Carol Shea-Porter Tele-Town Hall
I just got a call - I was just invited to join a Carol-Shea Porter tele-Town Hall! Me! A Republican! I did nothing to sign up. I visited no where to touch her campaign. My only thought is that I was merely a random number called as folks jumped off the call - thus, call me "Replacement Man!"
So, I did the most logical thing I could think of! Since they announced that they were taping the call, I figured that I could too in case I got a chance to ask questions. So I whipped out my Edirol and turned it on. Just remember, I joined during the call so I have no idea what was discussed before hand.
You can listen to it here. It is all of about 19 minutes long (mostly CSP self promotion). Or, you can use this handy player:
Questions asked:
- How will the Elderly be able to pay heating bills this winter?
- What will government do for the middle class (basically, how will the government help the middle class (that is disappearing) since the poor already get help and the rich don't need it)? Soon, there will only be the poor and the rich...
- Housing and insurance for young disabled adults here in NH?
- Elderly - what about the doughnut hole and expense of drugs on Medicare Part D?
- What can the US do to enhance our relationship with other countries?
First impressions:
Far different than the John McCain Town Halls that I have attended in person, or those of Rudy Giuliani during the primary season. Far, far different than that of McCain's bloggers calls. If this is the best she's got, she'd better switch to another format.
The questions were of the nature - what are you going to have government do for me! I have a problem and government had better have a solution for it. This is a far cry from the conservative ones that I have participated in where the questioners were asking about policies of the host, or in how government would get out of our way.
The moderator was real annoying. Frankly, after each question, he'd repeat himself about how to ask a question ("*3"), how to contact either of her two offices, reach her on the web, and upcoming "constituent" events. Each time, it was about 1:10 for time - so it chewed up over 25% of the call.
The overall feeling that I took away is that the questioners were concerned about how government was going to take care of me or my special interest group - you know, government as Mommy and Daddy.
And Carol Shea-Porter was, except for question 3, was real happy to play that role.
Comments
Posted by: Rowland | June 11, 2008 9:48 AM