Encore! Question Time works if ideas trump ideology
It was the most stirring display of political theater in years. Perhaps its because there were no rehearsals, scripts, test groups or polls. The buzz it generated reverberated into this week and has an approving electorate clamoring for more. To sum it up in a single word: refreshing.
Last Friday, at the GOP House Issues Conference in Baltimore, the most amazing thing happened – a conversation. For nearly 90 wonderful minutes, President Barack Obama stood before House Republicans and answered questions in what one group aptly described as “an unfettered and public airing of political differences by our elected representatives.”
The group, “Demand Question Time,” has started an online petition with the stated purpose of “mak[ing] Question Time a regular feature of our democracy.” If Grover Norquist and Katrina vanden Heuvel can team up and agree on something it must have some merit. In prompting visitors to sign the petition, the group posits that, “In an age when political and policy discussions are often crammed into soundbites, President Obama and the House Republicans advanced transparency and honest debate with their unprecedented live, televised question-and-answer session on January 29.”
They’re right. So is Leonard Pitts. In his insightful op-ed in Wednesday’s Miami Herald, Pitts notes rather presciently that Obama’s dialogue with the House Republicans may be a better indicator of his “intentions and ambitions” than his recent State of the Union Address. This “Question Time” worked because ideas trumped ideology. It will continue to work so long as its participants check ideology at the door and enter with an open mind to ideas that seek to move our country forward.
It was a reminder of what we can accomplish, despite our differences, in an atmosphere of civil negotiation, compromise and consensus. Without berating or shouting each other down, our elected officials began the process of what could be a reconciliation between a President that may have reached too far too fast, and his Republican opponents that have strictly adhered to a policy of “Just Say No” to all things Obama. If neither side bends it is our country that will break.
Video: Obama takes questions from House GOP
Obama was brilliant. Showing he can throw a punch – as well as take one – the President tackled GOP talking points with force, defending his agenda and methods. Obama bluntly called out Republicans for being obstructionists.
It can’t be all or nothing, one way or the other … If we put together a stimulus package in which a third of it is tax cuts that normally you guys would support, and support for states and the unemployed and helping people stay on COBRA, that certainly your governors would support … and maybe there are some things in there, with respect to infrastructure, that you don’t like … If there’s uniform opposition because the Republican caucus doesn’t get 100 percent or 80 percent of what you want, then it’s going to be difficult to get a deal done, because that’s not how democracy works.
Obama acknowledged a public tired of the scorched earth political point scoring of the, “You lose, I win,” approach. “I don’t think they want more gridlock. I don’t think they want more partisanship. I don’t think they want more obstruction. … They sent us to Washington to work together, to get things done, and to solve the problems that they’re grappling with every single day,” said Obama.
For the sake of our country, let’s hope for an encore performance with the same spirit of coming together in honest conversation instead of falling apart over the same tiresome partisan bravado.
Tags: Barack Obama, House GOP, Question Time
AUTHOR BIO
Swanson is from the tiny farming community of Maddock, N.D. Nestled in the central bird flyway near Devils Lake, N.D., Maddock is home to some of the best fishing and hunting in the world.
In 2005, Swanson graduated with honors from North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D. with B.S. degrees in Political Science and History. Last May he graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska. While at Creighton Swanson served as lead articles editor for the Creighton Law Review, president of Law School Democrats, president of his legal fraternity, served on the Client Counseling and Negotiations and Moot Court boards, and competed on the Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Moot Court team.
Currently Swanson is a judicial law clerk in Minot, N.D. Prior to his judicial clerkship, he spent two years as a law clerk at one of Nebraska’s largest law firms, Koley Jessen, which specializes in corporate practice, litigation, and estate planning. For his efforts Swanson was recognized as a two-time McGrath, North, Mullin and Kratz Scholar.
In his free time he enjoys staying busy. In 2007, Swanson joined the staff of Bison Illustrated, a monthly magazine focusing on North Dakota State athletics. Swanson spent 2005 and 2006 working as the Technical Director and Assistant Producer for the nationally syndicated Ed Schultz Show. He was a field producer for the Ed Schultz Show on site during the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.
If you have any questions, or comments, please feel free to contact him at Joshua.A.Swanson@gmail.com.
by Mike Harmon | February 5th, 2010 01:02 AM
You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I posted, I
by Rebick@freemail.com | February 21st, 2010 04:02 PM
Thank you for the enlightening article. I will follow you via RSS.