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Dude - Where's My Town Hall?

by: TwoPuttTommy

Mon Aug 03, 2009 at 09:06:53 AM CDT

Today was the day I was going to write about how GOPer Erik Paulsen had abandoned the tradition of the accessible Jim Ramstad and is acting like the reclusive John Kline, concerning town hall meetings. However, when I logged on, I noticed on the blogwire that Gavin Sullivan beat me to it. Here's the start to Gavin's post, last Saturday:

Congressman Erik Paulsen's several predecessors established a decades-old tradition of holding quarterly 'Town Hall Forums'--in which constituents could address questions to their solon face-to-face. Upon assuming the seat, Paulsen unilaterally erased this democratic inheritance.

And Paulsen ducking out should not be a surprise to anyone. Paulsen started his campaign for congress claiming he was something he clearly is not - a moderate in the mold of Frenzel and Ramstad. Paulsen started his congressional career under a false facade; his record in congress clearly points out Paulsen is hardly a "moderate" - why would Paulsen take the chance to expose the charade in a public venue?

And what's really not surprising is just the other day, the state GOP, led by FEC Tony and MudSlingerMike, ripped DFLer Peterson for not holding Town Halls.

Everybody got that? The state GOP's position is:

Rip Peterson, but ignore Paulsen doin' the same thing. Well, Kline and Bachmann, too.

Which, of course, proves once again:

"Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP"

TwoPuttTommy :: Dude - Where's My Town Hall?

Tags: Erik Paulsen, MN-03, GOP, town hall meetings, Hypocrisy, John Kline, Michele Bachmann, (All Tags)

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Dude - Where's My Town Hall? | 2 comments

We do this to ourselves. (0.00 / 0)

I pretty much agree with Peterson on this one. The town hall meetings have become a joke with both sides going for the "I gotcha moment". Today we have a lot of ways to communicate with our reps, facebook, e-mails, and phone calls. We have to find a way to be more civil.

by: taxpayingliberal @ Mon Aug 03, 2009 at 12:52:05 PM CDT

"Civil? The GOP has your stinkin' 'civil'"... (0.00 / 0)

From Think Progress:

Right-Wing Harassment Strategy Against Dems Detailed In Memo: 'Yell,' 'Stand Up And Shout Out,' 'Rattle Him'
This morning, Politico reported that Democratic members of Congress are increasingly being harassed by "angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior" at local town halls. For example, in one incident, right-wing protesters surrounded Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) and forced police officers to have to escort him to his car for safety.
This growing phenomenon is often marked by violence and absurdity. Recently, right-wing demonstrators hung Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) in effigy outside of his office. Missing from the reporting of these stories is the fact that much of these protests are coordinated by public relations firms and lobbyists who have a stake in opposing President Obama's reforms.
The lobbyist-run groups Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, which orchestrated the anti-Obama tea parties earlier this year, are now pursuing an aggressive strategy to create an image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform. A leaked memo from Bob MacGuffie, a volunteer with the FreedomWorks website Tea Party Patriots, details how members should be infiltrating town halls and harassing Democratic members of Congress:

rest of story, including the memo to GOPers on how to make a mockery of a Democrat's Town Hall, here:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...

"Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP"

"Those that forget the lessons of history, tend to vote GOP"

by: TwoPuttTommy @ Mon Aug 03, 2009 at 13:13:17 PM CDT

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