Forsaking the comfort of his air-conditioned office, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
Ma's camp says the exercise is intended to help the former Taipei mayor gain a better understanding of life outside the big city. Campaign spokesman Lo Chih-chiang (
Whether or not Ma has been watching media reports of Paris Hilton and reruns of Nicole Richie's The Simple Life is beside the point -- it's laudable that the KMT's choice for president is trying to establish some common ground with average Taiwanese.
Having lived in this country since he was an infant, almost 60 years, it's a good thing that Ma now wants to experience what life is like in small-town Taiwan -- even if the timing is a little too convenient.
Casting cynicism aside, it can only be hoped that this doesn't degenerate into another episode of the Ma roadshow, as was the case with the pan-blue poster boy's recent bicycle tour of the nation.
In May, Ma begam a 10-day trip from Oluanpi (
To avoid a repeat of this scenario, farmers, fishermen and laborers should seize their opportunity to confront Ma with real issues.
For example, reporters should be asking Ma why his party has failed to include an amendment to the Temporary Statute Regarding the Welfare Pension of Senior Farmers (
Apparently, the KMT has other priorities.
They could also ask Ma why the KMT championed amendments to the Farmers' Association Law (
It is not unusual for presidential candidates to do everything possible to attract the attention of the media. But if we must see Ma every time we turn on the TV, it would be nice to see him answering difficult questions posed by straight-talking folk.
Then, perhaps, the ordinary voter might become his party's first priority.
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