An extremely proud report of a successful town hall meeting with one who's in Sarah's cross hairs

[Mira]

Town hall today with our other Congress Person: Mel Watt, NC 12th District. An eloquent and elegant man who makes me proud to be a Democrat.

http://www.watt.house.gov/


In the last weeks I've been to town hall meetings with Virginia Foxx, and with Richard Burr.
I had to report about the one with Mrs. Foxx here on DU as some may remember. I was forced to out of disgust. She touched my jacket and now it's at the cleaners.
And Richard Burr was so slick, so non-descript, so slyly smooth, I could not be bothered to show pictures and make a report.

But here I want you to see a prince of a man. A congressman who spoke for 45 min.+ about the financial situation in the country, the just passed HRC bill, education, and the importance of the census.
He was clear, prepared, thoroughly informed, and warm yet firm.

We had a front row of agitator wannabes - and about 150 general population attendees. Mr. Watt spoke with sadness about the fact it was the first time ever he had to have security for a town hall meeting. There was a cop in every corner, and a number more in the entrance hall.
He took many questions, answered them with clarity and unhurriedly, expressed some personal frustration with the slowness with which the Senate handles bills sent to them by the house, and says the Senate is holding up decisions on about 300 of them right now.

When a man stood up, holding a map of the US in his hands showing the cross hair locations of the people Sarah Palin has chosen to "target", he asked Mr. Watt how he responds to such a dangerous call for potential violence.
Mr. Watt pointed to the police in the corners and said:"that is what I must do, not because I want to, but because it is prudent, and I don't want to take any chances".

He then said he appreciated the lack of agitation in the audience, and that he knew full well the people in the front row were there to disrupt, but he counted on everything staying civil.

Finally, on that subject, he said that last week when the spitting and name calling occurred his mother called his wife and asked:

"I'm just checking, are you sure my baby is OK?"


Such is the state in the life of this Congressman, my fellow Democrats.
He had had, I was told by a staffer of his, an incredibly tough, loud and verbally abusive town hall meeting in the county this afternoon.

And this is where he came from, when he sat down on a step, as he was being introduced to us.



A shot of his giving the almost hour long excellent presentation about the state of the Union as he sees it.
Where Richard Burr had been slick and smelly for about 10 minutes before taking some questions, this man Mel Watt was serious, committed, and forthcoming.



A staffer, a foe from the aforementioned front row, and a cop in the back



Talking to a constituent



Throwing in the entrance of the school where this took place, Atkins High School in Winston-Salem North Carolina, one of America's National Register of Historic Places, was dedicated on April 2, 1931 as a facility for “Negro children”.

[madamesilverspurs]

1. Grand post.

It's going to be another busy year, good to know there are already good boots on the ground!

K & R

-

[Cha]

2. Rec! This sounds like a great

Congressman..I'm jealous..no, I'm okay..it's just this blue dog I have who voted NO.

Mel Watt..I'll remember his name. 12th District, NC..thank you, Mira.

[CC]

3. Nice to see a good story about a town hall.

and I remembered to rec. Unfortunately my congress critter let the tea-baggers sway him and voted no on health care so I am hoping someone primaries him because I will not vote for him. I'd rather have bat shit crazy Harris so I know not to get my hopes up than so called Dem Kratovil that hardly ever votes with the Dems. The few times he has repukes voted with them too. sigh

Great rehash and love the pictures. Careful you might pick up a side job reporting for the local paper. :hug:

[Mira]

5. Thank you CC - I love it when you "find" me, and always love what you have to say N/T

[CC]

10. Run on sentence and

all? I was heading to bed when I found you. Going to be even more MIA for a bit as the DH is needing some extra support and attention. I was not going to read and run this time though. :)

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. You know, that is not a bad idea....

Mira, have you offered to sell your photos to the papers?

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Excellent coverage, dear Mira.

I like the way your photos touched on the essential issues of plice protection, and of the history of the
building.
Very nice profile comparison of the 3 people you turned out to listen to.

Sorry about your jacket, btw....

Mel Watt has impressed me with his questions during hearings on Cspan.

did you get a chance to ask him if he thinks Congress can really be an honest/effective place anymore?

[Mira]

9. No, I did not ask that (just saw your question)

I was pre-occupied with taking pictures, and being vigilant. It's scary to me when there are some in a crowd with hate in their heart and who may be packing.
I just wrapped Mel Watt in white protective light and took pictures.

[nevergiveup]

7. Thanks for your report.

This is the 2nd one I have read of yours and since I never have gotten to attend a town hall it is good to know that I am being represented by those like you. The contrast between Mel Watt and Virginia Foxx is astounding. Mr. Watt appears to be a class act. If only we could have more like him.

[Mira]

8. I truly appreciate your comment. In a place that moves like a flowing river, like

the posts on DU, the fact that you have stopped and remembered two of mine makes me feel really really good.
Thank you!