New Republican Trend: Secret Town Halls

[dixiegrrrrl]

This was in Washington state.


Freshman Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) told a town hall gathering Monday that “the whole purpose” of the meeting “is to hear from you.” But apparently Herrera Beutler isn’t interested in hearing from everyone.

The congresswoman’s Communications Director Casey Bowman called the Centralia Chronicle Friday to ask them not to publish a notice of the town hall, out of fear that people would come and say “whatever’s on their minds,” the paper reports:
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/10/19/348026/jaime-herrera-beutler-paper-secret-townhall/

Look at this part:
"Bowman later said that while the office doesn’t “screen” invitees, it does select people to invite via telephone, rather than mass media, calling everyone in “a certain ZIP code.” At least one couple felt slighted after having called the congresswoman’s Washington office and being told there were no town halls scheduled."

One of our Du members reports getting a similar call ( but I have idea what state the member is in)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2156488

[lob1]

1. It's a way to save money. They just notify the 1%ers,

and news of the town hall meeting will trickle down to the rest of us.

[peacetalksforall]

5. Do you mean - They just notify the enablers and facilitators of the 1%.

If they meet with someone in the 1% it is a board room, a private club, a resort, a side room at a fancy restaurant, or in the office of a legislator.

About 35% of all the people who are NOT in the 1% are enablers and facilitators for the 1%. They are the ones who vote and march and take tea-wash for the wealthy. Tea-wash cleanses the brain and puts narrow thought back in.

[dtexdem]

2. Not town halls -- just forums for village idiots.

;-)

[SoCalDem]

3. Secret ones for THEM, but they surely support open town halls for the dems

so the right wingers can crash them and yell stuff..

[housewolf]

4. Looks like the elephants have transformed themselves int chickens

a lower life form on the evolutionary scale

[Sanity Claws]

6. Who pays for these town halls?

If a penny of taxpayer money is used, even if for security or the representative's transportation, then it should not be private but must be open to all.

[butterfly77]

7. But,

they claim to speak for the AMERICAN PEOPLE how could that be when they aren't listening to the AMERICAN PEOPLE..

[proud patriot]

8. what a bunch of spineless cowards republicans are