‘You, sir, shut up!': Republican congressman shouts down a constituent at tense town hall
A Republican congressman from Texas is caught in a firestorm after he told a constituent to ”shut up."
Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) was speaking Saturday at a town hall event in Frost, a small town not far from Arlington, when he said he opposed federal legislation protecting women from violence, because it is a state issue. The crowd erupted over Barton's remarks, and the moment was captured on video.
”Violence against women — that's a national issue!" an attendee shouted. ”That is an issue that impacts everyone, everywhere — not only in this country but everywhere."
That comment spurred more loud reactions from the crowd, with one man in particular prompting this from the congressman:
”You, sir, shut up."
The crowd responded with a combination of apparent anger and applause, with one attendee screaming: ”What is that? You don't tell anybody to shut up! You work for us!"
”I appreciate the interest and participation at every town hall meeting I host," Barton said in a statement. ”These are unscripted live meetings. Over the weekend in Frost, one gentlemen continued to speak over myself and many others who were seeking recognition in orderly fashion.
”I did, however, return to him for the last question of the meeting and allow him the opportunity to voice his concerns."
Chris Lewis told the Star-Telegram that he was the constituent Barton called out at the town hall, and he acknowledged he'd perhaps gotten a little too vocal.
”Passions were rising," Lewis, a teacher, told the newspaper. ”Honestly, I was speaking out of turn."
Of Barton's exhortation for him to shut up, Lewis said, ”I've heard worse."
Chaotic scenes have been playing out in Republican town hall events across the United States. ”Swarming crowds and hostile questions are the new normal" and ”an early indication of how progressive opposition movements are mobilizing against the agenda of the GOP and President Trump," The Washington Post reported.
On his Twitter account, Barton noted, ”I work for the people of the 6th District of Texas and am honored to represent them in Washington."
A 32-year veteran of the House, he represents the Arlington area, in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.