Northern Michigan constituents clamor for time with Congressman, as protests surge nationwide
Photos courtesy of Indivisible Traverse City group
By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor
Northern Michigan’s newest member of Congress, Rep. Jack Bergman, is showing up all over the 1st District — just not always in person.
Home on recess this week, Bergman is meeting with certain constituents across the northern-lower peninsula and the Upper Peninsula — including yesterday with members of the Alpena Chamber of Commerce, and today with the Traverse City Chamber, and in Petoskey, where he spoke at a midday $20-a-plate, reservation-only event at Stafford’s Perry Hotel.
Progressive-minded citizens have unsuccessfully sought an audience with Bergman to voice their concerns about the Trump presidency, the new White House cabinet, the administration’s Russian connection, executive orders that target Muslims, refugees and Latino immigrants, and a potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Instead they have posted “Where’s Jack?” posters on social media and in physical locations in towns across the district.
The activist group “Indivisible Traverse City” also staged a puppet of Bergman — dressed in a collared shirt and sport coat — at its weekly town hall last Sunday at Right Brain Brewery, which drew several hundred people. Organizers and audience members took turns peppering the silent Bergman puppet with critical questions about policy and politics. (The stunt was reminiscent of Clint Eastwood’s “empty chair Obama” act at the 2012 Republican National Convention.)
The upsurge in activism across northern Michigan reflects a tidal wave of protests nationwide since Trump occupied the White House on Jan. 20. Whereas half a million took part in the Women’s March on Washington the day after the inauguration, police estimated that 3,000 turned out in Traverse City — perhaps the town’s largest ever demonstration.
Members of Congress nationwide are facing unrest and uncomfortable questions at town halls across their home districts. The budding progressive movement echoes, to some degree, the rise of the Tea Party movement in 2010, which empowered the Republican Party to re-take control of the House of Representatives six years ago, and also to dominate governorships and state legislatures.
Here in northern Michigan, protestors gather for weekly “Tuesdays with Bergman” demonstrations outside his rented office at 1396 Douglas Drive, which is just south of downtown Traverse City. They have yet to secure a meeting with him, though the Traverse City location is one of only two offices he rents in the district.
Town halls later?
Bergman told the Glen Arbor Sun last week that, in due time, he’ll interact with his constituents through traditional town halls, tele-town halls and through business meetings. A snowmobile trip with other Michigan congressmen scheduled for early March has been cancelled due to winter’s early demise. Temperatures that reached the 60s this week have replaced wintry white with an early-spring muddy brown landscape.
Meanwhile, Bergman reportedly told a gathering in Alpena yesterday morning that, “to have town halls prematurely doesn’t yield good long-term results. I’m a freshman. Give me a chance to get my feet on the ground and build relationships. I’ll do town halls but it’s going to be a while.”
Asked by the Sun about his reaction to the first month of the new presidential administration, Bergman refused to “rate” Trump, but he also rhetorically stopped short of endorsing the reality TV mogul’s performance thus far. Instead, Bergman lauded Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly’s willingness to accept responsibility for the “less than smooth” rollout of Trump’s executive order that banned refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations.
“I have the deepest respect and admiration for General Kelly because we served together,” said Bergman. “In the military, once combat begins, we adjust. That’s the sign of a true leader.”
Reaction to Trump’s executive order was swift and scathing, and largely perceived as being anti-immigrant.
“Let’s face it, we’re a country of immigrants,” added Bergman. “We’re also a nation of people who came here and wanted to be Americans. That’s our way forward.”
Trump’s approval ratings have dropped into the mid-30s, and his actions and rhetoric have mystified and worried friendly nations around the world. Nevertheless, Bergman implied that his constituents should give the new administration a chance. The congressman drew an analogy to the Feb. 5 Super Bowl between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. The Falcons dominated through three quarters, and led 28-9. In the final quarter, the Patriots scored 19 points, and again in overtime to win the NFL championship.
Trump could succeed in the final quarter, but so far he is being blown out, Bergman seemed to imply.
“How many people left the Super Bowl at halftime thinking the Falcons would win?” asked Bergman. “News folk talk about things. But (former president) Teddy Roosevelt talked about the person in the arena who tries and tries again, and ultimately accomplishes more than his critics sitting in the stands.”
