Constituent Confronts Cantor: Why Have You ‘Ignored And Refused Our Request’ To Hold A Town Hall Meeting?
Constituent Confronts Cantor: Why Have You ‘Ignored And Refused Our Request’ To Hold A Town Hall Meeting?
UPDATE: The video is now working.
This morning in Richmond, VA, the local newspaper — the Richmond Times-Dispatch — hosted a “public square” discussion on health care reform with Democratic congressman Bobby Scott and Republican Minority Whip Eric Cantor. While Scott has held three town hall meetings on health care during this summer’s congressional recess, “Cantor has not held any health-care town halls.”
At the outset of the event, Thomas Silvestri, publisher and president of The Times-Dispatch, made clear that today’s gathering is not a town hall event. “Unlike the town halls conducted by members of Congress, our Public Square isn’t about lobbying a particular position.” Nevertheless, the Republican Party of Virginia sent out an email today, claiming that Cantor was participating in a “Town Hall meeting.”
A constituent who was angered by his congressman’s refusal to host town halls asked the first question at today’s forum, which Cantor completely dodged:
CONSTITUENT: Eric, this question’s for you. For several months, over five months since April, many of us have been requesting for you to hold a town hall meeting to talk about many subjects including health care. Yet, you have refused and ignored our request. Why? [applause] …
CANTOR: Listen, we are here today to talk about health care reform –
CONSTITUENT: It’s not a town hall meeting.
CANTOR — uh, and this is, the purpose should be, to me as lined out, is we ought to be able to try and understand where the two sides are, to be able to bridge those differences. That’s why we’re all here. So I’m glad you’re here this morning.
CONSTITUENT: Well, I want a town hall meeting.
Watch it:
Despite not having hosted a single town hall event in August, Cantor has tried to pretend like he has. Standing before the microphones earlier this month, Cantor said, “Our members are back in town after having been at home with the people they represent over the month of August. I think it’s very clear that the members of the Republican conference feel strongly that the public has awakened, that the wind is at our back, primarily because of the fierce debate over the President’s health care plan.” Perhaps Cantor has just been too busy to meet with his constituents.
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Why haven’t you held a town hall meeting?
Well if I don’t want to know what you think, its more efficient not to ask.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:14 pmDoncha know? Town Hall meetings and disruptions by tea-baggers are only for Democrats.
IOKIYAR
Monday, Monday snark
September 21st, 2009 at 12:15 pmCONSTITUENT: Well, I want a town hall meeting.
– - CONSTITUENT: Because I REALLY feel the need to where my big gun in public.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:15 pm“Perhaps Cantor has just been too busy to meet with his constituents.”
MAYBE he was…
in Argentina?
hiking?
flying around Europe in a private expensive aircraft?
or
doesn’t give a crap about American citizens, only caring about feeding his and other Rushpublics pocket books from anti-worker corporations?
September 21st, 2009 at 12:16 pm“Our members are back in town after having been at home with the people they represent over the month of August.”
“So if you aren’t a lobbyist for the health insurance companies, you weren’t there. Next question, please?”
September 21st, 2009 at 12:17 pmtown hall meetings are not the optimum event for gop propagandists. They have tested it as long as everyone there was cheerleading but it will be abandoned as soon as they are challenged publicly.
If they cannot control the message they will not appear.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:19 pmGoddammit, even though McCain lost the election, he managed to inject a couple of things into the national consciousness that have still gone unchallenged.
The first is that the Congressional method known as “earmarks” are all bad. As everyone is no doubt aware by now, you can have pork-barrel projects put into a bill without the earmarking method. And earmarking doesn’t always result in pork. So all of the complaining about “earmarks” is completely pointless, and avoiding them only makes it more difficult for Congress to get any work done.
The second is that there’s some necessity to have “Town Hall” style meetings. We never used to have those, and as recent events have demonstrated, they’re not necessarily productive. There are lots of methods that representatives can employ to gauge the opinion of their constituents, and having the most unhinged among them howl at you in person isn’t a particularly good one.
Neither of these things have ever been a priority before the 2008 campaign. And yet nobody seems to have noticed that they’re both political red herrings.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:22 pmOnly one word comes to mind when I hear the name Cantor.
Mutherphucking, lying, a$$h0le, piece-of-sh|t, useless, redneck, moronic, corrupt, dumba$$, RePugniScum toilet licker!
