Was the @CNN #DemTownHall staged with the candidates having the questions in advance?

Well, it was CNN and they did have the audience practice clapping....

Townhall meeting: when you never know what they're gonna ask the candidates..or maybe not so much #DemTownHall @CNN pic.twitter.com/mUK6R5W34i

— kaiser wilhem (@kaiser_wilhem) January 26, 2016

Al Sharpton hosts a gun control town hall in Chicago: Hilarity ensues...

The audience rages against the Chicago machine, calls for ouster of elected officials and wishes for a Tea Party style town hall. 

Shock Video: Marine calls for John McCain to be arrested and tried for treason at town hall meeting

Marine calls for John McCain to be arrested and tried for treason at town hall meeting 

Is Your Congress Critter Avoiding You?

The old fashion town hall is becoming rare these days. Most Representatives are afraid to face their constituents in a uncontrolled situation.

This summer is all about keeping a safe distance from voters and sticking to the party script. Before Congress left town, House Democratic and Republican leaders handed out “tool kits” full of talking points and specific event ideas, along with sample editorials written and ready to be planted in hometown newspapers. This enables them to stay within the preprogrammed Washington bubble even when they’re outside the safety of the Beltway.
Both parties’ tool kits urge members to focus on small gatherings with friendly audiences, keeping in touch with the public on Facebook (FB) and Twitter. Democrats were told to play up Obamacare benefits. “Find a woman in your district who has a ‘pre-existing condition,’ such as being a breast cancer survivor, and who has had a hard time finding insurance, and hold a press conference,” party leaders suggest. Talk about immigration reform in “meet-and-greets with successful immigrant entrepreneurs from the district or from the state. Have them tell their inspirational story.”

 Here are a couple of samples of what strikes fear in Congressmen and women.

Fun Video: Demo California Congressman Brad Sherman Has a Rough Town Hall Meeting

Via Red Alert Politics:

“What struck me as I’ve watched your website and other congressional websites is that you have an opportunity here to be a voice for clarity regarding ethics, equal application of the law and transparency regarding all of these scandals — IRS, AP, NSA — all of them, and I wonder what’s keeping you from doing that?” a constituent asked Sherman, sparking applause and cheers from the audience.[...]
Sherman attempted to pivot to Obamacare, launching into a long-winded explanation of why the unpopular healthcare law was enacted — but much to no avail.
“It’s not my responsibility to pay for everyone,” a woman shouted at the congressman. “This is America.”

Fact Checking Harry Reed's Claim of 1000s of Green Jobs Created in His Hometown

Harry Reid had a Twitter town hall last night. When asked about creating green jobs in Nevada, Reid tweeted this:

Searchlight, Nevada is Harry Reid's hometown. According to City-Data.com, the town  had the population of 760 in 2007 and there are very few jobs in Searchlight; much less green jobs. Last month, voters in Searchlight disputed Reid's green job claim.

“ ‘Name one person in this town who has a job in the solar industry,’ said Tim Williams, a bartender at the Searchlight Nugget, where Reid is a regular when he’s in town. A dozen patrons shook their heads. ‘I don’t think clean energy is a bad thing, but it’s not bringing us any jobs,’ said Williams, describing himself as a Democrat…” (Coral Davenport, “Promise of Jobs from Solar, Wind Power a Hard Sell in Desert,” National Journal, 8/29/2011)

According to Reid's own Senate office website, only 340 permanent "green" jobs have been created in Nevada by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) and the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008.

Senator Reid Created Clean Energy Jobs in Nevada. Through the Senator’s efforts in passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) and the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, nearly 340 permanent clean energy jobs were created throughout Nevada.

McRino Refuses to Apologize for Calling Tea Party Members "Hobbits"

Senator John McCain has shown his true form.  He was confronted by a Tea party member at a Town Hall and offered the opportunity to apologize for calling Tea Party members "Hobbits." McCain refused.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Monday refused to apologize for calling Tea Party lawmakers “hobbits” in a speech last month.

