The most radical thing about the “Un-Convention” Michael Smerconish is co-hosting at the National Constitution Center on Friday with Bipartisan Policy Center and Unite America may be just exactly how un-radical it (intentionally) is.
The CNN anchor, Sirius radio host and Main Line resident explains it this way: “There never seems to be a gathering of people who are not at the ideological ends of the spectrum. What about us? The silent majority, the exhausted majority, the 42 percent who are not Ds or Rs but Is?”
Smerconish and his partners have created a daylong examination of ideas and solutions that speak to the middle of the American political spectrum. Speakers include former RNC Chairman Michael Steele, State Rep. Jordan Harris, Princeton professor Eddie Glaude Jr. and retired USN Admiral James Savridis, along with journalists, academics, community organizers and election reformers. The event takes place October 7, and is free to attend virtually.
“There never seems to be a gathering of people who are not at the ideological ends of the spectrum. What about us? The silent majority, the exhausted majority, the 42 percent who are not Ds or Rs but Is?” says Michael Smerconish.
“We are bringing together conversation and expertise about the system and how it’s broken, and what we can do to empower people who feel they don’t have a seat at the table,” Smerconish says. “It’s a nerdfest for people who are interested in policy or electoral reform.” Like, he notes, himself: “I’m at the cool kids’ lunch table, but I’m interested in these issues.”
Smerconish is a 30-year talk radio veteran who also hosts Saturday morning’s Smerconish on CNN, one of the smartest politics and current events shows on TV. Like his daily SIrius radio show, his event is an exercise in discourse that is neither Left nor Right, interspersed with comedic tales from Smerconish’s Larry David-like life. A Republican-turned-Independent, Smerconish has long sought solutions in the middle aisle of American politics; his Sirius show’s theme song is straight out of the 70s: Stuck In The Middle With You by Stealers Wheel. (He has said he voted for neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump in 2016.)
The Bipartisan Policy Center is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that looks at the best ideas from both parties to promote health, security and opportunity for Americans; Unite America is a nonprofit electoral reform organization with the aim of ensuring that elected officials truly represent the people they serve.
“We all had an overlap of wanting to get shit done,” Smerconish says.
Within 30 minutes of tickets going on sale for the Un-Convention, Smerconish says all 750 seats at the Constitution Center sold out, with another 1,000 people on a wait list. Now, there is a virtual option available, for free. (You can register here.)
“I’ve been paying attention for a long time and have never seen this level of distress,” Smerconish says. “Everybody is pissed off for different reasons. And there are fundamental barriers to making it better.”
The Constitution Center in Philadelphia, across from where the United States Constitution was written is, of course, a fitting location for a “convention” to address our current state of rights, freedoms, democracy and elections. It’s also a fitting locale from which to empower citizens to demand more and better governance from their elected officials. We are one month from a national referendum on the state of national politics, and from a state election that could have a generational impact on the rights of citizens in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, we barrel down a road filled with anger, disconnect, disinformation and radicalism; it’s exhausting, and frustrating, and frightening — to everyone.
“I’ve been paying attention for a long time and have never seen this level of distress,” Smerconish says. “Everybody is pissed off for different reasons. And there are fundamental barriers to making it better.”
The goals of the Un-Convention are intentionally loose, though Smerconish says he hopes attendees walk away empowered to become more actively engaged in making the kinds of changes needed to make sure all Americans have a role in our democracy. As he notes, the specter of the 2024 presidential election hovers, with the threat of another campaign season just like all the others — with another Republican convention and another Democratic convention.
“A lot of people who are not satisfied with the status quo will be ignored in the process,” he says. “We want to play a bit part in trying to empower them.”
Friday October 7, from 8:30am to 5pm, free, virtual, register here.
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