While Democratic Congress members were inside the Capitol working to pass health care reform, Jack Kingston (R GA-01) used a bullhorn to incite protesters to drown them out:
Jack's back, touring town halls throughout Georgia's First District starting tomorrow.
He says:
Kingston encourages all citizens to attend and bring with them a "to do" list with their ideas to discuss at the meeting.
So let's take him up on his offer. Let's show up and talk about things we care about. Think it's a waste of time? It's not. Here's why.
You probably won't convince your Republican Representative; Jack's proud of his obstructionism; he posted a picture on his own flickr pages. And he's trying to pressure Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker (a Democrat) to waste state taxpayer money suing the federal government about health care reform. You probably won't convince many of his supporters.
But you will remind Fox followers that there is a world outside. You will show local progressives and Democrats they're not alone. You will help build a local progressive organization.
And media loves conflict: you've got a great chance of getting in the local newspaper or TV, even if it's a Fox affiliate, because all reporters just love opposing viewpoints.
Here's a playlist from a Kingston Town Hall back in August, when local Democrat Jim Parker told his health care story and got an uncomprehending response from Kingston:
That got on local TV and in the local newspaper, plus 1700 YouTube views of Kingston telling Parker he did get health care even though he's bankrupt now. Not bad for a citizen question in an obscure local town hall.
Earned media magnifies all the other effects: Fox followers see their viewpoint is being challenged, local progressives see one of us speaking up, and you help build a local progressive organization.
Besides, if you live in Georgia's First District, he is your Congress member, and you have every right to go speak to him about what's on your mind.
Never done this before? Want some tips?
Seat yourself near a microphone.
Have your question ready in advance.
Get in line for a microphone as soon as questions open.
Have a second question ready in case somebody ask yours.
Speak loudly enough to be heard: firm but polite.
Speak calmly and briefly (unless you have a story to tell.)
Use gestures.
Remember to ask a question.
Clap when somebody asks a good question.
Wondering what to ask? How about these sample questions:
Why were you outside egging on people to drown out Congress members who were working to get health care for everyone?
What will you do to discourage the escalating violence of the Tea Party?
Do you still think it's OK for people to go bankrupt getting health care?
Why do you want everyone else to pay for the Emergency Room costs of people who don't have medical insurance?
Why do you plan to put private insurers back in charge of raising rates for everybody?
Why do you want people excluded from health care because of pre-existing conditions?
What are you doing to bring real clean energy to this district? Not nuclear, not dirty biomass, not dirty coal. Solar, wind, waves, conservation and efficiency?
Want more questions? Send me mail, questions at quarterman.org.
Here's an alphabetical list of these town halls:
Appling County
Bacon County
Camden County
Coffee County
Glynn County
Jeff Davis County
Lanier County
McIntosh County
Ware County
And here's the list in chronological order:
<H3>Monday, March 39</H3>
Lowndes County
Monday, March 29
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
James H. Rainwater Conference Center
1 Meeting Place
Valdosta
Lanier County
Monday, March 29, 2010
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Lanier County Welcome Center
8 South Valdosta Road
Lakeland
<H3>Tuesday, March 30</H3>
Ware County
Tuesday, March 30
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Historic Rail Road Depot
Railway Express Agency Building
301 Plant Avenue
Waycross
Bacon County
Tuesday, March 30
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Bacon County Courthouse
502 West 12th Street, 1st Floor
Alma
Coffee County
Tuesday, March 30
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Engram Ballroom
South Georgia College
100 West College Park Drive
Douglas
Jeff Davis County
Tuesday, March 30
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Commissioner’s Meeting Room
Jeff Davis County Courthouse
14 Jeff Davis Street
Hazlehurst
Appling County
Tuesday, March 30
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
2nd Floor, Appling County Courthouse Annex
69 Tippins Street
Baxley
<H3>Wednesday, March 31</H3>
Glynn County
Wednesday, March 31
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
College of Coastal Georgia
Conference Center Auditorium
3700 Altama Avenue
Brunswick
Camden County
Wednesday, March 31
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Camden County High School
Fine Arts Auditorium
6300 Laurel Island Parkway
Kingsland
McIntosh County
Wednesday, March 31
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Preferred Outlets Shopping Center, Suite 100
1111 Magnolia Bluff Way
Darien