Republican lawmakers face grassroots anti-Trump fury

BRANCHBURG, New Jersey, USA – “Do your job!” “Answer the question!” “Push back Trump!” In the New Jersey town of Branchburg and across the United States, Republican lawmakers are feeling the heat of anti-Trump fury from their constituents.

In this first week of recess in Congress since President Donald Trump took office, senators and representatives have followed the timeworn tradition of going home to their citizens to discuss legislative projects.

But in the extremely polarized country, where anti-Trump protests have rocked major cities since his January 20 inauguration, these town hall meetings have become flashpoints for citizens to voice dissent with the new administration and push against Republican lawmakers who support it.

Trump this week denounced the “so-called angry crowds” in some Republican districts, asserting on Twitter that they were “in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists.”

But the movement, which echoes protests by the ultra-conservative Tea Party in 2009 town halls after Democratic president Barack Obama took office, seems to have momentum – to such an extent that many lawmakers have cancelled meetings.

Not New Jersey Congressman Leonard Lance, 64, a veteran Republican reelected last November to represent the district where Branchburg is located, about 55 miles (90 kilometers) west of New York.

A crowd jammed his town hall meeting Wednesday night, February 22, packing out a 1,000-seat auditorium at Raritan Valley Community College – many of them Democrats, but also some with Republican sympathies, and most of them clearly anti-Trump.

Outside, some 200 protesters decried the Trump administration’s alleged ties to Russia, and the president’s plans to overturn Obama’s healthcare law; strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider; and roll back environmental protections.

Trump supporters appeared invisible, except for student Jack Hoffman, 18, who watched from afar wearing a pro-Trump cap. “They are crybabies that won’t accept the results of the election,” he said.

Inside the auditorium, retiree Lee Brush, said that Lance was “well-liked” but now “has become kind of a party-liner” by supporting the Republican administration’s more radical measures.

With a large US flag nearby, Lance stood at the podium, opening the meeting by leading the Pledge of Allegiance, his right hand placed on his heart as is customary.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” he said.

“For all! For all!” the audience picked up in a chant. Lance tried to calm the crowd by assuring that questions would be chosen “at random.”

Tough questioning

One after another doctors, students, professors and others took the microphone to talk about the events of recent weeks and to question him, politely but firmly, on all subjects.

“Are you going to allow our tax money to be used to build that wall?” someone asked, referring to Trump’s vow to build a wall on the US southern border with Mexico. The question drew applause.

“Will you vote for a congressional commission to investigate the ties with Russia?” asked another, encouraged by the shouts in the auditorium.

Many wielded signs, saying “Agree” on a green-colored side and “Disagree” on the red reverse side, flipping them according to what the lawmaker said.

Not one Trump supporter spoke at the meeting.

Lance kept calm and pointed to his moderate positions, saying he does not think a wall along the entire border with Mexico is necessary and that he agrees with Republican Senator John McCain in being “very suspicious of Russia.”

He pointed out that he was “one of the first Republicans to criticize the travel ban” ordered by Trump and blocked by the courts.

Many of his statements were applauded. But not all.

The crowd did not like it when he said that a congressional inquiry on Trump’s links with Moscow was unnecessary “at this stage” and that a demand that Trump release his tax returns to Congress “goes too far.”

That last point drew a barrage of boos and cries of “push back” Trump.

“It was a little disturbing that he would not criticize the administration,” said Steven Antunes, an environmental lawyer, after the meeting.

“His job is to represent his constituents, not to worry about his party,” he said. “But to be fair, he showed up, he tried to answer questions… he was polite and the questions were not staged.”

“And he is in a hot spot: there is a fear of retribution from the administration.”

A visibly fatigued Lance later told journalists that he had found the “vigor” of the meeting “very useful.” He said he planned another one Saturday, February 25. – Rappler.com