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New Jersey congressman grilled at town hall amid 'resistance recess' protests New Jersey congressman grilled at town hall amid 'resistance recess' protests
(about 1 hour later)
A packed auditorium crowd booed, jeered and shook “thumbs down” signs at congressman Leonard Lance on Wednesday night, the latest legislator to experience the wrath of “resistance recess” protests across the US.A packed auditorium crowd booed, jeered and shook “thumbs down” signs at congressman Leonard Lance on Wednesday night, the latest legislator to experience the wrath of “resistance recess” protests across the US.
The mostly hostile crowd in central New Jersey shouted throughout the event, with interjections such as: “What about the taxes?”, “Answer the question!”, “Issue a subpoena!” and “Do your job!” Topics covered the gamut from Russian election interference and Donald Trump’s travel ban to the environment, abortion and healthcare. The mostly hostile crowd in central New Jersey shouted throughout the event, with interjections such as: “What about the taxes?”, “Answer the question!”, “Issue a subpoena!” and “Do your job!” Topics ran the gamut from Russian election interference and Donald Trump’s travel ban to the environment, abortion and healthcare.
“When you say that you’re pro-healthcare and you’re going to help regular people, that doesn’t sound right when you vote on bills like this,” said Liz Mulholland, about Lance’s party-line vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act in February.“When you say that you’re pro-healthcare and you’re going to help regular people, that doesn’t sound right when you vote on bills like this,” said Liz Mulholland, about Lance’s party-line vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act in February.
Outside the auditorium at Raritan Valley community college in Branchburg, protesters gathered hours before the town hall began and stayed after it concluded with signs and chants. Carmen Mendiola, who tried to attend but couldn’t get a ticket for the standing room-only event, decided to stand outside and demonstrate instead. Many watched a live stream of the event on their cellphones. Outside the auditorium at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, protesters gathered hours before the town hall began and stayed after it concluded with signs and chants. Carmen Mendiola, who tried to attend but couldn’t get a ticket for the standing-room-only event, decided to stand outside and demonstrate instead. Many watched a live stream of the event on their cellphones.
It was one of many overflowing town halls this week, as constituents angry that members of Congress haven’t pushed back against President Trump have organized across the US to exert direct pressure, and have besieged the typically sedate constituent meetings with protest signs and shouts. It was one of many overflowing town halls this week, as constituents angry that members of Congress haven’t pushed back against Trump have organized across the US to exert direct pressure, and have besieged the typically sedate constituent meetings with protest signs and shouts.
“I think [Lance] is so out of touch with what’s going on in the word, he needs to listen to what the people in his district are saying,” Mendiola said. “And if he’s not going to listen, we’re going to throw him out of office.” “I think [Lance] is so out of touch with what’s going on in the world, he needs to listen to what the people in his district are saying,” Mendiola said. “And if he’s not going to listen, we’re going to throw him out of office.”
A five-term congressman, Lance has been considered a moderate Republican throughout his career but has also been accused of shifting to the right around the time the Tea Party movement took hold in Washington in 2010. Hillary Clinton won Lance’s district by a razor-thin one-point margin in November, and many at the town hall believed Lance was at risk of losing his seat during the 2018 midterm election.A five-term congressman, Lance has been considered a moderate Republican throughout his career but has also been accused of shifting to the right around the time the Tea Party movement took hold in Washington in 2010. Hillary Clinton won Lance’s district by a razor-thin one-point margin in November, and many at the town hall believed Lance was at risk of losing his seat during the 2018 midterm election.
The president himself, the indirect target of most of the protesting, had his own take on the protester turnout:The president himself, the indirect target of most of the protesting, had his own take on the protester turnout:
The so-called angry crowds in home districts of some Republicans are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists. Sad!The so-called angry crowds in home districts of some Republicans are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists. Sad!
