Congressman Baird Labels Constituents ‘Brown Shirts,’ Dodges Town Halls

Democrat Congressman from Washington States Third Congressional District, who artfully stood up to moveon.org attacks and bused in protestors at town halls two years ago for his support of the war in Iraq, now “fears an ambush” should he hold a face to face meeting with constituents who have been expressing opposition to the proposed healthcare reform currently being whisked through Congress.

Articles in multiple news sources today quote Baird’s expression of fear as he states, “extremists would have the chance to shout and make YouTube videos.”

In that regard, Baird then said, “What we’re seeing right now is close to Brown Shirt tactics. I mean that very seriously.”

Brown shirts, I’m sure you recall were a paramilitary organization of Germany’s Nazi Party that played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s.

Instead of addressing constituents real and honest concerns over the proposed healthcare reform, he labels us Nazi’s, then ducks and hides.

Did we elect him for this? No!

In announcing a “secret schedule” for a telephone conference in lieu of a Town hall, should you be fortunate enough to be invited and actually be by your phone if called, Baird said, “There is this national movement in blogs and on the Internet to go to town hall meetings solely to attack people. One colleague of mine recently was hung in effigy at a town hall meeting. Others needed police escorts.”

Seems I recall no concerns over protesters who disrupted Town halls of Republicans around the country and liberals even applauded an Iraqi throwing a shoe at President Bush at a news conference there.

Brian, if it didn’t cross your mind, voters can hang you in effigy any time. We don’t need a town hall for that. That is what effigy is, an expression of opposition without causing any harm to the individual.

Then again, wasn’t hanging Sarah Palin in effigy during last years campaign an “expression of free speech?”

But, when it comes to voters expressing concerns or opposition to a Democratic led proposition, Baird cries, “It’s a lynch-mob mentality out there. There is an ugliness to it,” in describing “an atmosphere of intimidation and harassment from right-wing opponents of Democratic health care reform efforts.”

So tell us, congressman Baird, what was the mentality expressed against President Bush and the Republican Party over the past 8 years while you were in office? I wonder just how that would be described by Brian Baird”

When facing anti-war critics in 2007, Baird said, “Somebody said to me, ‘Oh man, you’re going to get killed tonight.’ I said, ‘No, they get killed in Iraq. I’m going to get criticized.’”

But, opposition and concerns about healthcare reform is now “a lynch mob mentality?”

Constituents have a right to a face to face with their elected officials. If they are unwilling or too cowardly to appear, they need to be voted out.

I suspect the real reason Baird is refusing to hold a Town hall is that is mind is already made up and instead of serving his constituents; he is instead serving Nancy Pelosi. He has no real answers to our concerns and doesn’t have he guts to face us.

So instead, he will hold a secret telephone conference with selected people who will be lucky enough to be near their phone should he call with the invite.

Obviously, Brian Baird no longer represents us and holds his seat for personal gain and political power.

Fortunately, we have two challengers willing to face off against Brian Baird and both are willing to actually listen to us and represent us.

David Castillo of Olympia, who has picked up key endorsements and Clark County’s Jon Russell who has announced 4 Town halls of his own, since Baird chickened out.

Russell says, “There appears to be a leadership void on national issues which will impact residents of Southwest Washington. I want to hear from the constituents of Washington’s 3rd Congressional District about issues and concerns they have with Congress and the direction of our country. Even if we do not agree on everything, it is important that I hear from them.”

Pam Benson of Clark County and a constituent of Bairds said, “He’s supposed to be our representative. He’s supposed to listen to us, whether he’s on our side or not. We are not nut cases that disagree with this issue. There are a lot of very well-informed people that are against this health care thing.”

Yes, Ms Benson, we are not “nut cases” nor are we a “lynch mob” and certainly not “Nazi Brown Shirts.”

We are constituents, voters who are not being listened to but instead are being dictated to.

That is not “Representative Government.” We need to replace Brian Baird with someone willing to listen to and actually represent Southwest Washington voters.

We need to take our country back!

UPDATE: Jon Vogel, DCCC Executive Director has sent out an email claiming, “If there was any more doubt that the right wing fringe is reaching shocking new lows by the day, Rush Limbaugh is now openly comparing the Democratic Party to Nazis and using swastikas on his website.”

Mr. Vogel, perhaps you should speak to Congressman Baird before you cry this.