Campaign Action
Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) has refused to meet with constituents or hold a town hall to hear their concerns about Trump and Russia, the Affordable Care Act, and a host of other issues. He finally laid out the case for skipping them:
“The amount of time that I have at home is minimal, I need to make sure that it’s productive,” Bost said Friday. “You know the cleansing that the Orientals used to do where you’d put one person out in front and 900 people yell at them? That’s not what we need. We need to have meetings with people that are productive.”
“The Orientals.” (Checks calendar to make sure it is still 2017.) What in the actual fresh hell is he thinking? Granted, Bost’s district is not very diverse (79 percent white), but that does not excuse his remark. Oriental is an adjective used to describe rugs, not people. Asian-Americans make up the fastest-growing racial group in America.
In the meantime, Rep. Bost, listen to your hometown newspaper:
However, it is part of his job description to, from time to time, take the heat. A leader should not be reluctant to meet with his constituents personally.
We appreciate that Bost used his week in Southern Illinois to talk to hospitals and health care providers to get a better understanding of what needs to be done. We really do.
But, his constituents need him, too. Bost was elected to represent the people, not just institutions.
HOLD THE TOWN HALL.