Charlie Huisking and Cokie Roberts. Photography by Wendy Dewhurst-Clark.
See gallery from Library Foundation Luncheon.
Esteemed political journalist and best-selling author Cokie Roberts delighted 550 guests at the fourth annual Author Luncheon, hosted by and benefitting the Library Foundation for Sarasota County, and held at the Hyatt-Regency.
Among the guests were Charlie Huisking, Roxie Jerde, Helen McBean, Isabel Norton, Hannah Carlo, Ken Abt, Brynne Anne Besio, Susan Dweck, Bob Veeder, Shannon Staub, Ina Schnell, Karen Eastmoore, Pat and Bob Gussin, Chuck and Margie Barancik, Lydia McIntire, Christine Johnson and John Bean and Alexandra Jupin Bean, among others.
Foundation President Linda Getzen welcomed guests, telling them that 82 percent of Sarasota County residents are library card holders, as compared with the statewide average of 51 percent. She aadded to that number by presenting Cokie Roberts with her own Sarasota Library card.
Following lunch, Claudia Cardillo spoke about the library's commitment to children's literacy, including its goal of creating a $500,000 children's literacy endowment, a goal given a boost by a $100,000 donation from Pat and Bob Gussin and a $20,000 match from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
Charlie Huisking introduced Roberts, saying she represents "journalism at its best. In an age when political discussion often ends up in shouting matches, she is a forceful, but calm, voice of reason," he said.
Most of her insightful remarks centered on the presidential campaign, which, she suspects "is going to be like water torture ... drip, drip, drip" before the outcome becomes clear.
"Just you wait Florida ... March 15 is not that far away," she said, adding that "The discourse is not particularly elevating ... on either side."
The kind of spirit you see in this room today is not seen in Washington or on the political trail, she said. So, is it the most partisan time in our country's history? "No, they're not shooting each other ... yet," she quipped.
"We are living in an extremely polarized time - in congress and among the electorate," she said, adding that voters seem to be looking for someone who's as angry as they are.
Part of the blame, she said, rests with the media. "Today, even the mainstream media gives microphones or column space to the loudest shouters, pushing into the background those who might actually be doers."
