More Question Time, Please
Obama and House GOPers held a riveting Q&A. A bipartisan group of bloggers, techies, and consultants is now demanding they do it again. And again.
Last Friday afternoon, President Barack Obama and House Republicans made history. At the GOPers' issues retreat in Baltimore, the president fielded sharp questions from the Republican legislators on critical issues: health care reform, taxes, the budget, the stimulus, energy, government transparency, earmarks, and other matters. The exchanges, broadcast live on the three cable news networks (with Fox News cutting away in the middle), were substantive and civil. The session—a far cry from the soundbite sallies of conventional political discourse—was gripping to watch. (You can see the video here.) This was indeed change.
On Twitter, journalists and citizens who were viewing the event immediately started sharing their amazement (in 140-character messages). Inevitably, a hashtag was born: #questiontime. This was a reference to the British practice under which the prime minister regularly appears before members of Parliament and answers their queries. (For you non-Twitterers, a hashtag is essentially a subject heading used to group tweets related to a particular and often popular topic.) Seeing that others on Twitter were jazzed by this American version of Question Time, I noted in repeated tweets that citizens and journalists should demand regular public and televised encounters between the president and the opposition party. Less than a week later, on this morning, a bipartisan group of bloggers, commentators, politicos, and Internet advocates—with a combined readership in the millions—has launched an online campaign urging President Obama, GOP House leader John Boehner and Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell to make Question Time—televised and webcasted—a regular feature of American democracy. You can join this call at DemandQuestionTime.com. Let me tell you how the campaign came together.
As I was tweeting during the Obama-GOP Q&A, Micah Sifry, a co-founder of TechPresident.com, a cross-partisan group blog covering the intersection of politics, governance, and technology, sent me a direct message on Twitter: "you write the language for an online petition for institutionalizing #questiontime and we'll push it out." I'm a journalist, not an activist, but I thought starting a crusade for better political debate could be worthwhile. The next day, I sent Sifry a draft.
By this point, Sifry had enlisted Ari Melber, a Nation magazine writer who covers the Netroots, and Michael Moffo, who was director of special projects for the Obama campaign and who now works for the SS&K communications firm. All four of us realized at the start that this effort would not fly if it had only one wing. The point was not to set up more sessions that Obama could exploit to his advantage. The aim was to enhance political conversation. Sifry immediately reached out to conservative bloggers and Republican techies, and he recruited Glenn Reynolds, Jon Henke, and Mindy Finn. Our group quickly expanded to include others, including Internet consultant Clay Shirky, liberal writer Todd Gitlin, George W. Bush campaign consultant Mark McKinnon, Wonkette.com founder Ana Marie Cox, conservative strategist Grover Norquist, Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas, conservative blogger Ed Morrissey, Craigslist creator Craig Newmark, Internet guru Esther Dyson, former Obama economic adviser Susan Crawford, MoveOn's Eli Pariser, former President George H.W. Bush aide James Pinkerton, GOP strategist Leslie Sanchez, Personal Democracy Forum founder Andrew Rasiej, Democratic consultant Joe Trippi, eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, Media Research Center founder L. Brent Bozell III, and others.
This was a rather diverse collection. It's hard to imagine all of us agreeing on anything (except perhaps John Edwards' future in politics). But we had an idea that transcends ideology—and cable-talk squabbling and blogosphere bickering. On Sunday evening, a group of endorsers worked on a Google document of a shortened version of my original draft. Sharing ideas via email, we quickly resolved any disagreements. (Should we demand that regular Question Time be a "part" or a "feature" of American democracy? What would William Strunk Jr. say?) It was encouraging to see people of different political bents collaborating so smoothly. It was a sign this was indeed a compelling idea. Moffo found a designer who cooked up a nifty logo: a campaign-style button declaring, "Demand Question Time."
There was one glitch. At first, the plan was to post the petition on a particular social change website. But conservative members of our ad hoc group pointed out that this site tends to promote liberal causes and that could scare off potential conservative endorsers and signers. They were right. The libs agreed another option was needed. And within a day, Sifry created a stand-alone page for the petition.
