To the editor:
Reader Rofidal (May 17) describes his experience with Erik Paulsen. He receives regular phone calls and mentions office hours. No doubt he has access. He lives here, votes for Paulsen and may contribute time or money. Supporters can always access their candidates. He says this is open to others and says “left-wing protesters” shouldn’t be demanding town hall meetings.
He really cannot speak for those who aren’t known supporters. I have tried and failed. I get form letters that respond to none of the questions in my letters. I have had one robo-call for his invitation-only call-in sessions. Does anyone like them? The script didn’t get to the point. Had I got a non-interruptive email with details I would have read and checked my calendar. However, reading how it is done (questions are screened with no follow-up to non-answers), why bother?Tom Emmer, another Republican with thicker skin, had a town hall meeting last year. He was clear he would stop if people got out of hand, but he received respectful questions that he tried to answer. I don’t agree with his politics, but he is a stand-up guy who can handle a little heat.
It is not too much to expect a candidate to talk in person to voters with questions he doesn’t want to answer. The test of a candidate is being able to stand up for and explain beliefs without losing one’s cool. It comes in handy when a president tries to bully you into a bad vote.
Every Democratic candidate I know – even those whom Republicans belittle – have taken and passed the test. Emmer took and passed the test. John McCain passed the test during six years in a North Vietnamese prison camp – tough questions while being tortured. Compared to that, town hall forums are a piece of cake.
Do people without the courage of their convictions deserve our trust? Being completely unwilling to respond to unfiltered questions from those who don’t vote for you is not what being a people’s representative is all about. Find another job if you cannot handle it.
Joel Stegner
Sun-Current, May 27, 208