“I am sorry if it was misunderstood. I am not sorry for what I said,” McCain said at a town hall meeting in Gilbert, Ariz.

Fact Checking Obama's Twitter Town Hall "lowest tax rates since the 1950s" Claim

President Obama doesn't have has facts straight. Tax rates were actually lower under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. The tax percent of the Gross Domestic Product is lower, but that is due to the recession.

According to The Tax Foundation’s Federal Individual Income Tax Rates History table, the top marginal tax rate is currently 35 percent. In 1992, under President George H.W. Bush the top marginal rate was 4 points lower than today’s rate at 31 percent. In 1988, under President Ronald Reagan the top marginal rate was 7 points lower than today’s rate at 28 percent.

It is true, however, that tax revenues collected as a percentage of GDP are at historic lows. A February 7th Associated Press article did report, “Actually, as a share of the nation’s economy, Uncle Sam’s take this year will be the lowest since 1950, when the Korean War was just getting under way. … In the current budget year, federal tax receipts will be equal to 14.8 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, the lowest level since Harry Truman was president.”

But the AP went on to report that the recession and tax loopholes, not lower tax rates, were the cause of the revenue drop: “The poor economy is largely to blame...

Speaker Boehner Tweets Obama During Twitter Town Hall: "Where are the jobs?"

President Obama called the Speaker's question "skewed".

Lefty Shooting Victim Makes Death threat at ABC Town Hall. ABC Omits Threatened Man Was Tea Party Leader.

Here is how Christiane Amanpour tried to spin it.

"today we saw them wanting to carry on an honest dialogue as they said, but a reasonable and rational one."

Reasonable and Rational? A death threat?



Via NewsBusters:
Another note tonight on today’s town hall meeting, one of the victims of the shooting who was in the audience became agitated and was detained by security. It happened toward the end of the conversation. James Fuller who was shot twice last week, took offense at what another audience member was saying and mumbled what seemed to be a threat. Security did escort him out of the building, and he’s been charged now with a misdemeanor.

Video: Obama Gives 'We Weed Up' Drug Question Answer at MTV Town Hall

President Obama stammers and then rolls out his talking points when asked about the hypocrisy of prosecuting Arizona for helping enforce federal immigration law while ignoring states that are flaunting federal drug law. This is a very serious question, but President Obama failed to give it an honest answer. The truth is he thinks he can pick and chose which laws to enforce or ignore based on his liberal beliefs of what is right.

A Conversation with President Obama on MTV

Obama Supporter Blasts President Obama at Town Hall: “Quite Frankly, I’m Exhausted. I’m Tired of Defending You.” (Video)

Even President Obama's staunchest defenders are growing weary. Buyers remorse has set in.

From the video:

“Frankly, I’m exhausted. I’m tired of defending you… My husband and I thought we were beyond the hot dog and beans of our lives.”

This supporter may be tired of defending Obama, but the rest of us are just tired of him period.

Video Pokes Fun at Democrats for Avoiding Townhall Meetings

This funny video from Heritage Action for America lambastes Democrats for avoiding voters after supporting the Democrats liberal big government agenda.

Where's my Congressman?

It's Time for Democrats to Tremble in Fear Again: It's August Recess Town Hall Time.

The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 requires Congress to take a recess every August, unless there is a war. Of course, Congress can change this anytime they choose. Big spending Democrats are probably wishing there was a good reason to skip the recess this year. They have to face their voters at Town Halls again. The National Republican Congressional Committee put together this video collection of Town Hall experiences to welcome Democrats back to Washington last fall. If you haven't seen it, you are really going to enjoy this video.

Unbelievable Video! Rep. Brad Sherman Claims He is "Not Aware" of Black Panther Voter Intimidation Case

This video is unbelievable! After being asked about the Black Panther voter intimidation case by a constituent at his Town Hall, Democrat Congressman Brad Sherman claims he is "Not Aware" the case. The reaction from the crowd indicated they believe he is lying through his teeth. This story has been hot on the Blogosphere for some time. FOX News has provided extensive coverage and even liberal CNN has reported the story. Last year a Senate confirmation of Obama's appointee to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division was held up in objection to the DOJ's handling of the case and a senior House Republican introduced a "resolution of inquiry." The case is currently under investigation by United States Commission on Civil Rights.



