According to an announcement in our local paper, The Post-Tribune, Senator Bayh was to host a Job Fair and Business Summit in Hammond, IN on the 12th. (The City had it on their website as well.)
U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, The Center of Workforce Innovations, Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. and the city of Hammond are hosting a job fair and small-business summit from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday at the Jean Shepherd Community Center, 3031 Mahoney Drive. The small-business summit will connect local entrepreneurs with government and private organizations that can help them start or grow their businesses.
Host.
Hmmmmm...? What does that mean again? Let's go see.
HOST (n):
- a person who receives or entertains guests at home or elsewhere: the host at a theater party.
- a master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program.
- a person, place, company, or the like, that provides services, resources, etc., as for a convention or sporting event: Our city would like to serve as host for the next Winter Olympics.
- the landlord of an inn.
- a living animal or plant from which a parasite obtains nutrition.
- Surgery. the recipient of a graft.
Courtesy of: Dictionary.com
Now, the way I read the article, I'm thinking the first two definitions fit the bill. So, with that little tidbit out of the way, imagine my surprise when I learned that Sen. Bayh spent an entire 15 minutes seeing to his duties.
This came to my attention when I dropped by to see how things were going for the Move-On volunteers, who were taking the opportunity to pass out informational literature on Healthcare reform to the attendees. As I wandered from group to group, the one topic besides Healthcare, was a description of Sen. Bayh's "participation" in the event.
It seems that Sen. Bayh and Mayor McDermott, who was a co-host, dropped in at the very beginning of the event. They looked around a bit at the set up of booths and tables and then, they left. Neither of them spoke or mingled with the crowd much, if at all. It took no longer than 15 minutes for all of this to transpire.
Fifteen minutes. FIFTEEN FREAKIN' MINUTES!!
This in a county with an unemployment rate of 10.5%!
(as of June 2009)
You would think he would want to at least glad-hand a few constituents or at least give a five minute "Welcome and I'm Working Hard for YOU" speech to kick things off. Sheesh, it's a captive audience, fercryinoutloud.
So, what would make a U.S. Senator cut and run? Could it possibly be that he knew there would be informed, involved folks from the community there? And that maybe those folks had some hard questions they'd like answered?
Naaahhh, he couldn't be that afraid of his neighbors. Could he? Or could he.....?
Honestly, do these folks look all that scary to you?
[Ed: Apologies for the hard to read signs. It was too bright to see my screen. I'm surprised they're even centered!]
It's time for Sen. Bayh to step out of his bubble, quit playing around, and get as serious about this life and death fight we're engaged in as the folks who live it every day. At this point, he's not going to convince anyone with two gray cells to rub together that his ties to Big Insurance are wholesome. This is 'Da Region' you're talking about. Land of Union SteelWorkers and IronWorkers, Teamsters and Teachers. We're not that gullible. Not by a longshot. It's at your own risk if you ignore that fact. We're paying very close attention. Believe me, we'll be in a much more forgiving mood come next election if you come out in favor of the Public Option, or better yet, Single Payer.
This is your chance to be a hero. The question is, are you up to the challenge?
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Special h/t to Kossack karenkroczek who is an energetic community organizer. Kick butt, Karen!
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