“Just how far right do you have to travel to start believing that the Constitution and the rule of law are Progressive Activism?”

On Saturday, my husband and I attended an empty-chair Town Hall event in Bangor, Maine. It was organized by Indivisible and other local grassroots groups because our Representative Jared Golden - an elected Democrat who has become a MAGA apologist - refuses to face his constituents.

Jared doesn’t want to jump to conclusions about actions of the Trump regime, believes that it’s up to the courts to sort out whether any Trump regime activities are ultimately illegal, and is irritated with “progressive activists” who are overreacting and causing trouble. Just so you know what he’s about 🙄

The venue was packed and overflowing, such a welcome sight for us blue dots adrift in a sea of red! 💙👊🏻💙

There was a long line of people waiting to speak, and I wasn’t sure I’d get a chance - but I did! And this is what I said :)

I first want to say that I think it’s pretty sad that Congressman Golden does not respond to his constituents in any way at all. I’ve been calling and emailing his offices daily for months now, and I have never received a single response. He and his staff don’t respond to comments on his socials. Obviously he doesn’t hold town halls. His philosophy seems to be that we had our say when we voted him into office, and now he’d like us all to just shut up while he does whatever he wants.

My actual question for the Congressman is this: Congressman Golden, you recently wrote a long opinion piece on Substack about the Senate vote on the Continuing Resolution. In that piece, you criticized voters who had flooded phone lines asking their reps to vote no. You said that we were “progressive activists” who just wanted to see our “members of Congress fighting the administration.” Trump and DOGE have been breaking laws, violating the Constitution, and disobeying court orders in what the entire world recognizes as a playbook to replace our democracy with an authoritarian regime. My question is, why do you call us progressive activists when all we are asking for is just the lowest bar of upholding your literal oath of office?

And one follow-up question - just how far right do you have to travel to start believing that the Constitution and the rule of law are Progressive Activism?

(💙Thanks to my husband for videoing so I could share!💙)