I guess the title itself betrays my own biased assessment of the situation, but encounters with constituents are one reason I was happy to leave my life of politics.
U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema Confronted At National Airport By Annoying “Constituent”
Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D – Arizona) has earned the ire of the left wing of her party over her reluctance to support President Joe Biden’s “human infrastructure” package. With MSNBC sending out the attack dogs, a “concerned constituent” with a well-rehearsed speech and a cameraman “confronted” Seatnor Sinema at Washington National Airport yesterday.
Sinema was walking with Senator Tim Scott (R – South Carolina) and a bodyguard when the woman came up to her.
Once again @kyrstensinema ignores concerned advocate fighting for healthcare for her family in Arizona. #BuildBackBetter pic.twitter.com/GK5t5mHCuc
— People’s Watch (@Peoples_Watch_) October 25, 2021
Woman: “I’m from Tucson, Arizona, and I’m wondering, I know you’ve met with dozens of lobbyists—”
Sinema: “Please don’t touch me.”
Woman: “I did not touch you.” [it’s true, she wasn’t]
Woman: “I know you’re meeting with dozens of lobbyists and talking with corporate donors about the package. How many times will you meet with constituents? How many times have you met with constituents in negotiating bills that are like this?”
Sinema [to Senator Scott]: “Sorry about this.”
Scott: “It’s okay. I think it’s part of the course, it’s par for the course.”
Woman: “Why won’t you meet with my family who are your constituents? I can have them meet you next week. Every single year in Arizona, it’s getting hotter and hotter. We’re breaking records … People are suffering. Your constituents are suffering. What are you going to do about climate change?”
[Sinema ducks up an elevator]
Woman: “Next week in Glasgow could be the last chance. Please answer me, senator. My family, my house. We’re from Tucson. We’re constituents.”
My beef is not with the line of questioning…climate change is an important topic of conversation. But the whole airport ambush thing rubs me the wrong way. Sinema will have to face voters in 2024 and if they don’t like the way she has represented them, they can toss her out of office. Obviously, Sinema is aware of the stakes of her vote and is carefully balancing her own self-interests with those of her constituents, including the lobbyists and big donors that are repugnantly responsible for electing people on both sides of the aisle in the USA.
Have people no respect any more? Can an elected official have no peace when walking in a public place? I’m not a fan of Sinema, for what it’s worth, but my goodness, I find the self-serving showboating from this “constituent” beyond the pale. Respect personal space, please. Even for morally compromised public servants.
CONCLUSION
When I see crocodile tear spectacles like what happened at DCA, I actually feel bad for Sinema. I’m not sure that was the intended reaction. I can certainly tell you want I’m not: I’m not outraged she refused to engage with a pesky person who stuck a camera in her face. That’s not holding her “accountable.” That’s called “showboating.”
A public servant, in a public place forced to interact with the public? Shocking! The situation was a bit tacky, but when pursuing a career that puts you in the limelight, it sort of comes with the territory doesn’t it?
Hard sell. Would I speak to someone that way no. Do you trying to imply elected officials shouldn’t have to have discourse with people in public…ummm. Really? She wasn’t eating with her family.
Of course elected officials should meet with their constituents and every voice should be heard. But hounding someone at the airport? So annoying.
Isn’t the point here that she doesn’t meet with her constituents?
This is a pretty bad take, Matthew.
She should meet her constituents. She should not have to be ambushed by a pesky self-opportunist.
Someone trying to speak to their elected representative outside of that representative’s self-selected bubble is a “pesky self-opportunist?” That’s a pretty ridiculous line to take.
With her own cameraman and a well-scripted “gotcha” speech? I have utter disdain for people like that.
Protest and political speech should be kept in private, out of the public eye? Come on. You’re smarter than that.
God forbid its annoying. Do you know how often our letters and phone calls are not answered? How frequent does the senator hold a q and a forum with the people here in arizona? The lady adking the questions at the airport was not rude not yelling or causing a scene. As a voter who help put sinema in office she has every right to ask her questions. That is her job and she works for us. I was so disappointed to see a person my parents vote for treat that constituent so rude.
Depends on whether you want to pursue your cause or you just want to make a scene to embarrass the Senator and get attention. Saying excuse me senator I’m one of your constituents, could I have a minute of your time I bet would have worked. When you show up acting like a lunatic, shoving your camera in someone’s face, they are very likely to blow you off, and who could blame them. A little civility can go a long way.
C’mon man. It’s part of the process.
It’s not an ideal format, but if an elected public official ignores the pleas of her constituents in order to be a corporate pawn representing corporate interests, then she gets no sympathy whatsoever for this kind of treatment.
She’s a public servant who refuses to meet with her constituents and she’s getting called out on it. She has no respect for her constituents, why does she deserve it in return?
