Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

GOP Candidates Hold Own Town Halls

Republicans jump on Democrats' reluctance to host ugly meetings

By Drew Nelles, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 30, 2009 3:47 PM CDT

(Newser) – Republican candidates across the country are staging their own health care town halls in a bid to upstage Democratic incumbents, Politico reports. With many Democrats declining to host the rowdy events, GOP challengers have seized on town halls as easy tickets to voter connection and press coverage. “By the time this is said and done, my campaign will have provided close to 1,500 people the opportunity to speak out on health care,” one Illinois candidate says.

The National Republican Congressional Committee won’t say whether it’s encouraging the tactic, and Democrats downplay its effectiveness. “Misleading constituents about the facts on health care reform isn’t something to be proud of, and local press is calling Republicans out on it,” a Democratic spokeswoman says. But success of the GOP town halls has prompted some reluctant Democrats to host their own after all.

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., conducts a town hall event on health care reform at the Greenspring retirement community in Springfield, Va., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Phoenix Police Department Sgt. Brian Murray, right, tries to explain to Marie Ramirez why she was removed from the crowd after disrupting a health care town hall held by Sen. John McCain in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cindy West, center, yells during a health care town hall meeting hosted by Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wy. in Kenner, La., Friday, Aug. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Cheryl Gerber)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 19 comments

Reader65069154

Aug 31, 2009 12:48 PM CDT

Democrats need to decide whether they want to bet the farm on this issue. This is a smart Repub tactic as the majority of people are against this bill.

cornelison

Aug 31, 2009 12:44 PM CDT

The GOP knows that if those people knew how good universal health care is they'd boo their reps out of the halls. The conservative media are controlling opinion and stupid voters vote for the very people who are making their lives miserable.

BlahBlahBlah

Aug 31, 2009 7:59 AM CDT

Oh, I have an idea. Send a team around armed with some really strong chain and big locks. That way when all of the loopy people go in we can lock the doors and have a moment’s peace. No?.... Fine, I guess we can all just laugh at the craziness of the whole thing.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

Politico (Source Grid »)

Politics • Health

health care • Republican Party • health care reform • Republican candidate • Democratic Party • town hall meeting • congressional candidates

More Newser Stories

GOP Fell Into Democrats' 'Trap' on Payroll Tax

Looked 'heartless' as Obama seized advantage: Charles Krauthammer

(NEWSER) - Republicans really blew it in the payroll tax debate—both in terms of policy and politics, writes Charles Krauthammer. For one thing, the two-month extension simply doesn't make sense: It requires businesses to plan for "two-thirds of a one-quarter tax-holiday extension." More importantly, for Democrats, it was "the perfect campaign ploy: an election-year bribe that has the additional virtue of seizing the tax issue for the Democrats," Krauthammer writes in the Washington Post . More»

Dummy Firms Squeeze Millions From Medicare

Fraud-fighters finding it hard to stay ahead of shell companies

(NEWSER) - Fraudsters using complicated networks of ghost companies are sucking hundreds of millions of dollars out of Medicare every year and it's a bit like taking candy from a baby, a Reuters investigation finds. The probe—which officials say will likely lead to a criminal investigation of the firms involved—found that the "companies" of many Medicare providers are registered to nonexistent addresses, or the addresses of abandoned buildings. The thieves use stolen doctor and patient data to bill Medicare for as much money as possible in a short time. More»

Political Parties Act Like Schools of Fish

Vocal minorities can temporarily sway the masses

(NEWSER) - Wondering about the future of the Tea Party, or what affect the Occupy Movement might have on Democrats? Try asking a bunch of fish. Scientists have found that in a school of fish, a "vocal minority"—that is, a group determined to swim in a certain direction—can entice a less-committed majority to follow. But when uncommitted fish are introduced, they tend to follow the majority. More»

White House Gives States More Say on Health Law

Proposal would let them determine 'essential benefits'

(NEWSER) - In a potentially big shift, the White House is poised to give states much more flexibility on how to implement a key part of health care reform. Under a proposal outlined by health chief Kathleen Sebelius, the federal government would largely let states determine what "essential health benefits" would be offered to residents and businesses come 2014. The New York Times calls it a "major surprise," and NPR says it "may or may not be a punt." More»

Gingrich Backed Individual Health Care Mandate

And other big government programs that benefited his clients: NYT

(NEWSER) - These days, like most Republicans, Newt Gingrich says he's opposed to the individual mandate in the Democrats' health care reform bill, which forces Americans to hold insurance. But in a May 2009 conference call with health care executives, Gingrich sang a very different tune, the New York Times has learned. "We believe there should be must-carry; that is, everybody should have health insurance," Gingrich said, "or, if you're an absolute libertarian, we would allow you to post a bond." More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

GOP Candidates Hold Own Town Halls

Republicans jump on Democrats' reluctance to host ugly meetings

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

health care • Republican Party • health care reform • Republican candidate • Democratic Party • town hall meeting • congressional candidates

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

GOP Fell Into Democrats' 'Trap' on Payroll Tax

Looked 'heartless' as Obama seized advantage: Charles Krauthammer

Dummy Firms Squeeze Millions From Medicare

Fraud-fighters finding it hard to stay ahead of shell companies

Political Parties Act Like Schools of Fish

Vocal minorities can temporarily sway the masses

White House Gives States More Say on Health Law

Proposal would let them determine 'essential benefits'

Gingrich Backed Individual Health Care Mandate

And other big government programs that benefited his clients: NYT

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

GOP Candidates Hold Own Town Halls

Republicans jump on Democrats' reluctance to host ugly meetings

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

health care • Republican Party • health care reform • Republican candidate • Democratic Party • town hall meeting • congressional candidates

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

GOP Fell Into Democrats' 'Trap' on Payroll Tax

Looked 'heartless' as Obama seized advantage: Charles Krauthammer

Dummy Firms Squeeze Millions From Medicare

Fraud-fighters finding it hard to stay ahead of shell companies

Political Parties Act Like Schools of Fish

Vocal minorities can temporarily sway the masses

White House Gives States More Say on Health Law

Proposal would let them determine 'essential benefits'

Gingrich Backed Individual Health Care Mandate

And other big government programs that benefited his clients: NYT

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?