Transcript from Patterico's Pontifications:

QUESTIONER: “My concern this [week?] is with Eric Holder and the Department of Justice, and their lack of prosecuting after they got the judgment against the Black Panthers Party for voter intimidation. I find this really hard to swallow and I’d like to know what you think about their decision and not following through after they got a judgment. And the latest news that hits the Department of Justice — this new policy that they are not going to prosecute cases with black defendants where the plaintiffs are white. I’d like your take on this information.

SHERMAN: I am extremely sure that we do not have a policy at the Department of Justice of never prosecuting a black defendant …

[Interrupted by heckler.]

… and I’m sure they say that somewhere on the internet, but that doesn’t make it true.

[Many responses.]

As to the Black Panther Party, I’m simply not aware of that case …

[Loud boos.]

Demo Rep. Pete Stark to Minuteman: “Who are you going to kill today?” (video)

Democratic Rep. Pete Stark held a Town Hall in Fremont, California June 26th. At the beginning of the video he ridicules California Minutemen and asks them,

“Who are you going to kill today?” (00:10)

The crowd demands an answer from him on why the government won't secure the border. Rep. Stark declares,

"the borders are quite secure..." (01:50)

Watch the entire video and understand what a complete jerk this moron is.

Terrified Democrats Cancel Most Town Hall Style Meetings

After last Fall's raucous round of Town Halls, most Democrats are canceling these face-to-face style meetings. Many Democrats were afraid of the campaign consequences of starring in a YouTube video where they were acting like arrogant jerks, yelling and being yelled at by their constituents, Astroturfing the crowd through the back door and even walking out.

The NYT reported:

If the time-honored tradition of the political meeting is not quite dead, it seems to be teetering closer to extinction. Of the 255 Democrats who make up the majority in the House, only a handful held town-hall-style forums as legislators spent last week at home in their districts.

It was no scheduling accident....

An examination of public schedules for dozens of members of Congress last week showed that more House Republicans held open meetings, including several in a series of forums called America Speaking Out, which is intended to help write the party’s agenda if it wins control of Congress in November.

Viral Town Hall Meeting video with U.S. Congressman Brian Baird getting blasted by a former Marine

Dem Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz town-hall protester: "How Can You Be Respectful When You Lie to The American People?"

Town-hall protester to Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz:

"How Can You Be Respectful When You Lie to The American People?"

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz failed to answer that question.

Demo Rep. Tim Ryan (OH) Cancels Town Hall Over Fear of Constituents

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) has canceled a health care town hall because he is afraid to meet with his constituents. Yes. He voted for Obamacare.

The Hill reported:

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) canceled a town hall on the new healthcare law Tuesday because of concerns about the security of the event.

The congressman’s office cited safety issues at the facility where the meeting was to take place and threats to his office, according to a report by News21.

“We just thought it best to cancel it for safety concerns. ...

Democrat Blasted by Former Marine in Viral August Town Hall Video is Retiring

U.S. Congressman Brian Baird (D-Wash.) got blasted by a former Marine in what many considered to be the best August health care town hall video. This Video went viral on YouTube and has been viewed over 1.2 million times.

Town Hall Meeting with U.S. Congressman Brian Baird (video)


Now, Congressman Baird has decided he can't take the heat and he is retiring. He is the third Democrat from a 'competitive' district to suddenly announce retirement in the last three weeks.

Politico reported:

His decision came as a surprise to House Democrats, and will surely heat up the speculation that other vulnerable House Democrats are looking towards the exits.

“With this being the third retirement by a swing-district Democrat in as many weeks, it is clear that members of the Majority are feeling the ground shaking beneath them," said National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Pete Sessions, in a statement released less than a hour after news of Baird's retirement broke.