The Journal

Politics can be a nasty business, as was demonstrated Sept. 9 when congressman Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) called the U.S. president a liar before a joint session of Congress. But a few hours before the congressman's outburst, Webster University students and area residents where treated to a lesson in civility during a Pizza and Politics discussion between two former, fierce political opponents.

The event, held Sept. 9 in the University Center Sunnen Lounge, was the first public meeting of former Democratic governor Bob Holden and former Republican Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives Catherine Hanaway since both left public life. The two were involved in many heated political battles, including fights over Missouri's budget, taxes and school funding.

But Holden chose to talk about something more personal when he introduced Hanaway.
"In my last year as governor my mom was dying of cancer, and she passed away that summer," said Holden. "Catherine drove all the way into one of the smallest communities in this state to attend the funeral. And Catherine, I've always appreciated that."
Hanaway then introduced herself to the overflow crowd of students, faculty and local residents. She discussed how she got involved in politics, volunteering for George H. W. Bush's 1980 presidential campaign in Iowa, and how she became a politician herself. Hanaway encouraged WU students interested in a future in politics to volunteer for a campaign.

"I will tell you that if you have an abiding interest in politics, there is no better experience than going to work for somebody you respect and admire," Hanaway said. "It's not only good training for a future in politics, but it's also great professional training."

Holden and Hanaway both stressed that, even though they were political adversaries, they can still be find room for agreement and time for serious debate.

"In political process, you can have very strong feelings and you can have very strong disagreements," Holden said. "But the ones I've always admired, whether it be a Jack Danforth or a Tom Eagelton, are those people that fought for their points of view as hard as they could. But when they walked out of that room, they walked out respecting each other and as friends."

After the introductions and speeches by Holden and Hanaway, the people in attendance were given a chance to ask questions about current political events, both local and national.

Steve Pursley, a Maplewood resident, asked about President Obama's recent speech to schoolchildren and the heated political rhetoric it created.

"I was amazed at that controversy," Holden said. "We ought to be teaching our young people and our citizens more civic responsibility, not less."

Hanaway expressed understanding for the conservative critics of Obama's address to school children, but also agreed with Holden that the president should always be able to speak to the country.

"I think the obligation is on parents to make sure that they talked about that speech," Hanaway said. "I thought it was a great learning opportunity in our house to talk with our kids about it."

The most challenging questions of the night came from Monrey Griffin, a black graduate student in WU's health administration program. He asked Holden and Hanaway to address the lack of campaign commercials regarding inner city neighborhoods and issues of race and inequality.

"I just don't agree with the commercial because they are not geared toward blacks," Griffin said.

Hanaway did not shy away from the issue and gave him a simple answer.
"A lot of people in those areas are not particularly invested in the political arena and don't vote in very high proportions," Hanaway said. "And when they do vote, they vote overwhelmingly for one party."
Following the event, Holden touched on his own college years and how they shaped his political ambitions.

"My interest in politics really was created by my college experience," Holden said. "I was very much involved philosophically with Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King and what they were doing in the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement."

Out of public office, Holden now hopes to give WU students the opportunity to get involved in politics as well. The Pizza and Politics events are designed to do just that, combining what most college students love, pizza, with something most college students try to avoid, politics.
Though Holden is a Democrat and doesn't shy away from speaking his mind, he wants WU students to hear other political viewpoints and witness the debating and arguing that is part of the political process.

"I've got my point of view and I share my point-of-view," Holden said. "But I want to make sure they see other points-of-view too, because I lose my credibility if it looks like I'm just trying to indoctrinate them."

The next Pizza and Politics event is scheduled for Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. in the UC Sunnen Lounge. The subject of the discussion will be the health care debate, with a panel of health care experts and advocates will be present to discuss the current proposals and answer questions from the audience.

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