This Summer, Democrats Shy Away From Town Hall Meetings

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Democrats ,; Campaign 2010

(Credit: AP)

Updated 4:08 p.m. Eastern Time

As the health care reform bill debate raged last August, Democrats returned to their home districts for what in years past had been relatively uneventful meetings with constituents.

Their meetings in the summer of 2009, of course, were anything but uneventful: Americans who would soon serve as the backbone of the Tea Party movement showed up at town hall meetings around the country to rail against lawmakers over the health care bill and other issues.

"One day, God's gonna stand before you," one man thundered at Sen. Arlen Specter on August 11th. "And he's gonna judge you and the rest of your damn cronies up on the Hill -- and then you will get your just desserts."

In an effort to avoid a repeat of such scenes - which can be both uncomfortable and politically damaging - Democrats are now holding fewer open town halls than they did in the past, according to the New York Times.

"Of the 255 Democrats who make up the majority in the House, only a handful held town-hall-style forums as legislators spent last week at home in their districts," the newspaper reports. "It was no scheduling accident."

Instead, Democrats are shifting toward invitation-only gatherings, controlled settings like tours of local businesses, and "town halls" that take place entirely over the telephone.

Lawmakers argue that such events are actually potentially more valuable than town halls, which they suggest are simply opportunities for political activists to make noise.

"At town halls, there was a group of people who were there to disrupt, purely politically driven, not there because they wanted to get answers or discuss the issues," Rep. Frank Kratovil Jr. (D-Md.) told the Times.

Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Majority Leader John Boehner, suggested to CBS News that "Democrats are hiding from the American people." He used as a counterpoint Republicans' "America Speaking Out" project, which he said reflects an effort by the House GOP to offer an agenda that reflects the concerns of voters.

Democrats are disputing that notion, arguing that their members did hundreds of public events even in the recent short recess.

"Interacting with constituents might be considered cutting edge for Washington Republicans, but it's what Democrats have been doing since the beginning of this Congress," said Doug Thornell, a spokesman for Rep. Chris Van Hollen. "The real difference is we are actually trying to solve problems not figure out our campaign message."

It remains to be seen to what degree Democrats will avoid town halls in the August recess. But they surely don't relish the prospect of returning home to Tea Party chants of "tyranny!" and comments like this one, which Nancy Snyder offered up last year: "We didn't stand up when they took prayer out of school and replaced it with drugs, we didn't stand up and we got legalized abortion and they're killing babies, and if we don't stand up now, God help us."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

18 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment See all 18 Comments


by Cuda-Driver June 7, 2010 6:36 PM EDT: I don't blame the Democrats for not going to these town meetings. The tea party people are not acting civilized asking questions. They are a bunch of loud mouth thugs. Look at that guy he's yelling attacking a woman, big man. This guy does not have the debating skills to clean anyone's clock so he resorts to attack. Did you people even read this article or do you not understand it.

"One day, God's gonna stand before you," one man (thundered) at Sen. Arlen Specter on August 11th. "And he's gonna judge you and the rest of your damn cronies up on the Hill -- and then you will get your just desserts."

If this is how the tea party conduct's themselves at town meetings don't expect people to want to listen to you. Once more teabag nut jobs!; Reply to this comment

by stn_sage June 7, 2010 4:57 PM EDT

Well, they can go home and talk in front of chosen, supporter-only crowds if they want to; but, that will probably only make non-supporters even MADDER at them for 'hiding out', and make these people even MORE determined to vote against them in November!!!

These incumbents have messed up over the past two years and now they ought to at least 'have the guts' to go home and face their constituents!

If they can't do that, they ought to just quit! Because they're showing they lack the integrity and character the job requires!

Reply to this comment


by Harden_Tar June 7, 2010 5:48 PM EDT: Don't blame them a bit for avoiding getting their collective clocks cleaned by their constituents. If they hide out, people will realize that and make it even tougher for them to keep their jobs. Polish up that resume congressman.

by IndepTex20 June 7, 2010 4:33 PM EDT

by Cuda-Driver June 7, 2010 4:14 PM EDT
"One day, God's gonna stand before you," one man thundered at Sen. Arlen Specter on August 11th. "And he's gonna judge you and the rest of your damn cronies up on the Hill -- and then you will get your just desserts." Again teabag nut jobs!!

