Live: Town Hall with Congressman Phil Gingrey
Patch is live from Ben Robertson Community Center with Congressman Phil Gingrey.
7:04 p.m. Gingrey thanks audience and ends the meeting.
7 p.m. Dallas resident: "You had talked about the bipartisan working. They (Republicans) need to get a backbone, stand-up...Reagan's philosophy was, 'We win, you lose, that's it.'"
Applause from crowd.
6:57 p.m. Acworth resident asks about Kennesaw State University and if Gingrey knows anything about "the problems they're having."
Gingrey says he assumes she's talking about concerns about Timothy Chandler who was offered a provost position at the university last month. (Chandler generated controversy when an academic paper he wrote was viewed as "Marxist" and anti-American. He has since declined the position.)
"We love the university, but it needs to, I think, in its curriculum, reflect the values of the people in Georgia, in northwest Georgia...Thank goodness this professor, Dr. Chandler is it, is staying put."
6:49 p.m. Answer from Gingrey: "Where I am and what I'm doing and will continue to give 100 percent of my effort is to be your voice...I'm not part of the leadership, I'm not the Speaker of the House...but I am in my fifth term, I am on a strong committee. I have had a fairly strong, loud voice on a lot of important issues such as defunding and repealing and replacing ObamaCare...I will continue to be your voice, I will continue to listen to you, I will continue to respond to you..."
6:46 p.m. Question: "Aren't we missing the bigger argument right now of us living within the money that we bring in?
"How are you gonna take that fight to Washington D.C. to reduce the size and scope of government spending?"
6:36 p.m. Comment from audience member: What I'm concerned about is, I don't see a willingness to fight on the part of the Republican party...If the Tea Party ever develops the machinery to perform as an actual working party, it's the Republicans that will become the third party.
6:27 p.m. Gingrey: "We have got to address this (the deficit), and it has to be done now."
6:24 p.m. Marietta resident in regards to deficit: "I feel like that what we're doing is we're stepping over dollars to pick up dimes...I think it's gonna have to be 2012 when we have a Republican Senate and when we have a Republican in the White House, that's when it's gonna change."
6:18 p.m. Gingrey says he'd be "very, very reluctant" to vote for an increase in the debt ceiling.
6:14 p.m. Gingrey addresses illegal immigration and U.S. border security. He says a larger and larger percentage of people coming across the border are not coming for jobs anymore (because there are no longer many jobs) but for drug-related purposes.
6:10 p.m. Kennesaw resident: "Can we defund the U.N.?" Applause from crowd.
Gingrey: "I would say the answer is yes...whether we completely defund it is not a question I'm ready to answer right now."
6:07 p.m. Gingrey uses analogy to sum up energy issue: you don't quit a job until you have another one lined up. He says there are a total of 55 nuclear reactors in Japan which generate over half the country's energy. Since accident at Three Mile Island, U.S. has not started a new nuclear reactor.
6:02 p.m. Comment from James King of Dallas, Ga.: "Green energy, green energy, we don't have it. Let's drill some oil."
5:59 p.m. Gingrey, in response to question about recent military action against Libya: "As I understand it, the War Powers Act says in a situation where our country is not actually physically attacked on our own soil, the president can do essentially what President Obama did several days ago in regards to Libya.
"What is the endpoint? Is it regime change? If it turns out to be regime change, who in the world are we turning it over to?
"I'm concerned."
5:54 p.m. A: "I think your question, the answer is yes, I think we can get on top of it, but we cannot kick the can down the road anymore. It's got to occur now. We've got to draw that line in the sand...I think it is impossible to do it in a partisan way."
5:51 p.m. Opens floor to public comments.
Q: "Do you really think we can get out of debt?"
5:50 p.m. Gingrey: following Japan fallout, don't abandon nuclear power as part of our future.
5:48 p.m. Gingrey: tomorrow is 1-year anniversary of ObamaCare. "We are working diligently to succeed in repeal and replace."
5:47 p.m. Gingrey's update from Washington:
Budget- Projected $1.65 trillion deficit for fiscal year 2012; over $14 trillion in total debt; government funded through April 8.
Rising Energy Prices- Gas prices have increased approximately 67 percent since Obama was sworn in as President; we need an "all of the above" approach to our energy needs.
5:44 p.m. Gingrey: "We have a lot of lot of ways of communicating with our constituency...but I really believe...that nothing really takes the place, nor should it ever, of a town hall meeting where we are face to face."
5:41 p.m. Kennesaw City Manager Steve Kennedy introduces Gingrey and welcomes him to the podium.