Sorry, I lied like a RePugniScum and used extra words.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:24 pmOne word: Busted.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:29 pmCONSTITUENT: Eric, this question’s for you. For several months, over five months since April, many of us have been requesting for you to hold a town hall meeting to talk about many subjects including health care. Yet, you have refused and ignored our request. Why?
Because GOP talking points and rhetoric doesn’t go over so well in that type of setting…………
September 21st, 2009 at 12:29 pmElBruce says:
The second is that there’s some necessity to have “Town Hall” style meetings. We never used to have those, and as recent events have demonstrated, they’re not necessarily productive. There are lots of methods that representatives can employ to gauge the opinion of their constituents, and having the most unhinged among them howl at you in person isn’t a particularly good one.
I have to respectfully disagree. One of the strengths of Oregon’s senators (now that Gordo Smith is gone) is their willingness to hold meetings like this in every county of the state over the course of the year. With a distinct urban/rural divide like we have here, it is critical to provide credibility to two urban liberal Democrats that they honestly listen to their constituents.
What is wrong with the current crop of “town halls” is that outside agitators–stuffed with misinformation–are bused in to create the impression of widespread opposition to a single program. They are specifically not designed to elicit real feedback from constituents.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:32 pmCantor won’t commit to anything that interferes with his Twitter time.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:33 pmCan’tor Can’t quit texting during a Presidential speech.
Can’tor Can’t find time to hold meetings for his constituents.
Can’tor Can’t tell the truth.
Can’tor Can’t lead.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:34 pmCan’tor Can’t.
OT, but I can’t play the video. The message says it’s private and that I have to accept the sender’s friend request.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:41 pmDon’t you get it!!!! Eric Cantor does not care about the average working people, he has always put Politics before People. It is time that we all get rid of anyone….it doesn’t matter their party affiliations, if they are not working for us, then we need to get them out of office!!!!
The Status Quo Has Got To Go!!!!!!!
September 21st, 2009 at 12:45 pmSorry about the video problem. It’s now working
September 21st, 2009 at 12:46 pmCantor’s a tool of the far-right teabaggers, and I’m one Virginian who’s ashamed to say he represents even one square foot of my state (although he ain’t my congresscritter…).
September 21st, 2009 at 12:47 pmgummble-bee-itch says:
I have to respectfully disagree. One of the strengths of Oregon’s senators (now that Gordo Smith is gone) is their willingness to hold meetings…
I’m not saying that Town Hall meetings are a bad thing or a good thing. For some Senators, that’s their style, and that’s great. Other Senators serve their constituents quite well using other styles. But the assumption has become that they’re somehow required, and that assumption is false.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:47 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
It’s quite simple why Cantor didn’t have any Town Hall Meetings. You see, the wind is at his back, his sails are full and he sailed right past his constituents and into the arms of his beloved corporate overlords. Swoosh.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:50 pmThe Town Hall meeting AS VIDEO SOUNDBITE is the real problem, ElBruce. Your post is basically correct.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:51 pmMiranda rights :
September 21st, 2009 at 12:53 pmYou have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right to an attorney present during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.
Do you understand these rights?
Wow! This is not your typical Republican press event; someone asked a pointedly negative question! The standard Republican crowd screening practices are slipping. That’s a good sign.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:54 pmAccording to Merriam Webster the first definition of constituent is one who authorizes another to act as agent.
I am certain Eric has met many times with the lobbyists and special interest people from the companies that authorize him to be their agent. Said authority involves greenbacks.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:56 pmOne imagines Cantor blurting out, “A townhall meeting? Are you kidding? You people are INSANE!”
Sad About the Young
September 21st, 2009 at 12:56 pm23 freeperwad
Could you repeat that again?
How about statements spoken during torture?
Like, – the sht flinging Baboon did ar$e rape Larry Craig because he toe tapped the Honorable Senator, who IS NOT GAY, in the wrong way. -
September 21st, 2009 at 1:03 pmfreeman, that’s a gross oversimplification of the case. This decision has not stopped police from initiating questions . Only a Republican shill would be that stupid.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:04 pmCONSTITUENT: Well, I want a town hall meeting.
CANTOR: You’re not one of the Corporations that I take money from, so fcuk off.
