Ex-Democratic Congressman Critical of Obama at SMPA Event

A few notable politicians, journalists, and a political scientist sat down for a discussion as a part of the Center for Innovation Media’s Conversation Series at Jack Morton Auditorium Monday evening. The discussion, entitled “Broken Politics, Mixed-up Media: Can This Be Fixed?," focused on the current divided government and its coverage by the media. 

Moderated by SMPA Director Frank Sesno, the panel included CNN’s senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash, former Utah Republican Senator and SMPA Distinguished Professional Fellow Bob Bennett, former Tennessee Democratic Congressman Harold Ford Jr. and GW political science professor John Sides. 

During the opening questions, Sesno asked Bennett and Ford about the health of our government. 

“[Government is] broken. The people are not happy,” Bennett said. 

 Sesno pressed the question on Ford: “Do you think this president is leading?” 

“I don’t think he’s leading. I don’t think he’s been an effective [leader],” Ford replied. 

Dana Bash, a journalist covering the day-to-day Congressional activities, commented that “adults” are hard to find in Congress. 

Bennett commented that his father, Wallace Bennett, a former Utah senator, would have fellow legislators at his apartment during his tenure in the Untied States Senate. Nowadays, Bennett says legislators are too busy to get to know each other. 

At the heart of the problem, Professor Sides said that the “[political parties] have become further apart than before,” noting the increased polarization. To have success in the polarized political environment, Sides suggested, “Get your brand of crazy on the ballot.” 

While Bennett sees the root of the problem as being the congressional redistricting process every decade, Ford claims that legislators are learning more about electioneering than policy. 

Bennett says it is a “reaffirmation of what the Republican Party was founded on,” but called the Tea Party a movement without any “real solutions.” Ford said the Tea Party has a “manifesto that isn’t all that bad.” 


Bennett was defeated by now Senator Mike Lee at the Utah Republican convention in 2010. He claims he ran a traditional campaign, but recognizes the lack of a social media aspect that led Lee to win the Republican nomination for Bennett’s senate seat. In order to fix our broken government, Ford says, “Obama has to be more of a leader. The best time to solve big issues is when government is divided.”