Gordon feels the heat on phone open meetings plan

U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon [Click to enlarge]

Last Friday, Gordon announced that instead of meeting in person with citizens this year, he would hold two "telephone town hall events" on Aug. 21 to "discuss health care, the economy and other important issues."

The phone method would "allow me to better represent Middle Tennessee," said Gordon in a statement released last Friday, and would have permitted "more people across the 15 counties I represent to share their concerns and listen to the discussion."

But after taking criticism for the move, Gordon apparently changed his mind late Tuesday and added three more events.

According to Kent Syler, a spokesman for Gordon, the first town hall forum will be at 7 p.m. Monday at a location to be determined in Murfreesboro. The event will be moderated by The Daily News Journal.

Other meetings are scheduled in Putnam County and Sumner County on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Gordon criticized

The eariler decision by Gordon to change the format of the traditional town halls had drawn criticism from political opponents.

Lou Ann Zelenik, chairman of the Rutherford County Republican Party attacked Gordon on Monday for not meeting face to face with citizens and called on the congressman to "explain his votes to the people whom he represents."

Last week, Gordon changed his vote to "no" on an amendment declaring that no funds allocated under the health-care-reform bill could be used to pay for health plans that covered abortion, except when a woman's life was in danger or her pregnancy had resulted from rape or incest.

"His actions as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee as well as recent news accounts reveal how easily he turns his back on the values of the district and hands his vote over to the liberal leadership in Congress," Zelenik said. "Hiding from us to avoid criticism is disrespectful to the people of the 6th District."

However, the telephone town halls will still be held.

Those who are interested in participating in the calls can sign up by visiting www.house.gov/bart or by calling Gordon's Murfreesboro office at (615) 896-1986.

Registered participants will receive a phone call shortly before the start of the town hall and will hear instructions about how to listen, ask questions, and leave messages.

Meetings heated

As for Rep. Lincoln Davis of Tennessee's Fourth District, his Web site states he will be holding town meetings this month, but he will not return from the Middle East until this weekend and no events have been scheduled.

Last week, Lincoln spoke to "tea party" protesters who showed up unannounced at his appearance in Manchester, turning it into an impromptu, unscripted town hall meeting.

Congressional town hall meetings around the country have turned confrontational, with representatives faced with protesters, upset about the on-going health care reform debate and other controversial legislation, and the meetings have occasionally devolved into shouting matches.

Some of the activists who have shown up at town hall meetings held recently by Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Wis., and others are affiliated with loosely connected right-leaning groups, including Conservatives for Patients' Rights and Americans for Prosperity, according to officials at those groups. Some of the activists say they came together during the "Tea Party" protests that happened earlier this year, and they've formed small groups and stayed in touch over e-mail, Facebook and in other ways.

But they insist they're part of a ground-level movement that represents real frustration with government spending and growth.

President Barack Obama referenced the opposition in a fund raising e-mail sent by his political group, Organizing for America, and asked his supporters to attend events to show their support for his health care plans.

"There are those who profit from the status quo or see this debate as a political game, and they will stop at nothing to block reform," the president said. "They are filling the airwaves and the Internet with outrageous falsehoods to scare people into opposing change."

Last Thursday, Organizing for America sent out targeted e-mails inviting supporters to specific events in their area. "Make sure that the most powerful voices in this debate are those calling for real reform, not angrily clamoring for the status quo," said e-mails asking people to show up Thursday evening for town halls with Maryland Reps. Donna Edwards and Frank Kratovil Jr.

Also last week, the AFL-CIO announced plans to mobilize labor activists to attend town hall meetings in 50 congressional districts this month to counter the conservative protesters.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.