One more vote for 'Question Time'

Put me down as another fan of more “question time.”

It's not just for the Brits anymore, getting to watch your nation's top leader take questions from lawmakers, without a net. It happened in the colonies Friday, when President Barack Obama fielded questions from a roomful of House Republicans on live television.

That such a fluid, unpredictable exchange was so riveting and unusual speaks volumes about the failings of our plastic, prepackaged politics.

Now, a bipartisan group of politicos, including liberals and conservatives, cage-shaking bloggers and striped-necktie establishment types, are calling for presidential question time to become a regular occurrence. When arch conservatives like Grover Norquist and lefties like Joe Trippi, who masterminded Howard Dean's near-miss presidential campaign, agree on something, it's time to take note.

Already, the White House and some Republicans are pish-poshing, even though there's much evidence that honest engagement is good politics. People are sick of the fakery that now passes for public discourse.

Just look right here in Cedar Rapids, where Mayor Ron Corbett is getting high marks in his first month in office in no small part because he's publicly available and accessible. He's not afraid to take a position and defend it in public.

Conversely, Gov. Chet Culver's lack of visibility has hurt him politically. The Des Moines Register reported last month that Culver held fewer public events during the final months of 2009 than his predecessors did as they prepared for re-election. And it's a problem that dates back to 2006, when his campaign opted to sit on a lead in the polls and keep him under wraps for fear of making a mistake. The same misguided caution has made him look indecisive on big issues.

President George W. Bush was an engaging, charming candidate in 2000. But his advisers' insistence on shielding him and isolating him stopped him from building the sort of personal relationship with Americans that could have helped him when things got rough.

Beyond good politics, we deserve and need this kind of engagement. You could learn more about the health care debate during Friday's 90-minute exchange than you could from watching nine months of cable news punditry. And if these folks go toe-to-toe, maybe they'll also build enough respect for each other to get something done.

I'm not completely naive. I know these could become as poll-tested, focus-grouped and contrived as our almost unwatchable presidential debates. But I think it's worth a shot, without question.

 Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@gazcomm.com