The spirit of liberty and the principles of a free-market economy were celebrated in grand style at this year’s “An Evening with the Mackinac Center” dinner in Grand Rapids, headlined by renowned journalist Megyn Kelly.
More than 400 friends of liberty turned out for the event, including former Govs. John Engler and Rick Snyder, state lawmakers, business leaders, policy advocates and community members.
J.C. and Tammy Huizenga kicked off the evening with welcoming remarks, saying, “Tonight, we gather to celebrate liberty and reinvigorate our commitment to the founding principles of our nation through fellowship with like-minded friends. In the Mackinac Center, we’ve found a stalwart champion, a tireless voice and a threatening foe to government encroachment on our liberties.”
They introduced Mackinac Center President Joseph G. Lehman, who set an ambitious tone, declaring that the people in the room aimed to change the world. He emphasized the vital role of state think tanks, saying, “Change doesn’t start in Washington, it ends there. … It starts with us in our own states and in our communities.”
Lehman described how this change happens, starting with ideas, then building support for those ideas until they are politically possible. He cited Michigan’s becoming a right-to-work state as an example, stating, “Nearly everyone said that Michigan would never become a right-to-work state. We never believed that at the Mackinac Center, but we knew it wouldn’t happen overnight, it wouldn’t happen on its own and it wouldn’t happen by accident. It would take decades of passionate, principled persuasion to create the right conditions for lawmakers to find the idea favorable enough to support.”
He didn’t gloss over the fact that right-to-work was repealed last year, reminding attendees that Michigan has been and continues to be a battleground state. Our wins are not permanent, but neither are our losses.
He said that data increasingly shows that right-to-work remains popular. Lehman questioned why the legacy media isn’t reporting that Democrats repealed a popular law, putting congressional seats at risk in the upcoming midterm election. This was a good preview of his discussion with the featured speaker, Megyn Kelly.
With an extensive background in law and media, Kelly offered a unique perspective on media, politics and public policy. She began by reflecting on her career, from her time as a corporate litigator to her high-profile roles at Fox News and NBC. Kelly shared insights into the challenges and opportunities she encountered as a journalist committed to presenting unbiased news in a highly polarized media landscape.
One of the key themes of Kelly’s address was the vital importance of civility in media and politics. Understanding, respecting and connecting with the people affected by news stories or public policies is crucial in creating a better future for all.
She clarified that her definition of civility includes being open and honest, because voters deserve to know the truth about the people they elect and the policies those officials support. Politeness is not the same thing as civility, she added. A person who is polite but does not tell the truth is not civil.
She pointed to elite reporters as a problem. “We need to get back to the day and age when you had working-class guys and gals out there from blue-collar families doing the reporting.”
Kelly’s remarks resonated deeply with the attendees. The Mackinac Center focuses on thoughtful policy debate.
Also that night, Lehman presented Dick and Ethie Haworth with the “Champions of Freedom” award, which honors those whose lives exhibit a faithful dedication to the principles of freedom and self- reliance. Lehman pointed out that very few have received the award, but it was well-deserved in this case. Dick and Ethie are always thinking of ways to make an impact and influence their community. You can read more about this award and the Haworths here.
