U. S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais attends a “listening session” at the Sequatchie County Courthouse in Dunlap on Wednesday. The Republican congressman travelled to Pikeville for another such session later in the day in the Fourth District.DUNLAP, Tenn. – As an aide recorded the moment with a digital camera, U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais strode into the Sequatchie County Courthouse, shook hands and began a “listening session” with the Republican faithful.
But there wasn’t much listening.
Out of the 42 minutes that followed, DesJarlais, R-Tenn., spoke for 31, although the congressman’s office promoted the session as a chance to “solicit ideas and opinions from … constituents on important policy issues being debated in Washington, D.C.”
The imbalance didn’t seem to bother the 15 people reclined in red-cushioned church pews, as person after person lobbed party-line questions — spending cuts, federal debt concerns and “ObamaCare” frequently came up — to the freshman representative.
None of the questions challenged DesJarlais’ voting record or appeared to take him off guard.