Class of ’91 Puts Its Spin On Political Debates of ’88

George Bush was blond, and Michael Dukakis had jet-black hair.

Dan Quayle was too young to serve in the National Guard, and Lloyd Bentsen was too young to vote.

And the real power broker was represented by a voice inside the speaker.

“That’s the principal,” said Helen Rosenfeldt, an English teacher at El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills. “The real president.”

For one hour Monday morning, Rosenfeldt’s first-period class shifted attention away from the world of new vocabulary words to the meaning of presidential politics. There were no TV cameras to show the action or campaign aides telling the media what to think. But 8 days before America votes, Rosenfeldt’s students, the class of ‘91, debated the issues of ’88.

Convention Atmosphere

Four students, posing as journalists, asked the questions, as a backdrop of balloons and campaign placards provided the flavor of a nominating convention.

All four candidates dressed in ties and jackets. Arash Saedinia, 15, played Dukakis. With his bushy, black eyebrows, he even looked like the Massachusetts governor.

Saedinia, an experienced debater aiming for a career in politics, made his Duke a little more dramatic than the real-life model. He raised his voice many times, especially when David Lux, playing Bush, said Dukakis had failed to stop the now well-known furlough program for convicted felons.

“It really bothers me when someone says something that fallacious about me,” Saedinia said.

Lux, 15, who wants to be an actor, had to rely on his speaking skills to portray Bush. Often, when policy matters became a little muddled, Lux changed his voice pitch and motioned with his hands.

“I had to do that,” Lux said. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t even know what the ACLU was. I was glad the panel asked Dukakis about it first. I still don’t know what the ACLU is.”

Life Interferes

Lux complained that real life, such as his drama club duties and other homework, interfered with his debate research. Last week, during the debate’s mock rehearsal, the question could have been asked: Where was George? The answer: “In the Drama Department,” Rosenfeldt said. “They’re putting on a performance.”

But Adam Kadish, 15, may have had the toughest role of all: Quayle. Kadish frequently stumbled over his words and required an aide’s index cards to speed him along. Asked about his stance on the environment, Kadish replied, “I will try hard to keep the natural parts of this country together.” Some in the audience looked puzzled. Others laughed.

When asked about how he could support the death penalty and still be an anti-abortion candidate, Kadish said: “Because with a child, and you can’t tell yet whether he will be a good person, a bad person, or a normal person.” More laughter.

Kadish said he was in a no-win position.

“I don’t know anyone who likes him,” Kadish said of Quayle. “I don’t like him myself.”

Pledge of Allegiance

Kadish did, however, grab the audience’s attention when he asked everyone to stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance.

“It’s your choice, America,” countered Saedinia, the make-believe Dukakis. “You don’t have to do it.”

Nonetheless, everyone, including Saedinia, stood and recited the pledge.

The other student/candidates sympathized with Kadish. They wouldn’t have switched roles, especially Brian Kane, 15, who played Bentsen. Kane said he learned a lot about the issues from his research. (Rosenfeldt’s students read newspapers and watched television news to prepare for the debate.)

“I considered myself a blazing liberal, but I like Lloyd Bentsen more than Michael Dukakis,” Kane said. “I always thought Bentsen was some conservative Democrat from Texas, like LBJ.”

“Who’s LBJ?” asked one student.

“I’m glad you asked,” said another. “I didn’t know, either.”

Polite Candidates

For the most part, the candidates were polite and did not engage in the bashing that has identified the real-life battle. Oh, Lux (Bush) attacked Saedinia’s (Dukakis) ACLU ties, and Kane (Bentsen) called Kadish’s (Quayle) answer on the environment hypocritical. But the tone was always mild.

“This was better,” said Ken Goldman, 15, an aide to Saedinia. “We’ve gotten so much mudslinging from both sides that it’s tough to know who you want.”

The students posing as reporters asked about all the familiar campaign issues--abortion, the environment, defense and drugs. Dukakis’ furlough campaign was a topic too, although it almost didn’t make the question list.

“What’s that weekend thing that Dukakis has been criticized for?” Natalie Reisman, 15, asked fellow journalists last week during a rehearsal. “What’s it called? I know it. I just saw the commercial.”

Someone finally said, “Furlough.”

“Oh, yeah. Now how is that spelled?” Reisman asked.

There were other spelling problems. One of the posters in the back of the classroom read: “The best American is yet to come.” (Students blamed the misspelling of America on another class.)

Lack of Interest

After the debate, almost all the students indicted teen-agers--including themselves--for their lack of interest in the campaign. If not for this class project, many said, they wouldn’t have paid attention at all.

“I didn’t see how any of this affected me,” Cowie said. “But from now on, I will watch more often.”

When all the closing statements were made Monday, Rosenfeldt thanked the participants, including the students who made the posters and prepared campaign scrapbooks. She, of course, will determine the winner of the debate, and give out the grades--not only to her first period class but two other classes as well.

Rosenfeldt then reminded the students that Tuesday they would return to their own, perhaps less complicated, world.

“Your vocabulary words are on the board. You can copy them down tomorrow,” Rosenfeldt said.

Class dismissed.