Rodney Davis hosts first public forum in years
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WCIA TV…
Hundreds of voters packed an auditorium at the Richland Community College Monday night to hear Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) answer questions from the public in his first open town hall-style event since the election of President Donald Trump.
Guests had to show government identification to enter the premises. Government staff approached several noisy critics throughout the energetic event, but ultimately did not remove them from the audience. Police officers in uniform guarded the doors while plainclothes officers peered through curtains and monitored a tense crowd from behind hallway doors.
Agitated activists booed and hissed while buoyant supporters clapped and cheered the incumbent Republican who navigated questions about his record and President Trump’s inflammatory tweets with more poise and grace than his rambunctious stage mate, state Representative Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur).
When a veteran man stood and accused Davis of ignoring what he saw as racism in the president’s tweets, Caulkins swooped in, chided the man, and asked “what does that have to do with this?”
Caulkins is a member of the Eastern Bloc.
* Herald & Review…
[Herald & Review Editor Chris Coates, the night’s moderator] frequently had to shout over raucous interruptions from an audience who repeatedly engaged the politicians in one-on-one debates with their own impromptu yelled questions.
Caulkins, particularly, grew annoyed at a barrage of interruptions and engaged one audience heckler whom he asked to stand up. “If you don’t want to be part of this, if you don’t want to be civil about it, you can leave,” said Caulkins. “I got a right to speak,” replied the audience member.
“No, you don’t,” said Caulkins, as the two traded jabs on the nature of democracy and the forum.
Coates repeatedly managed to restore order and kept the questions and answers moving over a wide sweep of topics from the economy to healthcare, climate change, gun violence and voting fairness.
* The exchange was harsher than portrayed above…
* More…
* News-Gazette…
— On Trump’s recent tweets and chants from his supporters at rallies, some of which have been described as racist by political opponents and others: “We need to tweet a lot less and govern a lot more.”
Speaking specifically about the president urging four non-white female Democratic members of Congress to go back to the countries they came from — three of the four were born in the U.S. — Davis said: “I do not think that was an appropriate thing to talk about.” […]
— On armed violence in America: “It is pretty tough answering a gun violence question when you have experience having to run from bullets without talking about it,” Davis said, referring to a gunman opening fire in 2017 during a Team GOP softball practice in Virginia.
“We were victims of gun violence from a crazed lunatic who was intoxicated by politics. We need to address the mental health crisis in this country.”
— On the Affordable Care Act: “Thank you, Obama, for the 60 million Americans who still don’t have coverage.”
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 9:49 am:
Perfidy hates challenge
- Anon312 - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 9:50 am:
Rodney Davis: Profile in Cowardice.
- Token Conservative - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 9:54 am:
All due respect to that gentleman’s service, this wasn’t a town hall. This was a moderated Q&A. Screaming at the people on stage is rude and disrespectful.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 9:55 am:
It’s beautiful to see an older white man, and veteran too, stand up against Trump’s racism. One of the best sights and sounds.
It’s more than ironic to see supposed freedom-loving right wingers tell people they don’t have a right to speak at a public forum.
“Thank you, Obama, for the 60 million Americans who still don’t have coverage.”
Republicans were rabid in trying to get rid of the ACA, with dozens of attacks on the law. The ACA definitely helped bring down uninsured rates. What did the GOP do beside trying to take health insurance away from so many people?
- Gohawks123 - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 9:55 am:
Tells a vet to sit down and shut up…. remind me again that GOP is the party of values…
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 9:56 am:
===Now @RodneyDavis says he hopes history judges the Mueller report as a waste of taxpayer dollars.===
The Russia investigation netted the government more money than it cost, thanks to fines and asset seizures.
- efudd - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:00 am:
“for the 60 million Americans”
and, for the millionth time, what is the GOP’s plan?
- A guy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:01 am:
==The Russia investigation netted the government more money than it cost, thanks to fines and asset seizures.==
Is anyone sure this money has actually been realized? A fine is a long way from a collected debt. Assets? Not always chock full of equity.
The money to prosecute? I’m positive that was spent.
- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:02 am:
Above all else, this is all chipping away at Davis’ “friendly guy” facade. From the dirty campaign tactics to smiling pleasantly while a veteran is told he has no rights…a not-pleasant picture is being cemented.
As Rick Wilson says: Everything Trump Touches Dies
- OurMagician - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:02 am:
Good for Davis for finally doing a townhall but what purpose did Caulkins serve? Having met the man, he truly is nothing but an empty t shirt.