People that vote Repuke just don’t get it.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:05 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
freeman, now you’re making it sound like President Obama is disregarding Miranda. That isn’t what this decision says at all. Other cases affirm Miranda and that a prisoner cannot be coerced to testify once he’s asked for representation. This case said that if a prisoner offers a confession after he has once asked for representation it cannot be used as evidence. I don’t think the law is quite as simple as you think it is.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:12 pmquoting progressives and using as a wedge against other progressives?
How original!
September 21st, 2009 at 1:12 pmfreeman – thinking of getting up by the police soon?
September 21st, 2009 at 1:12 pmfreeman – no – and you are waaayyyy off topic, so quit posting.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:13 pmpicked up by the police I mean?
September 21st, 2009 at 1:13 pmI think writers who are not constitutional lawyers oversimplify issues just like writers who aren’t scientists often make the tiniest studies by say climate change deniers seem way more accurate than they are.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:15 pmI guess freeman brought this non-issue here instead of Thinkfast because he’s a big Cantor fan.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:17 pmShane ,
September 21st, 2009 at 1:20 pmI only just came upon this info on state of the divisions blog and the original story from the AP was removed .
I will look into what you said here . Hopefully you right and are also not making this more simple than it is .
I’ll get back to you on this after some more research .
I could be wrong but it seems like the point of this post is the Virginia GOP representing this forum as being a ‘town hall meeting’ when it is not.
Related topics could conceivably include:
Republican lying
The value of ‘town hall meetings’
Eric Cantor
I don’t think Miranda rights would be on that list of related topics but maybe that’s just me.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:21 pmfreeman, this decision didn’t prevent police officers from extracting a confession or lying about it from a prisoner. Neither does Miranda. If a prisoner decides to talk after Miranda that’s his problem. And if a prisoner says the thinks he needs an attorney instead of refusing to speak until he sees an attorney that’s his problem. Don’t be so naive.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:22 pm@#19
Required, no, expected yes.
While it may not be their ’style’, Congressmen do have an obligation to listen to their constiuents, not the other way around. If they want to voice their opinion publically they should be given that oppurtunity. Why should any Congressmen revoke that privledge from their constituents, especially when they request it?
Public hearings/town halls aren’t just to inform the representative, but its also to influence opposition. Filling out questionaires don’t exactly cut it in that regard.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:23 pmvoila!
September 21st, 2009 at 1:25 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
maybe that would have been the right thing to do before posting it. Ever think of that?
September 21st, 2009 at 1:26 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
freeman, this issue was raised by the Solicitor General in April and was probably in the works from the Bush administration.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:28 pm“Constituent Confronts Cantor: Why Have You ‘Ignored And Refused Our Request’ To Hold A Town Hall Meeting?”
Why? Britney Cantor is too busy at Britney Spears’ circus tour, attacking Obama on nonsense issues, and texting on his blackberry to hold a townhall meeting on this important healthcare reform bill. Glad a constituent with some sense called Britney Cantor out caught on the YouTubes.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:29 pmThank you shane @ 50 I will look into that .Have any other info that would help on the case ?
September 21st, 2009 at 1:31 pmWhat was the reason given for challenging Miranda in the first place ?
freeman, stop pretending that Obama and the dems are just like the right wingers. They are not.
We have a few creeps but the left will always champion individual rights before the right ever even gets out of bed.
You are naive.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:32 pmfreeman, they didn’t challenge Miranda. They challenge Michigan v. Jackson. Do you even read your own links?
September 21st, 2009 at 1:37 pmfreeman, this issue was raised by the Solicitor General in April and was probably in the works from the Bush administration
September 21st, 2009 at 1:37 pmBut as you pointed out it was raised in April by the obama administration .
This goes rather hand in hand with the expanded powers which Obama has sought in court .
http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/05/amnesty_international_is_irate_at_obama.php
freeman doesn’t need the police. He needs a doctor to remove his head from his arse. But, wait! He’d have to get Prince Glen’s permission first.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:39 pmWow, talk about moving goalposts. That’s why I know you and your ilk are right wing shills freeman.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:41 pmfreeman was attacking Obama for not following through with the public option which freeman falsely claimed that Obama promised during the campaign.
I have repeatedly asked him to answer one simple question in regards to his attacks on Obama:
Who would be currently championing health care reform if not Obama.
He flatly refuses to address this paradox in his logic and continues his attacks on the Obama administratin unabated.
freeman is a troll.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:46 pmYou say bush probably started it but admit it was brought forth in april .
