It was the town hall that wasn’t supposed to happen.
For the better part of two hours Friday night, pissed-off Hoosiers jeered, chanted, and booed at Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., one of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s most fervent supporters in Congress.
It was a case in point for why senior Republican leaders have advised their members against holding such events at all.
Spartz, however, is often at odds with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. She plowed through the taunts as a crowd outside shouted, “Do your job!” Inside, the crowd roared in anger at mentions of Elon Musk and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Brian Jonasen, an Air Force veteran who has helped organize protests at the Indiana Statehouse, said, “The one thing we hope that maybe she takes back with her is that the people are mad. They are angry.”
You really know that you’re representing your constituents, when your bosses tell you not to fucking talk to them.
I’m honestly surprised anyone does them anymore. No one who is happy will show up to those things just to lob soft ball questions so you’re guaranteed to get a bunch of negative soundbites.
I would argue it is part of their job to do this but the incentives don’t align at all.
The incentive should be “do this or you lose your job”
They should be required to hold townhalls or resign. It’s ridiculous that they can get away with never interacting with their constituents.