FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Senator, Representative to answer questions from Netroots activists

JULY 23, 2009 -- Netroots Nation organizers announced today that Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak will participate in a Pennsylvania Leadership Forum to be held August 14 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Organizers say the event -- much like the Presidential Leadership Forum held in 2007 and Ask the Speaker session held last July -- is an opportunity for citizens to directly engage America’s leaders, both face-to-face and online.

"As local residents and interested citizens across the country turn their eyes to what promises to be the most-watched Democratic primary of 2010, we thought it only natural to provide our attendees with an opportunity to interact with Rep. Sestak and Sen. Specter," said Netroots Nation Executive Director Raven Brooks.

The Netroots Nation Pennsylvania Leadership Forum, scheduled for Friday morning at 11 a.m., will give Pennsylvania residents and others across the country to engage both leaders in substantive discussion about issues of the day.

Rep. Sestak and Sen. Specter will each participate in an interactive session moderated by Pennsylvania blogger Susie Madrak and The Nation's Ari Melber, who will ask questions submitted online in advance, as well as from the audience.

As The New York Times reported, Netroots Nation is "becoming as much a part of the Democratic political circuit as the Iowa State Fair."

"We're delighted that these esteemed members of Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation want to discuss their vision and ideology with the Netroots community. Their presence shows how this conference continues to provide an important and powerful forum for grassroots activists to engage candidates and elected officials," said Brooks.

Netroots Nation will take place August 13–16 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to the forum, the conference will include more than 70 panels featuring prominent political, issue and policy-oriented speakers; 20 training sessions; a progressive film screening series.

The forum and convention are open to media coverage. For more information about the Netroots Nation or for credentials, visit www.netrootsnation.org.

ABOUT NETROOTS NATION
Netroots Nation amplifies progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate. Within that campus, we strengthen community, inspire action and serve as an incubator for progressive ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately affect change in the public sphere.

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