As you can see in the photo above, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert loves to be in the middle of a tea party rally surrounded by a sea of angry tea party signs, Gadsden flags, and concealed-carrying tea partiers ranting and raving against expanded health care.
But now that the Affordable Care Act has helped so many residents of East Texas and they want to talk to Rep. Gohmert, he suddenly can’t be found anywhere but exclusive meetings with donors. From CBS 19:
"I'm frustrated, period," says local small business owner and cattle rancher Hank Gilbert.
He says Rep. Gohmert isn't doing his job and his lack of town hall meetings is making life difficult.
"When that Representative won't take the time to speak to us, whether it's individually or with a group, then that's not representation."
They held a rally outside a restaurant where Gohmert was hiding under the guise of a “private meeting.” Rally organizers say people of all political stripes were in attendance:
"We're not outsiders, we're Republicans and Democrats. We're Independents."
Hancock says its become nearly impossible to make her voice heard. Instead of a physical gathering, a third party company is used to randomly select residents to participate in an over the phone town hall.
So-called telephone town halls have become a hot alternative for chickenshit representatives who don’t want to face their angry constituents. There are reports nationwide that the questions are highly screened, many residents who signed up never get the call, and many are dropped mid-call. And let’s face it: this is an attempt by elected representatives to simply phone it in.
Why wouldn’t tough-talking Texan Louie Gohmert meet with his constituents? He outlined his refusal in this cowardly letter:
Unfortunately, at this time there are groups from the more violent strains of the leftist ideology, some even being paid, who are preying on public town halls to wreak havoc and threaten public safety. Threats are nothing new to me and I have gotten my share as a felony judge. However, the House Sergeant at Arms advised us after former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot at a public appearance, that civilian attendees at Congressional public events stand the most chance of being harmed or killed—just as happened there. One Congressional friend had one of his district staff members knocked unconscious and hospitalized this past week after being overrun by a group intent on physical confrontation and disruption.
First of all, how dare gun-loving, NRA-funded Gohmert invoke Gabby Gifford’s name? She’s worked tirelessly on sensible gun reform laws since she was shot by a mentally ill constituent and he has stood in the way at every turn. And that last bit is emphasized in bold because Gohmert isn’t the only congressman using that particular instance to cancel or refuse to hold town halls.
Here’s what actually went down: a mother and her 2-year-old daughter were delivering a Valentine’s Day card to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher at his California office. Rohrabacher’s staff has been particularly nasty to constituents, locking the door each week and refusing to meet. On Valentine’s Day, constituents were sliding cards under the office door and high school teacher Megan Blash’s 2-year-old daughter went to the door and slid a card under the door, surrounded by local news who captured the adorable moment. Without warning, a Rohrabacher staffer swung the door open, hitting the toddler in the head. She started crying and another constituent grabbed the door in the confusion. The 71-year-old Rohrabacher staffer tried to yank the door closed, lost her balance and fell. That’s it. That’s the “violent mob” incident all these congressmen are using to avoid their peaceful (but angry) constituents. Watch for yourself:
As for Gohmert’s constituents and their calls to listen to their stories about how the Affordable Care Act has helped them, Gohmert’s letter went on to make clear that he really doesn’t give a Texas hoot:
I very much appreciate hearing from the most vocal who form part of the very important twenty-six percent who disagreed with my seven year position on Obamacare, and I really believe that if we do the right things after repealing Obamacare, that even most of those who like government control of their lives in Obamacare, will acknowledge that things are better with more personal choices at a lower price, and without the massive cuts to Medicare and our seniors’ healthcare that Obamacare inflicted.
It appears everything really is bigger in Texas, including the cowardice and the denial. See you in 621 days at the midterm election, Rep. Gohmert. Don’t get too comfortable in the House majority.