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1. Now democrats are CHARGING people to attend townhalls like Melissa Bean of Illinois | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
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Comments

1. #1
   On August 14th, 2009 at 12:58 pm, atheling said:

   Holy moly.

   So now we serfs have to pay to speak to our masters?

2. #2
   On August 14th, 2009 at 12:59 pm, Misscheryl said:

   They won’t be happy until they are systematically tared, feathered and run out on a rail.

3. #3
   On August 14th, 2009 at 1:01 pm, d1carter said:

   But I am sure that fee will be waived for members of SEIU and OFA.

4. #4
   On August 14th, 2009 at 1:01 pm, emjem24 said:

   Are you freaking kidding me? Why do people have to pay a fee just to visit their representative? This is ridiculous.

   Yeah, lets make money off of a townhall that should be FREE. Another new low for a public servant.

5. #5
   On August 14th, 2009 at 1:01 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

   Well that will keep the riff-raff out, unless she gives free tickets to her friends..

6. #6
   On August 14th, 2009 at 1:02 pm, secondsight said:

   Pity about John Belushi — “food fight!”

   Bet they won’t serve hard boiled eggs.

7. #7
   On August 14th, 2009 at 1:02 pm, oldcollegeguy1980 said:

   So its just a fund raiser!

   One more liberal who once elected gets the crash course on “Pay for Play”

8. #8
   On August 14th, 2009 at 1:04 pm, rw said:

   They won’t be happy until they are systematically tared, feathered and run out on a rail.

   That will be $50, but it does include and all-you-can eat salad bar. For an additional $50, you will receive an official “Hope and Change” tote bag.

9. #9
   On August 14th, 2009 at 1:04 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

   $25 cover charge and no pole dance?!
   Outrageous!

10. #11
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:06 pm, Misscheryl said:

    It suprises me how we conservatives fall back on the tired old question “is this legal?” It hasn’t been asked in this instance, but it has regarding union thugs showing up at town all meetings and such. Here’s your sign, we are no longer governed by the rule of law as is evidenced by the actions of the left.

11. #12
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:07 pm, right_on said:

    A twenty five dollar breakfast? Must be unionized, illegal alien labor working the event…

    Congresswoman Melissa Bean. Hear her positions on Healthcare, Railroads, Taxes and more.

    Of course, don’t expect her to actually hear your objections to the bill she supports.

    I would love to hear her remarks following her ouster from congress next year…it should sound something like,

    “I guess I should have listened to ALL my constituents, and not the spin coming from the White House and House leadership. I didn’t realize “the people” had that much power. In fact, I can’t believe I fell for Madam Pelosi’s suggestion that ‘I just ignore them and they’ll go away.”

12. #13
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:09 pm, moonshot said:

    That is brilliant. lol

13. #14
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:09 pm, willie peter said:

    Ahh. Illinois Democrat.

    Next she’ll be wearing company logos a la Nascar.

14. #15
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:10 pm, ErinF said:

    I think the obamacare opponents should just crash the party.

    And where exactly is the money going?

15. #16
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:12 pm, jdsbc98 said:

    Show up anyway and walk right in. Would love to see video of her trying to keep her constituents out

16. #17
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:12 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:04 pm, Dexter Alarius said:
    $25 cover charge and no pole dance?!
    Outrageous!

    Ace Rothstein: This is the end result of all the bright lights, and the comp trips, and all the champagne, and free hotel suites, and all the broads and all the booze. It’s all been arranged just for us to get *your money*.

17. #18
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:12 pm, ACHefty said:

    They won’t be happy until they are systematically tared [sic], feathered and run out on a rail.

    Neither will I, Miss Cheryl. Neither will I.

18. #20
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:13 pm, iamsaved said:

    What do you want to bet that if you are suspected of being against the healthcare bill, they will tell you there are no more seats available since they packed the house with SEIU and ACORN members and a smattering of innocent looking liberals.

19. #21
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:13 pm, DBNinKY said:

    Seriously, can a rep charge an entrance fee and still call it a “townhall?” I mean when there’s a fee involved, isn’t it a fund raiser/charity event and under the jurisdiction of campaign finance and IRS limitations?

20. #22
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:14 pm, Reliq6 said:

    Includes Full Breakfast.

    Folks they are serving breakfast.

    - Yes – It’s an expensive breakfast

    - Yes – It’s a way to keep folks away with the registration and fees.

    However – if they serve breakfast and don’t charge – its going to be taxpayer’s dollars funding – which of course would be another source of outrage. You have to actually hand it to Congresswoman Bean – It’s brilliant.

21. #24
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:16 pm, Reliq6 said:

    Do what the folks in Colorado are doing – plan a town hall in her district and invite her. If she refuses to come to that one, *then* be upset.

