Rep. Bradley barraged by constituent concerns on Bush’s illegal wiretapping

"You’re justifying what the American Bar Association has said is illegal"

HAMPTON - New Hampshire residents interrogated U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley Saturday, often interrupting or shouting out opposing views before the member of Congress had a chance to finish his response.

During a Town Hall-style meeting, Bradley’s constituents stood up and questioned the Republican on issues ranging from the economy to the war in Iraq.

Bob Perry of Strafford asked whether Bradley would support the appropriation of a special investigator to look at President Bush’s wiretapping program.

"We need to look at this issue carefully," Bradley said. "We have to remember who is making these phone calls. They are suspected al-Qaida members, and it’s important to look at both sides of the issue."

Before Bradley could voice his next thought, Perry stood up and repeated his question, asserting that the congressman did not answer what he called a straightforward question.

Bradley responded by saying that he did not think "enough information is available."

He said lawmakers "need to go through a hearing process" before knowing whether an investigation will be necessary. He said he would like to see the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act updated to address current needs.

"You’re justifying what the American Bar Association has said is illegal," Perry said loudly.

This kind of interaction continued throughout the meeting. Bradley would begin to respond to constituents, who would quickly interrupt or claim he was not telling the truth.

Bradley, who was born and raised in Wolfeboro, served in the New Hampshire Legislature for 12 years before being elected to the U.S. Congress in 2002. He is looking to continue serving the first district for another term while a number of Democrats fight to take his place.

He has been traveling around the state all month, meeting with constituents and holding similar Town Hall meetings.

"I’ve found these forums instrumental in finding out what’s on your mind ... and it allows me to better represent you in Washington," Bradley said at the start of the hour-and-a-half-long event at the Lane Memorial Library.

Bradley’s chief of staff, Deborah Vanderbeek, said this was about the 120th Town Hall-style meeting the congressman has held since in office. She said the intent is to hear from constituents and learn how to best represent their views when he returns to Washington.

When asked whether most of the meetings were as abrasive as Saturday’s, Vanderbeek said: "All the town meetings are different. Congressman Bradley likes to let it be open to his constituents who are there. He is there to listen and talk about concerns and answer questions.

"Sometimes it’s lively, and sometimes it’s a little more laid back."

Saturday’s forum could be termed "lively."

Hot topics included concerns over the limited number of days New Hampshire fishermen can be at sea; the trade deficit; American jobs being sent overseas; and the Federal Emergency Management Association’s response to Hurricane Katrina.

"I’m getting, like everyone else, frustrated and angry over all this," said Richard Reniere of Hampton, sparking applause from most of the two dozen others in the audience.

Barbara Nicholson of Hampton criticized all of Congress for being "so passive" and claimed Bradley continually voted along party lines. She asked why members of Congress are not asking to review the Pentagon’s budget or hold the president accountable for what she called illegal wiretapping.

"Do you have the courage to stand up and say, ‘I will investigate this’?" Nicholson asked Bradley. "Because that’s the man I’m going to vote for."
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/02192006/news/88594.htm