Why are people who are not residents in the district allowed in the town hall meetings?

[Incitatus]

Shouldn't the limited number of seats be given to the actual constituents of the Congressman speaking?

They should be required to show some form of identification, license, library card, something.

[murray hill farm]

1. Well...........

then they would be accused of "taking names". Oh wait....they are already spreading that stupid rumor.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

2. Let them make asses of themselves

I agree that town hall meetings are designed for the use of the local community, and my initial reaction was the same as yours. But the flaming idiocy that these assclowns are spewing is only hurting their corpse of a political party. Much of it is winding up on Youtube and the other new media. I know that some of these sheep are going to regret their poor gamesmanship, and should it go on longer than the current spate of town hall meetings, they will only continue to drive away the more moderate and reasonable members of the Republic™ Party.

[rd_kent]

3. Hmm interesting. Show you live in the district and be admitted.

No need to keep a list of the names, just show you live in the district (utility bill, DL, etc) Not a bad idea.

[MADem]

4. I think they should make these "free ticket" events.

You get your tickets when you sign in and show ID, and your ID is checked against the information you provide (name, address, phone, etc) at the sign in desk.

Fuck these anonymous disruptors. Let's name them.

[FormerDittoHead]

5. This is what I've been saying. Hey - shouldn't "their side" want this TOO?

I'm sure they would accuse ACORN or MOVEON of doing this...

Oh, I know - they have INVITATION ONLY "Town hall Meetings"

[Raven]

6. In every Town Meeting that I have ever known, non-residents are

basically separated from residents and they cannot speak. If they are allowed to speak as happens in some towns, it is only after townspeople have had a full chance to speak. Town Meeting is one of the earliest forms of government in the United States. It is a shame to see this type of a forum ruined by people who don't give a shit about Democracy.

PS. I realize that these Health Care Town Meeting forums are not the real Town Meeting but they are meant to be fashioned after this wonderful old tradition which, btw, still works very well today in many parts of America.

[jody]

7. Same reason people outside a congressional district were allowed to vote in Democratic caucuses. n/t

[silverweb]

8. I've been saying this for days.

If Democrats holding town hall meetings would simply restrict attendance to people who actually live in their district, most of this problem would go away.

This would involve no suppression of "freedom," merely reserve seats for the people for whom the meeting is intended -- constituents.

Using a congressional website to confirm residency at the door would take only seconds via Blackberry or iPhone -- http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd

It's a perfectly do-able and perfectly reasonable solution.

I did send the suggestion to the DNC and will be interested so find out if any reps hold meetings that do restrict attendance to residents.