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I went to the breakfast conversation with Senator Bennett in Bountiful this morning before work. Overall I have to say that I am more impressed with the senator after meeting him than before I had met him. Having said that, here are a couple of things I took away from the meeting.
There were very few people at the meeting younger than the senator’s campaign manager (his son) – I counted 5 including myself. I know how hard it can be to cut into a work schedule to participate in a political event like this, but we really do need more people under 35 being more actively involved in politics if we are to penetrate the echo chamber of candidates who have cultivated decades-long relationships with one segment of the population.
One young gentleman there asked a question based on a quote that the Sentaor had referenced from Newt Gingrich:
Walmart does not get ahead by attacking Sears, but by offering better value than Sears.
This young man asked Senator Bennett what value he had to offer us as constituents. Predictably, but disappointingly, Senator Bennett had nothing to offer except seniority. He either does not recognize, or would hate to admit that his seniority is virtually useless now and that if we replace him in 2010 we can have a new senator gaining seniority while the party is out of power in preparation for the time when the Democrats have less than 51 votes again. If we give him another six years we will be electing a new senator in 2016 or possibly as late as 2022 when he will likely no longer have the physical capacity to represent us – and when some seniority would more likely have real value.
I got to talk to the senator after the conversation was officially over and ask my first question for any candidate – what are the two or three most important job functions of the position you are seeking? His answers were – in order:
- Try to see the future clearly.
- Listen to constituents.
- Do your homework.
If I were grading those answers (and I am here) the senator failed a very elementary question. Passing answers would have had the primary job function of a senator as being to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." After that the order of answers might vary somewhat from one person to another but I would have the next one as "communicate with constituents" (that’s communication both ways).
The senator said at the breakfast that a new senator could do nothing more than offer fiery speeches on the Senate floor and that many people in Utah would like that. I think he underestimates the people of Utah and the potential of a new senator. We need someone who has the Constitution at the center of their job description. Such a person can still work with others to do more than offer fiery speeches.
6 replies on “Senator Bennett Breakfast”
David, thanks for the great summary and your thoughts!
I’m happy to share. Honestly, considering the demographics of the group I was surprised at some of the people who asked questions and made statements that were openly critical of the Senator.
Interesting write up.
When I interviewed Senator Bennett last week, he told me he would never run just on seniority.
I’m sure he would insist today that he’s not running ONLY on seniority,
but it clearly plays a big role.
I hope we are no longer fooled by the false promise of seniority.
I’m not fooled by the false promise of seniority – and I’m sure the Senator would claim that he is running for more reasons than that, but the answer he gave was strictly seniority – and I don’t think there is any other real “benefit” he has to offer his constituents. Another real reason he’s running (I expect) is that he can’t imagine life after the senate.
The senator is indeed a politician. Listening to constituents is important. But if he is to be judged by actions, doing what constituents want ranks quite a bit lower on the list, and much higher on the list would be listening to and doing the bidding of lobbyists and activist groups.
I have a friend whose father is a Utah state senator. Through this relationship, I have come to understand that what this senator hears day in and day out — what motivates him to write legislation — is not the vast numbers of people that voted for him but that don’t speak up much, but the shrill vocal activist groups that bring intense personal pressure.
Most politicians are in the business to satisfy their own interests. A very few might actually think that upholding the Constitution is their chief duty. Most of those that say this is the case do not actually act in a manner that reflects such a belief. Politicians are — well — politicians.
Reach,
As usual, you are depressingly accurate. We as citizens need to elect representatives who believe this and we need to hold them accountable to that belief – the impetus rests on we the people.