The story du jour in politics this week is the confrontational town halls that Republican members of Congress are holding in their home states over this Presidents' Day recess. Are these organic shows of dissatisfaction with President Trump and the Republican Congress' plans to repeal and replace Obamacare? Or are they professional protesters whose bark is much worse than their bite?
It's virtually impossible to answer that question. So I won't try. What I can do is provide a town hall survival guide for Republican senators and House members. Here are a handful of do's and don'ts that will allow you to survive — and thrive? -- in these days of tumultuous town halls.
1. DO hold town halls.
There's a tendency when you see a colleague get shouted down or booed to cancel or never even schedule a town hall of your own. Why the hell would I subject myself to that, you might ask yourself. Why make myself a viral video star — and not in a good way — if I don't have to?
This is an understandable way of thinking. It's also wrongheaded. The absolute best thing you can do is hold a town hall, even if you know you are in for rough treatment.
Think of it this way: In a bad storm at sea, the worst thing a ship can do is try to avoid the waves. You start getting caught sideways, and the waves can flip your ship or crack the hull. Your best/only way to survive is to go right at the waves, hoping you make it through before they crest on you.
Put another way: Always be like the Rock.
2. DO NOT limit attendees to your constituents.
This is a democracy. If people want to drive five hours to go to a town hall and express their displeasure with you, let them!
The last thing you want people to think is that you are scared of people voicing opinions other than your own. Lots of politics is about killing them with kindness — and never more so than in a town-hall setting. There's an overflow crowd at one town hall? Hold another one!
3. DO take questions. Lots of them.
The best way to defuse a group angry about a particular issue — or issues — is to listen. (Yes, I know this is a novel concept for representative government.) People, by and large, are reasonable. If you hear them out rather than trying to rebut them at every turn, they will usually come away from the encounter feeling better. Town halls are a way for people to vent about their government. Understand that it's almost always not personal. Don't take it that way.
And, always remember Leslie Knope's advice on town halls; “What I hear when I'm being yelled at is people caring loudly at me.”
4. DO NOT accuse the attendees of being paid political operatives.
President Trump, of course, has already violated this rule.
The so-called angry crowds in home districts of some Republicans are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2017
But remember you are not Trump! He can break the rules. You probably can't. The only thing you accomplish by accusing people of busing in from out of state is make them angrier. And, per rule #2 above, who cares if they aren't your constituents? Hear them out. Don't go on offense; it will only make everyone else defensive.
5. DO be polite.
It's the easiest thing in the world to do. Thank people for coming. Thank them for their questions. If they yell at you, nod and respond calmly. It's hard to hate — or vilify — someone who is respectful, even if they are respectfully disagreeing with you.
