Mary Pat Cooper, a self-reported Republican "since birth," is switching parties this fall.
Describing the current administration as a group of "self-serving cronies," Cooper participated Tuesday night in a discussion titled "George W. Bush as CEO? Why Pennsylvania Will Be Better Off Under John Kerry."
Led by Ken Miller, former vice chairman of the investment banking firm Credit Suisse First Boston, the meeting consisted of a three-member panel.
Panelists included professor of Management and President of EConsult David Crawford, President of Corporate Software Design Sarah Toms and small-business owner Cooper.
Miller set the tone for the meeting, opening with a statement about his "deep conviction that President Bush is a [chief executive officer] so bad that if he were to lead a company, I would lead a proxy to throw him off it."
Miller then turned over the discussion to Crawford, who presented an argument on why Kerry would serve as an effective CEO, drawing laughs from the audience with the wit and sarcasm he used to describe the unfavorable attributes of the Bush administration.
He listed the important qualities of a successful business leader, including setting specific goals, thinking several steps ahead and collecting and analyzing updated information.
Crawford also suggested that, rather than modifying strategies to achieve his goals, Bush instead revises his goals, therefore resulting in ineffective leadership.
For example, Crawford noted that the president originally planned to cut taxes in order to reduce surplus, while he is now executing that same maneuver to cut the deficit.
"If that doesn't make sense to you," Crawford added, "then you're paying attention."
Toms took the floor next, demonstrating where her loyalties lie by pointing out that Kerry's health care plan is predicted to insure 711,200 more people in Pennsylvania, compared to 64,000 under Bush.
She also said she is a strong believer in Kerry's ability to implement a plan to find alternative sources of energy rather than simply trying to bring the climbing oil prices to a halt.
Then, Cooper, founder of Mary Pat Cooper and Associates, asserted that the next president should be committed to action, have a desire to improve and understand leadership as a process.
Finally, Miller opened up the discussion to the approximately 40 audience members who posed questions regarding the Iraq War's effect on the economy, free trade and Kerry's communicative ability, among others.
Afterwards, Kerry campaign volunteer Anne Vaughan, a retired attorney, expressed her support for him.
"The pocketbook issues are what concern me -- how families are paying their bills and providing health care for their kids," Vaughan said. "Bush's complete indifference for that is extremely disturbing. When it comes to Kerry, I'm there. I would do anything for his campaign."
The event, sponsored by Pennsylvania Business Leaders for Kerry, was held in Huntsman Hall.
