Say WA? Evergreen State ping
Quick link: WA State Board
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.
Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.
Posted on 08/09/2009 11:11:59 AM PDT by jazusamo
Congressman Brian Baird accepted an invitation to a living-room chat with a local Republican leader who volunteered Friday to be his bodyguard, and agreed to a national radio appearance with a conservative talk-show host.
Baird was scolded for his choice of words in an ongoing political storm, and was both supported and criticized for holding a "telephone town hall" instead of an actual town hall meeting.
And then there was the fax that the Vancouver Democrat characterized as a death threat.
Friday added several new chapters to a story that started this week when Baird said he wasn't going to schedule a town hall meeting with his Southwest Washington constituents during the August recess.
Baird cited disruptions in recent town hall gatherings in other parts of the country, including a Michigan event where police were summoned.
He's not afraid of opposing voices, Baird said after Friday's telephone event.
"We understand politics is raucous," Baird said. "When a small group of people is dedicated to disruption for disruption's sake, it puts you in an untenable position. The choice is not to have it — call off the meeting — or have police intervention to clear the room, which leads to the possibility of people getting hurt."
In a Wednesday interview, Baird had compared the people who generated that sort of disruption on a national scale with Nazi Brownshirts in Germany before World War II. On Friday, Baird emphasized that he wasn't calling his constituents Nazis; he was referring to people organizing national campaigns.
"I didn't call any constituents Brownshirts. It's the activities of Web sites," Baird said.
Randy Behrendsen said he doesn't see a distinction.
"It came out of his mouth, and was a wrong thing to say," the Woodland farmer told The Columbian. "Regardless of how he meant it, who really knows? It's easy to say that after the fact. I'm a Republican, but I've never had an ax to grind with him. But all he's done has been wiped out by the statements he's made."
Baird said Friday that he was talking about people who make death threats, someone "who faxes a picture, 'Death to Marxists, foreign and domestic.' That happened to me today."
Baird's office forwarded a copy of an image of President Obama that's already been circulated, showing him made over in the style of the Batman villain "The Joker." The fax to Baird featured two new wrinkles — a hammer-and-sickle symbol on Obama's forehead and the words, "Death to All Marxists! Foreign and Domestic!" under the photo.
Baird said he wanted to focus on content, not controversy, in scheduling the hour-long "telephone town hall" Friday.
One of Friday's callers was Nansen Malin of Long Beach, Republican 3rd District co-chair. She invited Baird to a town hall meeting in her own living room.
"I assure there will be civility and discourse. I'll be your bodyguard," she said.
"I thought it was a great offer, a very generous offer," Baird said of the not-yet-scheduled meeting.
Baird also said he accepted an invitation from conservative radio personality Lars Larson, a Vancouver resident.
"Lars invited me to a two-hour session on his national show," Baird said. "I will listen to his side, talk about what is or is not in the legislation. We haven't scheduled it yet."
Still, some locals don't want to just hear Baird's voice on the phone or over the radio. They're still looking for a face-to-face meeting.
"I was under the impression the congressman worked for the people of the United States, particularly this area," said Kathe Seibert of Vancouver, who called The Columbian to support a local town hall meeting. "I don't care if he's held more meetings than any other congressman. We need to talk to him.
"I really think he needs to man up. I don't think we have bunch of anarchists," Seibert said. "People need to be heard. Get it done."
Other callers to The Columbian supported Baird's approach.
"Extreme conservatives like Rush Limbaugh have worked people up," said Battle Ground resident Bill Jackson. "I don't want to be in a meeting where people act like mob. It's good for people to have different opinions, but I think conservatives are trying to drive a wedge between people in our country."
"I think it's crazy what the far right is doing," said Donna Lien of Vancouver. "'Just say no! Just say no!' How can you have a town hall meeting that way? I think it's being orchestrated."
Party lines aren't the only source of heat in the health-care discussion, Baird noted.
"The differences are not always between parties," he said. "I had a chat with a fellow, and even when we agreed, he was trying to shout me down."
WA Ping!
Say WA? Evergreen State ping
Quick link: WA State Board
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.
Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.
“disruption for disruption’s sake”
WTF?!?
We’re -literally- fighting for our very LIVES here!
“He needs to man up...” - I’m afraid that’s a physical impossibility. He has insulted, alienated, and offended half of his constituents and now is hiding from them.
He needs to go (in the nicest possible way of course ;’}
It took only one shot (no one is even sure whether it was the patriots or the British) to ignite a revolution. Congratulations to the Great Uniter-—The Marxist Onada.
In office only six months and he’s more than tripled the deficit Bush built in 8 years and he’s finally aroused the sleeping giant—the Silent Majority.
Looks like the dembots, and others who voted for the Marxist Bozo, are gettling a whole different kind of change then they bargained for.
And these lies about unemployment slowing down and rising new home starts, alleged CIA interrogation abuses is the kind of baloney that just ain’t flyin’ anymore. People are saying that the propaganda put out by Onada’s Info Ministry just doesn’t square with what they’re I’m seeing with their own eyes.
Exactly! Baird has been here too long.
Oh, and I registered and added my own .02 ;’}
The Dems like BAIRD are AFRAID of organized confrontation, because he knows how DEMOCRAT ORGANIZED CONFRONTATION works, ... it’s painfull and BLOODY!
Baird is a gutless weasel.
No need to insult weasels by comparing us to the likes of Baird....
"sniffle"
From the posted article:
Baird said Friday that he was talking about people who make death threats, someone "who faxes a picture, 'Death to Marxists, foreign and domestic.' That happened to me today."
Well, I can see why he might take this personally if he considers himself a Marxist. Otherwise....
*******************************
For those who may have missed it......
Baird Equates Town Hall Protesters to Tim McVeigh « Northwest Digest
(Thanks to OrbusMax for the link... www.orbusmax.com )
Hey, this Baird is a real John Wayne type, isn’t he! Accepting a woman as his “body guard!” Now there is a true American HERO!! Scared to death to meet with his constituents, but it’s not because of any physical danger and this little weasel knows it. He just doesn’t want more film added to the ever-expanding library of democrat liars, whiners and subject-changers.
So, he considers this a death threat? That must mean he thinks himself a Marxist.
I guess if the shoe fits...
If you aren't acting like a Marxist, why are you even worrying about it?
Of course, if you are... you deserve to worry. A lot...
Yep, it’s a real stretch to consider it a death threat. Of course it’s a better excuse than saying he doesn’t have the answers to tough questions.
Bill Jackson - president of the Fayette County Fair
Donna Lien - Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Home Mortgage Consultant
All this week, OFA members like you will be stopping by local congressional offices to show our support for insurance reform. You can have a quick conversation with the local staff, tell your personal story, or even just drop off a customized flyer and say that reform matters to you.
We'll provide everything you need: the address, phone number, and open hours for the office, information about how the health care crisis affects your state for you to drop off (with the option of adding your personal story), and a step-by-step guide for your visit.
At least Scaredy Bairdy will feel a little love from his peeps.
“I’m a Republican, but I’ve never had an ax to grind with him. But all he’s done has been wiped out by the statements he’s made.”
I have to agree with this statement. Baird has always been as agreeable as a Dem can be. I’ve met him a couple of times and while I agree with him on very little, I’ve always respected him. At least, I used to. For some reason he has lurched further to the left than I ever thought he was...now he’s just Nancypants’ little bitch-boy.
I have to agree with your sentiment, though I haven’t met him I’ve followed him pretty close. I believe he caught the wrath of Pelosi after changing his stance on Iraq and is in atonement stage with her.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.