5:36 p.m. Janet Byington introduces Pastor Steven Lester of Gateway International Church of God, who leads the evening's invocation.
5:30 p.m. So far, about 30 community members and city officials have taken their seats in preparation for tonight's town hall with Rep. Phil Gingrey. Pamphlets of The Constitution of the United States have been passed out to accompany today's presentation, which should begin momentarily.
We're live from Ben Robertson Community Center for a town hall meeting with Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-Marietta). The Georgia Republican has served as the U.S. Representative for the state's 11th congressional district since 2003. Today, he asks constituents to share their thoughts and ideas for creating "a better Washington."
We encourage you to leave your questions and comments in our comment box below. Have a question for Rep. Gingrey? Let us know, and we'll ask him on your behalf. As a reminder, please refresh the page periodically to view our latest updates.
An Educated Yankee
9:08 am on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I wish I would have been able to attend, but I am sure anything I wanted to ask or comment on would not have passed Gingrey's moderator.
From the Patch reporting, it sounds like a night of flag waving and back patting and Gingrey was not forced to address any points of view even modestly different from his own.
Mr. Gingrey may be loathe to acknowledge it, but there is still a large part of this county that is not in blind devotion to the GOP or the Tea Party and all their Constitutional rhetoric does not fool us. There is a class war going on right now, and Mr. Gingrey continues to be on the side of corporations dodging their taxes and wealthy people buying our political process, not the average American suffering the collapse of our economy caused by these same people and corporations.
Linda Rehkopf
10:05 am on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I agree with An Educated Yankee. Gingrey blatantly says that there will be no bipartisan "let's work together,"ethics but rather, kick the other party's ideas to an imaginary curb. That's real mature.
String Bean
11:03 am on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
John McCain, who is not liked by a large percentage of local Republicans, still carried almost 80% of the Bartow County vote over Obama. Democrats and liberal/progressive/socialists make up such a small part of Bartow County that you guys really don't matter. When Democrats are in charge there is no bi-partisanship. Yet let the GOP gain a majority and all you guys start yelling for bi-partisanship. I view Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi the same as I would a burglar who has broken into my house. I'm not compromising with them over how much they can steal. I'm going to stop them.
J.M. Prince
2:43 pm on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Well politics is the 'art of compromise', always was & remains thus. The fact that we've got now yes, more Radical Republicans once again telling us 'No compromise, Ever!' On Anything & Everything is pretty telling & unique. There's always backbreaking attempts at bi-partisanship by Dems everywhere. That's pretty obvious.
SB also misstates the case, McCain did handily win Bartow, but by better than 71%. That it. So those other almost 30% of folks (and All those not voting due to perceived bad choices), 'really don't matter'? Well SB, that's not what the Constitution says, thankfully. So again, why oh why do you hate us for our very American Freedoms? Just wondering. JMP
Leroy Smith
1:03 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011
Yea, you liberals want compromise when you aren't in power. "Backbreaking" attempts.....you can't be that far out there, then again, you are a liberal. And 71%, that's it??? Good thing your glass is half full, because your side won't win anything in Bartow, Cobb, Cherokee, Gordon, Whitfield, Murray, State of Georgia, etc.
J.M. Prince
3:16 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thanks LS, Compromise is of course evil and verboten to radical Republicans. But it made Reagan who he was. That's why he was a successful politician. Right now? With the GOP House? We're headed straight for the rocks. Wait & see. JMP
Leroy Smith
3:33 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011
Well, regardless of what happens, it can't be any worse than what's happened since 2008. I don't like the Republican party as is. I am, what you refer to, a radical. To the left, anyone who wants to bring back conservative values and individual responsibility is a right wing radical, so I proudly wear that title.
The bottom line is the Dems had control after 2008. The voters across this great Nation spoke...LOUDLY...on November 02 of last year. We didn't vote for compromise, we voted for change.
J.M. Prince
3:54 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011
Volumes might be written about voters intent LS. Still the polling done then & since say, Most people Don't want a Government shutdown. But that's exactly what the Radical GOP wants & they're aiming for the rocks as a 'strategy'. To most real conservative folks? 'That just don't sound too smart'. JMP
Sarah Walraven
3:59 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011
The KSU comment by Gingrey really disturbs me. The point of a college education is to steep yourself in ideas that are new and that you may not necessarily agree with. KSU wants to position itself as a university that can compete with other institutions, not a place where professors and staff can indoctrinate students with the values of NW Georgia.
Bringing back conservative values and individual responsibility is an oxymoron. It is my individual responsibility to have my own set of values, not to be forced - by law - to live by the values of anybody else.
