Hundreds line up for the Brat Town Hall in Blackstone Virginia.

When I arrived in the small town of Blackstone, the line to get into Congressman Dave Brat’s town hall already snaked half-way down the block, even though the doors wouldn’t open for over an hour. “I hope we can get in,” my friend Patti said. We had heard that the venue, a banquet hall in a local restaurant, had limited seating.

Our congressman had scheduled his town hall on a weeknight in a small, conservative town as far from the majority of his constituents as it seemed he could get. As an added measure to discourage attendance by dissenters, he chose a venue that only seated 150 people and it appeared that about 50 of the seats had been pre-filled with his supporters before the doors opened to those in line.

We had plenty of time to get to know each other as we waited outside. My guess is at least 90 percent of us leaned liberal. Contrary to what Trump and other Republicans would like the general public to believe, we were just regular folks who care about our country and want to know what is going on. We want to protect the environment, defend refugees and preserve the Affordable Care Act. At one point the crowd even broke into the chant “we’re not paid,” a response to false allegations that those attending these town halls are on somebody’s payroll. Seriously?

As one of the few people waiting outside who actually made it in, I felt a responsibility to take notes of the questions and Brat’s answers. Those wishing to ask a question wrote it on an index card. These cards were placed in a bowl and the Mayor of Blackstone selected and read them. Some of the notable responses are shared below.

1. The Environmental Protection Act (EPA)

One of the first questions asked was: “What will you do to protect the EPA”? Some in the audience shouted “regulation.” Brat responded that the best thing to do to protect the environment is to increase prosperity. He said wealthy people like clean air and water. I’m not making this up. This response was met with audible incredulity.

2. The Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Brat said that Obamacare had failed. Of course, this statement engendered an outcry from the audience, and I held up a small card with the word “Disagree” written in bold type on it. He said a primary goal for Congress is to repeal and replace Obamacare, but he added that the Republicans against ACA do not have a plan to replace it, as of yet. (As it turns out, perhaps health care is more complicated than they thought).

3. Guns

Why did the House of Representatives vote to repeal a regulation that sought to limit the ability of those with mental illness to purchase guns? Brat responded that the right of these people to have access to guns is protected by the 2nd Amendment.

4. Trump’s Lies

The question for Brat: What can he do to help reign in the false statements made by Trump that are scaring our allies? Brat replied that some people don’t like strong rhetoric, but that’s the American way.

5. Trump’s Refusal to Release his Taxes

Congress has the authority to make Trump release his taxes, the question began. Will you act to get him to make his tax information public? Brat responded that he wasn’t aware of this authority.

6. Climate change



When asked if he believed in climate change, Brat responded “Yes, the climate changes all the time.” One person in the back yelled “That’s not funny.”

7. The Travel Ban

Brat said that the travel ban was legal and constitutional; he reiterated the misinformation popular with Trumpsters that Obama chose the countries on the list; and he said these countries were either non-functional states or terrorist states. He then went on to add that the 9th Circuit, which ruled the ban to be unconstitutional, is overruled 80 percent of the time and he said its ruling this time will be overruled. The audience booed and many held up small pieces of red paper, indicating disagreement.

8. Trump’s Wall

How can you justify a multi-billion dollar wall between the United States and Mexico? Brat said “easily.” He went on to say that he thought it would reduce expenses related to illegal immigration. The audience booed its disagreement and waved red pieces of paper.

9. Trump’s Involvement with Russia

Do you support an independent investigation of the Trump administration’s involvement with Russia? Brat did not answer yes or no, saying instead that there was no evidence of Trump’s involvement with Russia.

Dave Brat fielded these and other questions over the course of about an hour. The fired-up audience inside was matched by a couple hundred people outside who were not able to get in due to a lack of space. They listened to the meeting via a loudspeaker. Many of these people were Congressman Brat’s constituents and had driven long distances to get there. It’s unfortunate that Brat chose a venue that did not allow them to adequately participate. Those of us inside heard their voices as they reacted to the responses and chanted or shouted their disapproval.

We the people who attended or tried to attend the town hall were not professional protestors or paid protestors. I had never been to a town hall meeting before and I would guess most of those in the audience had not either. Many of us are disturbed by the agenda currently pursued by Trump and the Republican majorities in Washington, policies that push aside the middle class in favor of the interests of corporations and the wealthiest among us. We worry that Trump is trampling the American brand, which has in the past represented value, freedom and compassion. We care enough about things like health care, clean air, and refugees to leave our families and homes on a weeknight and drive a long way in the hope of having our voices heard.