Republicans are finding out the hard way that the Affordable Care Act, while not perfect, is very popular with the 20 million people who have affordable insurance and the more than 100 million people with pre-existing conditions. Constituents in Republican districts are turning out in droves to demand answers about the deadly repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the magical plan to replace it that Republicans haven’t been able to produce despite seven long years to come up with an alternative.
Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-06) held a meeting in Aurora this week and was shocked when hundreds of people turned out. Constituents in attendance believed it was a town hall-style meeting in the library’s auditorium, but the Congressman’s staff refused to let them all in:
"The Representative didn't have a plan. They expected just a small handful of people to show up," Siebert said. "We were under the understanding it was a town hall meeting and they were only allowing four people in at a time."
Coffman's chief of staff, Ben Stein, sent a statement addressing what happened Saturday afternoon. The statement says the Congressman's community event was not a town hall.
"Rep. Mike Coffman routinely hosts constituent one on one meetings across the district. Constituents are invited to meet individually with the congressman to express their opinions, seek help with a range of issues, and discuss legislation. Given the volume of people who came, the Congressman met with four people at a time for five minutes each for a total of more than 70 constituents," the statement said.
At least a hundred constituents were left crammed in the hallway, waiting for their turn, while Rep. Coffman slipped out the side door and didn’t even stay for the allotted time:
Crowds like these are turning up around the country with activists using the Indivisible Guide as a roadmap for activism. Last week I met-up with other Indivisible activists and attended a mobile office meeting with staffers from Senator Roy Blunt’s office and I can tell you they were shocked at the high attendance for the meeting. If you are able, I highly recommend turning up to these meetings. It is hands-down the best way to get in front of these representatives and ensure your voice is being heard. At the Roy Blunt meeting I attended, the constituents were 99.99% in favor of the Affordable Care Act, with only one, lonely Republican turning up in favor of the repeal. These small acts are making a difference.
Watch as an overflow crowd told a 9 News crew that they were there in defense of the Affordable Care Act and Rep. Coffman cowardly slipped out a side door.