So check it out. If you agree with this wide-ranging group of initial endorsers, please sign the petition, blog about it, talk about it, tweet about it, Facebook about it, Gchat about it, email about it, and send up smoke signals about it.
None of us are naive and believe that implementing Question Time will cure what ails our country and our political process. We do realize that if QT does become a Washington routine, politicians and their aides will do what they can to game it to their advantage. (On Monday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that Obama has accepted an invitation to speak to the Senate Republicans—without saying whether the session would include questions and be televised. And on Wednesday morning, Obama was scheduled to address Senate Democrats at their own issues conference and take questions, with the event open to the press.) There may well be attempts to institutionalize Question Time in a fashion that renders it nothing more than a canned replay of pre-existing spin. But even though there are problems with the presidential debates—which have been taken over by the political parties and a corporate-sponsored commission—those events still have value.
As we witnessed last week, there was something riveting and moving about political opponents squaring off for an unfettered and unmoderated discussion of the challenges that face the nation. Though nothing was resolved in terms of policy and legislation, this was a moment of optimism. Yes, we can...have a reasonable political debate, without extreme rhetoric or name-calling. Lousy debate will never lead to good policy; good debate might.
If you want more Question Time—even if only for its entertainment value—you can saddle up with dozens (and maybe it will turn into hundreds, thousands, and millions) of your fellow Americans in calling on our elected representatives to show us their best stuff on a regular basis. Read—and sign—that petition here.
Update: I asked Bill Burton at Wednesday's White House press briefing whether Obama would commit to holding regular Q&As with the GOP. He essentially said no, arguing that Friday's session worked because of its "spontaneity."
Comments
Did anybody ASK for question
Did anybody ASK for question time?
demandquestion time.com not working
the website for the petition is not working....
great idea but server down it seems
I think that's the best idea to come out of politics in the US for years and it could possibly change the dynamics irrevocably as the discourse becomes more substantive and transparent and perhaps even honest. Though the media will once again hone in on those soundbites that are most exciting and sensational. I think broadcasting the entire thing will be a one-off event if it becomes an institution, Fox News cutting away is a good example of the media having little patience.
Already it seems that your campaign is taking off as the server seems to have crashed.
Why is it a campaign? Why
Why is it a campaign? Why didn't these people just ask for a session. Now everybody is yet again in tizzy over nothing.
Question time
Like the British case, in Spain the Prime Minister faces 3 questions from the opposition in the Parliament every week. This practice has been going on for quite a few years...
Under the Parliamentary
Under the Parliamentary system like Britain, Canada, Austrailia and most of the European countries , Prime Ministers don't go and VISIT parliamentary, they are PART of it as are cabinet ministers. Thus, they are questioned every time Parlament is in session.
Question Period can often
Question Period can often seem like just another form of political theater, but there is something profoundly powerful about forcing the Prime Minister to be held accountable every day Parliament is in session. Its a form of direct accountablility that is badly needed in American politics.
Under the Parliamentary
Exactly. I fully support daily question time.
What is unfortunate is that the US government perpetually refuses to take any guidance or suggestions on how other government systems, policies or procedures actually might work. The ego of the US Congress prohibits even the exploration of new ideas. They have deluded themselves into thinking that 21st Century problems can be solved with 200 year old solutions. Congress is not just stagnant; putrefaction has set in.
Link Not Working
I've attempted several times through different ways to link/find/sign the petition. In all cases I receive messages saying that there is an error or that the site cannot connect. FIX THIS!!!
Link still down. Put it on
Link still down. Put it on facebook.
Site for Petition still not working
We should also hold mixed sessions with Dems and Repubs or one session for each. There are some Democrats that I would like to see go toe to toe with our Prez...
need to fix the link.
need to fix the link.
The petition isn't down, it
The petition isn't down, it just hasn't been put up yet.
Obama's Irresponsible Remark Hits Las Vegas Again!
I cannot believe the irresponsible remark by President Obama about people not blowing money on trips to Las Vegas relative to saving for college. The people of Nevada supported him and helped put him in office, and this is the second time a stupid remark may cost people their jobs and homes.