Explain how you get "teabag nut-jobs" from that statement!?

Reply to this comment


by Cuda-Driver June 7, 2010 6:08 PM EDT: Take a look at the guy, he's screaming at her. He's not asking a question. If you don't believe like me you get attacked. Again teabag nutjob. If you can't see it than you must be one to.


by 6591Hou June 7, 2010 4:11 PM EDT: If you are afraid that your audience is not your target constituent audience, verify voting credentials before admission and only admit those from your district. Don't stick your head in the sand and only talk to people who are going to just agree with whatever you tell them.; Reply to this comment

by Cuda-Driver June 7, 2010 3:45 PM EDT

They don't want deal with a bunch of teabag nut jobs.

Reply to this comment


by IndepTex20 June 7, 2010 3:59 PM EDT: More likely the do not have the constitution to try to explain the 13 trillion dollar deficit that they are responsible for..............among other things!


by Cuda-Driver June 7, 2010 4:14 PM EDT: "One day, God's gonna stand before you," one man thundered at Sen. Arlen Specter on August 11th. "And he's gonna judge you and the rest of your damn cronies up on the Hill -- and then you will get your just desserts." Again teabag nut jobs!!


by wfw3536 June 7, 2010 3:27 PM EDT: The truth is they are afraid of having to answer tough questions, not those by the media who are in the tank for the democrats. The biggest problem most of these politicans have is they haven't read these bills and do not know as much as the people at these townhall meeting. Too bad they are chicken to stand up and answer tough questions. If they can't, I say vote the bums out.; Reply to this comment

by cleric60 June 7, 2010 1:25 PM EDT

Instead, Democrats are shifting toward invitation-only gatherings, controlled settings like tours of local businesses, and "town halls" that take place entirely over the telephone.

Wait a minute??? Who do they represent? Who must they answer to???
We don't live in a socialist nation, do we?

Reply to this comment


by actornaught June 7, 2010 1:38 PM EDT: "...don't live in a socialist nation, do we?"

Nope. Just one where people can be conned into harassing elected officials. "Don't touch my Medicare with your socialist healthcare!"

Funny stuff.


by larry0304 June 7, 2010 12:52 PM EDT: I would wager at this point that a lot of the Democrats don't like the liberal left taking over their party and the path they have this country headed. It was the same when the right hijacked the republican party under Ronnie. It's amazing in this country that the minority elements of both parties can dictate the agenda.

The over whelming majority of Americans are center right and the polls prove that to still be the case. It's just a shame we cannot find politicians who govern that way.

The big difference in my opinion is the republican right was basically harmless where as the liberal left is attempting to destroy this nation. So the question is do we let George Soros and Nancy Pelosi lead us into oblivion? Or do we stand together, put political ideology aside and say "NO MORE"? The choice is very simple.........; Reply to this comment

by actornaught June 7, 2010 12:28 PM EDT

Phony Conservative Political Correctness is a disease on American public discourse.

Reply to this comment


by alanrobisch June 7, 2010 12:41 PM EDT: your comment makes no sense. Its the democrats running scared. They realize they have done things that have angered their econstituency and do not want to pay the piper. they will pay for it in November. They can run but they can't hide


by actornaught June 7, 2010 1:40 PM EDT: alan, when you're ready to tell the WHOLE truth about the "will of the people" in regards to HCR, we'll talk.

Have you noticed how quickly the 'pubs have backed away from repealing it? See "Will of the people".


by IndepTex20 June 7, 2010 12:23 PM EDT: "Of the 255 Democrats who make up the majority in the House, only a handful held town-hall-style forums as legislators spent last week at home in their districts," the newspaper reports. "It was no scheduling accident."

Of course they don't want to face their constituents.........they cannot face the criticism of their actions!; Reply to this comment