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.”

DEVELOPING: Some Snow Expected for Tomorrow's MA Senate Election

Mostly cloudy skies with a round of snow showers during the afternoon and evening hours is being forecasted for tomorrow's special election in Massachusetts to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat, according to Boston's NBC affiliate, WHDH. 

Some analysts have suggested that a poor voter turnout tomorrow may lock-in Republican State Senator Scott Brown to replace U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who succumbed to brain cancer in late August. 

1 to 2 inches of snow could fall, with temperatures in the mid 30s expected. This morning, heavy rains lashed southeast Massachusetts and wet snow accumulated north of Boston. Winds gusted up to 60 miles per hour in some locations and delayed arriving flights at Logan Airport. 

 

Brown has been locked in a contentious nail-biter with Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley. Coakley, who has enjoyed statewide prominence and popularity, had been up by roughly 30 percentage points over Brown when she emerged from the Democratic primary just weeks ago. But her failure to connect with Massachusetts voters face-to-face, coupled with Brown's breakneck campaign style, obliterated what was once a "shoo-in" for the attorney general. 

Now, various polling shows Brown leading by as much as 10 percentage points. Closer estimates have the two candidates in a dead heat entering tomorrow's election. 

Coakley spent the weekend campaigning with former President Bill Clinton on Friday and at a Northeastern University rally with President Barack Obama on Sunday.