After his last faux pas, it is my understanding that about 400 conferences cancelled, throwing the tourism industry...our main industry, by the way, into a slump that cost jobs and via the domino effect, ultimately cost people their homes.
He says he meant "people shouldn't blow money on VACATIONS. Then, for heaven's sake, say that! Don't single out Las Vegas. If it isn't that type of generic statement, why not say, don't blow money on Disneyland, or don't blow money on a cruise? After all, Mr. President, you've kicked Las Vegas in the butt once already. You didn't need to do it twice.
So, do I sound like I'm mad? You bet I am...hopping mad. I voted for President Obama, supported him and now as a resident of Las Vegas watching remarks that pack a punch grind the faces of those who voted for him even farther into the ground, I question the wisdom of speaking before considering the backlash. I will also consider who I cast my votes for.
Your "understanding" that 400
Your "understanding" that 400 conferees cancelled trips to Vegas due solely to thinly-reported remarks by the President that people saving for college shouldn't blow $$ on trips to Vegas sounds like pure, unadulterated bullshit to me. With all due respect, which I believe is none.
Chill
Oh, for heaven's sake.
I know that Vegas is a great vacation spot for those who have disposable income above and beyond living expenses, college savings, etc. Unfortunately, in this economic climate there aren't that many people who fall under this heading. For most of us Vegas is a huge extravagance, with the hope of hitting a jackpot and improving our lot in life, which all too often ends badly. It's like throwing money down a hole with Wayne Newton singing in the background. Yes, Disney is obscenely expensive, but at least the family has hopefully had some fun together. One ginormous M&M store and a bunch of hugely inflated Cirq du Soleil tickets do not a family vacation make. I can't believe that anyone thinks Obama meant anything other than a Vegas *vacation* -- although I'm fairly sure there are less extravagant places to hold conferences and business functions. Maybe some corporation cancelling a Vegas convention in favor of a less expensive venue actually saves one or two employees their jobs!
I haven't seen any stories about hundreds of conventions cancelling their Las Vegas venues *based on Obama's statement alone*. Care to back up your hyperbole with some sort of source?
This post is just a tad bit....troll-y. I'm sure Obama is quaking in his boots at the thought of losing your vote....
way off target
Irresponsible spending and behavior are the root causes of the economic implosion. This is reflected at all strata in our society. Obama's comment regarding Las Vegas was not the same as LaHood's faux paus regarding Toyota gas pedals. The stock price real time reflected some of the anxiety investors are feeling over Toyota, and rightly so(only temporary). Las Vegas's problem s cannot be tied to one remark, one gesture. Stop being so impatient and simple-minded. Irresponsible behavior in Las Vegas no doubt contributed to the crisis. Hows about lack of future planning? LV is a one-trick pony. Hotels, gambling? What else is there? Does LV produce anything, make anything to benefit the nation? Not really. this isnt to say I dislike Vegas, but when you are sooooo dependent on a fluctutating income stream you are subject to disruption. So, take deep breath. Exhale. Quit blaming YOUR problems on other people, thats the victim's mentality! Take charge, get educated, save yourself! Or become a teabagger and stay angry whilst nothing gets done. Your choice.
Las Vegas
It is ridiculous that anyone should be offended by the idea that Las Vegas should be used as an example of extravagance. That's exactly what it is, exactly how it is promoted by its business community, and exactly what makes it special. And, hell, why not? What's wrong with being a little extravagant sometimes? The president's comment only suggests that extravagance is not always proper. For example, Las Vegas is a poor choice of vacation spots for someone in the midst of a financial crisis. Duh?
Having said that, I also have to say that I love Vegas. It's a fun place. I've been there a few times, and I'd be there more often if I could afford it. You have every reason to be proud of your city.
Anyway, Obama meant no offense. Don't be so friggin' sensitive.
-Dennis
Obama and GOP Meet Head On
How about getting Pelosi and Reid and other core Dems involved?
