Yarmuth Town Hall

Rep. John Yamuth just robo-called to say that he will host a telephone town hall tomorrow (Tuesday, April 27 at 6:20) to answer questions about the health care legislation recently enacted.

His message did not leave the call-in number; he said he'd call back.

Yarmuth has been one of the most aggressive members of Congress in seeking a single-payer system. Although he is completely wrong on the merits, I commend him for making himself available to answer his constituents' questions about the new law.

NRCC Welcomes Back Dems

The National Republican Congressional Committee has a new video that features Congressman John Yarmuth and colleagues at the summer town halls. Yarmuth gets included for his now viral clip: "The question is, how are we going to pay for it? I don't kow."

In fairness to Yarmuth, he clarified in a letter to the Courier-Journal that he does not know how we are going to pay for the sum total of the reckless spending that culminates in the deficit.

But when it comes to health care, he does know how to pay for it: by socking it to the rich. The problem with Yarmuth's plan is that he defines rich as those making more than $500,000. Many small businesses file as individuals. A business that makes $500,000 is big enough to keep a few people employed. It is not big enough to pay for nationalized health care. Indeed, forcing these business to pay any more taxes or endure any more government regulation will just worsen unemployment.

One other point on the NRCC video. It seems clear that many of the angry voters are conservative. It would be a mistake, however, for the party to assume that because they are hostile to the Democrats' plan that these people are Republican. Whether these people vote Republican will depend on whether the Republican party returns to and adheres to conservative principles.

Talking Points From Moveon.org For Tonight's Town Hall

Moveon.org apparently has given up on protesting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now that they are the Democrats' problem. In a last gasp effort to remain relevant, therefore, Moveon.org has turned to the health care debate.

But Moveon.org does not trust that it's members are smart enough to know what to say at the town halls: they might get out-Foxed by those birthers! So Moveon.org has helpfully formulated a script. In fact, Moveon.org does not even trust its members to know how to write a protest sign, so it has three on its website that the lazy protester can print out. Look for these tonight at Congressman John Yarmuth's town hall at Central High School (doors open at 5:00):

Here are some signs to print out and bring to a town hall:

"Public Option = Affordable Health Care" sign

"Public Option: Increases Choice, Reduces Cost sign

"83% Support the Public Option" sign

There's also a script of suggested questions:

Here are a few ideas you can use to ask a question at the town hall:

1. I'm here to urge you to push for passage of a health care reform plan with a real public health insurance option as soon as you head back to Washington. It's critical for controlling skyrocketing costs and guaranteeing security for all of us.


2. Our health care system is broken—costs are skyrocketing and too many people can't afford coverage. The heart of President Obama's health care plan—the public health insurance option—is the key to fixing those problems.


3. We need action now. The cost of inaction is too high—every day that we delay, 14,000 Americans lose their insurance¹and nearly 2,500 file for bankruptcy because of medical costs². And costs continue to spiral out of control: average family premiums will hit $22,000 a year in the next decade.³


4. With a real public option, costs will start to go down and millions of individuals, families, and small businesses will have access to high-quality, affordable health insurance. And no matter what happens to our jobs or our health, a public option will always be there for us. Will you fight to make sure a real public health insurance option is included in health care reform this year?

Note that numbers one-three are not even questions -- more like a slobbering kiss for a liberal Congressperson.

I am not including any fake signs for your to print out. Nor am I giving you any fake non-questions to ask. Unlike the Democrats, I have faith that Americans are smart; you know what to say.

Say Cheese for Yarmuth

Congressman John Yarmuth's office will require those who want to attend tonight's town hall meeting at Central High School to show identification to prove that they live in this Congressional district.

It is understandable that Yarmuth wants to make sure that his constituents aren't turned away because Cindy Sheehan and her friends (assuming she has some) have taken all the seats.

Now that Yarmuth has awakened to the utility of identification, it is time for him to support legislation that requires voters to show photo IDs before voting in federal elections. Democrats have stonewalled such legislation for years under the guise that it suppresses the vote of legitimate, qualified voters. To the contrary, Republicans don't want to prevent any legitimate voters from exercising their constitutional rights. We just don't want the poll workers to see dead people voting (over and over).

If showing ID is an appropriate safeguard for Yarmuth's town hall meeting, surely it is also appropriate for the even more important exercise of democray: casting a ballot.

NRO On "Virtual Town Halls"

Congressman John Yarmuth may have started a trend with his "tele-town halls." The phenomenon of Members of Congress hiding from their constituents by conducting "virtual town halls" is spreading. National Review Online deconstructs the concept:

Staffers can screen the callsand messages. If a tough question does get through, the staffers can supply their boss with facts, figures, and snappy comebacks. (When the virtual town hall employs video instead of text, the aides need only stay out of camera range in order to preserve the illusion that the member is performing without assistance.) With all this help, even the laziest pols can look like überwonks. Call them “virtual members.”

Obviously, the congressional workload requires lawmakers to delegate. But it’s reasonable for voters to expect them to know their stuff, especially on health care and other issues that affect people directly. In an old-fashioned town hall, the member’s body language and off-the-cuff answers help voters to tell whether he or she meets this standard.

Virtual town halls are a lot like Oz: The members are the little men and women behind the curtain. And they don’t even need a heart, a brain, or courage.

Don't forget Yarmuth's upcoming "tele-town halls" on Aug. 17, 24 and 25. The number is (502)582-5129.