Congress is currently in its first recess of the new term, which is when the lawmakers traditionally return to their home districts and hold town hall meetings to answer questions and listen to the concerns of their constituents. Except this year, they’re coming back to a lot more concerns than they’re probably used to.
This week, town halls have been overflowing with angry constituents demanding answers from their elected officials. In general, Republicans are getting torn apart by voters wanting to know what they’re going to do about issues like healthcare.
Like this woman who says if Mitch McConnell can answer any of her questions, she’ll “sit down and shut up like Elizabeth Warren.”
Angry constituent gives Mitch McConnell the what for pic.twitter.com/tyHseJVtqd
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 21, 2017
Or this woman, who tells Senator Tom Cotton she’ll die if she loses her insurance covering pre-existing conditions. Watch as he tries to get away without answering and the crowd LOSES IT.
Woman tells Tom Cotton that without coverage for preexisting conditions, she will die. Watch what happened. pic.twitter.com/2scYP097Ef
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 23, 2017
And there was this man in Iowa who basically told Senator Chuck Grassley his “death panel” nonsense was total B.S. and is killing Americans.
Angry constituents confront Chuck Grassley in Iowa: “If it wasn’t for Obamacare, we wouldn’t be able to afford insurance!” pic.twitter.com/vrbhbOiBMM
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 21, 2017
There were other issues people brought up, too. Like that whole wanting Trump to release his tax returns thing, which it turns out (sorry, Kellyanne Conway) people do care about.
Woman asks Tom Cotton to help force Trump to release his tax returns.
Wait for it… pic.twitter.com/xztWt3mv63
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 23, 2017
I love this man who’s sick of the hypocrisy and yelled at his representative “You guys wasted a lot of money on Bengazi. Waste a little on Trump!”
Crowd asks Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) to investigate Trump/Russia.
Wait for it… pic.twitter.com/4siV7A0cOR
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 22, 2017
7-year-old Toby from Arkansas can’t vote, but he wants to know why his Senator thinks it’s okay for the government to defund things kids like, like national parks and PBS Kids, to build a wall to keep out Mexicans, who Toby also likes!
7-year-old Toby from Arkansas asks his Senator why Trump is defunding PBS kids just to build a wall #toby4president pic.twitter.com/c1amV54LHs
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 23, 2017
This kid asked the last question at the #CottonTownHall. His name is Toby. He’s concerned about cutting PBS funding to pay for border wall. pic.twitter.com/d2LbeDhAbL
— Matt Mershon (@MattMershonKATV) February 23, 2017
The White House has maintained an opinion that these are professional protesters with manufactured outrage. And while there was a good amount of organized protest within people’s own home districts (not being bussed in from those coastal liberal elite cities, as Trump loves to claim), for the most part, these look to be average citizens, just showing up to take part in the democratic process laid out in front of them.
BLACKSTONE, Va. — Half of Main Street lined with people for @RepDaveBrat town hall at 7 p.m. pic.twitter.com/94tgZmfrk5
— Dan Zak (@MrDanZak) February 21, 2017
At a town hall in in Colorado, citizens hold up their state IDs to prove to GOP that they are 100% real constituents pic.twitter.com/t2ABatcfJ4
— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) February 22, 2017
Angry constituent tells Tom Cotton she’s not a paid protester. Crowd goes wild. pic.twitter.com/z1lN3Le7sT
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 23, 2017
A lot of these Congresspeople have no idea how to handle all the protest. Leaving through the back door probably isn’t the best answer.
Joni Ernst runs away from her constituents, leaving town hall early — by the back door. #SpinelessGOP pic.twitter.com/YzeYP8gLOQ
— American Bridge (@American_Bridge) February 21, 2017
That’s still better than the ones who refuse to show up at all.
Hey @SenToomey all your PA constituents are here waiting for you in Allentown. Where are you? #townhallNotPhonecall pic.twitter.com/nTEL1GJrRs
— V. Corzo-Duchardt (@winterbureau) February 21, 2017
“Where’s Roy?” we respectfully asked @RoyBlunt. We are your constituents, sir. #RUListeningMO #ResistanceRecess @maddow @IndivisibleTeam pic.twitter.com/cK2cISub9Q
— Indivisible STL (@Indivisible_STL) February 22, 2017
Town hall scenes from Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Maryland tonight, where voters showed up but GOP congressmen were no-shows. pic.twitter.com/qfNRnNASlI
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) February 22, 2017
Reports of these milk jugs spotted in local stores all over the 8th district #WhereIsPaulCook @RepPaulCook @VVDailyPress pic.twitter.com/RsVLAgCw9n
— Where Is Paul Cook (@WhereIsPaulCook) February 20, 2017
— Where Is Paul Cook (@WhereIsPaulCook) February 23, 2017
Hey @DarrellIssa, your Congressional District wants you back home. @IndivisibleTeam pic.twitter.com/OOFbGsdxIA
— Jason Rosenberg (@jro) February 21, 2017
Our billboard is still up in @SpeakerRyan‘s hometown of Janesville. We’re alternating locations for max visibility https://t.co/FvxdtW3dxa pic.twitter.com/kihjlf1aeW
— Stop the Speaker (@StopTheSpeaker) February 21, 2017
If these elected officials don’t have it in them to do their jobs, well, we’ll still be here come reelections.
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the…Congress.https://t.co/TEAXDPEPrt
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 22, 2017
(image via YouTube)
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