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Tully Satre, 16, of Culpeper listens last night as U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., defends his opposition to proposed federal hate-crimes legislation that would add people's sexual orientation to protections regarding race, religion and gender.
U.S. Sen. George Allen speaks with audience members following his town hall meeting in Culpeper last night. Allen gave a brief speech and answered questions from residents. |
By EDIE GROSS
Normally seated behind the dais, Culpeper County Supervisor Sue Hansohn joined more than 100 people last night in the audience of the county board's meeting room for one of U.S. Sen. George Allen's town hall-style gatherings.
After allowing Allen some time to lay out his priorities in Washington, Hansohn shouted out the question undoubtedly on the minds of many in the room.
"Are you running for president in 2008?" she asked, eliciting applause from the crowd.
Allen, at ease in a faux-suede jacket and black cowboy boots--purchased that very day at Boot'Vil in Ruckersville, Va.--flashed a conciliatory smile before answering her.
"No comment," he said, grinning.
Allen, whose first term in the U.S. Senate is up this year, is among a half dozen or so Republicans considered presidential contenders in 2008.
And even though he won't say it aloud, his actions are the hallmark of a national candidate, appearing at Republican fundraising events in Iowa last weekend and at New Hampshire's annual GOP meeting this coming weekend.
In Culpeper yesterday, the former Virginia governor emphasized that he was there to hear from constituents.
And they obliged, passing on concerns on everything from the war in Iraq to roadside mowing.
Gardiner Mulford, a longtime Republican and Culpeper real estate broker, told Allen he was frustrated with Republicans in Washington.
"There's really no excuse why we haven't gotten the line item veto, a better immigration policy. We've controlled the White House, the Senate and Congress for six years now, and we're still not getting those things accomplished," said Mulford, who also said he didn't support the war in Iraq.
"I hope they [Republicans] can soon self-correct," he said.
Allen, who earlier stated that he supported giving the president line-item veto power and securing the country's borders, said he, too, would like lawmakers to accomplish more.
"I can understand people's frustrations," he said after the meeting. "I didn't go to the Senate to sit and wait for consensus and talk endlessly about things. I went to take action. And there's insufficient action in the Senate."
Tully Satre, 16, urged Allen to support a federal hate crimes bill that protects people on the basis of their sexual orientation in addition to race, religion and gender.
"I've had several letters in the past few weeks, threatening my family and my life because I'm an openly gay Virginian," he said.
Allen said he didn't support protecting sexual orientation as a civil right. He said he knew of several instances where anti-gay protestors were arrested for quoting Scripture at gay pride parades and charged with hate crimes under state laws.
"I just cannot in good conscience be on the side of passing a law that would limit people's first amendment rights, particularly religious expression," he said.
One of the most moving appeals came from Joanne Carroll, a Culpeper resident with high blood pressure and no health insurance.
Formerly a Wal-Mart cashier, Carroll told Allen her failing health forced her to stop working last year. She was covered under her husband's health insurance--at a cost of $549 a month--until he lost his job as a cabinet-maker in February, she said.
Now she pays for medication and doctor's visits out of pocket.
"I'm not lazy. I worked in this country for many years," said the native of Romania. "My husband worked for many years. We're not bad citizens.
"I have a house," she continued, her voice breaking. "I don't want to lose my house. Go to the Congress and talk with the other senators about this problem."
Allen promised that his office's social services contacts would help Carroll in the short-term, and he suggested that "health savings accounts" could help others in her situation.
Citizens would essentially put away pre-tax dollars to use for some medical treatments, and insurance would cover the rest, he said. Unlike current arrangements, citizens would "own" their insurance policies rather than get them through their employers. That way, if they changed jobs or became unemployed, they'd still be covered, he said.
Doug Mayhugh, a dairy farmer, milked 113 cows before arriving at the meeting to ask Allen to keep the USDA's Farm Service Agency open in Culpeper.
There's been talk of closing the office and consolidating it with one in Warrenton, but farmers in Culpeper need it to stay put, Mayhugh said.
"We want to keep this agricultural community strong here," he said.
Allen, who has supported keeping that office open in the past, said he'd put in a good word in Washington.
"Count on me to try to help again," he said.
Allen also touched on some of his own priorities, like keeping Internet access tax-free, finding alternate sources of energy and passing a constitutional amendment that forces the federal government to balance its budget.
He said he enjoyed hearing the stories of his constituents.
"The fun and adventure of a town hall meeting is you have no idea what will happen," he said. "It's just great for me to get out of Washington and back to common sense."
To reach EDIE GROSS:
Email: egross@freelancestar.com
