For me, a town hall meeting conjures up the image of that iconic 1950s painting by Norman Rockwell, "Freedom of Speech," which shows a working-class man standing to deliver a message to a room full of men in suits. The painting suggests the speaker holds an opinion that differs from most in the room. Yet it also conveys civility, decorum and mutual respect among those in attendance.
If Rockwell had attended either of the two town halls that Congressman Mike Lawler held in April and May, the painting would look quite different. He might have captured the image of Emily Feiner, a 64-year-old semi-retired social worker and community activist, being carried out of one of the meetings by state police. According to Lawler’s staff, she was removed for “repeatedly engaging in abusive and combative behavior with staff, and disrupting nearby attendees.” Feiner admitted to breaking the rules but said she was frustrated because she didn’t feel Lawler answered her question. A video of her removal has since garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
Lawler moved forward with holding town halls despite objections from party officials who had seen similar events elsewhere descend into chaos, often due to raucous protesters and political opponents. No good deed goes unpunished.
It's no secret that respect for our public institutions has been in steady decline for decades. According to Pew Research, in 1958, 73% of Americans trusted the federal government to do the right thing “just about always” or “most of the time.” By 2024, that figure had plummeted to 23%, with only 2% saying “just about always” and 21% “most of the time.” Interestingly, Gallup reports Congressional approval ratings have ticked up to 29%, from 21% a few years ago—a change largely attributed to increased enthusiasm among Republican voters.
But the loss of faith in institutions doesn’t fully explain the lack of decorum at these town halls. Former Secretary of Education William J. Bennett, author of "The Book of Virtues," lamented the coarsening of American culture—a trend clearly at play here. Manners, mutual respect and what my grandmother called “good home training” are in short supply. Our ability to gather in groups—even when we disagree—and engage respectfully is becoming a lost art. Engaging, collaborating and cooperating with fellow citizens is as fundamental to a healthy democracy as the ballot box itself.
Lawler was criticized by opponents for setting ground rules: no shouting, a time limit for comments, no standing, no filming, etc. But his attempt to maintain order is understandable. Increasingly, these events serve not as forums for dialogue but as stages for performance art, filmed on cell phones in hopes of going viral. I don’t imagine we’ll be seeing many more town halls from him—which is unfortunate. And who could blame him?
I suspect in-person town halls will increasingly be replaced by Tele-Town Halls or Zoom meetings, which are more manageable and may actually offer greater opportunities for dialogue. Maybe I’m wrong. But if in-person town halls do continue, we should be careful not to give disruptors a heckler’s veto. Protecting the rights of listeners is just as important as protecting the rights of those who wish to be heard.
In-person town hall meetings are a cornerstone of our democracy. Let’s hope the spirit of mutual respect returns.
Hearing is just as important as being heard.
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