- ILPundit - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:04 am:
Amazing to watch a sitting congressman us a freshman State Representative as a human shield against answering a tough question from a veteran.
A savvy pol would have told Caulkins to sit down, and then answered the guys question.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:04 am:
I didn’t see anyone on that stage deserving of respect.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:08 am:
This is a pretty smart move by Rodney, bringing Caulkins along with him. He knows Caulkins will act like the d-bag that he is while defending trump and protecting Rodney’s right flank, while Rodney gets to look “moderate” by comparison. Later, Rodney can just brush off any criticism. “Oh, I didn’t agree with Dan telling that veteran to sit down and shut up” and “I don’t think those comments were appropriate”. He can bring other Eastern Bloc members for each appearance, I hear there are seven of them
- L.A. - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:08 am:
For “A guy” who apparently cant use the google. this took me 2 mins to find
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/07/manafort-gets-47-months-in-prison-for-financial-fraud-1210786
- Peter Coffey - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:10 am:
Guy, if you are too lazy to use the Google, maybe you ought to sit this one out.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/09/15/us/paul-manafort-plea-deal-property.amp.html
- OutOfState - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:10 am:
===This was a moderated Q&A. Screaming at the people on stage is rude and disrespectful.===
Did you watch the video? As the vet was talking, Caulkins was already being aggressive. Before he could even get his question out, Caulkins yelled at him to leave, at which point the vet started getting heated himself. If you’re blaming this on the vet for asking his representatives about their party leader’s words, I think you need to reevaluate your position.
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:12 am:
===Is anyone sure this money has actually been realized? A fine is a long way from a collected debt. Assets? Not always chock full of equity.===
From last December: “[Trump’s] Justice Department released documents on Friday showing the actual amount spent to be a little more than $25 million. But even that total does not show the entire picture. As Mueller’s probe has netted multiple guilty pleas and convictions of prominent Trump campaign figures, it has also collected millions of dollars in fines and assets. Most notably, the September plea agreement between Mueller’s team and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort included a forfeiture of somewhere between $42 million and $46 million in cash, insurance policies, and real estate. The real estate alone was worth an estimated $22 million, which will be auctioned off for the United States Treasury.”
https://tinyurl.com/yaycl9cw
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:17 am:
=The money to prosecute? I’m positive that was spent.=
The Starr investigation which lasted longer was also more expensive. $70 million in 1990’s money.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:19 am:
“Now @RodneyDavis says he hopes history judges the Mueller report as a waste of taxpayer dollars.”
In the course of its investigation, Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team indicted, convicted or got guilty pleas from 34 people and three companies, including top advisers to President Trump, Russian spies and hackers with ties to the Kremlin.
https://time.com/5556331/mueller-investigation-indictments-guilty-pleas/
The pursuit and prosecution of such rampant criminality is the furthest thing from a waste of taxpayer dollars.
– MrJM
- L.A. - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:19 am:
or how about this one…
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/02/12/mueller-russia-investigation-costs/2736507002/
- A guy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:20 am:
==Manafort has already forfeited tens of millions of dollars in property ==
This is all I could see in this article about money or property in this article (which I may have read a while ago- looks familiar)
Learned during the Madoff trial, not all this may be free and clear property. I’d like to know if the government has really realized the asset value and money that has been fined since there’s a case being made on the “value” of prosecution here.
Peter C. Pound sand dude. And allow me to profusely thank you for sharing a link with a paywall. Peachy.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:21 am:
==
The Starr investigation which lasted longer was also more expensive. $70 million in 1990’s money.==
I’d posit too much was spent in both cases.
- As liberal as they come - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:25 am:
I think the owner of this site is on Team Rodney. I made a fair critique of Rodney and got the comment deleted. How can we defeat Rodney if we can not spread the message???
- A guy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:28 am:
At least Davis did one. He should do more of these. The more there are, the less of an “event” they might become and there might be more relevant give and take. Do more.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:33 am:
===“Thank you, Obama, for the 60 million Americans who still don’t have coverage.”===
Yeah, you certainly would have doubled that, wouldn’t you, Rodney? What a complete joke. Not only do the majority of the GOP congressman have no ideas on healthcare, they lack all character. Sadly, in today’s world, that makes them more electable, not less.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:36 am:
=At least Davis did one. He should do more of these.=
Yeah he did, but people do not have the right to speak and he seems to at least, by his inaction, support Rep Caulkin’s position.
- Techie - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:39 am:
When a constituent is being rude to you, it seems like the appropriate response to “I got a right to speak” isn’t “No you don’t”, but rather, “Yes you do, but in an orderly manner so we can actually have a discussion instead of shouting over each other.”
