Report from a town hall in Red Country

[hfojvt]

I went to a townhall meeting for my Congresswoman, Republican Lynn Jenkins. It was at the Oskaloosa Public Library in Jefferson County, Kansas. Oskaloosa is a town of 1,159 people, but not too far from Lawrence or Topeka. Six miles down the road is McLouth with 865 people. (Dang it, I was gonna include a link to the Jefferson County Democrats website which is pretty radical, but it also seems to be offline. My bookmark is not working and neither is the link from the KDP.)
There seemed to be over 70 people packed into the small room. About 70% of the people there were elderly, over 60. First, I spoke a little bit to the guy sitting next to me. He was from McLouth, worked in Lawrence and had 8 kids that were home-schooled. He later gave up his seat for someone else and stood along the wall.
Then Congresswoman Jenkins and her staff squeezed in. She got applause from the start, and then said she had been voting 'no' and got more applause. She said there were over 4,000 earmarks in the appropriations bill, and also that there have been Republican alternatives that she voted yes on. She said the Democratic plan puts the government between you and your doctor. She also passed out four pages.
The first question was from a left-leaning guy and he said medicare and tri-care were great government programs. The next question was from a supporter, but she was critical of Jenkins vote to fund Planned Parenthood. Jenkins said the amendment she voted against was unconstitutional, it was a bill of attainder because it singled out Planned Parenthood.
The next questioner was also left-leaning and he was standing in the front row about two feet away from Jenkins. He looked to be about 6' 5" and pretty sinewy. He was in his 50s I would say and looked weatherbeaten like he'd put in some hard days work. Later when I stood next to him, I judged him to be closer to 6'-2. He just looked taller because he towered over Jenkins. He was trying to explain the so-called death panels and had some back and forth with Jenkins.
I thought that was interesting with all the news about shouting and violence at various events. There was no security there, although the County Sheriff was pointed out to me. He was apparently off-duty and unarmed although there was an insignia sewn into his shirt.
The fifth guy started ranbling about how we are socialist now because of FDR and the first and the third guy were arguing with him some, asking if he was gonna take Social Security or medicare.
Mike Stieben, who ran as a Republican in the 40th district said we cannot afford health care reform and what about the deficit we are passing to our children. He handily had brought his children as props. He came back to the Planned Parenthood vote and said Jenkins was one of just 9 Republicans to vote against the Pence Amendment.
Another left-leaning questioner identified herself as a teacher and said that currently her insurance company was between her and her doctor. Another questioner said he had Canadian friend who told horror stories about their system. Jenkins said the fatality rate for breast cancer is higher in Canada. A chart claiming this was also in her hand-outs. That does seem to be true too
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/561737
Another questioner spoke up about the FED monetizing 7 year bonds. Which I have not heard about.
As I was putting away chairs, I heard one of her staffers looking forward to 2010 and being confident of Republicans taking over the House. I bet he is over-confident, incumbents are usually tough to beat, but healthcare sorta did it to us in 1994.

I perhaps should also note that Jenkins expressed surprise at the turnout. She said she expected about 10 people. The country is a little bit fired up now. The turnout was probably larger than the last such event I went to, which was for the Democrat Nancy Boyda in 2008 and was in the bigger town of Tonganoxie (population 3,030 and growing).

It was a very easy meeting for Jenkins though, speaking to mostly cheering supporters. Next time I may ask a question though. She said her concern is deficit, spending, and deficit. I might ask how many in the room make more than $250,000 a year. Then ask Jenkins why she wou't consider a tax increase on those people who are not the majority in her district.

[omega minimo]

1. Thanks for being there and filling us in!!

:yourock: :kick: