Guarding the town halls

USA Today reported at the beginning of the two-week Congressional recess, now ending, that Republicans going home during the break were being urged not to have wide open town meetings on Social Security. Instead, it was suggested they talk to service clubs or other groups, or assemble panels of friendly experts to discuss the issue. The idea was to avoid the outpouring of disagreement and complaints they had heard earlier.

Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, who held 35 town hall meetings during February, has been a high profile supporter of privatizing Social Security, and has been a talking head on many DC-based television programs to promote the idea.

Then there is Mark Green, another GOP Congressman, who has held no town meetings on the subject and doesn't ever intend to if he can avoid it. The difference: Green is running for governor, and being on the wrong side of a big issue could hurt his campaign, which hasn't even started yet. The public opposes the President and GOP on this issue by a big margin, so Green wants to duck.

Wisconsin Citizen Action, a feisty advocacy group, called Green out on the issue this week, asking him to sign a pledge to protect Social Security and only support changes to improve the system's solvency. No comment from Green. But it's an issue he won't be able to hide from forever -- and one which could derail his candidacy for governor. Release.

Meanwhile, the Bushies just throw anyone out who looks like he might not agree with the President.Story.