GOP Congressmen Put Constituents Who Asked Tough Questions On A ‘Watch List’

[kpete]

GOP Congressmen Put Constituents Who Asked Tough Questions On A ‘Watch List’
By Marie Diamond posted from ThinkProgress Politics on Aug 26, 2011 at 2:40 pm


In recent weeks GOP congressmen have resorted to all sorts of underhanded schemes to avoid interacting with their angry constituents back home over August recess. Now two Republican freshmen, Reps. Daniel Webster (R-FL) and Tim Griffin (R-AZ), are taking this trend one step further, using disturbing intimidation tactics and “watch lists” to discourage constituents from asking them questions:



Rep. Webster’s Winter Garden, Florida district office gave out a “Watch List” of six Floridians who had asked questions at Webster’s previous town halls. The list, with the header “For the Media,” included names, photographs, and questions that members of the media should ask them.
The Watch List itself doesn’t contain any information on who wrote it or where it comes from.The memos surfaced in Arkansas in connection to the office of Rep. Tim Griffin, and were traced back to Rep. Webster’s office.

With black and white photos that resemble police surveillance, some of them pulled from the individuals’ Facebook profiles, the memo is clearly meant to intimidate these six people and anyone else who might stand up and ask a question of their elected representative. At a Griffin town hall, staffers were handing out the Watch List to attendees, calling it their “homework.” Griffin staffers were also spotted taking photos and shooting video of attendees, creating an extra layer of intimidation.


http://workingamerica.visibli.com/share/YcA4zy
LINKS & MORE:
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/08/26/305501/webster-town-hall-watchlist/

[gateley]

1. This country has gone so far over the edge... nt

[kwolf68]

2. No surprise

These people are adverse to being intellectually challenged. Conservatives like to sit around and repeat talking points with no discussion or challenge of their held assumptions.

Hanging out with Liberals, even when we're in general agreement, there is still an exchange and flow of difference perspectives and it is quite often taxing.

it's so much easier just to shout into a bullhorn and have everyone go YAAA!

I maintain that while there are many smart Conservatives, by and large it's an ideology for dummies, or intellectually lazy people.

[givemebackmycountry]

3. Reps. Daniel Webster (R-FL)

Grayson was dead on with this...

"Taliban Dan"

Who's laughing now?

[Old and In the Way]

4. They want the office without the responsibility/accountability.

It's their manifest destiny to govern without the electorate questioning their ideological agenda that is clearly not in their constituents' best interests. I'm surprised they haven't pushed through lifetime appointment legislation now that they are in power.

[SteveM]

5. It's sport to them. They bully because it works; MSM will cooperate. nt

[City Lights]

6. FUBAR. eom

[Eddie Haskell]

7. Tough questions are illegal.

Arrest them!

[Supersedeas]

8. Will fellow Floridian Wasserman-Schultz's internet provider mandates assist her

Republican collegue in keeping tabs on those on the political watchlist

[Scurrilous]

9. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Solly Mack]

10. K&R

[Solly Mack]

11. Whoopsie Daisy