Senator speaks sans sound system
By Josh Richman
Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 at 4:46 pm in Barbara Boxer, U.S. Senate.
I watched U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer speak this afternoon in Emeryville to more than 100 employees of Amyris Biotechnologies Inc., which uses genetically-engineered microbes to produce biofuels, medicine and chemicals.
A few minutes into her remarks, a low, buzzing hum started to carry through the amplifier. She fiddled with her microphone; the sound went away for a moment but quickly returned.
“It happens all the time,” she quipped good-naturedly. “It happens at NASA, where they put people on the moon.”
Look out, NASA — she’s on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that marks up your budget, and she’s not impressed with your technology. At least, your sound-system technology.
Anyway, Boxer tried using the microphone for a few more moments before batting it away and belting out the rest of her remarks unamplified – a good reminder that any U.S. Senator, no matter how (ahem) diminutive, is bound to make himself or herself heard come what may.
UPDATE @ 5:03 P.M. TUESDAY — Microphone malfunctions aside, I really did cover news at Boxer’s event; here’s the story.
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