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

[C G Estabrook]

Bravo.


> On Jul 31, 2019, at 11:52 AM, David Johnson via Peace-discuss <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net> wrote:
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Peace-discuss mailing list
> Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/peace-discuss