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Townhall Report with Congressman Dan Benishek (R Mich)
Me ^ | 6/23/13 | Lakeshark

Posted on 08/23/2013 4:33:30 PM PDT by Lakeshark

We arrived precisely at one o'clock, the scheduled time for the meeting, following a giant Harley decorated with American flags in to the parking lot. We were surprised to have to wait in line for ten minutes to get in to the hall as they had underestimated the turn out. There was a member of some lefty alliance with a table sporting enviro-weenie stuff that we (conveniently for them) had to pass by, but once we got in it was standing room only, about two hundred of us standing. Dr. Benishek was giving a canned summary of his activities when we got in, we missed most of it, all but five minutes. He spoke about a few generic things, then the questions began, questions that you submitted via cards, and were picked randomly. I started to fill one out, but being late into the building, decided not to. As it turned out, the questions I wanted to ask were brought up by others.

It was clear there were some lefties in the group that wanted to heckle, from the applause given to his answers, it was about 90% conservatives there, with any where from 5-10% libs. It got interesting right away with some guy right behind me starting to yell, turning beet red and apoplectic, and yes, the guy was clearly a lefty agitator. Someone next to him asked for the police to come and throw the guy out, one came up to him, and he shut up. We think he slinked out since he was ineffective.

The questions and attitude from the crowd were decent, Dr. B was asked about defunding Obamacare, spineless Republicans, spending, budgeting, illegal immigration, gun control, how to defeat the democrats, and a few other things (like if he could be more bi-partisan, a lefty question).

His answers were generally good, satisfying to most conservatives. The applause was strongest for his answers on illegal immigration, gun control, and the attempts to repeal Obamacare; on these issues he's clearly conservative.

All in all, it was impressive he appeared, he got a clear consensus that his concerned constituents near Traverse City were conservative, not liberal, heck, not even moderate. Most of us were pushing him to the right, the lefties that came were not able to disrupt, thanks to so many conservatives glaring at them.

We came away thankful we had a decent congress critter, Dr. Benishek may not be a firebrand, seems to have a few moderate stances, but he's decent, somewhat conservative in most of his beliefs, and certainly one we will support. If your congress critter has one of these, we highly recommend you go. Chastise them if they are a democrat or a RINO. Support them if they are trying to do a decent job as Dr. Benishek appears to be doing.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; FReeper Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: benishek; townhall
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It was enjoyable, perhaps the best thing was watching the lefties try to get away with disrupting and wanting to take over the meeting. Unfortunately for them, there were too many of us. I loved the impeach Bambi sign the guy was holding up when we left the parking lot.
1 posted on 08/23/2013 4:33:30 PM PDT by Lakeshark
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To: cripplecreek

MI ping.


2 posted on 08/23/2013 4:34:04 PM PDT by Lakeshark (KILL THE BILL! CALL. FAX. WRITE)
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To: xzins; Servant of the Cross; txhurl; stephenjohnbanker; Borax Queen; onyx; C. Edmund Wright; ...

Our nefarious activities for the afternoon. A good way for the NSA to identify us!


3 posted on 08/23/2013 4:36:44 PM PDT by Lakeshark (KILL THE BILL! CALL. FAX. WRITE)
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To: Lakeshark

Thanks for your report.


4 posted on 08/23/2013 4:36:50 PM PDT by Wife of D28Man
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To: Springman; cyclotic; netmilsmom; RatsDawg; PGalt; FreedomHammer; queenkathy; madison10; ...
1st District report. (Dan Benishek)

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

Michigan legislative action thread
5 posted on 08/23/2013 5:14:34 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Lakeshark

Good report, Lakeshark.


6 posted on 08/23/2013 5:20:53 PM PDT by SharpRightTurn (White, black, and red all over--America's affirmative action, metrosexual president.)
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To: Lakeshark

Stay on him. Benishek’s a good guy but gets a lot of pressure from establishment to toe the line because he’s in a tough district.


7 posted on 08/23/2013 5:21:28 PM PDT by Darren McCarty (Abortion - legalized murder for convenience)
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To: Lakeshark

Thanks for the FReport, Lakeshark.

