October 8, 2009 - 11:25pm
Rep. Dingell's surprising foray into a Free Press live chat
BY JACOB SMILOVITZ
This afternoon, the Detroit Free Press hosted an online chat with Dan Okrent, a Daily alum who now writes for Time Magazine.
The chat took on a whole new character when someone with the log-in "Congressman John Dingell" joined the discussion.
At 2:15, Oneita Jackson, a Free Press blogger and moderator of the chat, said, "Dan, there are a zillion here. I am reading and will give you time. "
Then the mystery man chimed in:
2:15
[Comment From Congressman John Dingell ]
Sorry, we may have been the reason you are getting phone calls ...
Two minutes later, Okrent responded, presumably half in-jest, "I hope that outsiders (and semi-outsiders, like me!) can perhaps see things that people there can't see because they're up too close. For instance: the role that politicians like John dingell and others have played -- meaning to help Detroit, but hurting it by increasing the city's reliance on one industry."
But the commenter claiming to be Dingell shot back:
2:17
[Comment From Congressman John Dingell ]
I have some questions for Mr. Okrent. If you’d like to confirm it is really me, call my press secretary Adam Benson in my Washington, DC office at 202-225-4071
Dingell followed up with a question for Okrent:
2:18
[Comment From Congressman John Dingell ]
How long has it been since you lived in Detroit and talked to the people of the City, and the workers and business leaders who live and work here every day?
Then Jackson confirmed that is was in fact Dingell himself who was on the chat.
2:18
Oneita Jackson:
That really is Congressman Dingell; I've just called his office.
And the conversation took off from there. (These are just the parts with the Dingell-Okrent back-and-forth). Enjoy:
2:19
[Comment From Dan Okrent]
For Congressman Dingell: I was in Detroit early in September for several days, and talked to about 60 people, all told. I also spent much of two weeks on the phone with many others.
2:23
[Comment From Congressman John Dingell ]
In your piece and your critique of me, you indicated you looked at my web site. How many pages did you read on the site? How extensively did you research the way the regulation of the auto industry should go forward?
2:24
[Comment From Dan Okrent]
For Congressman Dingell: I read quite a lot of the website, but even moreso went back and studied your voting record and public advocacy positions over the past several decades.
2:29
Oneita Jackson: Comes another one from the Congressman. ...
2:30
Oneita Jackson: And then, Congressman, you'll have to take it up with Okrent elsewhere. We have a LOT of people who have something to say.
2:30
[Comment From Congressman John Dingell ]
Tell me what action of mine prevented the adoption safety regulations, mileage standards or trade restrictions that you claim “might have forced the American automobile industry to make cars that could stand up to foreign competition”?
2:31
[Comment From Dan Okrent]
Your resistance to sharply increased CAFE standards around 1990-1991.
2:45
[Comment From Congressman John Dingell ]
Thanks to the Free Press for this opportunity, and thank you Mr. Okrent. You will be getting an invitation from me soon.
2:46
[Comment From Dan Okrent]
Thank you, Congressman Dingell. I appreciate your joining this conversation.
To check out the whole chat for yourself, click here for the transcript.
