Even though I moved to Georgia last spring, I still keep in touch with my Democratic friends in Virginia, especially in Loudoun County.
I wanted to share a post I did today about a town hall meeting I went to last night hosted by John Linder R GA-7. I hope you guys don't mind This guy is unbelievable. His likes are killing our country.
More after the break...
Cross posted at >Southern Democrats
Rep. John Linder R-GA7 held a 'Town Meeting' last night in Lawrenceville, Georgia. As I walked in, it felt like a Republican pep rally.
He started right in with the 2006 wedge issue - Illegal Immigration. He really got his base fired up with his talk about how the Senate failed to do anything and how he and the Republican House were ready to take on this issue. Now, here in Georgia there are very few people, Democrat or Republican, that want to see illigal immigration taken care of right now. It's just the way that he presents it. Divide and conquer. Us against Them.
As the 1 hour meeting wore on, I could not believe the way he talked to people, his constituants! One man, an immigrant stated that his son had done 2 tours in Iraq. He wanted to know if Linder was concerned out the image of the United States around the world and stated he felt that our image has been tarnished. Linder told him to go talk to Osama bin Laden! What a jerk.
Later a 20 year veteran was asking him about benefits and he said "what do you want? I served during the Vietnam era and didn't ask for anything. What is it you are looking for?"
Of course he had to bring up the so-called "FairTax" and link it to illegal immigration. Then there was the comment about 1965 immigration reform and how a young Ted Kennedy and the liberals started this whole problem.
This was great...When asked about the contract with america and the self imposed term limits they all signed and agreed to his response was " We brought it up for a vote, the Democrats were against it." The contract with America was a Republican stunt, Democrats were not involved. If you pledged to serve only 12 years, and signed it, that has nothing to do with how the Democrats voted on term limits.
He then went on to brag about supporting all kinds of free trade, NAFTA, CAFTA, etc.
A senior citizen stated she was confused about the Medicare part D prescription program and wanted to know if there was going to be another open signup season. He said "You had six months". Again she stated she was confused and wasn't sure what the benefits were. He then blamed it on an intentional scare campaign by the Democrats to make people avoid the plan out of fear. His last comment to her was that deadlines are necessary. I then raised my hand because I saw an opening to ask him that since he believed in deadlines, should a deadline be set for Iraq? He never picked me or anyone near me to ask him a question.
When a father of a Ga. Tech grad stated that his son had to move to Pennsylvania to get an engineering job because there were so many people here on work visas he then went on to brag about supporting all kinds of free trade, NAFTA, CAFTA, etc. and how we should tear down all trade barriers and let everyone do business here. There is no doubt that he supports more H1B visas and outsourcing of American jobs.
Of course he had to take a jab at the unions and teachers.
He ended the meeting with what had to be a handpicked plant asking in a kind voice about gas prices after she went on a rant about one of Linder's themes for the night "Personal Responsibility". He said he was a free market guy and that oil companies only make 8 1/2 cents of profit on the dollar while other industries make up to 30 cents on the dollar profit and he would never interfere with the market forces.
I didn't know what to expect going into this event since I had never met or seen Linder speak. Coming out of this event I am even more determined than before to work for ALLAN BURNS, the Democrat running in the 7th District against this, this.....right-wing nutjob. It is going to be a very tough race in a republican gerrymandered district.
Linder is one of the worst. Here is just a quick rundown of the damage he has caused to our country....
Linder voted to continue awarding contracts to Halliburton even if the Pentagon's own audit processes found that more than $100 million of their contractor's costs in Iraq were unreasonable.
Linder opposed expanding access to the military's TRICARE health insurance program to thousands of Reservist and National Guard members, even though 20 percent of all Reservists do not have health insurance, and 40 percent of Reservists aged 19 to 35 lack health coverage. Linder voted against granting a bonus to grant a $1,500 bonus to every American service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including National Guard and Reserve forces.
Linder voted for a massive sell off of public lands to mining interests.
Voted to weaken House ethics rules when DeLay proposed doing so as GOP Majority Leader.
Linder voted to strip overtime protection from millions of workers.
Linder voted to allow federal loans to American companies that have escaped paying U.S. taxes by moving
offshore.
Linder sided with social conservatives against patients with debilitating diseases and voted against expanding Federal funding of stem cell research.
While tuition costs are rising for ordinary Americans, Rep. Linder voted to cut Federal student aid by $12.7 billion