Ducking duo: Hodes, Shea-Porter looking bad

If God has given Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes the brains He has bestowed on little green frogs, New Hampshire’s two U.S. representatives will wise up and submit themselves this month to actual face-to-face, unrestricted meetings with their constituents. The longer they wait, the worse they look, and the happier are their political rivals.

The ducking duo need not take our word for it (though no doubt they do). The Portsmouth Herald’s editorial page, which points in a different direction than this one, took up the issue last weekend. Here are excerpts:

“This year members of Congress came home to find some of their constituents concerned about the direction Washington and the Obama administration are taking the country. Some are angry about the bailouts of the banking and automobile industries. Some think the country is being pushed toward becoming a socialistic state. And some are scared about — and don’t want — potential changes in health care being spurred on at a rapid pace by the President. As a result, in some districts outside New England, there have been instances of people disrupting the typical so-called town hall meetings that members hold by angrily shouting down the senators or representatives and just plain disrupting the purpose of the event.

“These people might be angry and frustrated, but outbursts such as we have seen do them no good. Instead, their positions are weakened. … That said, many members of Congress continue to schedule town hall meetings.

“Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who was on the receiving end of verbal abuse at a meeting last week, went back the next day and held another one. Afterward he said, ‘Traditionally, people who come to town meetings have objections. They may not be representative of America, but they are significant, and their views have to be taken into account.’

“What he was saying is members of Congress can’t duck the tough questions and expect to continue to be respected, or even re-elected.

“Sen. Jeanne Shaheen had a telephone town meeting conference call a couple of weeks ago, and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter’s spokeswoman said the congresswoman plans to hold a phone call session as well. But she does not plan to hold any town hall meetings.

“The whole concept of a telephone town hall meeting is flawed. We live in New England, where the town meeting form of government originated and where it still thrives. We know how a town meeting is supposed to work, and it certainly isn’t by telephone. It is neighbors meeting face-to-face to discuss the issues.

“In the words of a Shea-Porter’s spokeswoman: ‘The purpose of town halls is to allow members of Congress to hear from their constituents, provide information about legislation, and to exchange ideas and perspectives.’

“Correct. So why isn’t she having any?

“The conclusion has to be that she doesn’t want to face questions from people who disagree with her positions, particularly on health care. We find this curious and regrettable, especially given her history of challenging her predecessor, Jeb Bradley, for nearly two years during his town hall meetings. Some might say she hounded him.”

Hodes and Shea-Porter need to put down the phone and the other contrived and restricted public access points they have ginned up and instead place themselves in front of the public. Really. It’s not difficult.
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