Former presidential candidate Walter Mondale said, “Modern politics today requires a mastery of television.”
On April 8, while the rest of America was flipping channels in search of the latest 2008 presidential campaign news, a capacity crowd of more than 200 alumni and friends gathered at the Paley Center for Media in New York City to gain election insights first-hand from a panel of 51Թ’s modern political experts.
“The 2008 Presidential Campaign: The Amazing Race,” sponsored by the communications affinity group of the Passion for the Climb campaign committee, featured Jeffrey B. Fager ’77, P’06, executive producer of 60 Minutes; Gloria A. Borger ’74, P’10, CNN senior political analyst and political contributor at U.S. News & World Report; Timothy A. Byrnes, professor of political science; and Andrew A. Rooney ’42, P’74, G’05, 60 Minutes correspondent.
The conversation was moderated by Charlie Rose, 60 Minutes correspondent and the host and executive editor of The Charlie Rose Show on PBS.
 |
| Panelists enjoy a moment of levity during “The 2008 Presidential Campaign: The Amazing Race,” a panel discussion at the Paley Center for Media. (Photo by Rob Bennett) |
Grounding the conversation on each panelist’s individual strengths, Rose turned first to Borger for a handicap of the race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, then sought a news manager’s view from Faber, a scholarly take on the campaign’s salient issues from Byrnes, and historical perspectives from Rooney.
“What’s unusual about this?” Rose asked the veteran columnist. “What’s interesting? What grabs your curiosity?”
“You’ve forced on me the assumption that my curiosity has been grabbed,” replied Rooney.
The size of the audience and its rapt attention suggested that, in spite of their laughter and applause, most weren’t sharing the sentiment. They listened closely as Fager and Borger discussed the challenges facing reporters and producers in gaining access to candidates and dealing with real-time criticism from various camps. They nodded in agreement as Byrnes challenged all journalists to explain why those considerations should matter to an electorate engaged in the democratic process.
Once Rose had finished issuing his own questions, audience members took a turn, quizzing panelists on everything from the Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy to the proper disposition of Florida and Michigan primary votes.
Though there was debate on several topics, including the parties’ use of super delegates in selecting nominees, there was no controversy among attendees over the value of this event.
“They did a good job of giving a background from behind the scenes … information I was really unaware of,” said Yvonne Gyimah ’01.