Town Hall Listening in Las Cruces

The gentleman serving as Congressman from New Mexico's 2d District, Democrat Harry Teague, held a Town Hall meeting in our city this morning. Several hundred attended.

It was pretty much a waste of time. Mr. Teague announced that the purpose of the meeting was to listen to 2d District voters express their feelings on matters before Congress - principally the Health Care legislation. That is what he did. If there was a question, he tried to give an answer.

The meeting was cordial. The meeting was boring. A few people expressed valid concerns. Several others took up much time with long-winded statements about their personal life. One woman talked at length about her husband's bout with cancer, and difficulties she experienced giving birth to her son who is, or was, in Iraq.

The comment that drew the most enthusiastic response from the crowd, was by a priest who said that while HR3200 may not contain specific language about abortion and rationed health care, it certainly opened the door to implementation of those policies by persons in power. And he expressed much concern about the current moral track of the nation.

Teague did state, unequivocally, that any health insurance he voted for would be the insurance he would use.

The event was well attended by Democrats, all of whom said they supported Obama and all were enthusiastic about free health care for everyone and punishment for those evil insurance companies.

The meeting lasted a little less than an hour, and while many persons still had their hand in the air, asking to be heard, the meeting was ended.

I appreciated the fact the the Congressman at least came out of hiding and faced a crowd - something our two Democrat Senators have not yet done this August.

I left the meeting feeling nothing had been accomplished.