Republican rally outside Cong. Tierney's (D) office in Peabody on Thursday

[graywarrior]

Cross posted from GD. MA people really need to show up for this.

Congressman John Tierney will discuss health care reform over the phone instead of at a town hall meeting, a forum that has drawn rowdy and disruptive crowds elsewhere in the country.

Tierney is opting for a "telephone town hall" to reach as large an audience as possible, not to avoid vocal opponents of proposed changes to the nation's health care system, he said. A meeting reaches 50 to 200 attendees, while a conference call set up so people can ask questions and hear responses over the phone can involve upward of 30,000 constituents, according to Tierney.

The Salem Democrat's choice has created an early line of attack for his Republican challenger in 2010.

"(Tierney) is a representative of the people in this district," lawyer Bill Hudak of Boxford said yesterday. "Why he is choosing not to speak with his constituents directly is a mystery to me."

Hudak is planning a rally outside Tierney's Peabody Square office on Thursday afternoon to pressure the congressman to hold a meeting.

link
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_22222...

[polmaven]

1. The Congressman

actually had a Town Hall meeting on June 30. I was there, and it went very well, despite the Lyndon LaRouchers who were already trying to squawk about the Democrats wanting to kill the old folks.

[polmaven]

2. Oh....

And....There is a counter rally being organized. Today is a workday for me, but I am going to work my lunch hour around so that I can spend approximately 1/2 hour in Peabody Square, 1:00 to 1:30.

Come if you can......

[AllieB]

3. How did it go?

[polmaven]

4. It actually went very well....

There is a write up here: http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_225221454.html.

Supporters of Congressman Tierney outnumbered the Hudak crowd more than 2 to 1. Some of them had some really nasty signs, but that is to be expected from these crowds.

I will probably be seeing the Congressman at a barbecue on the 22nd. I'm sure he will be his usual confident self. I'm looking forward to speaking with him in that kind of an informal setting, though. I may do a little "teasing". :evilgrin: