POLITICO: Town Halls Gone Wild by Alex Isenstadt
Screaming constituents, protesters dragged out by the cops, congressmen fearful for their safety — welcome to the new town-hall-style meeting, the once-staid forum that is rapidly turning into a house of horrors for members of Congress.
On the eve of the August recess, members are reporting meetings that have gone terribly awry, marked by angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior. In at least one case, a congressman has stopped holding town hall events because the situation has spiraled so far out of control.
We at Hawai`i Free Press care about voter participation, so here is a convenient list of upcoming Neil Abercrombie Town Hall events. Don’t be shy — there is strength in numbers — voters are cordially invited to bring their questions and their video cameras…
“I had felt they would be pointless,” Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) told POLITICO, referring to his recent decision to temporarily suspend the events in his Long Island district. “There is no point in meeting with my constituents and [to] listen to them and have them listen to you if what is basically an unruly mob prevents you from having an intelligent conversation.”
In Bishop’s case, his decision came on the heels of a June 22 event he held in Setauket, N.Y., in which protesters dominated the meeting by shouting criticisms at the congressman for his positions on energy policy, health care and the bailout of the auto industry.
Within an hour of the disruption, police were called in to escort the 59-year-old Democrat — who has held more than 100 town hall meetings since he was elected in 2002 — to his car safely.
“I have no problem with someone disagreeing with positions I hold,” Bishop said, noting that, for the time being, he was using other platforms to communicate with his constituents. “But I also believe no one is served if you can’t talk through differences.”
Bishop isn’t the only one confronted by boiling anger and rising incivility. At a health care town hall event in Syracuse, N.Y., earlier this month, police were called in to restore order, and at least one heckler was taken away by local police.
Close to 100 sign-carrying protesters greeted Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) at a late June community college small-business development forum in Panama City, Fla.
Last week, Danville, Va., anti-tax tea party activists claimed they were “refused an opportunity” to ask Rep. Thomas Perriello (D-Va.) a question at a town hall event and instructed by a plainclothes police officer to leave the property after they attempted to hold up protest signs.
i will go. we have to let them know we are not afraid.when we are afraid that is tyranny. when they are afraid of us it is LIBERTY!!!
Their big ego will be their downfall. we need to turn up the heat on them and let them know we are going to keep coming after them and not roll over.
Don
Where is Mazie’s schedule on outer Islands?
where is Mazie’s Maui Schedule
I emailed Mazie’s office requesting her schedule for this month on Maui. Once I have that information, I will get the word out.
It is certain the way we think IS the way of the majority. Watching Glenn beck today, he senses the rage, and asked Americans to stay peacefull. There are plans being made , John is aware of them, to get new leaders, none of us can give up. None of us can afford to let our country go this way. We, those that think, that have had the privilage of a good education, and a good life, must not waver. as another subscriber has said, keep up the heat. obama is failing day by day. The dems are seein it, all are seeing it. those in our current government KNOW the majority has had enough. Yes, its simple in a way, in numbers we are strong. And with respect, next time its time to vote, get off ur butts those that gave up and VOTE! And at this time, support this site, and the other sites. DO NOT WAVER, we must not let socializim take us over. Yes, we never thought this day would come, but it IS a reality, and we must deal with it. Soon, we WILL have a voice, it is in ther works now, soon i think when the time is right John will put it up on his site, we must work togethjer, dems, rep, all of us, those that voted for nobama dont be ashmed, mistakes are made, lies are told, the thing now is to fix it. we have men with money working on that.WE WILL find new leaders, we WILL bring back our country. Positive is the only waty to think.When you see everyday working middle class people upset like they are, as we know, something is very wrong. These are law abiding people who NEVER stepped out of line, who lived by the law, now they are angry as hell. Arent you? There IS hope, millions are preparing to voice themselves. Others are preparing a way to obtain new leadership, when it comes out, you will all love it. we will beat the beast , fighting fire with fire.
If you can get us date I’ll be there!
Niels
factcheck.org
Knowledge, it helps.
We need to organize a protest here on Maui before the beloved elected officials return to DC and continue ignoring We The People.
Even if we line up in front of the mall it would send a message. If you have a better idea post it here. Time is short and we need to get the message out to bring the masses to the protest.