What does it tell you when your Representative is afraid of talking to his constituents???
A group of senior citizens recently tried to visit the Gaylord office of their U.S. Representative, Dan Benishek, to talk to him about his vote to kill Medicare. When they got to the office, it was locked with the blinds drawn and instructions to press the buzzer and state the nature of their business. They were eventually allowed in, one at a time while the others were forced to stand in the hallway, and then only because there was a reporter present. Here’s the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KuRbQid53A
This is pretty astonishing. I’ve never seen a Congressman lock his constituents out of his office. I guess the idea of an “open door policy” escapes Rep. Benishek.
Margaret Johnson, a retired nurse who lives in Cheboygan had this to say:
Dr. Benishek is known for being inaccessible to constituents, but I’ve never been met with anything like that when dealing with a legislator. They spoke to us through a closed door. It’s one thing that Dr. Benishek refuses to hold public town halls to talk about his Vouchercare plan. It’s really bad to make it clear that what you say about listening to constituents is just lip service.
Another retiree that visited Benishek’s office, Sam Candela of Gaylord, had more to say:
It’s sad that constituents who stop by Congressman Benishek’s office, which we pay for with our tax dollars, are locked out and treated like we’re a nuisance. I just wonder what would have happened if the local press had not been there, and what happens when no one is looking.
For more information about Benishek, a doctor who should be working to HELP folks get Medicare rather than voting to end it and make it a coupon program, go to DoctorDansDeadlyPlan.com.
