High Plains Patriots

Senator Bingaman Washed, Dried, and Pressed at Clovis Townhall Meeting

by Jonathan Taylor

Over four hundred citizens turned out to the Clovis Civic Center on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 4:15 pm when they discovered Senator Jeff Bingaman would hold a townhall meeting to discuss so-called healthcare reform legislation. They showed up with less than 24 hours notice when Bingaman agreed to the meeting about 24 hours prior to holding it. This is more than can be said for rookie Representative Ben Ray Lujan who refused to hold a public meeting in Clovis, but only met privately with constituents at the library on Aug. 15 for five minutes each over the course of two hours and who was 20 minutes late at that, carefully noting who desired a meeting with him and requiring them to sign-up (make appointments). Just prior to Lujan’s meetings, the young Congressman had a private luncheon that lasted an hour and 20 minutes at Leal’s Restaurant on 21st St. with about ten other people wherein he slipped in a back door of the restaurant and was barricaded in a private room for a considerable time. I’m sure he noticed the signs protesting “Obamacare”. Likewise, Senator Tom Udall scheduled time in Clovis, NM, but refused to hold any public meetings. So, is this accountability to the people, or just elitism?
Now at Senator Bingaman’s meeting on Aug. 18, mayor Gayla Brumfield had the honor of introducing him and bestowing praise and adoration in typical political fashion although she had essentially nothing to do with the organization of the meeting. The 400 or so constituents listened patiently for at least 15 minutes while the Senator lectured with charts and graphs about how he thought the country needed “healthcare” reform legislation. When he finally opened the floor for questions, it became obvious the people were not buying it. Not one person could be heard speaking out in favor of any legislation or government involvement in healthcare. Where were all the liberals that would be expected to support this type of legislation and support the Democrats? If there were any present, you could count them on only one hand. On the other hand (ignore the pun), the people at the meeting were largely respectful, considerate, and did not shout at the Senator even though many of them are angry and disapproving since Obama and the Liberals took over the Executive Branch and Congress. However, if you listened to popular news reports later that evening, like KBIM Channel 10, the CBS affiliate in Roswell, or News Channel 4, the NBC affiliate in Albuquerque, you would hear that the meeting was out-of-control and unproductive. But did these same popular news outlets show any interesting or enlightening video clips of the actual meeting? They did not. (There were about six professional video cameras in the room the entire time. Contact me or the High Plains Patriots for an amateur video recording.) And if the meeting was a chaotic, disruptive free-for-all, as these mind-numbing, old, tired, and worn-out media outlets implied, why didn’t the police who were present confront anyone?
Getting into the meat of the meeting, we discover that some of the main themes echoed by various people at different times were:

“Why should we trust the government on this when they can’t seem to fix what’s already broken in government programs?”

“Are we going to get the same plan and benefits as you, the Congress, if you lead us down this road?”

“Where are all the jobs (from the Stimulus Bill)?”

“We want the government to stay out of this and our lives in general!”

One of the harsher interjections was, “You just wait ’til election time!” a clear sign of exasperation.

Clovis-ites and others at the meeting did more than ask simple questions of Bingaman; they made heartfelt statements, and some gave lengthy speeches. Longtime resident and respected doctor, Lonnie Alexander, who had his hand raised for over 45 minutes since the beginning of the meeting, was finally allowed to speak after some citizens prodded the microphone be given him. He spoke for some time about how the problems doctors, patients, and the medical industry face, have grown over the years. He said we needed tort reform, more primary care physicians and less government involvement in the doctor-patient relationship. Clovis surgeon Albert Kwan sang a similar tune in his speech. Another man began his speech by calmly reading, “Senator, please don’t interpret my respect for your office and position as a lack of anger, frustration, outrage and total dismay at the direction this administration and Congress is taking our country. It seems as though you have the numbers and votes to do whatever you want, if you can keep the Democrats together– and there is a pervasive ‘in-your-face’ attitude. Most of you are ultra left, pro-union, pro-abortion, pro-ACORN, pro gay and lesbian, pro gun-control, pro government control, pro-ACLU, anti- moral values, anti- religious freedom, and anti traditional family.”

Likewise, others at the meeting showed they understood how much of the time there is
a complete disregard for the rules and principals of law and the constitution, and how thoroughly un-American and anti-freedom this is. Senator Bingaman also listened patiently as the people spoke. And when he answered, there were groans and murmers of disapproval when he tried to assure us that the Senate had some good plans and was on the right track with legislation and ideas for helping the country. The people simply weren’t buying it. Clearly, they were demanding less government intrusion in their lives and smaller government in general. Now that it’s over, this looming question remains: Will the Senator take it to heart or continue beating the drum on the Godless, Leftist Liberal’s Bandwagon which will, of course, keep bringing him the easy money and keep him in favor with them and their machines??