Complaints mount that telephone town halls on health care are r...

The telephone town hall, a forum that members of Congress insist offers them an opportunity to reach out to more constituents than through traditional town halls, is coming under increasing scrutiny from critics who insist that the events are largely rigged and designed to shield skittish lawmakers from facing hostile questioning.

[Carl Gerbschmidt]

This should not be a surprise. It is telling when some are screening calls, and some are almost upset they are not receiving questions and opinions opposing their views/votes. Why would you avoid debate?

[Represent or Get Out]

These politicians are voted in by the people. They should represent the people. The only way they will have a feel for what they should be doing is by meeting with the people to find out what they want them to do to represent them. This is the American way and if they don't like it, get out of politics and let someone that wants to truely represent the people take the office.

[40 something]

Conservative activists are complaining that theese things are fixed? How about everyday citizens that recognize that the fix is in? Anyone with half a brain sees this for the sham it is. Obama care is DEAD. If democrats want to salvage their political careers the best move on and start taking note of what's going on in the US economy and rest of the world disorder.

[MMMH2O]

Same thing happened to me with Amy Klobachar. They sent an email to me wanting to know if I'd like to participate. I sais yes.
They called me on the Friday before just to verify my number. Then on Sunday night the tele conference was to start at 7. I waited and waited. Then at 7:08 pm I received a call saying they were sorry they could not reach me but I could listen to the recorded meeting. The calls were on my cell phone, so even a missed call is logged. There is not one at 7 pm.
They knew from my first email to them that I was against the Hc bill. Maybe someone should look at Amy's records and see if there is a "do not call" list!

[P T Bull]

The entire purpose of switching from public meetings to conference calls was to silence criticism. So, its working--and I guess there are plenty of sheeple who will be fooled by the ruse.

[The Cold Hard Truth]

Jim Jordan the Ohio Representative is the only one with a set. Those folks he represents should be proud of him. Too bad the losers that represent the rest of us do not have that kind of courage to face their constituents. Congratulations Representative Jordan.

[Humor]

An outrage! Screening out callers who offer no logical argument or opinion on the given topic, who instead prefer to incoherently rant based on the many fallacies fed to them by conspiracy nuts? What is this world coming to?!?! I don't want my child growing up on a world where people aren't allowed to scream in their face when they're incapable of knowledgably articulating their thoughts.

[No Mo Bull]

P T Bull wrote:

The entire purpose of switching from public meetings to conference calls was to silence criticism. So, its working--and I guess there are plenty of sheeple who will be fooled by the ruse.

Yeah right...and if the meeting were held in an auditorium, EVERYONE in attendance gets to ask their question.

And while people are asking their questions, EVERYONE else will remain respectful and not interrupt.

[No Mo Bull]

Represent or Get Out wrote:

These politicians are voted in by the people. They should represent the people. The only way they will have a feel for what they should be doing is by meeting with the people to find out what they want them to do to represent them. This is the American way and if they don't like it, get out of politics and let someone that wants to truely represent the people take the office.

Tell that to Michelle Baachman and John Kline.

Apparently--to you morons--while Democrats are expected to represent everyone in their districts, Republicans are expected to represent only those who voted for them!

You're all just having a hard time living with the shoe on the other foot!

[northern mn]

The real reason the right wing party of "NO" and "LIE" is against everything that our President is trying to accomplish is because it wasn't their idea, and they accomplish absolutely nothing by attending town hall meetings carrying guns, offensive signs, and yelling obscene comments. That is not a debate! If you want to debate, then come up with something constructive!!(Now that's definately a new concept for the right wingnuts isn't it?)

[kecker]

No Mo Bull wrote:

<quoted text>
Tell that to Michelle Baachman and John Kline.
Apparently--to you morons--while Democrats are expected to represent everyone in their districts, Republicans are expected to represent only those who voted for them!
You're all just having a hard time living with the shoe on the other foot!

