Posted on 08/09/2009 9:01:05 PM PDT by TWohlford
U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer's decision not to have town hall meeting fuels plans for rallies by Chris Gautz | Jackson Citizen Patriot Sunday August 09, 2009, 10:54 PM
Members of Congress across the nation are getting lambasted over health-care reform, and U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer is no exception.
Three protests, organized by the Jackson County Republican Party, are scheduled to take place outside his Jackson district office this month. The party's chief complaint is Schauer's decision not to have a town hall meeting this month.
Schauer's office maintains he's more than available — he's had 17 town halls in the past few months and five public forums on health care across the district recently. Two teleconference town halls are coming up.
"We can't help it if the Republican Party was unable to turn our previous health-care forum into a screaming match, or if they are unsatisfied by the fact that Mark will be hosting office hours across the district and talking to over 100,000 constituents about this issue on the phone," Schauer spokesman Zack Pohl wrote in an e-mail.
Pohl said his boss is doing exactly what he was elected to do: studying the legislation and listening to the input of his constituents.
"He intends to have a serious discussion about health insurance reform with the people of Michigan, but he won't allow the Republican Party and the insurance industry to turn this critical debate into a political food fight," Pohl wrote.
Ray Kuzminski, spokesman for the county Republican Party, said the rallies will not be like town hall meetings we've seen in recent weeks, where angry constituents shout down their members of Congress and boo them as they try to answer questions.
Such meetings have at times turned physical, with audience members shoving each other.
At one protest, a Congressman was hung in effigy outside his office and another received a telephoned death threat.
"There has to be some reservation on the people protesting," Kuzminski said.
Kuzminski said the goal is to bring awareness to the public about the health care bill.
They anticipate attendance to be upwards of 100.
"There has to be health-care reform, but it should not be as it's presently proposed," he said.
Libby Brown, a Jackson High School Advanced Placement government teacher, said she does not agree with the way recent town halls meetings have degenerated into name-calling and orchestrated disruptions.
"I think that's ridiculous," she said. "I strongly believe in civil discourse."
She said she teaches her students that it's OK to agree to disagree.
"We still respect each other and dignify each other's opinions," she said.
Brown said she has attended some of Schauer's town hall meetings, and they've been mostly civil. When there have been differences of opinions, she said, the audience members discussed them and Schauer responded in a dignified way.
"Because of the climate, it's unfortunate we can't have town hall meetings," she said. "That's a sad statement about America."
No doubt we're Brown Shirt Nazis and "un-American" too.
Since Mark took office, he's "represented" the town that is the birthplace of the GOP with a 95% Pelosi Agreement voting record. I'm thinking that the only call that he listens are the ones coming from Pelosi's office.
He is supposed to live in his own district. Show up at his house!
“He is supposed to live in his own district. Show up at his house!”
Sadly, I had to take a job in Texas. Otherwise, I’d be running for his office. And, I’m not exaggerating at all in that last sentence....
The Local GOP should have a big tent townhall with free food and pop for all. Make it a family event with some music on stage and speakers, talking about what made America great. Point out how America can be brought down by Socialism. Then have some funnel cakes and more cow bell.
Translation from Democrat party speak: "Because you won't sit passively and let us ram our agenda down your throat, we won't talk to you. Get lost."
This I’m liking.
Let the Dems hide behind doors.
Time for a real party - talk about issues, enjoy family and good times, and talk about what this country needs to do to stay great.
Start with Prayer. Break bread. Fellowship.
Rock out.
The formula to beat the disease.
Shine the light from the hill!
What is so sad about moving to Texas!!!! You are lucky!
What makes politicians different from anyone else who refuses to do the work he or she is hired to do? They need to lose their job and a replacement needs found who will do the job without complaint. The whiners who refuse to meet their constituents in person clearly do not have the interests of the voters in mind. They are "protecting" themselves from facing those of us who have legitimate questions and who expect them to respond knowledgeably.
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If he is too much of a cowardly crook to face the People, than he is too much of a cowardly crook to be in Congress. And that goes for the other cowardly and corrupt politicians, Like Pelosi and Reid, and every other coawrtdly crooked politician that won’t face their detractors in a public forum. They aren’t fit to hold pubnlic office, and should be voted out ASAP, if not recalled first.
But nice try.
I’ll be there.
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