Vetted or unvetted, random or not, the people I heard speak yesterday were indeed 'real' people with 'real' experience in the 'real' world of small business, and every day finances. They had good suggestions that most of us would agree with.
It really doesn't matter if you are so sure that it's nothing but PR, because you don't know what will be done with the information and opinions gleaned, and until you do, your assumptions are only that.......assumptions.
Many good discussions, I'm sure! For example:
Panelists gave Bush first-hand accounts of the economy's health. Larry Johnston, chairman of the Albertson's grocery store chain, said he sees weakening consumer confidence when customers buy hamburger instead of steak
It's always nice to see the President feeling our pain, isn't it?
At the forum were teamsters and union people (not known for their republican support) and of course there were Clinton administrative office holders there too. So the demos are full of hot air and we are getting most of it now here in this thread.