Courier Journal

People are angry.

They're upset over immigration policies.

They're furious at the thought of losing health care and Social Security benefits.

They're fuming over Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation.

And many are fed up with their senator, Mitch McConnell, because they say he doesn't listen to them.

McConnell travels all over the state in controlled settings, talking to business and community leaders, visiting workers at manufacturing plants, listening to small business owners and holding press conferences.

But everyday Kentuckians don't have access to the Louisville Republican.

That might explain why they're cornering him in public, berating him at restaurants and tossing his wife's leftovers.

That behavior, of course, is dead wrong.

But instead of making the situation worse by blaming "the far left" and calling the protesters mobsters, McConnell should do something to fix the problem.

Related:Mitch McConnell does not get to play the victim in restaurant protest

He should listen to people who are upset. Give them a platform to voice their concerns. Work to find common ground.

It would make him a better representative of the people of Kentucky — all of them.

A good way to hear from the people is to hold town hall meetings.

Congressman Bradley Byrne, a Republican from Alabama, holds regular town hall meetings. He promised his constituents he would "put together an aggressive outreach operation" and says one of the best ways to do that is through town hall meetings.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, also holds town hall meetings. She held one last month in Troy and another one in Buffalo on Friday. The announcement said, "Kirsten really wants to hear from you. She'll give brief remarks, answer any questions you have, and listen to your thoughts and feedback on the issues you care most about.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican, held a town hall meeting during the August recess last year. He told the crowd, many of whom came to vent their frustration over Trump's agenda, that he holds these public meetings "because it's your government, not mine."

Well put, Sen. Isakson.

Mitch McConnell:Protest at Louisville restaurant didn't ruin my meal

It's time to give people an opportunity to be heard, Sen. McConnell, especially people who live in Louisville and Lexington and often feel ignored.

Sure. People will show up who disagree with your decisions, and you may be heckled. But as you've said many times: You will not be intimidated.

So listen. Give people an opportunity to vent. Hold a town meeting. Hear them. Have an open mind.

It's part of your job as an elected official.

It also might stop people from accosting you in public, disrupting your dinner and disturbing other diners.

How about it, Sen. McConnell?