Asked at a press briefing on Wednesday about the notion that protesters are paid, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he believe it was a “hybrid”.Asked at a press briefing on Wednesday about the notion that protesters are paid, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he believe it was a “hybrid”.
“I think some people are clearly upset,” he said. “But there is a bit of professional protester, manufactured base in there.”“I think some people are clearly upset,” he said. “But there is a bit of professional protester, manufactured base in there.”
Several protesters have aired their response to these claims at town halls, saying they are not paid to be there. Several protesters have aired their responses to these claims at town halls, saying they are not paid to be there.
At Wednesday’s town hall, Lance selected who would ask questions by drawing random tickets from the stage. Every question received during the roughly 90-minute session was critical of Trump or his administration in one way or another.At Wednesday’s town hall, Lance selected who would ask questions by drawing random tickets from the stage. Every question received during the roughly 90-minute session was critical of Trump or his administration in one way or another.
Mulholland took aim at Lance’s position on women’s healthcare; he has sought to redirect funding for Planned Parenthood to other clinics that do not provide abortion services.Mulholland took aim at Lance’s position on women’s healthcare; he has sought to redirect funding for Planned Parenthood to other clinics that do not provide abortion services.
“When you make these decisions that affect the rest of us, it hurts many people and in the case of Planned Parenthood it affects primarily teenagers and those in poverty, and that is just wrong,” Mulholland said. “When you make these decisions that affect the rest of us, it hurts many people, and in the case of Planned Parenthood, it affects primarily teenagers and those in poverty, and that is just wrong,” Mulholland said.
Tough questions were met with raucous applause. The most well received of the evening came when Annette Cordasco asked Lance and other Republicans to “push back” against Trump and members of his administration when they make false statements and target the press. “I think I struck a chord,” Cordasco quipped when the noise died down. Tough questions were met with raucous applause. The most well-received of the evening came when Annette Cordasco asked Lance and other Republicans to “push back” against Trump and members of his administration when they made false statements and target the press. “I think I struck a chord,” Cordasco quipped when the noise died down.
Lance received the most positive response when he said Russia is “not a friend” and that Vladimir Putin is a “bad actor on the world stage”. “Now is the time to put country before party,” he told the crowd. Republican senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain, who have positioned themselves somewhat against Trump on several issues, received warm appreciation from the crowd when Lance mentioned their names. Lance received the most positive response when he said Russia was “not a friend” and that Vladimir Putin was a “bad actor on the world stage”. “Now is the time to put country before party,” he told the crowd. The Republican senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain, who have positioned themselves somewhat against Trump on several issues, received warm appreciation from the crowd when Lance mentioned their names.
Lance maintained his composure, pausing during interruptions and boos and resuming his place when the room had quieted down. The congressman earned mixed reviews for his answers.Lance maintained his composure, pausing during interruptions and boos and resuming his place when the room had quieted down. The congressman earned mixed reviews for his answers.
“I thought he was weak in his responses and he sidestepped several issues,” said Robert Wendel, who showed up to express “our collective outrage” about Trump.“I thought he was weak in his responses and he sidestepped several issues,” said Robert Wendel, who showed up to express “our collective outrage” about Trump.
“I was surprised in a good way”, said Edith Garcia. “He stuck it out with this tough crowd and he was pushing back himself [against Trump] from time to time. Not enough, but a little bit.”“I was surprised in a good way”, said Edith Garcia. “He stuck it out with this tough crowd and he was pushing back himself [against Trump] from time to time. Not enough, but a little bit.”
Carol Christofilis, who was also outside with the protesters, said she found the renewed sense of civic engagement that the Trump administration has spawned promising. “I firmly believe we had to take a giant step backwards so that we could take two forward,” Christofilis said. We had to wake up.” Carol Christofilis, who was also outside with the protesters, said she found the renewed sense of civic engagement that the Trump administration has spawned promising. “I firmly believe we had to take a giant step backwards so that we could take two forward,” Christofilis said. “We had to wake up.”