Neither member of New Hampshire's congressional delegation has plans to meet with constituents on the subject of health care reform during the August recess, says NowHampshire.com. Instead, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter will be in Pittsburgh. That would be Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, not Pittsburg, New Hampshire.
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) will speak in Pittsburg, PA today at Netroots Nation, an enclave of liberal bloggers intended to promote liberal public policy, educate activists on internet communication techniques and even enjoy “everything from massages to beer tastings to author signings.”
Netroots Nation is sponsored by several politically powerful unions as well as the influential liberal blog Daily Kos.
Shea-Porter has not held any town hall meetings with constituents this August recess and has no such publicly scheduled events for the balance of the month. Her office did not respond to our request for comment.
Though she appears unwilling to discuss health care with her constituents, Shea-Porter touts her support for “a robust public option” in an e-mail distributed by Netroots Nation.
Meanwhile, Congressman Paul Hodes will attend a party for liberal bloggers in Concord. At least he'll be in New Hampshire, but apparently not for the purposes of listening to his constituents.
Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes (NH-02) has no publicly scheduled town hall meetings with constituents planned for the August recess but he will appear in Concord as the “featured guest” at the Blue Hampshire Bash, a party for liberal bloggers on August 24th, NowHampshire.com has learned.
Controversial San Francisco-based blogger Markos Moulitsas Zúniga will also be a featured guest at the event.
Paul Hodes is the only Democrat seeking the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Judd Gregg. Hodes’ office did not immediately respond to our inquiries.
Blue Hampshire calls itself the “progressive online community for the Granite State.” Markos Moulitsas runs the powerful and influential liberal blog Daily Kos.
It may be that our representatives plan to avoid town hall meetings with actual constituents only until such time as "grassroots" support for their positions in favor of nationalized health care can build. Here's how that will happen.
New Hampshire Democratic State Chairman Ray Buckley is threatening to “muster” Organizing For America, the Obama administration’s political arm, while promising liberal Granite Staters, “you are going to see significant push back on these thugs.”
By “thugs” Buckley means taxpayers who have expressed discontent at recent congressional town hall meetings.
Writing on the liberal blog Blue Hampshire Wednesday, Buckley commented, “I have been thinking about Al Gore alot (sic) lately with all of the similarities between the Florida GOP riot in 2000 and what they are now doing to congressional town meetings.”
To which a commenter replied, “I’d really like to see OFA [Organizing For America] come up big on this. Who could think of a better reason to call a muster?”
“Yes,” said Buckley. “I think you are going to see significant push back on these thugs.”
Buckley’s tough talk is ironic however as to date none of the Democratic members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation has publicly announced they will host a town hall meeting this August. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, will host a “tele-town hall” on Thursday night, but it is expected to be little more than a tightly scripted conference call with supporters.
Via Hot Air.
What I'd like to see is someone organize their own mock town hall meeting.
Someone can dress up to like like Shea-Porter or Hodes, or whatever with
a T-shirt that says "I'm not here".
Posted by: Bob | August 20, 2009 at 01:46 PM