Republicans are developing tactics to avoid protesters' wrath at boisterous town halls


Republicans have faced hostile, anti-Trump crowds at their town hall meetings across the nation, with some officials apparently choosing to forgo the procedure, rather than face what is sure to be a firing squad of their constituents. Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) is not backing down, though, and his latest approach Tuesday evening might offer "his colleagues a potential blueprint for defusing tense constituent town halls that have bedeviled his Republican colleagues as they've been swarmed by protesters," Politico reports.
That is not to say Brat wasn't heckled Tuesday evening during his town hall in Blackstone, Virginia — he was. But rather than field questions from the audience, including from Ginny Bonner, who has five immediate family members who would be uninsurable without ObamaCare, Brat's staff collected questions on index cards beforehand. The local mayor then picked which cards to read and Brat cheerfully plowed through the protests and heckling of the crowd.
"I don't mind boisterous. I'm having fun!" he told the audience at one point, the Richmond Times-Dispatch writes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Other Republicans might soon follow Brat's lead. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) also faced furious constituents on the topic of ObamaCare on Tuesday. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) also faced protests and boos. A change in tactics by the Republicans doesn't bode well for protesters, who are "attempting to recreate the Tea Party fervor that swept Republicans into control of Congress in 2010," Politico notes.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests
-
Trump foists National Guard on unwilling California
speed read Protests erupted over ICE immigration raids in LA county
-
Supreme Court lowers bar in discrimination cases
speed read The court ruled in favor of a white woman who claimed she lost two deserved promotions to gay employees
-
Trump-Musk relationship implodes in taunts, threats
speed read Musk said Trump's multitrillion bill would cause a recession and accused the president of involvement with Jeffrey Epstein