I get that this is easier said than done in a tense situation, but still, telling a constituent that they don’t have a right to speak to you suggests maybe public service isn’t your thing.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 10:53 am:
=Is anyone sure this money has actually been realized? A fine is a long way from a collected debt. Assets? Not always chock full of equity.=
So money spent to investigate the election meddling by a foreign adversary isn’t worthwhile? Since you seem to be such a principled fiscal conservative why aren’t you being more outspoken on the federal debt we’re piling on? The cost of the Mueller investigation pales in comparison.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 11:01 am:
Whose vote does Rodney think he’s getting with that “thanks Obamacare” snark?
Certainly not from my family members, his constituents, who would probably be bankrupt from childhood cancer medical bills if Obamacare’s protections from preexisting conditions discrimination and prohibitions on lifetime caps were not in effect.
If you are going to threaten people’s medical and economic condition all the time with your thoughtless policy positions the least you could do is be less smug about it.
- What Is Cooking - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 11:01 am:
Davis needs to be careful who he hangs out with. Caulkins wants to get Government off our backs. But not before he made millions from the state and federal governments through his nursing homes.
For a guy who hates government so much, he sure did prosper on the back of taxpayers.
He got his.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 12:26 pm:
===Is anyone sure this money has actually been realized?===
Cited it twice did ya, - A Guy -
Tough being a Trumpkin isn’t - A Guy -, then again, you were a bona fide Raunerite… LOL
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 12:29 pm:
Raunerism ruined the ILGOP, gave us the reality of the Eastern Bloc, and with Davis… pandering to old, angry, white, and rural… so that’s who some folks think will help them win.
When you won’t stand up for what’s right, but wanna keep your job…
Davis can do better. I hope he does.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 12:45 pm:
Musta slept through the alarm again Willy. You’re late, but equally irrelevant.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 12:49 pm:
Oh - A Guy -
You support a racist, you supported a governor who signed, at the time, the most liberal abortion bill in Illinois history.
You’re about the dollars. You told me so.
Embrace it, lol
Oh, I did sleep in. Mom got me a hot pocket and a slurpee and I’m hunkered down in the basement. You’re still supporting Trump, pretending you actually stand for things.
Knowing all that, sleeping in felt right.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 12:55 pm:
- What Is Cooking - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 11:01 am:
Davis needs to be careful who he hangs out with.
“Be careful with whom you associate…for you will surely become like them”… close to something Nietzsche said?
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 1:01 pm:
How can we defeat Rodney if we can not spread the message??? - Liberal
Just let Davis keep talking…in public…and be sure to bring Caulkins along…that should be sufficient.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 1:17 pm:
“We need to address the mental health crisis in this country.”
So did anyone follow up and ask Davis what his plan was to address the mental health crisis? More money for mental health clinics? More scholarship for people wanting to be psychiatrists?
- CubsFan16 - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 1:31 pm:
Maxwell’s reporting said there was a roughly 80-20 Republican to Democrat split in regards to turnout. I thought that was interesting.
Based on public calls for town halls by progressives in the district for some time now, you would think there would have been a higher turnout on their end.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 1:31 pm:
==Mom got me a hot pocket and a slurpee and I’m hunkered down in the basement.==
Sam McCann will come by later and you two can play Pong together.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 1:36 pm:
===Sam McCann will come by later and you two can play Pong together.===
He helped defeat Rauner. I’ll play pong with someone who aided in the defeat of the RaunerS and Raunerism.
Your constant spineless support of Rauner and now Trump should give us both a good laugh.
lol
- Jibba - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 1:40 pm:
Typical content-free responses from Davis, e.g., “tweet less” but nothing about the racism and division of the tweets. Oh, plus a snarky comment about Obamacare. Snark and non-responsiveness equals a lack of respect for voters. Good riddance.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 1:45 pm:
===“I got a right to speak,” replied the audience member.
“No, you don’t,” said Caulkins, as the two traded jabs on the nature of democracy and the forum.===
“You can say whatever you want as long as we approve of what you say.”
The Eastern Bloc folks aren’t just ruining a party, but it appears democracy too?
That’s… Magnificent.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 1:53 pm:
==Maxwell’s reporting said there was a roughly 80-20 Republican to Democrat split in regards to turnout. I thought that was interesting.==
The News Gazette article said the Champaign-Urbana area is more Democratic than the Decatur area but the date hadn’t been set for a townhall in that area yet.