Umm...I believe that is
Umm...I believe that is called Congress. That is where the other Dem leaders are supposed to be discussing it with the Republicans. I guess if you have looked lately though, really nothing is discussed and both sides just blather about their no real vision for the country. Simply, Obama's idea to change America is about passing legislation and with the Republicans being against change, they are doing their best to not let anything pass. I guess the current form is the Senate and Houses version of DADT...where they don't tell the other people their problems and look for solutions, but rather talk to the media outlets to let someone else know. Notice how the main story for healthcare was that they were given a huge bill to read in a little amount of time, yet they all have tons of staffers who could easily outline the bill with main points they should read? If they can't organize all their staffers to outline a bill and highlight significant issues, should they really be in charge of leading America? Senate Dems, IMO, like Senate Republicans, were bought long ago by corporations and will make much more money doing nothing and hoping to get re-elected to fight to do more work. Realistically, the media should start stepping in and investigating the cost of both. What is the cost of doing nothing on citizens vs the cost of change. People should be informed, but they would rather just stick with publishing talking points about the emotional debates. I wish the media kept people informed and educated them about economics (short term vs long term) and the real facts behind each sides agenda.
Of course there is a movement
Of course there is a movement afoot NOW! Two years ago it would have been called unpatriotic to question the president.
More Talks!
The meeting was great. It made me a bit less skeptical, and certainly more hopeful , about the future of real political discussion in this country. By not having bilateral talks what message are we sending the world (our allies and especially our enemies) about the state of American politics? About the willingness of Americans to lead again instead of bicker?
Question Time
I do not believe you can institutionalize something like this. What made it work was its unexpected spontaneity. Start planning regular sessions and this will turn into a gaming mechanism, particularly when it is controlled by Washington people, media and otherwise. You'll stop hearing the truth and hear more and more sound bytes. These sessions will have no more value than orchestrated teabagger conventions like the one Palin is speaking at.
What WILL work is sessions which are spontaneously initiated by public factions, not astro-turfed and not controlled by PR. If a group of teabaggers in Orange County has questions, Obama and any Democrat, Republican or Teabagger interested should show up to answer them. That's how democracy is supposed to look. And everyone will learn things from them that they are not predisposed to hear.
A new round of Lincoln-Douglas debates. That's what we need. Real conversation.
Question Time
As many people know, the British already have this in place with their Prime Minister. I support this as long as ALL FUTURE PRESIDENTS will be required to do this. And of course we'd like to see Fox News televise the entire exchange for their viewers.
Future sessions will devolve
Future sessions will devolve into nothing more than political theater - extensions of mindless posturing that we already have too much of - read my piece for more about what you can do instead:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leah-mcelrath-renna/demandquestiontime-no-...
Leah
Question Time
Does anyone really imagine this won't immediately devolve into 'slash and burn'? Do you really believe the Republican's are going to come in as naive and over confident as they did last Friday? Frank Luntz will be writing ALL their questions...and follow ups.
"Entertainment"?? Are you serious? Does anyone think we need more of what we had with the Tea Party this summer?
I think we would benefit from the President's responding to the crap that is flung out there on a daily basis, but I have very serious doubts that it could or would stay elevated enough to be anything other than a stage for the Republican's to fling it.
Government Assisted Suicide - The Health Care Bill
Nancy Pelosi said she'll break through the gate, pole vault the fence and other nonsense to describe her determination to bypass the will of the people to pass this bad law. She may find voters just as determined to get to the polling booth to vote her and her crooked cronies out if this bill passes.
Read more at http://bit.ly/aEobsS
It can't be replicated, unfortunately
I agree with those who posit that the experience, however desirable, is likely not replicable: the Republicans next time would come armed for bear, with vicious sound-bites and do their utmost to take Barack down on camera. The spontaneity and surprise factor here was what worked and made it as close to honest exchange as Washington, D.C. spin gets anymore.