She deserves, if she indeed shows no respect to her constituents, to be thrown out of office, not made a soundbite spectacle for MSNBC.
Matthew, a public servant who falsely accuses a constituent of touching her is responsible for the “soundbite”. She created that soundbite, not the constituent. The Senator could’ve handed her a card and said to call for an appointment, but instead she falsely accused the constituent. The problem with that is that her constituents are saying she won’t meet with them either. There is no bright line, and I agree that the toilet is not the right place to have a dialog with an elected politician, but many of us have approached public officials in airports, without the soundbite. I spoke my piece to former AG Eric Holder, and he was polite and responsive at an airport, but I did not approach Madeline Albright having dinner with Robert Redford as they dined. Falsely accusing a constituent and then complaining to another politician about being questioned at an airport by a constituent is not good. She is paid by the public and being questioned by constituents comes with the territory, and an airport is a public place.
I would say the “soundbite” was already created by the so-called constituent conveniently having a cameraman with her, not by the Senator. The politics of confrontation have become tiresome and were always rude as Democrats in Los Angeles have found out – ask Mayor Garcetti, the former DA, etc.
In theory, her request to not be touched isn’t an accusation. She perhaps was concerned she would be touched. Considering that she was followed into the bathroom and with violent antics now becoming commonplace, safety concerns are an issue.
This is like a ‘celebrity’ complaining that they are getting photographed at Starbucks.
It comes with the territory.
Sorry, no sympathy
Politicians are chased by the press the same way. It comes with the job. In ordinary times Senators are not chased by their constituents. They have town halls. In this case, the woman feels ignored and frustrated in a political decision with incredibly high stakes.
Her “ constituents” in the ASU bathroom were illegals. Perhaps we can pay for climate change initiatives by not paying illegals?
Maybe if she didn’t want to deal with this type of encounter, she should stop selling out her constituents as the woman in this scenario pointed out. Maybe she should have some respect for the office she holds rather than giving it up to the whims of the highest bidder.
If you don’t want to deal with such encounters, then you are free not to pursue elected office.
She (Sinema) didn’t “deal” with it – she ignored it, as well she should. Stupid woman (harasser) talking into thin air – didn’t she get the hint that she was being ignored? Why do people think they can post themselves in front of others just to talk and hear themselves – nobody is listening.
Kudos to that woman for confronting Sinema. I like to think I’d have done the same thing. What shocks and disappoints ME, Matthew, is your reaction to the incident.
I’m sorry to disappoint you Kenneth. I hope this won’t stop you from sharing your amazing stories on this blog.
I agree that the woman is pesky and that no one deserves to be harassed…however, I can’t honestly say that this woman was harassing Sinema. She was very calm and just asked her to justify her policy positions. I actually like KS but I was rubbed the wrong way by the fact that she refused to even engage with someone who (ostensibly) was her constituent.
So in Matthew’s world of politics the politician is insulated from the public at all times, excepted for scheduled town halls and interviews where scripted questions are posed and they can all be shielded from any public accountability.
Sign me up!
Not quite. I think the Senator’s door should be open for constituent concerns at all times. But no ambushing at airports with cameras.
Except her office door is clearly not open.
She COULD try communicating with her constituents.
Zero sympathy – she knew what she was getting into by going all “mavericky” here. Plus she’s always doing what she can to get publicity and I guess she’s learning there’s two sides to that sword.
They’re lookin’ for a handout
To get somethin’ free
Lookin’ for a handout
From you and me
And with the consent
Of the president
They’re gonna get their way
They’re gonna get their way
It seems like every other conservative whining about handouts is simultaneously OK with tax schemes that favor the rich or pandemic loans.
@Dan
I don’t think so. I’m conservative and none of my conservative friends want tax breaks only for the wealthy while restricting benefits to those in need. I’m sure there are a minority or influential, Uber rich conservatives who support what you’re saying, but I highly doubt even a substantial minority would support what you’re saying.
As a conservative I think people who need help should get help, ideally through local government or non-profits. If that isn’t working then some state or federal aid. But the higher up you go, the more broad and less helpful programs become. I think you would agree at least with that.
It was disgusting when the extreme right wackos/terrorists were accosting the Utah Senators after January 6. It’s also wrong now when the left wing extremists accost in an airport instead of calling the senator’s office.
It’s hot in Arizona? OMG let’s spend $3.5 trillion to bring the temps down a smidge over the next century, assuming every untrustworthy country also acts responsibly.
(I went to Scottsdale a few Thanksgivings ago to check out the lights spectacle at the Fairmont Princess, which was outstanding – but didn’t really do my homework and was shocked at how cool it was (60s-low 70s in the day, pretty chilly at night)… kids were still able to swim but it wasn’t quite the beach weather I expected)…
She was a social activist or something before she became a senator. Her concern for millionaires is very surprising. She is a chameleon.