    But “crashing” this breakfast will just feed the MSM. Think about it.

22. #25
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:17 pm, Buy Danish said:

    Bean counter.

23. #26
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:17 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    How many constituents can you pack into a Waffle House?

24. #27
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:18 pm, Misscheryl said:

    1:13 pm, DBNinKY said:
    Seriously, can a rep charge an entrance fee and still call it a “townhall?” I mean when there’s a fee involved, isn’t it a fund raiser/charity event and under the jurisdiction of campaign finance and IRS limitations?

    Apparently, the dems can “do” anything they want. Who’s going to stop them?

25. #29
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:22 pm, MarcoPolo said:

    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:02 pm, oldcollegeguy1980 said: So its just a fund raiser! One more liberal who once elected gets the crash course on “Pay for Play”

    This could be interesting. She’s a Democrat, but she represents an area that was Republican. Her constituents have money – they run businesses, and hold degrees in things like engineering and finance. She actually might be swayed. I used to live in her district and I forwarded this to several activist friends in the area.

    Thanks for posting this, Michelle.

26. #32
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:23 pm, vinny said:

    Reliq6,
    Brilliant. Let her have breakfast with a bunch of cronies, to whom she handed out tickets and charged the taxpayers. Meanwhile hold a real Townhall meeting and get some coverage of the event. The tricky part will be to get coverage because the press will be eating “free” breakfast, but it can be done with bloggers and Michelle Malkin likely gets more visits than most of the MSM stations anyway.

27. #33
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:23 pm, rambler said:

    Is the food poisoned?

28. #34
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:24 pm, Apostic said:

    Coming soon: A poll tax, plus conservative constituents will only count as 3/5 of a vote.

    (Is she asking for ID’s?)

29. #35
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:26 pm, dominigan said:

    I’d happily pay $25 for her to LISTEN TO US on healthcare.

    But I could care less about listening to her.

    Politicians talk too much and listen too little.

30. #36
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:26 pm, blues said:

    I’ll bet Bambi is really pi$$ed he didn’t think of it first.The little girl who asked about the mean signs would have had to break her piggy bank….but I’m sure it would have been worth it/sarc.

31. #37
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:27 pm, DBNinKY said:

    Apparently, the dems can “do” anything they want.

    Imagine if any politician with an /R/ after his or her name had tried this – the networks and NYT would have filed suit to stop it!

32. #38
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:29 pm, Doug Powers said:

    Everybody show up and pay in pennies.

33. #39
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:29 pm, meangreenfan said:

    What’s next? 900-phone numbers that charge you $2.99 a minute to talk to your Congressman?

34. #40
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:29 pm, walterc said:

    “But I’m unemployed due to the hope-n-change, how much if I eat breakfast at home?”

    It’s either a fund raiser or a Town Hall, not both.

35. #41
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:35 pm, J S Ragman said:

    I’m sorry, but I don’t feel the outrage. This event is being hosted by the local chamber of commerce. It’s being held at a banquet center, where somebody has to pay for the room and the chow. My local chamber here in northern Virginia does these kind of things all the time with candidates and office-holders as the guest speakers. I would hope that the Congresswoman would hold other free events for the rest of her constituents in the district, but I give her a pass on this one. Just my opinion.

36. #42
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:40 pm, Reliq6 said:

    I agree JS and reiterate – Congress works for you – If you are unhappy about this format. Let her know. Call her, email her – schedule a another meeting in a different venue and invite her. Schedule a one on one to talk to her.

    It’s difficult to fault her for having a breakfast and having people pay their own way.

    If she refuses all other contact with her consituents on the other hand…

37. #43
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:42 pm, Bulldogger said:

    Contact email
    http://www.house.gov/bean/bean_contact_assistance.shtml

    Illinois District Office
    1701 E. Woodfield Road
    Suite 200
    Schaumburg, IL 60173
    Phone: 847-517-2927
    Fax: 847-517-2931
    Hours: 9 – 5 Central Time
    Monday through Friday
    (view map)

    Washington Office
    432 Cannon House Office Building
    Washington, DC 20515
    Phone: 202-225-3711
    Fax: 202-225-7830
    Hours: 9 – 5 Central Time
    Monday through Friday
    (view map)

38. #44
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:45 pm, Sanddog said:

    Pay to play.

39. #45
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:46 pm, J S Ragman said:

    Reliq6

    Yeah, if the Lake Zurich chamber is anything like mine, the small business owners will give her an earful, and she will look forward to getting a more favorable opinion elsewhere.

40. #46
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:46 pm, coffee said:

    Despicable.

