Gerry Connolly (D-VA) Hides From His Constituents


Congressman Gerry Connolly is the president of the Democrats’ Freshman class in the House. He’s quick to get out in front of the cameras and complain when it seems that his constituents may be forced to pick up the tab for Obamacare, but that hasn’t stopped him from supporting a bad bill. And like many other Democrats this August, he seems intent on avoiding his constituents’ personal feedback:

Gerry Connolly is being taken to task for not talking with voters about ObamaCare and even telling some constituents that they should shut the heck up about the issue, so it comes as quite a surprise to hear that Gerry Connolly has announced a meeting. Funny thing, though, is that you can only get in to the gated community where it’s going to be held if you have a visitor pass. If you’re a constituent, and if you manage to find out about this event, Gerry will only listen to you by invitation. How typical.

This is from an email that was forwarded to me this morning:

My parents live at Heritage Hunt (a community for folks 55 and older) in Gainesville, VA, and my mother has told me that their community newsletter (The Heritage Horn) has advertised that Gerry Connolly will be at their clubhouse on September 2 from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm to have a panel discussion about healthcare reform and other issues facing seniors. Just thought I’d put that out there since it obviously is not on his website.

Heritage Hunt features a security station that limits access to residents and those with guest passes. I suppose that will likely prevent Connolly from packing the meeting with thugs from SEIU, but it’s going to severely limit any opportunities for voters to see their elected officials face-to-face during the August congressional recess. Given Connolly’s recent behavior, it doesn’t surprise many that he’s going to hide from the voters until he returns to the safe confines of Capitol Hill where being the petty tyrant that he is is a lot more comfortable.

So to recap, Connolly’s only ‘August recess’ meeting takes place at the very end of the recess – in September, in fact. It’s unannounced. It’s in a gated facility. And the gated facility is a community of retirees – who are probably less likely than others to record the session and upload it to the internet. And it’s being held at the extreme west end of his district, rather than in the densely-populated D.C. suburbs that form the heart of his constituency.

Connolly is paid to represent his constituents. It’s not something he was forced into; it’s a job he wanted. If he claims to represent them, he better go out and listen to them – rather than run like a coward to some imagined safe refuge. He owes his constituents the chance to question him.

If you want a Representative who’ll consider your views, go and make a donation to Keith Fimian – his likely challenger in 2010.


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9 Comments Leave a comment

Connelly will LOSE in 2010 Fimian has better name recognition this time...

JadedByPolitics (Diary) Monday, August 10th at 3:50PM EST (link)

and I have spoken with quite a few locally here who don’t feel Connelly is answering any of their questions. The RNCC would be smart to make this one of their top 5 for money and time!

 

Connolly has more restricted mttgs coming...

monstermom (Diary) Monday, August 10th at 4:42PM EST (link)

It seems like Connolly will be making the rounds at restricted access facilities for retirees. In addition to his meeting at Heritage Hunt on Sept. 2nd, he will be meeting with folks at Greenspring in Annandale on the 22nd of August (with Howard Dean along as well).

There may be more meetings, but I just confirmed these two with Gerry’s PWC office. Neither are reflected on his web site.

The Greenspring meeting details are:
August 22, 2009
10 – Noon
Greenspring Retirement Community
4115 Annandale Road, Suite 103

FYI: Jim Moran will be having one at South Lakes High School with Howard Dean on August 25th. This is on his public schedule.

August 25, 2009
7 – 9 PM
South Lakes High School
11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston, VA

http://moran.house.gov/events.shtml

Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force.
Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. – George Washington

Gerry Connolly at Greenspring

valr Thursday, August 13th at 10:00AM EST (link)

mom,

are you positive that he will be at Greenspring on the 22nd? where did you hear this?

I have organized a healhtcare protest at his Annandale office on the 22nd and now I am wondering if we shouldn’t move it to Greenspring.

Please contact me at novateaparty@yahoo.com

Thanks!

valr

 
 

Hiding

unfatmatt Monday, August 10th at 5:02PM EST (link)

Constituents may not be able to get into the neighborhood, but they could stage a sit in to keep him from getting in (or out) too. He can’t vote if he can’t leave his house.

