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Dem Sen Says He's Been Called A Nazi
Rachel Slajda | August 19, 2009, 3:20PM
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Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) says he's been called a Nazi for supporting health care reform, and said he won't be holding town hall meeting because protesters aren't interested in answers.
Johnson declined an invitation from a local newspaper publisher to participate in a town hall with Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), citing the Nazi comment.
Earlier this summer, Johnson was dogged by protesters who support Lyndon LaRouche. LaRouche supporters have turned out at forums nationwide, passing out signs and literature comparing President Obama to Hitler.
Nazi rhetoric has been high throughout the debate over health care reform. Last week, a woman screamed "Heil Hitler" at an Israeli man. Last night, a woman called reform a "Nazi plan" at an event with Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), who promptly shut her down for spewing "vile, contemptible nonsense."
Protesters, supporters and even Congresspeople have accused each other of Nazism.
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W T F
August 19, 2009 3:44 PM
Members of Congress, especially Democrats, need to understand one thing: this is a leadership moment. They need to engage their constituents on this issue.
That doesn't mean that they should allow their constituents to run roughshod over town hall meetings. Quite the contrary: members of Congress should encourage voters to voice their concerns in reasonable, mature, and respecful ways. Let's face it: town hall meetings allow citizens to engage not only with their elected officials but with each other. Citizens expect their elected officials to run meetings so that opinions can be shared. Citizens will respect officials who can structure and run town hall meetings that facilitate fair, mature, and respectful interaction. I repeat: this is a leadership moment for elected officials.
Senator Johnson's decision to forgo town hall meetings is a serious and possibly for him fatal mistake. If he won't engage his own constituents on this issue then how can his constituents have confidence that he'll be able to stand up for their concerns to his party, the opposition political party, and the powerful and wealthy lobbyists in D.C.?
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Dennis M
August 19, 2009 7:46 PM
This is pathetic.
Someone called him a name. Therefore, he will not face his constituents in an open forum.
Someone slap this guy in the face and tell him to act like a man.
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aikbay
August 19, 2009 11:52 PM
I wonder if this doesn't have something to do with him still having speech problems related to the aneurysm he had a couple of years ago. I personally can understand him if that's the situation.
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