Paul Ryan charges $15 bucks town hall POLL TAX to ask him a question

[sfpcjock]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4T92574OsL8/Tk05ebwAF4I/AAAAAAAAD0A/Bez_7IQoTrY/s1600/Paul+Ryan+medicare+plan.jpg

http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2011/08/16/paul-ryan-constituents-who-want-to-ask-him-a-question-15-please/">“It will cost $15 to ask Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) a question in person during the August congressional recess,” Politico reports. “The House Budget Committee chairman isn’t holding any face-to-face open-to-the-public town hall meetings during the recess, but like several of his colleagues he will speak only for residents able to open their wallets. Ryan, who took substantial criticism from his southeast Wisconsin constituents in April after he introduced the Republicans’ budget proposal, isn’t the only member of congress whose August recess town hall-style meetings are strictly pay-per-view.”

[catbyte]

1. Why isn't this illegal? It sure is immoral.

[Fumesucker]

2. Q: Did you have to work at it to become this big an asshole or did it come naturally?

A: Yes..

[jtrockville]

18. Either way it works out fine: he's an asshole tonight.

* sings the I-95 asshole song *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPWHfrU3PSQ

Feel free to join in everyone!

[Cirque du So-What]

3. How 'democratic' is THIS?!?

Charging a 'price of admission' to address an elected official strikes at the heart of the (small-d) democratic process. AFAIK it's unprecedented! He thinks exacting a pound of flesh from everyone in his audience will weed out everyone opposed to his policies? He'd better think again! I expect fireworks on an epic scale.

[tanyev]

4. ....

[pinboy3niner]

5. As the title of an unrelated OP says, "No representation without taxation" nt

[newfie11]

6. It floors me that anyone would vote for this guy.

I cannot imagine how he justifies this to his constituents.

[liberal N proud]

7. They are sick with greed

And they don't want to face the public, so charge them to get in. Only serious supporters will be there and the questions are easy then.

[HereSince1628]

8. This really never went big in Wisconsin and that's the point

It was mentioned in the Milwaukee and Madison media, but I can't say about other media across Ryan's district.

Ryan and many of his fellow republican congress critters were looking for mechanisms to evade disatisfaction in their districts.

This wasn't about money, Ryan found a mechanism by which he could hold private meetings and thereby have the power to evict anyone from the meetings for any reason.

[Bosso 63]

9. They sure do love that "free market"

Hell, why don't they just go ahead and auction their votes on e-bay.

[KurtNYC]

10. But his answers are only worth about 75-cents. n/t

[rbixby]

11. If I were a constituent....

I'd totally shell out the bucks ask some kind of REAL question (on camera) and have myself forcibly ejected from one of these. Has anyone done this?

[butterfly77]

12. ...

[ZombieHorde]

13. Wait, where is the poll tax? Looks like he charging for answers to questions,

which is very different than a poll tax.

[sfpcjock]

20. Yes, but this is sport for Paul Ryan

[Samantha]

14. Perhaps the town should charge Ryan a fee to utilize the building

he plans to hold the town hall in. :eyes: And remember to add in something for the use of utilities: electricity, water, etc., and of course cleaning up afterward.

Sam

[postulater]

15. It's his part-time job.

He doesn't make enough as a rep, so he needs to moonlight as a stand-up comedian.

[Supersedeas]

16. you want a voice in Republican politics--then you will have to pay for access

[Scuba]

17. Get it while you can Paul, 'cause Rob Zerban will win your seat Nov. 2012.

[PeaceNikki]

19. This is a couple weeks old but I've never seen anyone probe into where exactly that $ goes.

So I'd like that question answered.