It's August, and lawmakers are back in their home states talking to
constituents. Liberals and conservatives alike will show up to
town-hall meetings and other events to question their elected
officials--sometimes loudly--about health care and the rest of
Washington's business, as lawmakers make the case for their own agenda.
When passions run high, debate can be spirited. We'll be watching.
Two more Democratic congressmen faced testy exchanges about health care at town-halls this week: Reps. Steve Kagen of Green Bay, Wisconsin and Steve Driehaus of northwest Cincinnati. Health reform opponents
cheered loudly at the Driehaus town-hall after a woman voiced her complaint. Kagen's event, held at a library, was more confrontational, as members of a 300-person crowd shouted at Kagen aggressively.
See web-only content:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2009/08/recess-watch-town-hall-confrontations-for-kagen-driehaus/22764/One man stood, pointing his finger at Kagen and yelling "Are you gonna
vote for it !?" In local news footage, Kagen appears to remain calm
through it; afterward he tells the reporter that "this conversation
we're having with the people here is all about how we're gonna work
together to improve our system."
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2009/08/recess-watch-town-hall-confrontations-for-kagen-driehaus/22764/