She is against increasing taxes on carried interests. You have to be bribed to care about taxes on private equity.
Wow.
@Debit Protecting the carried interest loophole just makes her a solid progressive Democrat. Chuckie Schumer has been doing it for decades, as have most California Democrats.
The Dems protect the SALT deduction, which goes entirely to the top 5% and the carried interest loophole, which goes to VC, hedge funds, and private equity. Then they accuse Republicans of “tax cuts for the rich” Both parties are guilty of that. But the Dems are the bigger hypocrites about it.
Also I’ve heard repeatedly that we are to #believeallwomen so if the Senator says she was touched or felt she was at risk of being touched without her consent, then it’s not up to Matthew and the men on this board to say otherwise. (Note that as I’m hearing it and as Matthew transcribed it, she says “Don’t touch me,” not “Stop touching me”… so it can be understood as a request to thwart potential behavior, not a request to stop an ongoing action, and that would be completely reasonable from a women who’s being stalked into bathrooms by “constituents”…)
From a DC native: Thank you for calling it “Washington National Airport.”
I agree it’s tacky and done for show, but if you want me to feel sorry for people who make a choice to pursue power, fame, wealth (spare me the “public servant” angle) then you’re barking up the wrong tree.
Once congress decides to deflate its ego and desire to flex its muscles over every day to day decision we make, then you can have my sympathy.
I think Matthew is so upset because she was accosted on hallowed ground: an airport! 😉
Brandon says
Its okay to harass people, burn down buildings, assault people, destroy property…. even kill people
As long as it’s for the “right” reasons.
Enjoy what you asked for.
C’mon Man!
Love your stories but you are wrong on so many levels. I guess since you are rich you don’t care and can afford to turn away but this country is facing a
fascist takeover by the right/billionaires in 2022/2024. They’re already setting it up. Ironically, Sinema is going to lose her seat when the republicans steal most of her votes and the US becomes a version of 1930’s Italy.
Well, at least the trains will run on time…..
I have a bit more faith in the system than that.
It’s funny and sad how those who cry about right-wing fascism are such ardent supporters of the actual techno-fascist state. Look up what fascism actually entails. And here’s a tip: folx like Jason Stanley are fascists.
This is democracy. You don’t want the questions or the heat, don’t be so arrogant as to run. We need more, not less of this.
Kyrsten Sinema has refused to hold any meetings with her constituents this whole year while at at the same time, she goes to Europe for fundraising trips and goes to “weekend spas” with corporate donors in Arizona and accepts thousands in contributions from Big Pharma.
Excuse me for not having sympathy for her being “harassed” by a constituent at the airport.
I thought our elected representatives are supposed to be public servants – or are they just special elites who shouldn’t be “bothered” in your view?
She’ll get primary’d in ’24, or she will walk away first and become a lobbyist…good riddance either way. She wants to be McCain, but she’s so far away from him in every way.
Is UA-CCP lionizing a neo-con warmonger? McCain and Clinton both supported the war in Iraq and Obama was Bush 44. Bomb, baby, bomb!
“Politics. The Domain of the Ignorant and the Province of Fools”
That’s Texas in a nutshell for you
Oh the poor benighted public servant who doesn’t meet the people she claims to represent.
Her flip flops on healthcare and the timeliness of donations recieved by her clearly show that she represents Big Pharma and no one else.
It may not have been the best way to get her attention but when you drive people to frustration you can and should expect reactions like this
I suppose I agree with your last point. I wonder where the line should be drawn, though? What if this constituent had booked herself on a PHX flight with the Senator. Would she, in your view, have a right to hound her onboard?
Yes. absolutely. Because it doesn’t MATTER if people are suffering and dying due to idiots like her. I don’t care if she’s shaking hands with the pope or rubbing elbows with supreme leaders. She has a job to provide the people that helped her get there in the first place and she’s not doing that. She gave away any kind of respect for her private life when she decided to endanger people and stay silent while taking in dirty money that she claimed in the past to be against.
The cooperations are paying her off and she’s gladly taking the bribe, while they hike up the prices on people that can BARELY afford their medication. EG: remember the jerk that hiked up AIDS treatment 5000%? She’s totally cool with that if she gets a piece of the pie.
So no we DON’T feel bad for a sell out. Sinema can cry me a river and so can your worthless puff piece of how you feel bad for a corrupted piece of garbage like that and talking down to someone who ACTUALLY wants answers, shame on you. Learn to be a real journalist like the woman in the video instead of licking boots.
Sinema could continue to do a lot of damage/work on behalf of her corporate sponsors. She should be recalled immediately! She is NOT working on behalf of constituents but rather she’s shown that she’s a lackey for corporate interests only.