Great job by the author detailing the town hall, hope to see more articles like this on Patch!
Leroy Smith
4:27 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011
No one from the right is trying to force values on your are anyone else. What people don't understand is that we are now a society of "everything is OK" absent of any values. We elect representatives to be our voice. They represent our area and what we, as collective local citizens, value as a whole. There will always be disagreements, but that's why we have elections. If a representative doesn't respect what the vast MAJORITY wants, they get voted out. It's not Mr. Gingrey's responsibility to find a common ground for those of us in NW Georgia and those who live outside his district. What he stated was nothing more than the general feelings of the majority of the people he represents.
In regards to JMP....all I can say is you are entitled to your opinion, regardless of how off base it appears to most of us in this area. Notice my constant use of the words "most" and "majority?" NW Georgia and most of the State of Georgia is red. If you are a liberal in this state, outside of DeKalb County and some southern counties, you will remain in the minority. Your opinions are not what most believe.
Signed: Proud-Right Wing-Radical-Tea Party-Citizen
J.M. Prince
3:36 am on Friday, March 25, 2011
LS, I fully enjoy living here in our deeply conservative state. It was conservative when ruled by Dems, it's still conservative. We have a fine history of that. But most of our Reps, despite Gaining their seats by Voting majorities on election day? Actually Rule by using and relying on deeply unpopular (but often personally & privately very lucrative) Minority Positions quite often. Hence the GOP's drive to Repeal Social Security & Medicaid, as seen in Cong. Ryan's GOP budget for example. Which unsurprisingly is deeply unpopular. Ditto for causing a government shutdown as a way of pressuring pols to 'cut deeper', which is only popular with the yes Teaparty types. But still? A severe minority opinion shared by perhaps no more than 30% of the populace.
And again I'll state that the most consistently conservative people I've known in real life were & are Democrats. They're still out there. JMP
DJ Nash
9:27 am on Friday, March 25, 2011
Leroy you are mistaken if you think you will stop progress.
Leroy Smith
11:15 am on Friday, March 25, 2011
DJ....what exactly have I stated that would make you think I will stop progress. Heck, I don't even know what progress you are talking about.
JM...Today's Dems aren't anything like the Dems of past decades (pre 80's). Democrats today are nothing more than liberal socialists for the most part. Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, Weiner, etc. are the way today's Democrats think. Obviously, that's on a National scale, but they are your voices....along with your elitist Hollywood types.
Funny thing about the compromise argument...When Obama stated "You can come along for the ride, but you'll have to sit in the back," there wasn't much compromise wanted then. However, reality knocked him in the mouth last November, so all you libs want to start screaming compromise.
J.M. Prince
12:39 pm on Friday, March 25, 2011
LS Evidently you've not been paying attention. Again, I was speaking of our fine GA. Dems. I don't own a working TV. So I do not know much from 'Hollywood types'. Our dangerous elites are the plutocratic billionaires Koch Bros. who are buying up elections around the country. That's corruption pure & simple. It was during Teddy Roosevelt's day when they first enacted campaign finance laws against such perfidy, and it is today. Heck it was the same sort of Money corruption in the late Roman Empire too that helped to bring it down some 2000 years ago. JMP
Leroy Smith
1:11 pm on Friday, March 25, 2011
No, I was paying attention. You made mention of previous Democrats in this state. I was just saying that today's Democrats are not the same as previous generations. Today's Democrats, regardless of state, are more inline with the socialist agenda. The reference to Pelosi and others was simply to point out that they are the voices for today's Democratic party.
We may, indeed, have some fine Georgia Democrats that don't think that way....but, I don't know who they are. We really don't have any influential Democrats on any level in this area, either State or Local positions.
Politicians are politicians, plain and simple. Both sides have corruption. However, the local state reps and senators in our area are fine people, and I whole-heartedly support them.
Anyway, we could go back and forth on our beliefs all day, and neither of us would change our mind. That's fine; we need different opinions and thoughts, otherwise, it'd be boring. I digress from this subject.
J.M. Prince
1:49 pm on Friday, March 25, 2011
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here LS. I personally don't know & have never met these so called 'socialists'. But I have met many Tea-partiers who enjoy several layers of Social Insurance. Which again, I wholeheartedly agree with. But I'm running behind on a column myself here. JMP
J.M. Prince
4:39 pm on Friday, March 25, 2011
N.B. Despite being happy to welcome Cong. Phil Gingrey to Cartersville this Sat. the Bartow Democratic Party is not hosting him at the local GOP Party HQ, as noted by the Daily Tribune's 'What's going on' column of today. At least not yet. The DT has apologized for the mistake. JMP