Well… he wasn’t the only one, of course. But Frank Guinta‘s announcement that he’d be throwing a town hall because Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D, NH-01) was too leery to was undoubtedly a primary factor in the way that she buckled yesterday. The strong plurality of New Hampshire voters who don’t approve of her hiding from them probably helped, of course. And the hostile editorials (including this one, from what I assume is a Democratic-leaning paper*). Or maybe… no, that’s an unkind thought.
Anyway, Frank Guinta made a statement:
“While I am very pleased that Congresswoman Shea-Porter has finally given in to the wishes of the people and will conduct a town hall on health care, I find it very unfortunate it took a media and public backlash in order to do it. Carol Shea-Porter, as we’ve been reminded over the past week, made a name for herself by attending and speaking out at town halls conducted by her predecessor. She refused to offer the same opportunity when she got into office—what a difference a few years in DC made. Our representatives in Washington should make decisions based on what is in the public’s best interest, not simply cave under unexpected and intense scrutiny.
“That being said, I look forward to attending the town hall of my Congresswoman on August 29th and invite her to attend mine, on August 31st. Let’s make sure we give all citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions, express their concerns and most importantly let’s hope our elected leaders listen to us.”
Given that Shea-Porter has apparently scheduled one of her town halls so as to interfere with an annual picnic held by people likely to disagree with her, I suspect that Frank Guinta‘s invitation will be neither accepted nor RSVP’ed. It’s no fun coming to these things when you have to explain yourself, and can’t control who you’re explaining it to.
Moe Lane
*An independent and/or Republican-leaning one would have noted that Barney Frank’s outburst was against a LaRouche Democrat. Those nutballs are portraying the President as Hitler because they want single-payer health care…
Crossposted to Moe Lane.
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Republican candidates should be holding town halls
mbecker908 (Diary) Saturday, August 22nd at 11:36AM EST (link)in every district at least once a month on rotating subjects.
Yes, Absolutely.
IJB Saturday, August 22nd at 12:19PM EST (link)It would be the best thing they could do to lay the groundwork for 2010.
This cycle, I think challengers holding repeated town halls will work far better than a lower-rent redux of ’94′s Contract.
I could not possibly agree with you more, 'becker.
Martin Knight (Diary) Saturday, August 22nd at 1:03PM EST (link)Both candidates and incumbents.
Art has been pounding on this for a while. Republicans should concentrate on making news where their constituents are, not DC, where neither the Press Corps nor eletorate is ever going to give a Republican a fair hearing.
As IJB put it, it’s groundwork. And it’s neccessary.
Town Halls...
kmorrison (Diary) Saturday, August 22nd at 4:07PM EST (link)are a tradition in NH. Ducking them could be problematic. It’ll be interesting to see how they go.
Perhaps she looked at the election results
gemimail Saturday, August 22nd at 5:06PM EST (link)and decided that a winning margin of 5.89% made her rather vulnerable in 2010. A margin of 10% (55-45) is considered the minimum to fell even a little safe. If the present mood holds in 2010, this lady is toast.
Same thing happened in Texas 17
cmw (Diary) Saturday, August 22nd at 10:13PM EST (link)Dem. Rep. Chet Edwards was ducking his constituents at every turn, refusing to hold town halls. There was vague promise of a telephone town hall, whatever that is. Two things happened: People got angry and started protesting outside his office. And Republican challenger Rob Curnock decided to have his own town halls, 3 of them.
http://bit.ly/D17TH
Curnock announced his town halls on Aug. 12, and invited Edwards to join him. 4 days later, Edwards announces his teleconference is scheduled at the same time as Curnock’s first real town hall in Waco (the largest city in the district). And Edwards says he’s going to have town halls in the same three areas as Curnock’s.
http://bit.ly/D17TS
Curnock said he was pressing ahead with the town halls, and had 125 at the first one. Now Edwards has said he won’t allow cameras or any recording devices at his town halls. What a coward. Unbelievable.
At least the Republican challenger is willing to listen to the people, cameras and all. Yes, I’m a volunteer for him, and you can see why … Edwards is finished. We will win in 2010.
http://www.colinwitt.com/
This should be national news
1stRichard (Diary) Saturday, August 22nd at 11:23PM EST (link)W/Mass is so bad we are going to have our town hall meetings with or without our reps
Town Hall meeting in Pittsfield
Aug 26
Wed 7:00 PM Location
American legion
main st Pittsfield, MA 01201
Town Hall meeting in Westminster
Aug 27
Thu 6:30 PM Location
Town common
Acadamy hill rd & Dawley Rd
Westminster, MA 01441
Town Hall meeting at the Gazebo on the town common.
Town Hall meeting in Greenfield
Aug 27
Thu 7:00 PM Location
The greenfield grange
401 Chapman St
Greenfield, MA 01301
Town Hall meeting in South Deerfield
Aug 28 Fri 6:00 PM Location
Mt Sugarloaf Park pavilion
rte 116
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Town hall meeting at the pavillion at the top of the mountain.
Town hall in Ware, Genville park
Aug 29
Sat 6:00 PM Location
grenville park
Church St
Ware, MA 01082
Town hall meeting at the stage in Grenville park.
Carol Shea-Porter kicks out those who ask hard questions
ColdWarrior (Diary) Sunday, August 30th at 7:07PM EST (link)Roll tape:
Thank you.
ColdWarrior
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
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Kowalski: Lot's more about Carol Shea-Porter here:
ColdWarrior (Diary) Sunday, August 30th at 7:39PM EST (link)http://www.nhteapartycoalition.org/tea/2009/08/29/mayor-guinta-not-allowed-at-shea-porter-town-hall/
Looks like she’s toast in 2010.
Thank you.
ColdWarriorr
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Unified Patriots.
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and