Insider Email: Senator Kent Conrad Will Be Approving Who Will Ask Questions At Health Care Event

To see a map and list of all of the events being attended by North Dakota’s congressional delegation during the recess, click here.
According to recent reports, Senator Kent Conrad is going to be holding events at 23 locations around the state of North Dakota and whether or not these events will be open to the public will be “up to the hosts.” This is from an Associated Press report quoting Conrad:

Conrad says he plans 26 listening sessions to focus on health care reform. He says that whether they will be open to the general public depends on the local hosts.

That’s what Conrad is telling the public, but according to an email written by Conrad staffers to a local organizer of an event in Center, ND which has been forwarded to me by a reader, it’s not the truth. I’ve put the entire email (which was written by Bismarck Conrad staffer June Veit) at the bottom of this post. It’s worth noting that the email stresses that all are welcome at the event (perhaps they’re embarrassed by the stunt they pulled in Harvey), but here’s some excerpts which indicate that the events will be carefully scripted and entirely managed by him and his staff:

Thank you for agreeing to host Senator Conrad’s healthcare listening session in Center.
We very much appreciate your willingness to set up the meeting for Oliver County, invite 3-4 local area individuals to speak about health care, and invite key members of the community and Oliver County to attend the session with Senator Conrad. …
The intent of the meeting is to provide a forum for the Senator to hear from key local individuals about the current healthcare system. It will also give the Senator a chance to explain the issues that impact North Dakota in developing healthcare reform.
The meeting will be a listening session to exchange ideas and information with local healthcare providers and interested parties. Given the Senator’s limited time availability in Center, it will be important to invite those individuals who can provide meaningful input and dialogue. ….
· We would like to hear from 3 or 4 individuals selected to make a statement concerning local healthcare issues.
· These individuals will be seated at the front tables.
· Each individual will be given 3 minutes to make a statement.
· Those speaking should represent a cross section of local interests to avoid repetition as much as possible.
The Senator’s office will need to review the list of those invited to make statements prior to the meeting. To the extent possible, please provide the names of those invited to speak, who/what they represent, and a mailing address and phone contact for each of the speakers, by late Fri. morning (Aug. 7). We recognize this is very short notice, but will appreciate as many details as are available by Friday, and the rest as soon as you have them.

So this will be a “listening” event, but the people doing the talking will be carefully selected by Conrad’s local allies and approved by his office. If you’re not invited and approved by the Senator and his allies you don’t get to talk.
Does that meet any definition of “forum” you’ve heard of?
It’s pretty clear to me that this event is really just a bit of heavily choreographed theater intended to promote the idea that the Senator is listening to his constituents while not actually allowing any spontaneous or non-scripted interaction with constituents. It’s, well, astroturf. And I’m willing to bet that every single event the Senator puts on during the recess will be exactly like this one. Because the Senator doesn’t really care what you think. He doesn’t really intend to listen to you. He’s made up his mind, and now he just needs to create the appearance that the position he’s already settled on is one he’s reached after listening to his constituents.
Senator Conrad should be ashamed of himself. Here’s the full email:

From: Veit, June (Conrad)
To: [redacted]
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 3:57 PM
Subject: Sen. Conrad’s Center Healthcare Session
[Redacted],
Thank you for agreeing to host Senator Conrad’s healthcare listening session in Center.
We very much appreciate your willingness to set up the meeting for Oliver County, invite 3-4 local area individuals to speak about health care, and invite key members of the community and Oliver County to attend the session with Senator Conrad.
Oliver County County Healthcare Session
Center, North Dakota
Date and Time: Thursday, August 20, 2009 11:45 a.m.
Location: Civic Center
1150 37th Ave SW
Center ND
ph 701-794-8832
The intent of the meeting is to provide a forum for the Senator to hear from key local individuals about the current healthcare system. It will also give the Senator a chance to explain the issues that impact North Dakota in developing healthcare reform.
The meeting will be a listening session to exchange ideas and information with local healthcare providers and interested parties. Given the Senator’s limited time availability in Center, it will be important to invite those individuals who can provide meaningful input and dialogue.
We understand that either you or Mayor Richard Zahr will introduce Senator Conrad. Would you please confirm which of you it is decided that will be?
Meeting Preparation:
· If possible, we would like to hold the meeting at a healthcare facility (hospital, clinic, or nursing home). If that is not possible, a public facility (city hall, community center or school) would be our next choice. [Note: We have confirmed that the Center ND meeting will be at the Civic Center. Would you please provide directions to the smaller hall from the main Civic Center entrance? I will forward that to the Senator and staff accompanying him. ]
· A suggested room layout is provided below.
Invitees: A sample of possible invitees might include those listed below. Please provide a list of invitees as soon as possible.
· Local healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, administrators, pharmacists)
· First responders (ambulance, fire personnel, law enforcement)
· Public Officials (Mayor, City Council members, County Commissioners)
· Board members for the local healthcare facilities
· Local school administrator(s)
· Chamber of Commerce leaders
· Prominent employers
· Prominent business leaders
· The Senator may want to supplement this list with some local acquaintances
· The Senator’s office will notify the local media
· It is important to note, no one will be turned away if they want to attend the meeting.
Statement by Local Individuals:
· We would like to hear from 3 or 4 individuals selected to make a statement concerning local healthcare issues.
· These individuals will be seated at the front tables.
· Each individual will be given 3 minutes to make a statement.
· Those speaking should represent a cross section of local interests to avoid repetition as much as possible.
The Senator’s office will need to review the list of those invited to make statements prior to the meeting.
To the extent possible, please provide the names of those invited to speak, who/what they represent, and a
mailing address and phone contact for each of the speakers, by late Fri. morning (Aug. 7). We recognize this is
very short notice, but will appreciate as many details as are available by Friday, and the rest as soon as you have them.
Please contact me at any time you have questions or concerns. My Senate contact info appears below. In addition, my [redacted]; Blackberry: [redacted]; and personal cell: [redacted].
Again, your gracious agreement to host the Oliver County healthcare listening session is very much appreciated.
June Veit
Staff Assistant and Caseworker
United States Senator Kent Conrad
Federal Building, Room 228
220 East Rosser Ave
Bismarck ND 58501
ph. 701-258-4648
statewide toll free 1-800-223-4457
fax 701-258-1254
email: june_veit@conrad.senate.gov