Voting Record Haunts Chambliss and Isakson at Town Hall

“Please don’t help us more than you already have; my liberty and my 401K can’t take it.”

Was it Senator Saxby Chambliss’ involvement with the “gang of six” or Senator Johnny Isakson’s vote to raise the debt ceiling that roiled their constituents’ tempers Saturday morning? The answer may be a combination of the two, in addition to other blemishes of their voting record. Regardless, the senators met a frustrated crowd this Saturday at the Gilmer Town Hall Meeting, where they faced a barrage of criticisms from the people they represent.

Hosted by Gilmer County Tea Party Patriots, the town hall meeting was held at North Georgia Christian Academy and featured U.S. Georgia Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. The senators began the event with a brief presentation of their professional and political backgrounds and discussed some of the current issues plaguing our nation. Then, following their opening remarks, the senators fielded comments and questions from the audience.

Hall County resident Pam Norman made the first comment. Norman first thanked the senators for taking the time to come to speak with their constituents and stand before the people of Georgia. She reminded the senators that the people of Georgia are responsible for the senators’ employment. She said that she, like most Georgians, is disappointed with their job performance, both past and present. Norman persisted that she expected Republicans to stand up for her life, liberty, and private property and to make a case for liberty and she just didn’t see that coming from the senators.

“The continued assault on our liberties,” she said, “via the Patriot Act, the TSA peepshows and physical assaults at the airports and Obamacare is unacceptable at every level.”

She then apologized. She apologized for not working harder to find stronger primary challengers for both senators in prior elections.

“I also ask for your apology to us in the form of your early retirements when your terms are up, “ she pursued, “please don’t help us more than you already have; my liberty and my 401K can’t take it.”

Applause roared from the audience. The senators thanked her for her comments and appreciated her constructive criticism. But, the comments only grew tougher.

Norman’s comments were a tidal wave, setting the tone for the rest of the meeting. Chambliss and Isakson were criticized for their voting record, which constituents said compromised conservative principles. Some folks talked about Fair-Tax and some about job creation and the economy, which inevitably led to talk of federal spending and oppressive government regulations. Towards the end of the meeting, Chair of Cobb, Cherokee and Bartow 912 Project Jack Staver wanted to know why Republicans and Conservatives in the senate could not stand up for Conservative positions. Staver asked, when senators from the opposite side say that people will not get their benefit checks, why can’t Republican senators or Conservatives stand up and say, “that’s not true.” Staver was adamant about getting a clear answer from the senators, buy none came. He asked the question repeatedly, but was not satisfied with their responses.
s9ymdb:1644 –>
By the end of the meeting, the senators had a good taste of the concerns of their constituents. They saw the litany of criticisms from the people they represent, which were not about anger, but love, love of their country which they perceive is headed into great peril. As the crowd dispersed and the senators spoke with those few huddled around the stage, the air was still thick with the frustration of people adamant about preserving their country’s liberties. But, as the crowd filtered out of the gymnasium at the North Georgia Christian Academy, several questions lingered in the air: did the senators get it? Did they understand that their constituents were frustrated and needed the senators to stand up for their liberties? Did they heed the comments and requests made Saturday morning? Like these questions, their counterparts also linger and only time will tell how they are answered.

Citizens ask Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson questions at townhall sponsored by Gilmer County Tea Party from Fetch on Vimeo.