The Interview: For God and Country

Check out any social media site today and you’ll find the mere mention of politics turning into a virtual brouhaha at cyber speed. Now, imagine making a career of it. 

Michael Dawidziak is easily Long Island’s most notable and quotable political pollster.

As president of Strategic Planning Systems Inc., a locally-based yet national political consulting firm, Dawidziak’s rare combination of expertise, brevity and wit enables him to make even the most mundane race intriguing — and that, in turn, makes him a media darling.

While a Clinton-Trump presidential race is the stuff of a pollster’s dream, being heard above social media’s emotional noise has turned into somewhat of a nightmare.

Luckily for Dawidziak, when things get ridiculous in the political arena, he keeps things in perspective through his work to help special needs children.

Here, he opens up about how and why he does what he does — and tackles that controversial question: Is he, in fact, a … (gasp!) Republican?

Read on to find out.

FMC: What are the three best things you’ve done in your life?

That would be, decide to follow where God leads. Marry Pam Greene. And help save special needs orphans through our charity, The Rollstone Foundation.

FMC:  What mistake did you make that turned out to be your best learning experience?

All the mistakes I made turned out to be learning experiences.  Especially when I got to think I knew it all.

Yeah, I’ll take kindness over the ability to fly.

FMC: When you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up, and why?

I wanted to be in the United States Army because my father is a World War II combat veteran and I thought he was the greatest man in the world.  He’s 96 and I still do.

FMC: Why do you do what you do?

Professionally as a pollster and political consultant, it has allowed me to live out a lifelong love of American history and politics as a participant on the front lines, working on four presidential campaigns and in all 50 states in the country.

As far as the charitable work is concerned, I do it because helping to save special needs orphans is the most important work I have ever done and may ever do in my life.

FMC: What’s your idea of happiness?

Being anywhere, doing anything, with the people I love.

FMC:  What’s your guilty pleasure?

American Greed.  As a rule, I don’t watch television but on the rare times that I do, I love to watch this show.  For some reason, it’s addicting to watch what despicable depths people can sink to.

FMC:  What gives you hope for the future?

That we — mankind — aren’t really in control of the future.  That’s no excuse for us not to be good stewards and do the best we can but God has a plan and He’ll let us in on it in His own good time.  Hope of any other kind is probably based on an illusion.

FMC: Coke or Pepsi?

Neither. I don’t drink any sweetened drinks.  My only two non-alcoholic beverages are water and black coffee. No milk. No sugar.

FMC:  Who’s the most influential person in your life?

To quote Don McLean, ‘The 3 Men I admire most, the Father, Son & Holy Ghost.’  But if we’re talking of people of the humankind, the list of mentors and teachers is long.  I would have to say my wife, Pam, who teaches me every day how to actively seek to see and help people.

FMC:  Favorite restaurant?

Oh, wow!  We eat out all the time and I’m not offending 99 percent of the places we frequent to name one.  But because we love the location, the food and the owners, I’ll single out The Cull House in Sayville.

FMC: Last book read?

Beautiful Mercy, by Matthew Kelly and 26 Other Incredible Catholic Authors.

FMC: Where do you get your news?

NPR, WCBS, WINS, the Internet, Newsday and News12

FMC: What five people, living or dead, would you want to have at a dinner party?

Any five members of the Algonquin Round Table:  Robert Benchley, Dorothy Parker, Alexander Wolcott, Harpo Marx, etc., etc.

FMC:  Favorite drink?

Templeton Rye on the rocks.  As Al Capone called it, “The good stuff.”

FMC: What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?

That I’m a Republican.  I’ve never, since age 18, joined any political party.

FMC: Define leadership and tell us, who is your favorite leader and why?

True leadership is defined as being based on principles that you would be willing to sacrifice your leadership for.  For examples of true leadership, I would refer people to William Kunstler’s The Case for Courage.  That’s why people like Lincoln, Gandhi and Martin Luther King will always and rightfully be put forward as examples of true leadership.

FMC: What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career? 

Not working for clients I knew I shouldn’t — and turning down big money in the process.

FMC: What’s your choice of super hero superpowers?

Super powers are overrated.  Simple, everyday powers are underappreciated.  Like kindness.  Yeah, I’ll take kindness over the ability to fly.

FMC: What’s your idea of success?

Following your passion, making a living at it and making a difference for the better.

FMC: What’s the best business advice anyone ever gave you?

Follow your passions and see where they lead you.

FMC:  If you weren’t you, who would you want to be?

I’m still trying to become the best version of myself.  That’s enough for one lifetime.

FMC: What’s your current state of mind?

Happy but challenged to do more and better with my life.

FMC: What’s the biggest challenge facing your industry right now?

Getting the nastiness out of it.  Partisan gridlock and extremism has led us to the point where you can’t even have a civil discourse.  The hatred and division of left and right, conservative and liberal, Republican and Democrat has our country more divided than any time since the Civil War.

FMC: What makes you tick?

I look at every day since surviving cancer as an opportunity to serve God and accomplish some good with my life.

FMC: Favorite time of day?

The end of the day when I can relax, and share good food, drink and conversation with my wife, friends and family.

FMC: Who inspires you?

People who adopt special needs children.  If I have met modern day saints in my life, that’s them!