Congressman Wexler's (D-FL) town hall meeting gets screwed up

[Cyrano]

The town hall meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, (Thursday), but people found out today, through the Palm Beach Post, that tickets are required.

I was planning to take a carload of people from a nearby seniors community to this meeting, but there are no tickets left. I'm pissed.

Far too many seniors have been confused and frightened by the wingnut propaganda and it's something that Wexler could put to rest in no time. But he scheduled a town hall meeting in a building that can hold only 500 people, and no one knew that tickets were required.

Congressman Wexler: With all due respect, this is a major fuck up. Whatever caused it is not the issue. What you must do before returning to Washington is get into the club houses at these senior communities and reassure them that they're not going to lose their Medicare. -- And don't underestimate the level of fear among these solid Democratic voters.

It needs to be said that Wexler is a liberal with a great voting record. He's one of the good guys. But it's critical that he addresses this problem. The seniors always turn out for him. Right now, he has to turn up for them.

[tosh]

1. You should fax this to his office.

I notice his website has MYTHS AND FACTS ON HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM with link front and center.

My blue$$dog's site doesn't even mention the issue...anywhere.:eyes:

[Cyrano]

2. I've already called his office on this.

They said my comments would be passed on to the congressman and he would do his best to show up at the senior communities. We'll have to wait and see.

[tosh]

3. You are right.

It would be a VERY smart move on his part.

[Soylent Brice]

4. tickets?

that's odd. i've not heard of that for a town hall meeting before.

am i in the dark here on this one??

[Cyrano]

5. His office claimed that it was the fire dept. that caused the problem

It seems that the fire dept. decided that too many people were going to show up and wanted a way to ensure that the South Palm Beach Civic Center didn't get overcrowded.

This evidently happened a week ago and there was no time to get out the word that tickets were needed. At least that's what I was told by his office.

However, what puzzles me, is that as of today, there are no more tickets available. So how did those who got tickets know they were needed???

No accusations here. Just a question that begs for an answer.

[valerief]

6. Sounds like someone in the fire dept had someone else contact FreedomWorks.

I guess if most of the people in the hall are teabagging birthers, we'll know it was something like that.

[Cyrano]

8. Not likely. I'm just guessing here, but however those tickets were

distributed, I'm willing to bet that teabaggers/birthers/deathers/wingnuts were not on any Democrat's "most favored" list.

[valerief]

9. Yeah, but if they were given first come, first serve and only the wingnuts

knew about them, then, well, it could be only wingnuts in the hall.

[Soylent Brice]

10. the idea of tickets still sounds ridiculous.

if they were willing to have such a late announcement of needing tickets, you'd think they'd prefer to make a late announcement for a change of venue to accommodate space needed.

begs for answers indeed.

[gratuitous]

7. A decent countermeasure

If the town halls in the area have been out of control mob scenes, allotting a specific number of tickets is a good way to manage the event and venue. I'm sure the fire marshal is in favor of this. Wexler is, as you note, one of the good guys, and I have no doubt he will afford as many people as possible an opportunity to express their opinions and concerns, and address them appropriately.

[tsuki]

11. Talk to Rep. Wexler about going to the senior home. nt

[Cyrano]

13. I'm not talking about senior care centers

Congressman Wexler's district has senior retirement communities, some as large as 7,000 units. And they are one of the biggest reasons that he is unbeatable come election time.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. Rep Wexler was my Mom and Dad's Congressman and they loved him. He

made it a point to visit retirement homes to speak to his constituents. I hope he will do this to quell their fears.