September 21st, 2009 at 1:47 pmThe head line in the AP article says Obama’s legal team seeks to limit defendents right …..
You say that the right to have an attorney present during questioning isn’t a miranda right ….
WOW
Talk about tap dancing around the issue .
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Kagan had been confirmed March 19th. The issue was already being reviewed by the Supreme Court. They don’t review a case the day it is brought up.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:54 pmIf you were concerned about the rights of the American people you wouldn’t be a Republican shill would you?
September 21st, 2009 at 1:55 pmattendee:: asks tough direct straightforward question
legislator:: blah blah blah cows make good beef.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:57 pmHe’s not “too busy.” He just doesn’t care what his constituents think. He’s already made up his mind for them.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:58 pmwe don’t respect people with hidden agenda’s.
your side is notorious for your “clean air initiatives” that specifically allow more pollution and other mis-named devious methods.
We see through your transparant attempts. You are not very good at this.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:59 pmIf you were concerned about defending the rights of the American people you wouldn’t be defending the loss of those rights under the watch of a democratic president or calling someone that does defend them a republican shill as a way of deflecting scrutiny of questionable policies .
September 21st, 2009 at 2:00 pmfleaman has successfully misdirected the entire thread. Well done, troll. Your masters will be pleased.
September 21st, 2009 at 2:02 pmYep gummble, that fleaman loves him some Eric Cantor doesn’t he? All he’s done is prove that he and Stateofthedivision work for the RNC trying to divide our side.
September 21st, 2009 at 2:08 pmHe’s just been WAAAYYY to busy trying to find some Israeli balls to cup/lick/teabag.
September 21st, 2009 at 2:11 pm“The only place in the world where these claims can’t be discussed,” Mr. Wizner said, “is in this courtroom.”
September 21st, 2009 at 2:11 pmhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/us/10torture.html?_r=1&fta=y
September 21st, 2009 at 2:12 pmThe National Security Agency (NSA) has been intercepting Americans’ emails and phone calls in recent months to an extent that exceeded even the overbroad limits permitted under the controversial spying legislation passed last summer. According to the New York Times, the NSA’s “overcollection” of American’ communications has been “significant and systemic.”
September 21st, 2009 at 2:17 pmhttp://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/39386prs20090416.html
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/15/782384/-The-Erosion-of-Posse-Comitatus
September 21st, 2009 at 2:23 pmThat produced an angry response from Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the plaintiffs
September 21st, 2009 at 2:31 pmThis is not change,” he said in a statement. “This is definitely more of the same. Candidate Obama ran on a platform that would reform the abuse of state secrets, but President Obama’s Justice Department has disappointingly reneged on that important civil liberties issue. If this is a harbinger of things to come, it will be a long and arduous road to give us back an America we can be proud of again.”
“Please no clapping”……WTF is that all about???
September 21st, 2009 at 2:33 pmDivide your side , are you kidding , do you ever look at other progressive web sites ?…. they’re seething .
September 21st, 2009 at 2:35 pmThis site has become no more than a propaganda tool for the corporate trolls in our government .
I’m posting articles from the Huff po , the ACLU and daily kos , and firedoglake .THEY ARE PROGRESSIVE SITES !!!
The cheerleading isn’t fooling anybody !
maxamillion, it’s freemans blog.
He doesnt’ have the wherewithall to start one of his own and besides no one would ever go there.
September 21st, 2009 at 2:37 pmTown Halls have been an annual part of Vermont’s political activities since the 1780s. Many of the towns voted to impeach both Bush and Cheney at the last ones in March of this year. One of the small towns is also home of some fishing organization that had intended to give Cheney an award. Rachel Maddow touched on it in one of her shows – Cheney opted out of attending, as the town had a warrant for his arrest, should he step foot within its borders.
So in some states, town halls are alive and well!
September 21st, 2009 at 2:50 pmI’m sorry but I have a difficult time taking anything that Milhouse has to say seriously.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:00 pmSheesh, spent valuable time voting freeman off the planet.
But it probably won’t do any good.
…the crap just goes on and on and on and on…
September 21st, 2009 at 3:20 pmGERMANY’S LAST WARNING!
