Shea-Porter and Hodes Still in Hiding

Let’s look back just a short time in history.

Carol Shea-Porter in 2006: “I always believe in speaking up. I think that’s what we’re supposed to do,” she said.

And last week?
Carol Shea-Porter in 2009: No Town Hall meetings, spokesman, “…people are trying to disrupt this democratic process.”

What a difference three years in The Beltway makes. Carols Shea-Porter made a name for herself in the 1st Congressional District of New Hampshire, by attending Town Hall Meetings hosted by her predecessor, Congressman Jeb Bradley, for years. Now, however, in the midst of one of the most significant and controversial discussions in Congress, while her colleagues are hosting health care town halls across the nation, Carol Shea-Porter refuses to face her voters.

According to the Portsmouth Herald today, Shea-Porter is foregoing the traditional town hall style format of meeting face to face with voters in exchange for a controlled, over-the-phone discussion to prevent dissent on the issue of Health Care.

“The purpose of town halls is to allow members of Congress to hear from their constituents, provide information about legislation, and to exchange ideas and perspectives. While it is unfortunate that a small group of people are trying to disrupt this democratic process…”

— Jamie Radice, a Shea-Porter spokeswoman, Town hall meetings in the line of fire, The Portsmouth Herald, August 10. 2009

This philosophy of refusing to allow citizens to express their dissent of proposed policies in Congress, flies directly in the face of Congresswoman Shea-Porters past actions, when she was just a citizen, and not a member of Congress.

“I always believe in speaking up. I think that’s what we’re supposed to do.”

— Carol Shea-Porter, September 19, 2006 Tuesday, Shea-Porter speaks of Bush protest; Social Security, By BEVERLEY WANG, Associated Press Writer.

“Congresswoman Shea-Porter is not affording the citizens of her District the same access that she herself not only was afforded, but touted, “ said 1st District Congressional Candidate Frank Guinta. “For a person who spent years exercising her right to free speech and dissent, it is unthinkable she would withhold that right from others. It appears she clearly is afraid of facing the opposition she provided to her predecessor.”

CAROL SHEA-PORTER AND TOWN HALLS

May 04, 2006
Boston Globe
N.H. DEMOCRATS SEE CHANCE FOR WIN
BY JOHN LAIDLER

“I know Jeb Bradley better than anybody else does,” she said. “I have been challenging him in his Town Hall meetings for over two years now…”

September 11, 2006
Concord Monitor
Four seek party’s approval; Iraq and health care among their concerns
by WALTER ALARKON

“She said she has attended many of Bradley’s town hall meetings to question his support for the war in Iraq.”

September 13, 2006
Associated Press
Shea-Porter upsets Craig for 1st District Democratic nomination
By BEVERLEY WANG

“She studied Bradley by attending his town hall meetings around the state for 2 ½ years.”

September 19, 2006
Associated Press
Shea-Porter speaks of Bush protest; Social Security
By BEVERLEY WANG

“I always believe in speaking up. I think that’s what we’re supposed to do,” she [Carol Shea-Porter] said.

November 9, 2006
The Associated Press
Carol Shea-Porter’s unusual journey to U.S. Congress
By BEVERLEY WANG

“We’d been going to these town hall meetings, and we were waiting for somebody to step up who knew his record … but we just didn’t see this person emerge,” she [Carol Shea-Porter] said.

November 15, 2006
The Boston Globe
A win from the blue Unknown tapped a Democratic tide in N.H.
By Rick Klein

“She spoke to crowds of as few as three, encouraged her neighbors to spread the word, dogged her opponent at town hall meetings.”

Thanks to the Guinta for Congress Campaign for compiling the above information.

Update: Shea-Porter and Hodes, instead of meeting with constituents, will be instead meeting with far-left bloggers and nutroots writers: Representatives Bug Out Instead of Facing Constituents

They also were present at the President’s phony town hall on the 11th.

Note: This post has been updated but it was first reported two weeks ago that Hodes and Porter had ‘gone into hiding’ which was then noted by Hot Air blogger Ed Morrissey.