Democrats bracing for town hall protests directed at them ask Bernie Sanders for help

[Donkees]

Feb 14, 2017

Excerpt:

Senior Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday sought to stave off town hall protests from their own party, asking Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to reach out and urge activists to redirect their anger at Republicans instead of at moderate Democratic lawmakers.

The request came in a weekly meeting of top Democratic senators, according to a senator in attendance, ahead of a congressional recess next week when lawmakers in both parties are expected to face large crowds stirred in recent weeks by President Trump’s early executive actions and ongoing Republican attempts to revamp the Affordable Care Act.

Over the past two weeks, crowds — and conflict-hungry media crews — have swarmed town halls and protested at congressional offices. Republicans have gotten the brunt of it, with several members escorted by police through lines of shouting protesters, and some caught scrapping or rescheduling public events or leaving out back doors to dodge angry activists.

But protesters have also gathered in blue states, marching to Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer’s home in Brooklyn to demand the obstruction of Trump nominees, and showing up at the offices of safe-seat Democrats to demand that they filibuster Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch.

Such episodes spurred Democrats to ask Sanders for help, according to Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), who attended the meeting on Tuesday.

“They basically explained to Bernie, it looks like you could be the person that could calm down and make sure their energy and all this enthusiasm is directed in all the right proper channels,” Manchin said. “Bernie has a voice, and if [protesters] want to be active, then direct them to where the problem may be or where they anticipate a problem.”

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For the most part, Sanders has been working on projects to unite Democrats and progressives against Trump. Over the weekend, Sanders and Schumer announced a series of rallies against repeal of the Affordable Care Act, to be held on Feb. 25. Sanders’s highest-profile speech during the coming recess will be in Kansas, which progressives have characterized as a model of Republican misrule.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/democrats-brace-for-town-hall-protests-directed-at-them/2017/02/14/923365e4-f300-11e6-a9b0-ecee7ce475fc_story.html

[Jim Lane]

1. Senator Manchin, you can help yourself.

“They basically explained to Bernie, it looks like you could be the person that could calm down and make sure their energy and all this enthusiasm is directed in all the right proper channels,” Manchin said. “Bernie has a voice, and if want to be active, then direct them to where the problem may be or where they anticipate a problem.”

Urging Democrats to filibuster Gorsuch is one of the proper channels. Just announce you're on board and you won't have any problems from us.

Admittedly, I have some sympathy for Manchin, who'll be up for re-election in West Virginia. Democrats in safe seats, however, have no such excuse.

[riderinthestorm]

2. Bernie is holding national level town halls in deep red areas

And these guys are afraid to face their own constituents?!

SMDH....

Ridiculous. Grow a pair folks, get out there, and listen dammit.

[George Eliot]

3. Irritating these dems think they have to explain anything to bernie

I still don't think they really get it.