This is my first diary entry and I intend to send what I wrote to as many sources as I can think of. But what better place to start than here on the Daily Kos?
Last night I received a call from Congresswoman Kay Granger. I was invited to listen to and participate in a conference call with constituents. I could hear her speaking and then she invited us to press star-three if we wanted to have a chance to speak. She would invite a caller to speak and everyone could hear those two, those two only.
I sat through approximately 12 callers, all but one saying things I disagreed with factually, morally and politically. I was appalled by Ms. Granger’s enabling behavior allowing untruths to go unchecked and put forth her own Republican Party talking points that have gone too often unchecked by the media.
When my turn came to speak I began going down the list of corrections to other people’s comments. However, I only reached my second point when I requested that Ms. Granger answer yes/no questions, and because I recognized the standard talking points, I redirected her repeatedly. I found her struggling to avoid my direct questions and when I pressed further, trying to set the dilemma in a clear summary she said it was time to move on to another caller. I told her that it was wrong for her to allow others to talk as long as they wanted (including a man who sang "Thank Heaven for Little Girls", a woman who said illegal aliens’ anchor babies should be given up for adoption, many claims that we are now a Socialist country, etc) when they didn’t challenge her but when someone challenged her, her tone changed and she wanted to talk to a caller who was less prepared.
Angered by the fact that my representative was not listening to me -- one of her constituents -- and by the inference that she only wants to hear from those whom agree with her, I found myself raising my voice to be heard. It took me a while to realize why she was continuing to talk while my voice was raised, why she didn’t pause, why she didn’t seem to flinch in any way from my anger. It’s because she cut off my line. I could hear but I could not be heard.
The first amendment was not created just for the freedom of speech and religion; it was created to allow dissent. It was created to ensure that Americans would be heard by their representatives without being blocked. Last night, my dissent was blocked.
I hung up the phone, embarrassed that I may have served my views in an immature manner, when I realized that my anger is important. I was correct in everything I said to Ms. Granger. I am an active participant in what’s happening in our government. I read reports, articles, and studies. I watch press conferences, hearings and interviews. I write, I debate, I make calls, and I attend events. My anger is important because we are living in a time when our representatives run from pure debate when their challenger forces them from their talking points. My anger is important because we live in a time when our representatives know less about issues and facts than a political news-junkie, stay-at-home-mom.
I am calling on all smart, confident Americans to pay attention to real facts, recognize a talking point for what it is, demand answers to your questions and not the questions your representatives want to pretend you’re asking and start actively debating important issues.
I do not care if Ms. Granger agrees with me. I do care that she called me, asked me to join the conversation, and then shut me out because she didn’t like what I had to say.