Where was the Forum?
Image Credits to ranzino on flickr
When people go to an event announced as a “forum”, they usually expect that there will be some form of discussion or exchange of views on issues relating to a certain topic. This is not an arbitrary expectation, this is the definition of the word, “forum”. Merriam-Webster gives several definitions for the word:
1 a: the marketplace or public place of an ancient Roman city forming the center of judicial and public business b: a public meeting place for open discussion c: a medium (as a newspaper or online service) of open discussion or expression of ideas
2: a judicial body or assembly : court
3 a: a public meeting or lecture involving audience discussion b: a program (as on radio or television) involving discussion of a problem usually by several authorities
I don’t mean to bore anyone with seemingly superfluous dictionary quotes, but apparently it is necessary to do this.
Today several political figures, including Chris Donovan, Joe Courtney, and Ned Lamont were brought to the UConn campus under an event described as an “SEIU Health Care Reform Forum“. As we discovered today, SEIU must have an differing definition of “forum” than the definition that the dictionary and most ordinary people have. The event was far from an “open discussion”. There was no “audience participation”. There was no ability for people to ask questions to those who represent us. This was not a forum.
The event was listed to occur on “Thursday, September 3 from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM”. The “forum” was scheduled to occur “from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM”. However, Rep. Joe Courtney finished speaking at 12:50 and the podium was handed over to the Host to end the “forum”. So, there was definitely time to take questions from the audience, but instead the event was ended early.
So, the question is, “Why was there no chance for public interaction, no ‘Question and Answer’ session, in an event described as a ‘forum’ with our Congressman, Joe Courtney?”
The answer is simple: The Democratic legislators who are pushing for a Healthcare overhaul do not want to answer the questions that the opposition has. They only want to echo rhetoric without giving a chance for constituents to question their views. In fact, that’s exactly what this “forum” was! Speakers came one after another and echoed the same general statements of healthcare being a moral obligation which we must allow government to be a part of. It was mentioned by one speaker that healthcare was Ted Kennedy’s dream. A rough quote goes as follows: Ted Kennedy was ill so he handed his dream over to his good friend, Chris Dodd because he knew Dodd could handle the job. So, in Kennedy’s memory, it is our responsibility to help Dodd “Get it Done” (Which was the title of the Event).
Many conservative commentators already saw this tactic coming: For example, Michelle Malkin wrote, “Yes, there will be a nauseating excess of MSM hagiographies and lionizations — and crass calls to pass the health care takeover to memorialize [Kennedy's] death.” Her prediction came true today for those who attended the UConn Event! Duane Lester already wrote a column on The Death Of Ted Kennedy And The Leveraging Of His Passing, showing how Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Robert Byrd have already invoked Kennedy’s name to call for the passage of the current healthcare legislation. So, just add another name can be added to the list of people who have used it.
Democratic leadership has called those who interrupt townhall meetings “unpatriotic”. However, when given a highly agenda-driven event that is described as a “forum” with no means for people to express their views other than interrupting, how can it be seen as unpatriotic when interruptions occur?
Fortunately, there were no interruptions made by any conservatives attending the Event at UConn, but perhaps there should have been: At least then we would have been able to say something.