If he won't hold a town hall, go to his home.

mark1957 Tuesday, August 11th at 11:27AM EST (link)

If anyone would like to hold a protest outside his home let me know, as that jacka$$ lives just down the street from me. His yard is my dogs favorite.
I won’t post his address online but if interested in protesting him give me a reply.

Mark W. Martin

 
 

Yeah

cringinghere (Diary) Monday, August 10th at 9:47PM EST (link)

This is the most infuriating part. They hide from the voters then will go back to DC and vote how they want regardless of what the folks back home want.

 

The cowards

Ireland Tuesday, August 11th at 10:06AM EST (link)

He is a coward for not facing his constituents. I certainly hope that his constituents remember him on Election Day in 2010. I’m not at all surprised that this Democrat is hiding and afraid to face the people he is suppose to represent in Congress. They never want to be held accountable for their actions. It’s time we start doing just that, hold them accountable for their actions and I will be here next November to remind everyone of what these politicians have done to us but also our Nation. What a bunch of chicken excrement.

 

CA Boxer and Feinstein also AWOL

cjbjulie Tuesday, August 11th at 1:45PM EST (link)

I phoned Feinstein’s office in San Diego yesterday. Basically she never comes to that office. They have no idea where she is going to be, they say that is handled out of DC office. When I called that number, I got a Feinstein recording saying all the lines are busy and leave a message!

So, I called the LA office and they also have no idea when she will be where, but I can request a meeting by fax or email, tell them the day and time, who I represent or am affiliated with (I had already told him I was a constituent), and they will get back to me. She is having NO public meetings.

So much for politicians who represent their constituents.

So, then I talked with Senator (don’t call me ma’am) Boxer’s office. Her schedule is a closely guarded secret, (they “can’t divulge that”) she apparently doesn’t meet with constituents.

I complained that she doesn’t seem to be very responsive or available for input from her constituency since she won’t meet with them and when I write or fax, in return I get form letters that are unresponsive to my questions. Finally, I was offered a field representative, but who is out of the office and I could leave a voice mail. Apparently this field representative has been out of the office for a long while, since her voice mail says she is on vacation until July 13 (didn’t say what year).

I left a message telling her (field rep) that I wanted to talk about a number of current issues: illegal immigration, health care reform, cap and trade, parental rights, etc. and to please call. I won’t hold my breath.

This is so frustrating. The news really ought to grab on to this. We could always just write some notes and just show up one day. Of course they might call the police like the L.A. office did on a group of senior citizens. I was planning on dressing down, leaving the Brooks Bros. suit at home in favor of say, khakis. By the way, is two a mob??

 

CA Boxer and Feinstein also AWOL

cjbjulie Tuesday, August 11th at 1:45PM EST (link)

I phoned Feinstein’s office in San Diego yesterday. Basically she never comes to that office. They have no idea where she is going to be, they say that is handled out of DC office. When I called that number, I got a Feinstein recording saying all the lines are busy and leave a message!

So, I called the LA office and they also have no idea when she will be where, but I can request a meeting by fax or email, tell them the day and time, who I represent or am affiliated with (I had already told him I was a constituent), and they will get back to me. She is having NO public meetings.

So much for politicians who represent their constituents.

So, then I talked with Senator (don’t call me ma’am) Boxer’s office. Her schedule is a closely guarded secret, (they “can’t divulge that”) she apparently doesn’t meet with constituents.

I complained that she doesn’t seem to be very responsive or available for input from her constituency since she won’t meet with them and when I write or fax, in return I get form letters that are unresponsive to my questions. Finally, I was offered a field representative, but who is out of the office and I could leave a voice mail. Apparently this field representative has been out of the office for a long while, since her voice mail says she is on vacation until July 13 (didn’t say what year).

I left a message telling her (field rep) that I wanted to talk about a number of current issues: illegal immigration, health care reform, cap and trade, parental rights, etc. and to please call. I won’t hold my breath.

This is so frustrating. The news really ought to grab on to this. We could always just write some notes and just show up one day. Of course they might call the police like the L.A. office did on a group of senior citizens. I was planning on dressing down, leaving the Brooks Bros. suit at home in favor of say, khakis. By the way, is two a mob??