    This and things like the conference call “townhalls” are there to provide these very warped reps a mechanism to be able to say, “My constituents did not express concerns about health care reform.”

    It’s vomit inducing.

41. #47
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:47 pm, atheling said:

    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:16 pm, Reliq6 said:
    Do what the folks in Colorado are doing – plan a town hall in her district and invite her. If she refuses to come to that one, *then* be upset.

    But “crashing” this breakfast will just feed the MSM. Think about it.

    Yes, but crashing this breakfast will bring attention to the fact that she held a townhall and charged for it. It will be bad publicity for her either way.

42. #48
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:48 pm, RogersUmp said:

    Extreme abuse of power.

43. #49
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:51 pm, Meorum said:

    Thanks for the heads up. Melissa Bean is my US Rep, and I’ve emailed the Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce asking why registration has been disabled and for some sort of substantiated information on where that $25 is going.

    The Michellemalkin.com team has been BCC’d. We’ll see where it goes…

44. #50
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:53 pm, GDSuffern said:

    So, camp out outside with a sign that says, “I wanted to come but your damn spending has broken my bank. Spare a dime, Madam Overlord?”

45. #51
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:56 pm, Drained Brain said:

    Oh, Congresswoman, do you have any Grey Poupon for my hash browns?

46. #52
    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:59 pm, Flyoverman said:

    From the people who would scream bloody murder over a “poll tax.”

47. #53
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:01 pm, tomg51 said:

    An elderly voter from Illinois,
    Thought that the end-of-life stuff was a ploy,
    But when he choked on a waffle,
    And his wife screamed something awful,
    Rep Bean said “he’ll be counseled, now let’s enjoy!”

48. #54
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:02 pm, tiredofit08 said:

    On August 14th, 2009 at 12:58 pm, atheling said:

    Holy moly.

    So now we serfs have to pay to speak to our masters?

    if things were as they should be she should be paying the her constituents for NOT doing the job they elected her to do…you know represent the will of the people who elected her….recall the woman and show her the unemployment line!!! somebody should send this one to Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity…this needs national attention!!!

49. #55
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:04 pm, slp said:

    Was something changed on the websites?

    I do not see where it says “Town Hall Breakfast.”

    It is a Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting. Of course, there is a charge.

50. #56
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:05 pm, Truesoldier said:

    Sounds to me like we need to keep an eye on her PDC report and see if she lists these as campaign donations.

51. #57
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:09 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    I’m just guessing but the first 500 spots were probably reserved by SIEU two days before the meeting was announced.

    They are trying to turn us into serfs…

52. #58
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:12 pm, vinny said:

    While I agree that it is provocative to charge people for attending your “townhall” meeting, I am happy to see that the spirit of capitalism still has a room in this representaive’s world. However, it is very likely that those supporting obamacare such as the various democratic party activists and union reps will get a free ticket, and the bill for this meal will be passed onto those silly prols who work for a living and pay their taxes. That is unfair. It would be enlightening to see a list of who paid for their ticket and who got their ticket for free.

53. #59
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:16 pm, Dimsdale said:

    “Includes full breakfast”? This is what volunteer fire depts. do to raise money!

    I attending a town hall meeting a ploy to contribute to her reelection campaign?

54. #60
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:25 pm, spaceycakes said:

    Am I missing something? Does ‘Includes full breakfast’ mean something, like ‘Greek style’ or ‘half-n-half’?

55. #61
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:31 pm, traveler49 said:

    This is what Fu(#ing WU is doing in Portland. Only it’s a $50 “donation”. Where is Al Sweringen when you need him?

56. #62
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:31 pm, The Ugly American said:

    No questions…she just wants to eat her waffle.

57. #63
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:33 pm, Yansuf said:

    Much as I regret disagreeing with you Michelle, this is not a “town-hall meeting”, it is a “breakfast with the congresswoman” or fund raiser.
    Merely including a Q&A after her speech doesn’t change that.

58. #64
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:36 pm, Papa Louie said:

    As a democrat, surely Ms Bean offers an exemption to the $25 fee to the poor and unemployed, doesn’t she? At least she offers an AARP discount, right? Otherwise, some might think she belongs to that other party, you know, the snobby one that caters only to the rich.

59. #66
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:44 pm, Paul Revere said:

    She’s already paid by her constituents no matter the purpose of the meeting.

60. #68
    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:50 pm, ex-expat said:

    Hmmm she’s attempting of course to have a controlled venue, but its so ham-handed…..

    Wonder if the rep here ni NOrthern Va, Connally (eck!) would hold a townhall meeting? His views seem to be such that such would be pointless though. His offical site has a vid clip of him on MSNBC (natch!) rambling along about how Republicans have hijacked the effort with fear and lies.

