Pro-Surge Dem "Verbally Flogged By Hundreds Of His Constituents"

The Oregonian:

For more than three hours Monday night, Rep. Brian Baird was verbally flogged by hundreds of his constituents for no longer supporting the quick withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

More than 500 people packed a high school auditorium in Vancouver while another 175 or so were unable to get inside. And virtually everyone who got a chance to address the Vancouver Democrat were harshly critical - including several who said they had been long-time supporters and friends.

"You have just broken my heart," said Phil Massey, a Vancouver ship's pilot who wasn't swayed by Baird's explanation that the U.S. was finally starting to make some progress in bringing peace to Iraq. "You have screwed up, my friend. You have screwed up and you have to change course."

Read the whole story: The Oregonian

Comments

[Ginzaman]

Sounds like he's playing both sides of the street. Support the neocons AND say he's a Democrat? I thought Libermann had that crap locked up.

[speakingtruth2power]

Brilliant political strategy, pick up a few rethug votes in trade for hundreds of the folk who put you there.

There are many Democrats who need to go and many are the beltway elite like our DiFi who is anti-Bush but pro Crusade for Muslim Oil and war profiteering. I have written her many times and always get told why she knows better, in her form letter response.

[squareyellowpaper]

These people who support the surge or the war must go.

Americans said by their votes last November that the we must pull out of Iraq. Both Democrats and Republicans put spin on it saying that we disapproved of how the war was going.

I didn't know one person who said that with her/his vote. Everyone I knew said we needed to get out as soon as possible.

Hillary and most of the Republican candidates are STILL saying that Americans disapprove of the president' handling of the war. That is just spin and a partial truth.

We want an end of the war and we want our troops home, now! We cannot wait another year!

Anyone running for president, congress, or the senate needs to know that we want an end of the war.

[StillAmused]

Flog we must.

[lornejl]

Shouldn't there be some freaking penalty for being so God Damned wrong ? There is none, its ridiculous, surge ? no skin off my ass, I have a safe seat in Congress because my constituents are dumb fucks, its crazy man !

[UncleDave]

Oh He got his press alright! Now if We only could get twenty or thirty more storys like this and perhaps I'll have Hope. We are all ready to leave,and damn the outcome.Th­is fiasco is not worth One More Life. Let the Iraquis decide. Won't happen but I can dream.

[saxmaniac]

To JGG: your comments are totally repugnant, and your ignorance is breathtaking.
TO Huffpo: is there some way to get rid of this hate-monger? Thank you. Saxmaniac.

[squareyellowpaper]

I disagree with your take on JGG.

I think you have to take a look at what is acturally going on.

He has an emphatic way of communicating his thoughts but I don't think that they are hateful.

[Robert59]

I hope he gets voted out of office. What's really sad is these elected officials don't even realize they are being manipulated by the DoD. The military can put on one hell of a dog and pony show skewing the facts and providing tours to paint a rosy picture.

What are we getting for this 8 to 10 billion dollars a month we're spending? And how much longer can we afford to continue this spending?
And what is the plan when there are no more soldiers and Marines in the pipeline willing to go yet again?

Meanwhile Bush is praising the Maliki government for its attempts to reconcile with the Sunnis. The Sunnis however remain lukewarm, but doubt Maliki can deliver or meet all their demands. They want prisoners released, but why? Because they were innocent? Hardly. So they can give them a gun and get ready for the civil war.

And what do the Sunnis want? They are masters at being opaque, but if you read between the lines you'll conclude they will only be satisfied when they are once again in charge.

[jackjett]

This guy was looking for some press and he got it.

His next gig with be on Faux News.

jack jett

[SmootyBooty]

Real story: Democratic member has public town hall with no restrictions on attendance.
How many repukes did that on their time off? Can you say zero?

[lornejl]

Thats a good point smoot.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

Vancouver,

I'm proud of you!


Now, it's time for someone to stand up and run against this guy. It is also time to begin financially supporting any genuine Democrat candidate who has sufficient passion to run against Baird and beat him. Not later. Now.

Cindy Sheehan has already set a good example by taking the first steps to run against impeachmen­t-is-off-t­he-table Pelosi.

It's time to take action. If not, we're going to have the same fake Democrats running against the same genuine Republicans.

Take action today. Do it now.

[esquire07]

Typical worthless Democratic coward.

Does he own Halliburton stocks.

[squareyellowpaper]

I think there is another, more obvious reason for his position.

[UncleDave]

Yellow,You seem to be having an active day-You're everywhere! Psst,lean closer....­meth will destroy Your brain. It's beginning to show.

[WaterRat]

Poor Brian. Still holding fast to the Bush-Cheney axiom that chaos will erupt on our parting.
Like his fellow Congressional workers,he is at a loss to explain to the anxious who we are supposed to be fighting.
He and the rest of the chicken hawk battalion in Washington don't know either.
If he fears being followed home by the Sunnis and Shiites, he has nothing to worry about. In fact, not even Al Qeida has a Navy.
WMDs? What a farce. What a horrible, sad shambles we're in because people like Brian are so easily led up the garden path.

[Graywolf48]

I was hired by my employer with the understanding that I would perform certain duties to the best of my ability. If I find that I cannot do what I was hired to do, then I should resign. If I find that I will not do what I was hired to do, then I should be fired. If Baird cannot do what the voters hired him to do, let him resign. Otherwise the voters will fire him next November.

I am sick and tired of Representatives that once elected ignore the people that elected them. I hope Baird is shown the door. And if he still feels that we are "making progress" then let him pick up a weapon and go to Iraq to take the place of a soldier or Marine that doesn't agree with the Congressman's assessment.

[scooperss]

Hallelujah and Amen to that.

[Ms.Lily Black]

One woman's comment from the article.
"We dont care about your convictions, your job is to represent your constituen­ts."

Yay for her!

Dont you just wish they'd listen?

[JaneC]

Oh, they will. ;)

[squareyellowpaper]

I don't know about that. Washington state used to be a Democratic state but when Republicans make the only two issues in every election, abortion and anti-Gay legislation, people tend to forget the real issues: the war, the economy, heathcare, social security, education, a middle-class in peril, and a failing infrastructure. This is what Karl Rove fed America and it works on the ignorant who love to hate.

[nunzia]

Yes, she is a real patriot. They get to DC, are wined and dined by lobbyists, paid well (dont think Tom DeLay would have become a millionaire killing cockroaches) and begin to think they're some kind of success whose individual opinion has some value. They forget they are there to work for constituents.