So When Are the Carper, Kaufman and Castle Local Town Halls?
According to this Community News article:
For now, none of the three are holding public forums or town hall meetings before returning to the Capitol Sept. 8, according to their aides.
If you read further, all three pointedly note that they will meet with constituents (Rotary Clubs were mentioned by both Kaufman and Castle spokespeople) and will be available for individual meetings. Castle will still do his telephone town halls. But none of them seem to be on a track to hold a truly public meeting with their constituents.
These public forums or meetings don’t seem to be much of a habit here in Delaware for Congressional Delegation. I suspect that the reason is that it is easy enough to target and hit certain higher profile (and probably comfortable) groups here and still be able to claim that you’ve met with a good sample of constituents. I don’t think that this is an adequate approach — if you represent the public you should meet with them periodically.
So do you know of meetings that may be open to the public that any of our congressional delegation have planned for the month? I think that Paul Baumbach referenced a meeting that Senator Carper would attend (or has just been invited?) next week, what others have you heard of? Have any of you scheduled a meeting with any of these guys, or been invited to a telephone town hall?
Tags: Mike Castle, Ted Kaufman, Tom Carper, Town Halls
Cassandra — Here in western NY, only one of the area’s Congressmen (and they’re all men) is having town halls. My Congressionman’s office told me this morning they are “considering it” but have had a huge number of angry, violent, and nasty callers and are finding it difficult to even local a venue that will have a townhall.
According to her, today’s script is “I have a right to take my gun anywhere I want and I’m taking it to all your meetings.” Clever, huh? Not direct enough of a threat to allow police investigation, but pretty clear. Whose writing these scripts — the mob?
I see from Jason330’s post above, that Carper showing up at an event next week was reported in error or something.
It is a shame that these mobs may be basically shutting down a traditional venue for speaking to your congressperson, Progressive Mom. I’m not so sure that we are having the same issues here, or whether our congresspeople are just cocooning.
The thing to do for any of these elected officials is schedule three meetings a day for the next 30 days and conduct these meetings every where and anywhere.
So, when do the Liberals plan on protesting at their offices? Or will you continue to post on your blogs and blame the GOP?
In one breath you say the GOP is unable to organize anything, then you say they are organizing these Town Hall protests all over the country.
The elected officials are unable to defend a terribly flawed health care bill. They are content to let Obama flail and they will go in 535 different directions to save their own electoral fate.
Mike Protack
In one breath you say the GOP is unable to organize anything, then you say they are organizing these Town Hall protests all over the country.
so da birthers, deathers and people with guns, signs of O with a hitler stash are the GOP?
where did deez cats say dat da GOP iz unable to organize?
The elected officials are unable to defend a terribly flawed health care bill.
sheet, I thought dat der was fo bills Mike? which one iz yo talkin about?
Out of touch Protack. Protests have already been held at the carpet baggers office.
wat yo need is a backhoe when you com over hea. Dig you a grave so deep aint no person with a ounce of sense vote for ya.
keep it up Mike!
Progressive Mom, Louise Slaughter represents New York’s 28th district, which is a nice gerrymandered piece of the Empire State running along Lake Ontario from Rochester to Niagara Falls, then down along Lake Erie to Buffalo.
That said, your point is well-taken. Maybe these folks are literally scared for their lives. I don’t think that’s the case here in Delaware, however. I remember contacting Carper’s office last summer about some issue and asking if he’d be meeting with constituents and was told there were no plans to do so. Business as usual when you have no real worries about losing an election.
PM,
Where are you in Western NY? I know Eric Massa (NY-29) recently had a town hall because I saw it documented on dKos.
“According to her, today’s script is “I have a right to take my gun anywhere I want and I’m taking it to all your meetings.” Clever, huh? Not direct enough of a threat to allow police investigation, but pretty clear. Whose writing these scripts — the mob?”
Actually it’s not a threat at all, merely a statement of fact. In most of this country I can carry my gun to a townhall meeting. That is my right, and reminding a Representative of that right is by no means a threat.
What the hell would they “investigate” her for? Saying she’s going to carry her firearm somewhere that she is legally allowed to do so? OH MY GOD! Better investigate and arrest her!
I called Carper’s office today and asked if he is having a town hall meeting about healthcare reform. I was told he is working on having a teleconference townhall meeting because of all the problems going on in the country at townhall meetings. She said they hoped to have the information out by Monday. I made the point that people can still shout and scream even if he is on a video screen–he just wouldn’t be in the room with the screamers. We’ll see if it ever happens.
Thanks, June!