IMPACT: Far from a disappointment, No Democrats to Speak, but Mitt Romney will talk about Capitalism
IMPACT: Far from a disappointment
To the editor:
Hudson Todd is correct in his analysis that this year’s IMPACT Symposium does not feature a Democrat. However, the lineup that the Speakers Committee developed over the last six months has depth and promises to be the most compelling IMPACT in several years. Both major parties are sympathetic to capitalism, and, as such, the committee needed to go beyond the labels of Republican and Democrat, as we have many times in the past, to find speakers who would cause us to ask the deepest question: Is capitalism right?
The goal of our committee was to focus on a domestic issue for this year’s IMPACT, as the past few years have dealt with foreign policy. We selected former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney as the keynote because he has the experience of an American businessman and politician. He was CEO of Bain & Company, a management-consulting firm, not to mention a former presidential candidate and a strong contender for the Republican nomination in 2012. Yes, he will present a more conservative economic dialogue, but we hope that his perspective will be refreshing and balanced.
As for the evening with journalist John Stossel and former presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader, it will not be a “debate.” It will be a point-counterpoint discussion that will provide two unique outlooks on the current economic situation and what the future looks like for our capitalist system. We hope that following this event students will take both the positions and information provided to them and form their own opinions. We have chosen two speakers who are radically opposed in their viewpoints in an attempt to cover the entire spectrum during the discussion. The tradition of IMPACT is to have controversial discussions about current events, and Speakers Committee expects Stossel and Nader to disagree with each other in the spirit of this tradition.
Stossel will not be discussing global warming, and Nader will not be dwelling on his presidential campaigns. Their discussion, as well as Romney’s speech, will focus entirely on the American economy and its future. Since 1964 IMPACT Symposium has enhanced the political dialogue on campus by inviting diverse speakers. This year’s symposium follows up on last year’s (which did not feature a Republican) in returning IMPACT to its great days of the 1960s and 1970s.
In one year, IMPACT hosted Stokley Carmichael, Martin Luther King Jr. and Strom Thurmond, and the committee more recently convinced Ann Coulter and Al Sharpton to share a stage. We’ve also brought Bobby Kennedy, George H.W. Bush and Margaret Thatcher to campus. The Speakers Committee invites everyone to join us for what is expected to be another animated, enlightening symposium.
Ralph Nader and John Stossel will speak on March 30, followed by Mitt Romney on March 31. Both events are free and will take place in Langford Auditorium. All attendees of the Mitt Romney event will receive a copy of his new book “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.”
Ethel Mickey
Speakers Committee
http://www.insidevandy.com/drupal/node/12789
February 10th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Hey Everyone,
Here’s a great article on the candidates path to victory in 2012. Mitt clearly has the easiest path.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/02/first-look-at-palins-primary-math.html
February 11th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Let us hope Romney has an easy path to the White House.
John Thanks for posting “Micheal Savage: Palin is unelectable”
Could you post that in the thread again. Though it is controversial, it needs to be discussed before it is too late. You made some very powerful arguments and did so in a fair manner. I see many parallels with Obama supporters/ Palin supporter. They are electing people based on emotion verses resume. Romney has the resume. We need a leader with a strong resume for getting things done. And look at all Romney is accomplishing behind the scenes. He is not concerned about the credit, just happy that things are going our way. He is an extraordinary leader. That is what we need in the White House ASAP.
February 11th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Mitt Romney is an honored guest at the Vancouver Olympics!!!
What a great contrast it was to see Mitt and GWB at the Beijing Olympics while Obama and McCain played politics.
Here’s the link:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100211/BREAKING02/100211019/Olympics++Romney+headed+to+the+Winter+Games+in+Vancouver+
February 13th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1YvM18HmdA