Giffords cancels GV-Sahuarita appearance

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords cancelled an appearance in Green Valley/Sahuarita this week, instead moving the planned public meeting on veterans issues to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.

EDITORIAL: Giffords is hiding: http://www.gvnews.com/articles/2009/08/11/editors_blog/56giffords812.txt

GOP FOE STEPS IN: http://gvnews.com/articles/2009/08/11/breaking_news/01kellymeeting.txt

Giffords had planned to spend Thursday in the area, including a visit to American Legion Post #66 in Sahuarita.

Her staff on Monday said she has combined that appearance and another at Pima Community College into one at the base at 6 p.m. Thursday. Those attending must RSVP through her Tucson office at 881-3588 to get base access.

Giffords will still attend a private event Thursday in Green Valley, her staff said.

Members of Congress have been met with protests, catcalls and worse at town-hall style meetings across the country over the past week as they address concerns over proposed health care legislation. The disruptions have drawn widespread media attention and prompted White House officials to counsel members of Congress on how to address common questions about the legislation.

On Tuesday, President Obama went on the offensive in support of his plan, urging a town hall audience in New Hampshire not to listen to those who seek to “scare and mislead the American people.”

“For all the scare tactics out there, what is truly scary is if we do nothing,” Obama told a friendly crowd of about 1,800 in a high school auditorium and a nationwide audience watching on cable television.

Earlier Tuesday, Republican-turned-Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter faced hostile questions, taunts and jeers as he tried to explain his positions at a town hall in Lebanon, Pa. Voter fears of a government takeover of health care were on stark display.

Some lawmakers, holding forums during Congress’ August recess, have gone so far as to replace public forums with teleconferences or step up security to keep protesters at bay.

Giffords’ communications director C.J. Karamargin said Giffords has no public meetings planned on healthcare. She will talk about the GI Bill and other veterans issues on Thursday at Davis-Monthan.

“We set this schedule quite a while in advance, long before the recent rise in calls for town halls,” he said.

Karamargin said there was no flexibility to address healthcare because “booking halls and arranging for staffing doesn’t happen at the snap of a finger.”

The Davis-Monthan auditorium was readily available because the topic was “pertinent to their operation,” he said.

Karamargin added that Giffords has had several public forums on healthcare and will continue to hold them in the future.

Giffords hosted a town hall-style meeting in May that drew more than 1,000 people at a Tucson high school, before Congress considered healthcare legislation. She also held a telephonic town hall July 27 that drew about 350 people for a question and answer session.

Includes information from the Associated Press.

READER COMMENTS:

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of gvnews.com.

ed scott wrote on Aug 11, 2009 12:58 PM:

" What a crock of excuses coming out of the office of Rep. Giffords as to why she won't meet with her constituents about health care.

There are many empty halls in town. Come on, don't lie to us.

The health care issue needs discussion. She is in AZ and doesn't take the time to do just that, well, she won't get my vote come Nov 2010. "

Barbara wrote on Aug 12, 2009 11:48 AM:

" What is REALLY scary is that he is President, somehow and I don't trust him or his agenda one bit. Look at his companions people and wake up to who is in the White House. We are loosing our rights as he was taught by his mentors who were socialists and communists and oh yes, racists and elitists. Pray for him. And our officials representing us, protect the people and do your job. What happened to the constitution anyway?? "

Barbara wrote on Aug 12, 2009 11:54 AM:

" She won't get my vote either and needs to be reading what the public is saying or send her and email.

And the person who wrote this article, it is just too easy to see who you represent.People are upset because they can see how they are being hurt by their representatives and this man posing as President. Don't make excuses and lies out of this. "

Joanne wrote on Aug 12, 2009 1:24 PM:

" Why should Gifford respond to a hijacked town hall meeting. What a bunch of bullies! It amazes me how many Americans are so cruel. Many Republicans will take the power any way they can get it...democratically or not. "