OPINION — Editorial

Democracy in action

It may not be pretty, but it’s pretty great

THAT WAS quite a show the other night when two members of this state’s congressional delegation took on a whole hall full of critics, supporters and concerned citizens in general. Which is just how it’s supposed to be in this wide-open debating society known as the United States of America. Lord bless and keep this old republic as she is transformed into a mass democracy. The questions, comments, barbs and bouquets, and general uproar, covered the waterfront if not the whole coast. For examples, what did the two top attractions under this big top have to say about our Republican president’s missing tax returns? Should the people and taxpayers of this state and country keep financing Planned Parenthood’s war on the most innocent and vulnerable of our brothers and sisters—the unborn? Comments in the guise of questions flew, including some praise for both from their clearly outnumbered supporters.

Like the Christians fending off the lions to the delight of Roman crowds at the Colosseum, these two gentlemen conducted themselves as, well, gentlemen. They gave at least as good as they got. Senator Tom Cotton—soldier and already a statesman—summed up its essence: “We have serious divisions, and those divisions were on display last year during the campaign. They remain on display because we have 325 million people in this country—3 million in Arkansas. Of course there are going to be differences of opinion.” Yet he addressed his listeners as if he were talking to each one, person to person. His remarks were one on one, as if they were across the dinner table from him. They might not agree with what he said—indeed, many disagreed with him vehemently. But all got sharp, pointed responses. For he’s not one to bob and weave, or wait till the dust settles before deciding which side will come out on top and then proceed to lead it. Love him or hate him, a fair observer would have to respect him.

French Hill, who’s still a U.S. representative, made his appearance as well. Rep. Hill is quickly getting the reputation around the country of being the next Dr. Tom Coburn. If you’ll remember, the U.S. representative then senator from Oklahoma picked up the Wastebook idea back in the 1990s, and made the Bridge to Nowhere famous, or rather infamous, as it should be. (The first Golden Fleece Award was handed out in the 1970s by a senator from Wisconsin named Bill Proxmire.) Now that Dr. Coburn has retired, and we all wish him well, somebody has to keep an eye on wasteful federal spending, and French Hill has taken up the role. Not that he’ll get much credit for it at these town hall meetings. But he should get a lot of credit for getting on that stage without a blindfold and a cigarette.

Sen. Cotton has played host to three town-hall forums in less than just a couple of months of late; this was French Hill’s first attempt. Both came out of the meeting without much noticable damage. After all, they’re pretty good at public speaking. It takes someone who can think on his feet, or at least not stumble over them, when the questions/ comments come fast and furious, and deal with topics as varied as Russian meddling with American elections, our bombing Islamic State strong points in Syria, and the debacle that resulted when Republicans sought to repeal and replace Obamacare with a better healthcare plan of their own. French Hill made a relevant point when he noted that folks “don’t have the ability to even afford policies on the exchanges” Obamacare sponsored, for “the system began breaking down last year.”

Both may have paid for the sins of others. It doesn’t take too much imagination to see every Republican in Washington wince every time the president Tweets at 4 a.m. But they asked for their jobs, didn’t they? They even campaigned for those jobs. And with the title of Senator or Representative comes answering to We the People on frequent occasion. And not just at the ballot box.

HAPPILY, voters in Arkansas chose well when they sent both Tom Cotton and French Hill to Congress by decisive margins. Tom Cotton was elected to the U.S. Senate with more than 56 percent of the vote over Mark Pryor in 2014, and French Hill was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives over his Democratic challenger Dianne Curry, with a Libertarian named Chris Hayes polling less than 5 percent.

There’s nothing like a free-swinging town-hall meeting and general uprising to get a read on Arkansas voters, and the basic message sent by this evening’s roundhouse forum is that this state’s electorate has more than strong opinions; it’s got sound judgment.

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