It’s always good to get real information from real people [and not what the left-media wants us to hear.]

Thanks for posting ;)


8 posted on 08/23/2013 5:42:35 PM PDT by Principled
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To: Lakeshark

Hey, Shark.....what county are you in? I am in Ottawa


9 posted on 08/23/2013 5:56:15 PM PDT by Michigan Bowhunter (Patriots needed!)
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To: Lakeshark

We planned to attend but got side-tracked in Esky. Appreciate the report as fellow TEA party members have real concerns about Dr. Ben.


10 posted on 08/23/2013 6:00:26 PM PDT by mcshot (God bless the USA! THE GUN DEBATE WAS SETTLED IN 1791!!!)
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To: Lakeshark

This is very similar to our townhall last might with Rob Woodall. People were pretty riled up about the coming CR vote and Obamacare, Immigration and Benghazi. We had a few libtarId loons that showed up to support Obamacare.

Our rep is a decent, standup guy and almost always votes the right way but he is no rabble rouser and our district keeps trying to get him to fire it up a little more. That is just not his style. But unlike a lot of these guys he showed up and took the heat. It did get a little heated from time to time.


11 posted on 08/23/2013 6:15:32 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: Lakeshark

Thanks, Lakeshark. I appreciate the ping and the report.

We do have to stay on them. They have to know someone is watching.

Just out of curiosity, when any NSA questions came up, did the libs show support at that point?


12 posted on 08/23/2013 6:24:37 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: Michigan Bowhunter

Leelanau.


13 posted on 08/23/2013 7:51:53 PM PDT by Lakeshark (KILL THE BILL! CALL. FAX. WRITE)
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To: Darren McCarty

This is the old district of the lying SOB Bart Stupak, democrat rep who claimed to be pro-life, then betrayed everyone and supported Obamacare in one of the finest Benedict Arnold moves in American politics. He quit knowing he was going to be beat like a drum.


14 posted on 08/23/2013 7:56:06 PM PDT by Lakeshark (KILL THE BILL! CALL. FAX. WRITE)
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To: Georgia Girl 2
Showing up took guts for these guys. I doubt the dem reps do this. It did get sharp, thank goodness we outnumbered the totalitarian leftists who wanted to hijack the meeting.

You described it like ours......hats off to Georgia Girl for going!

15 posted on 08/23/2013 7:59:56 PM PDT by Lakeshark (KILL THE BILL! CALL. FAX. WRITE)
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To: xzins
When he spoke of Benghazi, the IRS, or the NSA the libs were curiously muted.

No response at all now that you have me thinking about it. You've got me pondring that they're either embarassed, delusional, and somewhat dealing with cognitive dissonance about all those scandals.

Imagine if the MSM actually reported on them.......

16 posted on 08/23/2013 8:10:53 PM PDT by Lakeshark (KILL THE BILL! CALL. FAX. WRITE)
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To: Lakeshark

A lot of the libs support opposition to the NSA.

You’re right about Benghazi and the IRS....it embarrasses them.


17 posted on 08/23/2013 8:13:57 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: xzins

Their opposition to the NSA revelations just confuses them cause their guy is in control of its growth.


18 posted on 08/23/2013 8:23:54 PM PDT by Lakeshark (KILL THE BILL! CALL. FAX. WRITE)
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To: Lakeshark
I know the district well I have family on the sunrise side.
19 posted on 08/24/2013 12:16:48 AM PDT by Darren McCarty (Abortion - legalized murder for convenience)
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To: Lakeshark

Thanks for the report. Benishek had a close election in ‘12 winning by less than 2,000 votes. Sometimes Libertarian and Green Party candidates help our side.

Dan Benishek (R) 48.1% 167,060

Gary McDowell (D) 47.6% 165,179

Emily Salvette (Lib.) 3.1% 10,630

Ellis Boal (Green) 1.2% 4,168


20 posted on 08/24/2013 3:28:35 AM PDT by Atlantan
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