Protestors “paid to disrupt”
Former Congressman Dan Benishek, with whom the Sun also spoke last week, implied that Trump should be given a chance.
“He’s a Republican, give him chance,” said Benishek. “They’re not giving him time to develop. He may be the only guy that can get stuff done.”
“I don’t believe most of the stuff that comes out in the news. I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.”
Benishek conceded that he is bothered by Russia’s recent foreign policy actions, including its invasion of the Ukraine. The former congressman traveled to Berlin soon after the incursion and met with both the Prime Minister of Ukraine and Russia’s foreign minister.
“Putin is aggressive, but I’d like to see a reset with Russia. We have ignored Russia for 20 years.”
Asked whether Bergman — or members of Congress, in general — ought to hold town hall meetings while visiting their districts, Benishek refused to pointedly offer Bergman advice. But he added that town hall meetings give protestors an opportunity to disrupt.
“Town hall meetings are an opportunity for people who are paid to go there and disrupt meetings and make political show of it,” said Benishek. “It’s very difficult to have conversations in an open forum. No matter what you say you’ll get attacked.”
Benishek said that he preferred telephone town halls and veterans events.
“Doctor Dan”, Benishek’s preferred moniker, also alluded to protests becoming violent. “I’m pretty disgusted by fact that there’s violence going on,” he said. But nationwide protests since Trump took office have been almost entirely peaceful with arrests few and far between, and none reported in northern Michigan. Exceptions include a protest at the Jan. 20 inauguration, where more than 200 were arrested and a Berkeley protest in early February that turned violent.
(Benishek occasionally faced critical town hall constituents whose personal politics ranged from the progressive-left to the Tea Party-right — including at a public appearance attended by this reporter at Traverse City’s American Legion Hall in 2013.)
Meanwhile, said Congress Bergman, phones are ringing off the hook at his Washington, D.C., office. And he encourages comments — both complimentary and dissenting — on his public Facebook page:
“What will always be welcome here is rational and civil discussion about policy issues,” his staff posted on Feb. 17. “The theory behind the First Amendment is that more speech and not less is what leads to truth and understanding. I support that. That’s why I do not delete posts from this page based on content. I want to know what you think, even when we disagree. That said, there is a no-tolerance policy on this page for profanity and name-calling. This is a place for people of all ages to come and talk about how to make the First District better in a family-friendly environment.”
Amidst the rancorous political climate, Bergman encouraged civility, and for Americans on both sides of the partisan aisle to look at themselves in the mirror before casting blame. He and other freshmen lawmakers offered a commitment to civility on Valentine’s Day on the House floor.
“Part of what I try to do is to be kind. I’ll be direct, but kind,” he said. “We’re trying to set a standard for positive behavior. Even though we might disagree completely on an issue, there’s absolutely no reason not to treat a person civilly. Absolutely no excuse to be mean or nasty.”
Bergman was named president of his freshman class in Congress, which includes 29 Republicans and 25 Democrats. He and his wife Cindy hosted a New Year’s Eve gathering for lawmakers from both parties. Bergman is also proud to be chairperson of the subcommittee on oversight investigations for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He hopes to be an effective advocate for veterans’ issues including veteran’s care and education and training that helps reintegrate service members into society once they return home.
Obamacare repeal?
“I campaigned on repealing the ACA (Affordable Care Act),” said Bergman. “I intend to work hard to keep that promise.”
He added that the House is currently working through the process, and that he expects President Obama’s signature healthcare law to be repealed. Bergman wouldn’t comment on what would replace Obamacare, but deferred to new Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, who was confirmed two weeks ago.
“Most people don’t realize how much authority the secretary of health and human services has in reshaping affordable health care.
But Bergman pledged that vulnerable Americans wouldn’t lose their coverage en masse.
“The bottom line is that people who had pre-existing conditions are still going to be covered. People who have children on their healthcare until age 26, that’s gonna continue.”
Meanwhile, a Jan. 17 New York Times story reported that repealing the Affordable Care Act could cost 18 million Americans their health insurance. A Jan. 12 Bridge Magazine report showed that more than 11 percent of citizens in Bergman’s 1st District are enrolled through the ACA, making it the most vulnerable congressional district in Michigan. In all, 900,000 Michiganders could lose coverage if the ACA is repealed, the Daily Kos blog reported on Jan. 2.