- knownothing - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 2:03 pm:
Inviting Caulkins might be the first intelligent thing Davis has done in a while. Had Davis had to stand up there on his own and field these questions he would have done what he always does, throw a petulant tantrum. He still kind of did that but most of that work was done by Caulkins. Davis looks relatively tame in comparison.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 2:29 pm:
Does Davis own a muzzle?…he may need one.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 2:33 pm:
Surprised nobody has taken on the fact that Rodney threw out a stat that is blatantly bogus. There are not 60 million Americans without health insurance. In fact, by the time Obama left office, the number was at a historic low of 10.9% or about half what Rodney claimed. I should also note it is back up to 13.7% because of the relentless assault on the ACA by Rodney, Trump, etc. So much mendacity. So little time.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 2:41 pm:
Who laughed at “muzzle”?…who imagined Hannibal Lecter’s mask?…besides me?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 2:44 pm:
=== The media should stop giving them a break on this?===
“Please clap”
… - Dotnonymous -… maybe
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 2:45 pm:
===Who laughed at “muzzle”?===
“Please clap”
… - Dotnonymous -… maybe
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 3:08 pm:
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 2:45 pm:
===Who laughed at “muzzle”?===
“Please clap”
… - Dotnonymous -… maybe
A puzzle I’m trying to decipher?
- The Commadore - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:04 pm:
So glad I voted for and am represented by State Rep. Caulkins and Rep. Davis. It’s nice to know I’m represented by them and not snobby elitest trash like most the commenters and owner of this podunk blog.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:05 pm:
Hey…. HEY…
Who you callin’ Snobby?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:09 pm:
- The Commadore -
Angry looks good on you.
I know, you like those who are “like” you.
Got it, my bad.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:14 pm:
Pardon me, Mr. Willy, could you pass the Grey Poupon?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:16 pm:
- Skeptic -
Of course.
I may be elitist trash, but snobby… no.
Have as much as you’d like.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:17 pm:
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:24 pm:
So What?…Sit down and shut up Caulkins says to Veteran…showing his true colors.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:25 pm:
I think “Snobby Elitist Trash” was a tribute band I saw in O’Dell.
They played all “The Monkees” hits.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:26 pm:
Podunk me…Commadore?
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:28 pm:
No results found for “snobby elitist trash” music.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:33 pm:
- The Commadore - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:04 pm:
So glad I voted for and am represented by State Rep. Caulkins and Rep. Davis. It’s nice to know I’m represented by them and not snobby elitest trash like most the commenters and owner of this podunk blog.
You can come in here on your feet…but I’ll guarantee you’ll leave on your back…figuratively speaking.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:38 pm:
Person who complains about a podunk blog takes the time to post a comment on said podunk blog and manages to misspell both his username and “elitist.”
- Jibba - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:40 pm:
Commodore…hmmm, so it is elitist to oppose blatant lies? Snobby to want more health coverage rather than less? Maybe it is trashy to keep sufficiently informed to know that my representative’s words don’t seem to match his actions? What a world we live in.
- Mr. Smith - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:46 pm:
Rich - Thanks for that picture. I did an honest-to-goodness LOL when I saw that.
OW - I think I’ve heard of that band. Didn’t they open for Ted Nugent at one point?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 4:56 pm:
===I think I’ve heard of that band. Didn’t they open for Ted Nugent at one point?===
Good memory. They toured mostly Canadien college towns and Scandinavian hostels with all you can eat buffets.
They had this drummer, with a peg wooden right leg, and they called him Southpaw, until he left the band to tour with “Whiskey Breath” and fell victim to a tragic balloon scaring incident to *this day* keeps balloons out of the city limits of Oslo during certain festivals and celebrations.
- SOIL M - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 5:27 pm:
Commadore— if you think so little of this blog and the commenters here, why lower yourself to this level?
I find that I disagree with many of the comments here, but still find it to be the most informative blog out there. But if it doesnt meet your standards, start a better one. I dare ya
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jul 30, 19 @ 5:27 pm:
Is Commadore an intentional misspelling intended to imply something about a comma? Asking for a friend.
- Please read Rich - Wednesday, Jul 31, 19 @ 10:33 am:
Rich can you do a follow up on why Cheri Bustos hasn’t done a townhall forum in all her years in office? Would be great to get a clear answer.
- Harvest76 - Wednesday, Jul 31, 19 @ 10:38 am:
I wonder if Commodore will see this as “telling it like it is” when he has a complaint and his Representatives tell him to sit down and shut up. The subversion of democracy cut both ways, buddy.