Both of them have had REAL townhalls, where they are actually meeting with anyone that wants to show up. Same can't be said for many of your Democrats.

[kecker]

northern mn wrote:

The real reason the right wing party of "NO" and "LIE" is against everything that our President is trying to accomplish is because it wasn't their idea, and they accomplish absolutely nothing by attending town hall meetings carrying guns, offensive signs, and yelling obscene comments. That is not a debate! If you want to debate, then come up with something constructive!!(Now that's definately a new concept for the right wingnuts isn't it?)

They HAVE come up with something constructive. In fact many of them brought copies of their proposals to his big Health Care Speech.

Democrats have not allowed those proposals to be heard on the floor. They aren't the party of "NO" they just don't like the proposals being offered and think there is a better way.

[yeah sure]

This shouldn't surprise anyone. Democrats are cowards, liars, and dividers. Their reign won't last long.

[GB Fan]

No Mo Bull wrote:

<quoted text>
Tell that to Michelle Baachman and John Kline.
Apparently--to you morons--while Democrats are expected to represent everyone in their districts, Republicans are expected to represent only those who voted for them!
You're all just having a hard time living with the shoe on the other foot!

Morons? That's quite the debate tactic you got there. Was that acquired from our free public education system or did you learn that reading Al Franken's book?

[Dane]

No! Say it's not so!!! I would be very surprised if they were doing this....very tongue in cheek people....

[P T Bull]

No Mo Bull wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah right...and if the meeting were held in an auditorium, EVERYONE in attendance gets to ask their question.
And while people are asking their questions, EVERYONE else will remain respectful and not interrupt.

Thanks for supporting my assertion. Its clear I was right, as they instituted the calls after they had to face voters who challenged them.

I guess most politicians figure all they have to do is lie to the public and take lobbyist money, but when they have to face angry voters, all of a sudden the job is too tough for them. As truman said,'can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!'

[Phid]

northern mn wrote:

The real reason the right wing party of "NO" and "LIE" is against everything that our President is trying to accomplish is because it wasn't their idea,

Oh, I can assure you that the criticism over Obama's radical agenda is not because his critics did not think of it first! Their criticism is because, well, it's a radical agenda!

and they accomplish absolutely nothing by attending town hall meetings carrying guns, offensive signs, and yelling obscene comments. That is not a debate! If you want to debate, then come up with something constructive!!(Now that's definately a new concept for the right wingnuts isn't it?)

Would you agree that anti-war protesters during the Bush-era "accomplished absolutely nothing by carrying offensive signs, and yelling obscene comments"?

[frank]

atleaset democrats try to listen to people at leaset democrats are giving the public a source to vent. when bush or chent were asked about how 80% of the public hated what they were doing all cheny and bush said was so what how cares.back in the 80,s when retard reagan was running things people were screaming telling him trickle down economics dont work and that him crushing unions would kill america. now look at america unions are weak the working class have become the poor class. and the rich have becoem the filthy rich.so reagan never listened to the people bush never listened to teh people. yet obama and the democrats are trying (thru all the hate racism and violence)yet they are bad for it. you republicans are some sad crazy backwards people.

[Mike]

This is what happens when a few spoil it for everyone. You really can't blame legislators not wanting to be yelled and screamed at by nut cases who can't ask a question civilly and receive a fair answer, even if they don't like it. There are a few who think yelling and screaming somehow gets their point across. To most people they look like people who have lost their minds and should be in an institution. This is why nothing gets done, because of the "I'm always right and you're always wrong" attitude from some people.

[northern mn]

yeah sure writes:This shouldn't surprise anyone. Democrats are cowards, liars, and dividers. Their reign won't last long.

Where were you for the past eight years when we had the biggest liar and do nothing president in history! Not only was he bad for four years, but idiotically was voted in for four more worthless years. I wouldn't knock someone who's finally trying to straiten out an eight year mess!!!!