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I don't know if this is proper to place in "Debates"--but it is political in nature, so I thought I'd play it safe. I am not really fishing for a debate on the health care bill. I guess, more than anything, I am just sharing a disturbing story I personally experienced when I tried to get minimal information from my Congressman. I just called anonymously, to politely request where the blasted town hall was!
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What the heck??!
So, I was told by a friend of mine who is involved with local politics that my Congressman was planning a town hall for last night, to discuss health care. I was excited--good! I really wanted to go and hear what on earth was going on, when the final bill would be expected, what (if anything) was accomplished with bipartisan meeting of the six yesterday, etc.
I called his office early yesterday morning, to ask when and where the town hall would be.
I was lied to! I can't believe it! The young lady with whom I spoke said firmly: "We are not having a town hall until the end of August, and it will be only by telephone." She denied that the Congressman was hosting one...that day! I thanked her and hung up, thinking that my friend must have just been wrong. So I let it go.
Nope. He was right. My Congressman most definitely had a town hall last night. His office lied to me! ?? I repeat: what the heck??
I am really mad. There is NO WAY that the employees at the Congressman's office didn't know he was having a town hall last night. Yes, I am a Republican and my Congressman is a Democrat (not that the young lady with whom I spoke could have known that). But I wasn't planning to go to heckle him down! First, with my job, I could never do that. Second, I am not a "heckler." I am just a concerned citizen, and I think I am entitled to know when/where public town halls are!
It is bad enough that the White House (run by a former much-touted "community organizer") doesn't like...community voices (if they are in opposition to their agenda). But now, apparently, the game plan is to discourage community participation. What a bunch of freaking hypocrits. I honestly feel as though I am having something stolen from me--my ability to participate in the process by visiting with my elected representative.
What on earth are they so afraid of??? If they are such supporters of the plan, then why are they hiding from concerned citizens? They are OUR elected officials. You are accountable TO US! You don't like people to be frustrated and express anger? Then be competent and not simply partisan. Offer explanations--don't demand compliance or threaten to call us "angry" or "racist." If you don't want people mad at you, LISTEN instead of lecturing. But don't simply avoid us. We elected you!!
I realize that the WH is now instructing Senators and Congressmen to "hit back twice as hard" whenever they catch criticism at a town hall, and that the Dem machine is treating any dissenters as loud-mouthed foaming whack jobs. I realize that the WH is now asking that we "turn in" to them people and groups disseminating negative information about the House's reform plan (thanks, Linda Douglas, for that super-creepy video request). But they need to distinguish between their rhetoric and the reality. Most people aren't crazy; they are concerned. Avoiding the public is going to make you look positively...undemocratic. This isn't Chicago politics.
And, for the record, I would be EQUALLY miffed if a Republican pulled this crap!!
__________________________________________________ _
What the heck??!
So, I was told by a friend of mine who is involved with local politics that my Congressman was planning a town hall for last night, to discuss health care. I was excited--good! I really wanted to go and hear what on earth was going on, when the final bill would be expected, what (if anything) was accomplished with bipartisan meeting of the six yesterday, etc.
I called his office early yesterday morning, to ask when and where the town hall would be.
I was lied to! I can't believe it! The young lady with whom I spoke said firmly: "We are not having a town hall until the end of August, and it will be only by telephone." She denied that the Congressman was hosting one...that day! I thanked her and hung up, thinking that my friend must have just been wrong. So I let it go.
Nope. He was right. My Congressman most definitely had a town hall last night. His office lied to me! ?? I repeat: what the heck??
I am really mad. There is NO WAY that the employees at the Congressman's office didn't know he was having a town hall last night. Yes, I am a Republican and my Congressman is a Democrat (not that the young lady with whom I spoke could have known that). But I wasn't planning to go to heckle him down! First, with my job, I could never do that. Second, I am not a "heckler." I am just a concerned citizen, and I think I am entitled to know when/where public town halls are!
It is bad enough that the White House (run by a former much-touted "community organizer") doesn't like...community voices (if they are in opposition to their agenda). But now, apparently, the game plan is to discourage community participation. What a bunch of freaking hypocrits. I honestly feel as though I am having something stolen from me--my ability to participate in the process by visiting with my elected representative.
What on earth are they so afraid of??? If they are such supporters of the plan, then why are they hiding from concerned citizens? They are OUR elected officials. You are accountable TO US! You don't like people to be frustrated and express anger? Then be competent and not simply partisan. Offer explanations--don't demand compliance or threaten to call us "angry" or "racist." If you don't want people mad at you, LISTEN instead of lecturing. But don't simply avoid us. We elected you!!
I realize that the WH is now instructing Senators and Congressmen to "hit back twice as hard" whenever they catch criticism at a town hall, and that the Dem machine is treating any dissenters as loud-mouthed foaming whack jobs. I realize that the WH is now asking that we "turn in" to them people and groups disseminating negative information about the House's reform plan (thanks, Linda Douglas, for that super-creepy video request). But they need to distinguish between their rhetoric and the reality. Most people aren't crazy; they are concerned. Avoiding the public is going to make you look positively...undemocratic. This isn't Chicago politics.
And, for the record, I would be EQUALLY miffed if a Republican pulled this crap!!
Cat mommy since 2002 
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