Angry Crowds Pack GOP Town Halls Across America
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Angry voters continue to unleash on Republican lawmakers at town hall events. And it's led some lawmakers to opt for telephone town halls instead or to just skip them altogether. CNN's Deb Feyerick is live in Covington, Kentucky, with more. What's the latest, Deb?</s>DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we can tell you, Alisyn, is at the rally yesterday the sense that we got was that there's a lot of uncertainty, a lot of fear, especially because there's so many changes coming in so many policies. And the people that we spoke to, they want their lawmakers who represent all Americans to really acknowledge the concerns and address them if possible. Now some lawmakers are taking that head on. Others not so much.</s>FEYERICK (voice-over): Republican lawmakers confronted by furious constituents in town halls across the country. In Florida, rowdy crowds demanding answers from Congressman Matt Gaetz about whether he'll call for the release of President Trump's tax returns. (</s>CROWD CHANTING "YES OR NO") REP. MATT GAETZ (R), FLORIDA: Let me say right here, right now, absolutely Donald Trump should release his tax returns.</s>FEYERICK: In Arizona tempers flaring when Representative Martha McSally sidesteps questions about education Secretary Betsy DeVos.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just answer our questions --</s>REP. MARTHA MCSALLY (R), ARIZONA: You may not like the answers that I'm giving.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Mitch, what are you afraid of?</s>FEYERICK: In Kentucky, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell avoiding scores of protesters outside this ticketed luncheon.</s>SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), MAJORITY LEADER: It's pretty clear what they're protesting and that's the outcome of last year's election.</s>FEYERICK: But when pressed by two constituents inside who paid up to $60 to make their voices heard --</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are protesting the fact that to get in front of you we have to pay dollars. Why won't you hold a town hall with your constituents. We want to hear from you.</s>FEYERICK: Faced with public anger some Republican lawmakers opting for telephone town halls or skipping the face-to-face meetings altogether. (CROWD CHANTING "WHERE IS DAVE?</s>YOU WORK FOR US") FEYERICK: Outraged voters holding empty chair town halls like this one in Ohio with cutouts of missing Senator Rob Portman, and in Florida, one constituent chasing down Marco Rubio.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to hold a town hall?</s>SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: Good to see you, man.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a constituent town hall today. We need to hear from you, Senator.</s>FEYERICK: Now some politicians are citing safety concerns. Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert basically saying he's skipping the town halls because of what happened to Gabby Giffords. Now Gabby Giffords made very clear -- she released a statement saying, "I was shot on Sunday, by Monday my offices were open to the public." And then she said, "To the politicians who abandoned their civic obligations, have some courage, face your constituents, hold town halls." And when I spoke to Senator McConnell yesterday and said these people want to be heard, he said we are hearing them, it's just there's a fundamentally different view on what should be happening -- David.</s>DAVID GREGORY, CNN ANCHOR: Deb, thanks so much. Strong statement from former Congresswoman Giffords. President Trump just this morning calling on the FBI to find the leakers responding to our exclusive reporting on apparent White House attempts to politicize intelligence. We're going to get the bottom line with David Axelrod, up next.