Here is your chance to give an earful to a Tennessee Blue Dog Democrat about the public option at several town hall meetings. Linked here is a YouTube video from Firedog Lake of Representative Lincoln Davis (sorry I don't know how to embed it). In the video, he comes across as rather reasonable, but doesn't commit to anything. He says that "all options are on the table."
Over the next week, Davis is holding six town hall meetings around his district in Middle Tennessee. They are listed beyond the break.
Date Event Location County
August 18 (That's TODAY!)
3:00PM CST Franklin County Regional Town Hall Franklin County Annex, Community Room, Winchester Franklin County
August 19
5:00PM CST Maury County Regional Town Hall Columbia State, Waymon Hickman Building, Cherry Theater, Columbia Maury County
August 20
5:00PM CST Cumberland County Regional Town Hall Palace Theatre, Crossville Cumberland County
August 21
8:00AM CST Fentress County Regional Town Hall Jamestown Community Center, Jamestown Fentress County
2:00PM EST Campbell County Regional Town Hall County Courthouse, Jacksboro Campbell County
August 24
9:00AM CST Marion County Regional Town Hall Kimball City Hall, Kimball Marion County
1:00PM CST Warren County Regional Town Hall County Administrative Building, McMinnville Warren County
I will be at the last scheduled meeting in McMinnville.
Tennessee, as you know, is a red state, although we do have a Democratic governor in Bredesen. It is split along its axis into Blue and Red zones, with the west around Memphis being Democratic and the East around Knoxville being very Republican. Middle Tennessee is the battleground. It can sometimes be a little intimidating to voice a liberal opinion, especially in the rural areas, due to a preponderance of gun-loving, Bible-quoting wingnuts.
McMinnville (nice little town on the banks of the Collins River) was the site of a tea-party actively sponsored by the local Republican Party, so that may turn out to be the most interesting meeting. It is also the town where Davis has his office.
Davis' identity as a Blue Dog is probably necessary for his political survival in his district, so don't expect wonders. But judged by the video, he seems willing, at least, to consider a progressive point of view.