UPDATE: Baird Refuses to do “Face-to-Face” Meetings

By Evan at August 5th, 2009.

This time last year, U.S. Representative Brian Baird was preparing for the town hall circuit.

Out on summer recess, on August 7 last year Baird held a town hall in one of the many rural (and conservative) corners of his district at Rochester High School.

So how many town halls does Baird have scheduled this recess? According to his office: Zip. Zero. Nada.

Why the reversal from last year?  Congressman Baird, a clinical psychologist by training, is reportedly “undecided“ on Obama and his Congressional Democratic colleagues’ health care reform proposals (though he earlier equivocated, seeming to suggest his position has evolved, if only slightly).

Perhaps with a critical eye to Oregon Congressman Wu’s run-in with dissenters, and with word out that other town halls hosted by his Democratic colleagues across the nation aren’t going swimmingly, Baird’s decision to shy away from getting face-to-face with constituents is an attempt to avoid being similarly pinned down.

UPDATE: A source shared with NWDIGEST an internal memo from House Democratic Leadership to House Democratic Membership (NOTE: AARP released a whitewashed version of the memo).

In refusing to hold face-to-face town halls, Baird appears to be bailing on his party’s recess strategy.

In fact, his own apparent strategy for the recess–that is, hiding from constituents–is exactly the opposite of the one Pelosi & Co. outlined for Democratic members:

SHOWING MOMENTUM & DRIVING THE DEBATE

District Health Care Events  Members have already held more than 550 health care events in their districts this year, but we must do more. The Democratic Leadership has prepared a list of suggested district events and materials to help you organize and conduct successful events during the month of August. Press will be notified each week of a sampling of the events occurring around the country to demonstrate that Democrats are using the August District Work Period to advance the health reform conversation and build support for this critical effort. Members are advised to put a ‘human face’ on health reform by incorporating personal stories into events and communications.

UPDATE II: An anonymous tip came in with this link.  Apparently another reason for no town-halls this week: Baird is in Toronto, Canada at a psychologist’s convention (Ed. Snark: pehaps he’s investigating single-payer while he’s up there?). The linked blog post in the tweet explains Baird’s credentials thusly:

With his background as a practicing psychologist, Baird is playing a key role in efforts by Congress to reform health care and health insurance.

More Editorial Snark: If Baird is such an expert psychologist, why isn’t he trying to practice a little group therapy on his constituents in person?

Tags: 3rd C.D., Brian Baird, featured, Health Care, Rochester, Town Halls

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