A trip to the dentist
What if next time we get all the Republicans in the same room and tell them they are going on a free trip to Disneyland? It used to work to get me to go to the dentist.
question time
Entertainment value? With the problems facing us today, you're looking for entertainment value? That quip aside, giving the POTUS an opportunity to show off his accumen for rapid response does nothing to move the national agenda forward or resolve our deeply rooted disputes. It does give those in their seats an opportunity to craft answerless riddles while changing places and promoting time murder. Tea parties, anyone? (See Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)
When proposing implementations we look for unintended consequences, and make appropriate adjustments, ahead of time. Feed-forward thinking is the hallmark of expertise.
Here we see the opportunity for some to carefully craft questions with no right answer. The off-the-cuff response will be what it will be. Then a carefully crafted retort will be forthcoming. This will bring us closer together?
Let's adjust the formula. How about having the POTUS and a designated leader of the loyal opposition doing some social modeling? Let a question be posed and have the two leaders calmly discuss their views. How they each see the situation; where they agree and disagree. How the discussion can move forward from this point to the next. What are the action steps?
Thoughts?
The whole idea is moot if
The whole idea is moot if there is no real desire to have a real talk about policy going forward in America. Obama could talk until he turns blue in the face, republicans could fire their pointed and prepared questions, and if nothing is still done in Congress, it's all just political theater. Why not wait to see if there are some results from it before wanting to have it as a set piece in our politics? I mean, why waste the time and money to orchestrate it all if it ends up with the same set of no results? Realistically there is a big problem in congress (more the senate than house I feel) that needs to be solved and if they aren't making progress, why is this going to help? I think their corporate owners would like the distraction and be able to communicate their talking points, but it doesn't mean the discussion will progress any discussions or change our embattled legislature.
The media should be focusing on the points behind the discussion to allow a more educated electorate rather than ginning up the emotional rhetoric to help people break the impasse currently blocking bills. Whether at the right or left of the political spectrum, neither Senate side is willing to move much from their current position and the media should be educating people as to what the bills say and how it impacts them (short and long term). Research what was said in the debates and call out the parties that need to be held accountable. Since the facts are generally spun by the right or left in one direction, providing a range of interpretation to the facts would be great. If wall street can innovate these oh so amazing products behind our economy, the media should be able to progress forward from their current emotionally hooked state and lambast those who gravely distort facts and work against making this country a better place. Why have a free press if they don't know how to use their power and would rather report like a tabloid?
Question time?
It might be fun for the bloggers to have face time to promote their causes but does the President really need to be answering more questions than he already does..between -repubs- dems- youtube-twitter, the stupid press, et al?
We want results - not constant harranging... He has to get congress on the same page to get things done...
Formatting
I just watched David Corn on Harball, and Matthews asked him about the type of arena he envisioned for these gatherings. What if, in the interest of equality, everyone involved sat at a round table. The Camelot theme may be contrived, but it could solve the inherent ego-issues (insert cynicism here).
Q&A sessions
I agree wholeheartedly with the White House in its refusal thus far to agree to regularly scheduled Q&As. What was special about last Friday is that the event happened somewhat spontaneously and the media therefore had no time to prepare an advance spin based on their particular agendas, followed, natch, by nitpicky analysis as to who Obama lived up to any particular pundit's expectations. In the future such regularly scheduled events would turn into nothing more than media circuses with much posturing beforehand by the likes of Buchanan, Crowley, Kirstol, Steph, O'Reilly, Scarborough, et.al. Such sessions would quickly become about the media themselves, not the president and Congress.
The Real Reason for this BiPartisan Request
Does anybody really think these people are thinking of what's best for this Country by asking for more of these Q&A's? Nope....
It just provides lots of material top fill blogs and political websites...
Often we forget the little
Often we forget the little guy, the SMB, in our discussions of the comings and goings of the Internet marketing industry. Sure there are times like this when a report surfaces talking about their issues and concerns but, for the most part, we like to talk about big brands and how they do the Internet marketing thing well or not so well.
