Critics just want congressman to engage

In a May 17 letter to the editor, Gregory Moffett of Glen Ellyn states that "Town hall meetings are no longer safe for GOP." He backs up his claim with a variety of the usual dog whistle talking points and one personal anecdote regarding "the left's vitriol."

Yes, many constituents of the 6th District are frustrated and sometimes even a bit angry with our congressman's failure to engage his constituents. I can imagine that there probably were some rolled eyes and some scoffing and maybe even a few unkind words from adults who were watching those ubiquitous "Roskam for Congress" bags being distributed. For many of us those bags are all we ever see of our congressman - those bags that are meant as advertisement.

But I think we have a chicken vs. egg argument here. Mr. Roskam and many of his faithful followers like Mr. Moffett would have you believe that constituents are angry, so he doesn't hold town halls, but the reality is that he doesn't hold town halls so his constituents are angry that he refuses to engage with them. We simply want an open forum in which to be heard and to have a discussion.

As for violence, we are the ones calling for stricter controls on guns, universal background checks and a ban on assault-style rifles. We actually tried to get Mr. Roskam to come and talk to us about it but he was too busy to make time for that conversation.

I have to ask how acceptable Mr. Moffett would find 10-plus years without a town hall if the congressman were a Democrat?

Elizabeth Hooper

Glen Ellyn