The office of Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) denied entry to Democrats at his event Wednesday in another instance of GOP lawmakers attempting to avoid protesters and contentious questions from constituents, attendees claim.
Katie Finneran said she had planned to attend Portman’s speech at the Lincoln Day Dinner scheduled for Wednesday evening, but organizers informed her that morning that she would not be allowed to attend because she is a registered Democrat, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
A local Republican official told the Dispatch that it was Portman’s office that decided to restrict access to the event. Portman’s office did not return The Huffington Post’s request for comment.
“It’s my personal opinion that these people should be allowed in,” said David Koehl, Seneca County Republican Party treasurer. “Portman and his office are afraid protesters will show up. They made this decision a week ago, but several people have been refunded on short notice.”
Finneran, who said she identifies with the Green Party and voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in last year’s Democratic presidential primaries, told the paper that her entire table was also barred from attending, after being told it was a private event and then paying $30 for a ticket.
Before the dinner, Portman held a roundtable discussion on the opioid crisis, which Finneran said she was also blocked from attending.
“Just because Republicans are in power does not mean Republican citizens have more of a voice than Democratic citizens or even independent citizens or Green Party citizens or Libertarian citizens,” she said. “He represents everybody, not just the Republican Party.”
Several other attendees told the Toledo Blade that they were also barred and received refunds for their tickets.
Across the country, GOP lawmakers have been curtailing or avoiding public town halls, amid protests and raucous crowds. Activists have mocked their absence and held their own town halls instead. In Ohio, the liberal group MoveOn.org created a petition demanding that Portman hold a public town hall. Members invited him to its own town hall, but they said he declined.
About 100 protesters gathered outside Portman’s event on Wednesday, calling on him to hold President Donald Trump accountable. Some demonstrators chanted, “Hey, Portman, we’re here! Come outside and face your fear.”
Portman said at the event that it was “perfectly appropriate for them to be there and express their views.”
“I am listening,” he added.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Post a Comment