    Can’t wait to vote against him, again.

61. #70
    On August 14th, 2009 at 3:17 pm, cheapseat said:

    sanddog #38, pay to play, the chicago way!

62. #72
    On August 14th, 2009 at 3:35 pm, SpeakEasy said:

    Which union is providing the servers/cooks/busboys? (anyone want to bet they are affiliated with SEIU?)

    On August 14th, 2009 at 1:09 pm, willie peter said:Ahh. Illinois Democrat.
    Next she’ll be wearing company logos a la Nascar

    Actually you may be on to something. Make all politicians wear affiliation patches on their clothing so we know who is pulling the string when they speak.

63. #73
    On August 14th, 2009 at 3:37 pm, kimsch said:

    I called her office again today to find out what her schedule is during the recess. I was told, again, that ‘they haven’t finalized the schedule yet’. I am still waiting for a call or an email from them with her schedule.

    I can understand the charge because it’s a Chamber of Commerce event and breakfast is being served, but she should be publishing her schedule.

64. #74
    On August 14th, 2009 at 3:41 pm, fighterDC said:

    Her constituents should respond by telling her that $25 isn’t a fraction of what she will have to pay them to vote for her next election cycle.

    I hope angry constituents fork over the money to prove a point that they won’t be prevented from their opportunity to voice their displeasure with her.

65. #76
    On August 14th, 2009 at 3:56 pm, Wade said:

    Congresswoman Melissa Bean. Hear her positions on Healthcare,

    As you delight with stacks of pancakes, eggs, home-fries and an endless supply of donuts.

66. #77
    On August 14th, 2009 at 4:09 pm, lgm said:

    I can see why you’re bummed. It just got more expensive to disrupt meetings.

67. #78
    On August 14th, 2009 at 4:10 pm, atheling said:

    On August 14th, 2009 at 4:09 pm, lgm said:
    I can see why you’re bummed. It just got more expensive to disrupt meetings.

    Yeah, and it just makes your day, doesn’t it, little kapo lapdog?

68. #79
    On August 14th, 2009 at 5:14 pm, Wade said:

    The $25 will keep the unemployed liberal bums like lgm out.

69. #80
    On August 14th, 2009 at 5:45 pm, LOBOMAN said:

    The D’s are never without Stupid! She is an AH.

70. #81
    On August 14th, 2009 at 5:52 pm, purealchemy said:

    Calling all Thread Rangers for reserve duty at:

    http://michellemalkin.com/2009/07/23/the-dont-taze-me-bro-moment-of-henry-louis-gates/?loggedin=1250286071#commentform

    Shooting for the 7,000 post mark.

    A day without Obama-bashing is like a day without sunshine

71. #82
    On August 14th, 2009 at 6:44 pm, atheling said:

    On August 14th, 2009 at 2:33 pm, Yansuf said:
    Much as I regret disagreeing with you Michelle, this is not a “town-hall meeting”, it is a “breakfast with the congresswoman” or fund raiser.
    Merely including a Q&A after her speech doesn’t change that.

    They changed it. I looked at Michelle’s links and it did say “Town Hall”. Apparently they realized how crappy it would look to host a townhall and charge for it (even with breakfast). If you read Michelle’s post, you’ll see that she quotes it as a “town hall breakfast”. They dropped “town hall”.

72. #84
    On August 14th, 2009 at 8:21 pm, Jet Jaguar said:

    On August 14th, 2009 at 4:09 pm, lgm said:

    I can see why you’re bummed. It just got more expensive to disrupt meetings.

    Who is bummed? I’d pay $100 for the opportunity to apply the tar and feathers.

73. #86
    On August 14th, 2009 at 9:33 pm, love2rumba said:

    It seems all these dems act like Melissa Bean after they are pressed for answers. She is no more of the people than a gang-banger.

    I’m enjoying the fact that the dems are being exposed for what they are…It couldn’t happen at a better time. They really think they are of nobility…

74. #87
    On August 14th, 2009 at 9:37 pm, love2rumba said:

    I can see why you’re bummed. It just got more expensive to disrupt meetings.

    So my free speech is a disruption, LGM?

    Good. Now explain to me with your mathematical mind why I should pay her $25 to attend when she can already pack a gun and hire bodyguards any damn time she wants to?

    You willing serf.

75. #88
    On August 14th, 2009 at 11:59 pm, denver republican said:

    “Let them eat cake”. – someone who got her head cut off

76. #89
    On August 15th, 2009 at 12:49 am, drivingjack said:

    It seems to me she is making you pay to keep the dissenters away! She must think all who oppose her position must be poor, white trash who only spend money on guns, lottery tickets and beer.