It's amazing how groups are
It's amazing how groups are now pressuring President Obama for more "Question Time" and how they will probably suggest he's "chicken" if he doesn't agree. Where were all of these people--Democrats and Republicans--during the Bush administration?! Nobody--not the press, not congress--ever dared suggest that President Bush stand in front of his potential enemies and answer questions. So this just irritates the hell out of me. Sorry, but as much as I enjoyed the president's performance, I don't need to see him provide a forum for his enemies to trash him--and let's face it, they won't be caught off guard next time. This whole movement really bugs me, and I think it bugs me because even some on the left are pushing for it, when again--they didn't hold Bush anywhere near to the same standard. Dare I use the race card? I can't help but wonder if that's not in play.
Expand the debate
Dear Mr. Corn: Please include Q & A to expand the former president Bush since his name and policies, debts are a major part of the debate. Two wars, and waste during his administration that only he can answer. This would satisfy all others and confront the issues head on. Thanks. Hannah, Gary Indiana.
Bail out for the press
Come on, I loved the Q&A, but would like to point out that if the media had been doing their jobs, the need for it wouldn't have existed. So to say that the President, in addition to doing his actual job, which is solving a mountain of problems the country faces, is also supposed to do the media's job for them seems ridiculous to me. I mean all Obama did was elegantly call out all the spin, obstruction, lies and distortions Republicans are making on every single issue he's trying to address.
Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I thought that was the job of the press. But I guess when you provide airtime and/or print space to presenting complete falsehoods as "the other side of the issue" without a care in the world about truth, Question Time seems like a great idea. Gives you something to write about and dynamic prorgramming, all of which will help you sell advertising. 'Cause that's the point of news nowadays, isn't it? Revenue.
Washington Journal, I agree
Washington Journal,
I agree with Kathleen from NY. Nothing was accomplished by the open forum/debate between Pres
Obama and the Republican Party. We got the same rhetoric/lecture from the President as we have
Heard in his last 200 speeches. What a waste of time.
If there is to be regular debates, it should include the Pres of the Senate Reid and Speaker of the House Pelosi
And leaders of both parties-not the President.
I believe that the office of the President should remain above the fray, stay in his office and get some work done.
That is why he has a PR director. If Pres Obama wanted to be a part of the street squabble, he should have
remained in community organizing.
The British question and answer session includes the PM and both parties. The clip that Washington Journal showed this
Morning, was just each party trading insults which simply brings down the prestige of the PM. He described the
Opposing party as in a shambles. What was the good in that?
CArole Allen
Maryville, Il
The president have enough on
The president have enough on his plate addressing the mess, 2 wars, jobs, health care, new technology, education, evergy and changing the image throughout the world, besides Q & A with the republicans. The republicans were caught off guard, now anything in the future from them will be staged. The republicans will take the president's previous answers and frame their future responses. The real deal is not to debate the issues but get to work to solve the problems left by the past administration. What has the tired old congressmen returned again and again. Republicans contributed zero. One year has passed and they are paid to obstruct. Most of the old men in Congress are concerned about their big contributors and reelection. The president repeated to Diane Sawyer. he is not running for eight years. Who can blame him with the tea party and republicans who parade with racist, hitler signs, and at John McCain and Sarah Palin rallies scream out kill em. He is an intelligent civil servant with a beautiful family and could do without the mob, thug, primitive mentality.
Q &A Session
On one hand, I was pleased Obama and the GOP met in an open [media] forum as I’m hopeful BOTH Parties will cease with the childish “I have the best party” rubbish. As someone noted, it will not get anything done.
In a "perfect world" voters who see this, will look pass party lines and seek what will best serve The People, but that will never happen.
While I remain hopeful, I am not betting this Q&A will change the likes of Michelle Bachman, Eric Cantor, nor senators John Baynor, Chuck Grassley, Mitch McConnell, Olympia Snowe and Orrin Hatch.
Alternatively, it seemed to me that Obama was standing before a bunch of adolescents who needed scolding for their actions and then reminders of how not to behave. As if Obama’s scolding/reminders was a training session of how morals and ethics help each of them to get along and play together.
While I was pleased to see it, it was also kind of sad and pathetic.
I give kudos to Obama, but BOTH Parties needed to get it together ….SOON!
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