What makes something newsworthy? I pondered this when I learned that bloggers attended the Democratic Third Congressional District Convention last night, but was told that none of the major newspapers sent reporters to the Democratic Third Congressional Convention in Seymour last night.
Others joked with me that you could fairly safely and easily write your report about the convention ahead of time. It almost looks like that is what the New Haven Register did for their article, DeLauro gets nod to seek 11th term in Congress written by 'Staff'. Eugene Driscoll of the Valley Independent Sentinel wrote a much better article, Dems Nominate Rosa For Eleventh Term, including video and information you could only get at the convention.
It seems as if what makes something newsworthy for larger newspapers is something unexpected; if there is conflict or blood, even better. Conventional wisdom is that it is what sells newspapers, and that is what their business is. Whether it is good for democracy is a different question. Indeed this focus on conflict seems to make debate in Washington less likely to find the best solutions to issues our country faces. People wanting to get their side of the story into the news need to focus on the conflict and not the resolution.
Congresswoman DeLauro does not seem to play those games. Instead, she toils day in and day out to seek real solutions to our nation's problems. The first four nomination speeches focused on problems with healthcare in our country. Retired railroad employee Claire Phelan spoke about the problem with the donut hole for seniors. Yale student Michael Gocksch spoke about the concern students graduating from college have about being able to maintain health insurance. Small business owner Joseph Bango spoke about the difficulties the health care system has created for small businesses, and cancer survivor Melissa Marottoli spoke about how pre-existing conditions have limited the opportunities for cancer survivors and others. There was nothing new or unexpected in these comments. Anyone who has been paying attention has heard them before.
When Congresswoman DeLauro took the stage to accept the nomination, she said, "I am proud to serve in a Congress that made health care reform a reality." She put it into the context of doing her job, "It is what it is all about...transforming the lives of people of our great nation", and she spoke the "reminders of the fundamental decency of the people of our district". "Fundamental decency" is something that, unfortunately, has come to be unexpected in media coverage of politics.
So, if the traditional formula for news coverage doesn't work, perhaps we need to look at other formulas. One is the "human interest" story. Congresswoman DeLauro did a good job on this part as well. She recognized the accomplishments of her mother, who served as an Alderwoman in New Haven for 35 years and taught Rosa to expect more out of life. She recognized her husband who celebrated his birthday by attending her nominating convention. She recognized her children and her grandchildren, as well as Ian and Jaimeson Lamb and Anna Saccente who led the Pledge of Allegiance. These children are great reminders about what life is really all about.
The traditional news stories about conflict and the unexpected have led to Congress having a very low approval rating. Yet when we focus on the human interest side of the story, we find something else that is unexpected, a woman that loves her job, works hard for her constituents and is greatly respected. Perhaps these are the stories that we need to hear more of.
A House Democrat from Connecticut said Tuesday that Sen. Joe Lieberman should be recalled from office over his opposition to the Senate health care bill.
"No individual should hold health care hostage, including Joe Lieberman, and I'll say it flat out, I think he ought to be recalled," Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) told POLITICO.
Connecticut has no recall law for state officials, and the Constitution does not authorize states to recall members of Congress since each house has the authority to police its own members.
But DeLauro's comments speak to concerns running through Democratic circles in Connecticut and in Washington after Lieberman exerted his will on Democratic leaders and the White House, saying he would join a GOP filibuster if the bill included either a public insurance option or a provision allowing people aged 55-64 to buy into Medicare.
Now it appears that the leaders will drop those plans to win the support of Lieberman and the rest of the Democratic caucus.
"There's huge concern that borders on frustration," Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) said of Lieberman's position.
"It goes beyond frustration in Connecticut in terms of the way people feel," Larson said. "I have a great deal of respect and I have long admired Joe Lieberman. This goes against the grain of most of what he's fought for and stood for all of his life. It's thoroughly frustrating and disappointing for so many of us."
SNIP
Wasn't DeLauro's husband a pollster or advisor to Lieberman in 2006? Did he serve Lieberman in the 2006 general election? Can't remember off hand.
Exactly two weeks before Election Day, the New Haven Obama-DeLauro campaign office will be receiving some very special guests - Senator Chris Dodd, State Senator Joe Crisco, and Democratic State Chair Nancy DiNardo.
3:00pm
900 Chapel Street
Go and ask a question, volunteer, or just lend your support!
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro is guest blogging from the Democratic Convention for My Left Nutmeg (as well as CT Local Politics). Please make sure to express your gratitude on Congresswoman DeLauro taking time to share her experiences from the convention with the MLN community --ctblogger
I want to thank you for letting me share my Democratic Convention experience with you and appreciate all of your feedback and comments.
Everywhere I turn at this convention continues to reinforce how Barack Obama and Joe Biden have the leadership to bring the change this country needs.
I just spoke with reporters about the wage gap between men and women. I was sitting at this table with Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan , and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, and Lily Ledbetter - a woman you are all likely familiar with as the face and voice of pay discrimination. As she sat with us, she reminds us of why we fight so hard for equal pay and why this election matters. But as you would expect, with a topic of women and the economy, we veered into a broad range of topics....the state children's health insurance program, social security, reproductive health, and taxes.
As you would expect, on each of these issues, John McCain would continue the failed policies of the Bush Administration. He is so out of touch with middle class Americans. Even in the face of Lily Ledbetter, McCain continues to say he doesn't believe in the wage gap. But what do we expect from a man who cannot keep track of how many houses he owns.
Quite contrary to Barack Obama. When I was fighting to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, Barack was right there - applauding the bill's passage in the U.S. House of Representatives with me. It really is not that surprising - just look at the inspiration Barrack Obama has in his daughters and his wife, Michelle, (who was phenomenal at the Convention last night).
An uprising is exactly what this country needs if this war is ever to end. David Sirota's new book does a great job in outlining what an uprising is, how it applies in our current situation and the mentality and attitude required of the participants. Specifically, the unapologetic demands required by the grass roots movement to convince incumbents of the need for their compliance with the citizen majority instead of their usual capitulation to the corporate special interests that rule their worlds.
Here in Connecticut there is a particular sensitivity and lingering blemish on the souls of Democratic voters who have been bitterly disappointed by the junior Senator, Joe Lieberman. His deception of his loyal supporters, alliance with Karl Rove and other extremists on the Right, embrace of Republican cross-over voters, and total relinquishment of his integrity in support of George Bush's Iraq war, have culminated in a tangible hatred of the once trusted official. Lieberman exudes indifference towards his (former) supporters while displaying an attitude of incontestable rectitude about his worldview which includes continued and continuing war in the Middle East. Couple this with his shameless and transparent support and constant companionship to the only surviving war advocate candidate and Connecticut voters have every right to distrust and despise the Senator.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro is guest blogging from the Democratic Convention for My Left Nutmeg (as well as 
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