“The Founding Fathers should be turning in their graves at Hagedorn’s calling of the police on ‘we the people’ waiting in line to see his staff.”
Another week, another bad editorial for Congressman Jim Hagedorn in his hometown paper.
After Hagedorn announced last week that he would no longer allow constituents who belong to a local group to visit his district offices, the Free Press editorial board’s take was nothing short of blistering. As they put it, “the Founding Fathers should be turning in their graves at Hagedorn’s calling of the police on ‘we the people’ waiting in line to see his staff.”
This isn’t the first time the editorial board has called Hagedorn out over his lack of accessibility. Last month, the paper criticized him for trying to dodge his commitment to holding town halls throughout the district.
From the Free Press of Mankato Editorial Board: Our View: Democracy| Hagedorn’s ban an overreach
Congressman Jim Hagedorn’s recent banning of 1st District constituents from his office flies in the face of that American principle Abraham Lincoln extolled as “a government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
And the Founding Fathers should be turning in their graves at Hagedorn’s calling of the police on “we the people” waiting in line to see his staff.
Hagedorn issued a letter Monday to the group Indivisible of St. Peter/Greater Mankato banning them from his Mankato district offices. He accused the group of purposely disrupting the office so other constituents were prevented from visiting.
That’s a flimsy charge, not supported by facts.
…On June 27, the Hagedorn office called Mankato Police, saying the group of 20 to 30 protestors were at the office.
…Police talked to the group and reported them “very respectful.” They were not yelling, had no signs and would move to allow people to come and go.
…The issue could be resolved by one small act: allowing people to orderly and politely express their concerns to congressional staff.
…The Hagedorn office overreacted by calling police to report the presence of constituents asking to express their concerns. Hagedorn overreached by banning the group from his office.
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