Moe: Madisonian gets to witness historic moment in AFL-CIO debate

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/columns/205027

AS IT turned out, longtime Madison labor activist Darold "Dode" Lowe didn't get to ask a question at Tuesday night's Democratic presidential debate in Chicago.

But Lowe, a former Dane County Board member, did get an inside look at the run-up to the debate, as well as a fifth row seat at the main event.

It also developed that the man chosen instead of Lowe to ask a health care question -- a question similar to the one Dode had prepared to ask -- virtually stole the show.

Back in Madison on Thursday, Lowe was saying that he was one of about 20 people chosen by the AFL-CIO, which sponsored Tuesday night 's debate at Soldier Field, to "have the possibility of asking a question."

Lowe said that Billy Feitlinger, with whom Lowe works at the Wisconsin chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans, recommended him.

On Monday, Lowe rode the Amtrak train to Chicago and, along with the other potential questioners, met with officials from the AFL-CIO and MSNBC, which was televising the debate.

FULL story at link.