'Has been fun': GOP congressman reacts after 90-minute bombardment of fury from voters
An hour-and-a-half of chaos greeted a GOP congressman as he defended Donald Trump’s policies — and was hammered with jeers and insults from hundreds of his constituents Thursday.
Rep. Chuck Edwards’ town hall in Asheville, North Carolina, descended into boos and yelling almost immediately as hundreds packed the event — and many more stood outside, unable to get in.
A CNN reporter on the scene described a meeting so unruly that shouting could be heard on the street outside.
“It was highly energetic,” said reporter Isabel Rosales. “And very tense. It was a packed house, more than 300 people packed, crowded into this auditorium. Hundreds of others outside who couldn't get in because of the number restrictions of how many could be in that auditorium.
“ … For an hour and a half, Congressman Edwards had to endure insults, jeers and searing questions.”
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At one point, a shouting man who identified himself as a veteran was marched out of the hall by cops after he hurled accusations that the congressman — and the Trump administration — had no empathy for ex-military members.
The meeting started with a grinning Edwards declaring, “The time is now to fix how Washington works. To that end, I was proud to vote recently for the House budget resolution which provides for a framework …”
He was silenced by a wall of boos and yells.
“And you wonder why folks don’t want to do these town halls,” he responded.
The questions he was bombarded with were direct.
“What do you plan to do to make sure North Carolina does not get taken over by dictatorship and fascism?” one asked.
“Do you represent all citizens, even though they may not have voted for you? Or do you work for Donald Trump?” another asked.
Clearly uncomfortable, Edwards largely stuck to a prepared script, trying to avoid confrontation.
“Every vote that I have, every opinion I have cannot possibly align with everyone‘s opinion. My job is to listen to the folks that I represent, to apply the principles that I have, that I told you that I would use when I went to Washington, D.C., and help make the decisions that cover the needs of more of the folks back here in western North Carolina,” he said.
“Do your job that you were sent there to do: to represent us all," shouted the man who was escorted out. “You’re lying! I’m a veteran, and you don’t give a f--k about me."
The crowd cheered in support of him as he was forced to leave.
Edwards held his town hall despite the Trump administration advising Republicans to avoid them. Several have been hit by angry constituents furious about sweeping cuts to government services and Elon Musk’s involvement, among other things.
“Hey, this has been fun,” Edwards finished the meeting by saying.
Watch the video below or at this link.