards called the swim a "tremendous idea" that is flot only raismng funids foi- a worthwhile cause but is also "4publicizing the need for ail Canadians to maintain a physical weil-being." During the day, weather per- mitting, a bot-air balloon will be at Iroquois Park providing free rides. Also. from now -until Aug. 25, Whitby swimmers can get a pledge sheet at Iroquois Park and swim laps to raise money for multiple sclerosis. SPECIAL SALE ATTHE WHITBY MALL (Thickson Road) For 2 Days Only AUG. 28 & 29 We Feature Comfort Clothîng Established 197b "Fashion Fit for Seniors" " fully washable non-iron fabrics " large easy clothes " dressing aids *specialty items *a complete line of back opening styles *men's and women styles For more information cail, Sandi Porter 430-0788