(The Last Warning)
In a new video message to the German People and its Government in a last warning and providing a last chance, in an attempt to save at least a shred of any credibility of Germany, within the Muslim world, In a new video message, the (IFF) Islamic Freedom Fighter network, member Branch of Al-Qaida has warned of attacks in Germany during the two weeks/forth-night after the Sept. 27th election, if there are no signals of a withdrawal of German troops from Afghanistan. Authorities are taking the threat seriously and have raised the level of security precautions. Now, from a military point of view this was Black Knight, to White Queen Bishops Three, a have gun will travel Paladin move, a tactically excellent move.
(German Must Stay)
Now, Germany has been warned that if there are no signals of a withdrawal of German troops from Afghanistan, within a forth-night/two-week, after the German elections of Sept. 27th, the German Fatherland will be the target of terrorist network attacks by (IFF) Islamic Freedom Fighters Networks, Al-Qaida Branch. Germany, has (3.5K-4.1K) Three-Thousand-Five-Hundred to Four-Thousand-One-Hundred, Troops at present in (Northern Afghanistan) having suffered (KIA 35+) Thirty-Five-Plus Killed In Action. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has stated the, (We [Germany] have a great responsibility here. We want to carry our share of the responsibility, militarily, in the area of civil reconstruction and in police training.) And, committed an additional (600) Six-hundred from Germany that was already in the pipeline, sources indicated that the Europeans would be expected to help by providing additional forces, more reconstruction assistance, and increased funding. The Obama administration wants to wait until after the general election in Germany on (Sept. 27) before officially announcing its wishes. Peter Struck the former German Defense Minister (2002-2005), and the current floor leader of the Center-Left German Social Democratic Party, often noted for his statement of [Germany’s security is also defended in the Hindu Kush], in an interview with (WWW.SPIEGEL.DE), Interview conducted by Ulrike Demmer and Konstantin von Hammerstein, Yassin Musharbash, and Marcel, stated that the earliest German withdrawal could not be expected any earlier than (10) ten-years, a decade at the very least, when the Afghanistan security forces are strong enough to deal with the Taliban and the drug barons on their own, and when the Afghanistan People can develop and shape their country as they please.
(Germany must Leave)
Jürgen Todenhöfer former Bundestag member for the Center-Right Christian Democrats and is a prominent critic of the wars in Afghanistan and [Iraq which Germany declared an illegal war], has taken the opposite position in regards to the Afghanistan Quagmire, that Germany has in fact completely lost any credibility within the Muslim world, and that if the commitment of German Troops was going to be a matter of decades, hundreds of German soldiers would join their comrades in arms who have already given their lives in vain, that it is the duty of those elected officials of Germany to develop an honest exit strategy, not in a matter of decades but not later than a (3) Three-Year period.
(The German Quandary)
Now, Angela Merkel, the German chancellor and Peter Struck current floor leader of the Center-Left German Social Democratic Party, seem unaware of the dangers to which German soldiers of both genders are being exposed to in the in the Hindu Kush, of Afghanistan, as only flag covered boxes carrying their broken lifeless bodies are carried home for the last time, but now what will the effects of the scene of German Civilians and the horrors of War once again on German Streets, have on the German People over nothing more than The American-Israelis War of Markets and Resources, in its continuing Blood for Oil War, on the Islamic Crescent, in the Hindu Kush. It is one thing for German soldiers to die in defense of the Fatherland, but another of both German Soldiers and Civilians to die for Resources and Markets for the benefit of the American-Israeli Empire, considering that the American-Israeli Empire has (60K) Sixty-Thousand Troops of German Occupation upon the soil of the Fatherland.
HERCULE TRIATHLON SAVINIEN
September 21st, 2009 at 3:34 pmIt is incredibly obvious certain types have no clue as to the idea or definition of topic.
But they are good at flinging. I guess the next R convention will be in Central Park Zoo, outside the monkey house.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:58 pmfreeman says:
How do you feel about indefinite detention without trial or charges ?
————————————————————-
Freeman, ” How do you feel about indefinite detention without trial or charges“, I thought this discussion was about the current presidential administration not the the previous one?
September 21st, 2009 at 5:16 pmWhy is it that when the rich get together to do something about the poor it’s called charity but when the poor get together to do something about the rich it’s called a riot?
rowland
P/S . . . let us be civil in our discourse . . .
September 21st, 2009 at 10:07 pmPresident Obama intends to keep wooing the public to support. burun estetigi
September 25th, 2009 at 9:29 am