[Peace-discuss] A report from the Rodney Davis show Monday night in Decatur

[David Johnson]

A report from the Rodney Davis show Monday night in Decatur, written by
Labor activist and Staley Lock-out veteran Mike Griffin.

 

The Con

 

A few days ago I went to what was supposed to be a town hall meeting with
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis and IL Rep. Dan Caulkins. The event was moderated
{controlled] by the Decatur Herald editor Chris Choates who stated the forum
was Davis' idea. Davis, since his first day in office a few years ago, has
refused to hold public meetings where he could be held accountable for his
extremist Republican agenda. The absence of accountability has been the
source of a lot of public criticism and threatens his re-election bid. The
timing of this event was no accident but it is disturbing the Herald and
Review would aid his con.

This controlled forum with no input or questions from the audience was
nothing more than a Kellyann Conway scam where only one side of the story
was told. As I entered the Schilling Center there was a sizable crowd of
protesters {real patriots} at the entrance. A loud cheer went up when I
thanked them for defending our democracy. Security was tight and each person
was required to be registered. Davis was going to make sure his lies were
not challenged. Prior to the opening Davis had a movie sized video
presentation touting his accomplishments including one on accessibility. The
largely Republican crowd sucked it up.

Choates asked questions submitted to him at the herald and each candidate
was allowed 2 minutes to respond with no follow-up or rebuttal. Both spent
most of their time bashing Democrats, the "Chicago Machine", Mike Madigan,
and the fact they no longer had control. Both distorted the facts, lied,
manipulated reality and finally drew boos from the crowd. Davis was as
polished in Trumpian fact bending as Kellyann.

The blame game got old quickly and I stood up and challenged Dan Caulkins
who instantly became angry; exactly what I hope for. He told me to leave and
I refused which was supported by several audience members who must have come
in from the demonstration. He loudly demanded my name which I loudly gave.
Apparently Caulkins hasn't gotten over his military career as a lifer who
barks orders. He told me to leave and rushed to the front of the stage and
screamed for me to leave and I responded that I was a veteran who defended
democracy and I had a right to be there, to speak up, and I was not leaving
and I would not shut up. The moderator switched to Davis and I sat down.
During the exchange supporters loudly protested the effort to silence me and
force me to leave. From that point on there was numerous responses from the
crowd at every answer given by both con men. Davis bashed Obama and outright
lied about a Republican health care bill after distorting the ACA. At one
point I stood up again and called Davis a fraud. Less than a minute a young
Republican moron in a suit, who was part of the Davis staff or security,
slipped between the seats to my rear and leaned over and told me that I
would have to leave. I refused and he told me to be quiet and I responded
that I would not and I was not leaving and it's going take more than him.
The real kicker came when Davis told the crowd Trump did not break any laws!
In a real democratic setting that statement would have caused Davis to be
run out of town, except for the large number of Republican boot lickers who
could care less about democracy and decency.

The real takeaway was politicians must not be allowed to get away with
schemes to insulate themselves from voters even though we are not their real
constituents. They think they only have to answer to the elite donors who
fund the various PACs where they can hide their identity.  We must not fear
a power that is only given by voters and can and should be taken away when
it is abused. We do not have to sit silently at these fraudulent dog and
pony shows less we become complicit in the ruse. That is why our precious
democracy is at risk today. Republicans are forsaking every American value
by worshiping the evil in the White House. I would only have left that venue
if confronted by someone with a badge. I would have welcomed it to show how
fragile our democracy really is.

Mike Griffin Decatur IL

 

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