Rubio, Nelson avoid facing voters in open gatherings
Some members of Florida’s congressional delegation have faced raucous crowds of constituents across the state this year. But both of the state’s U.S. senators have so far avoided facing voters in town halls.
Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson have not held any open town-hall meetings this year, even during the continuing two-week Senate recess.
The senators’ offices did cite meetings with different groups, including students and business owners, but said there were no current plans for any town halls that would be open to anyone who wants to attend.
Since President Donald Trump’s election in November, town halls have become a flash point of anger and protest across the country, with members of Congress, including U.S. Reps. Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, and
Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, facing a storm of criticism from the public directed at them.
Some officeholders have avoided facing questions, so frustrated constituent groups are resorting to other measures.
At a meeting in Maitland on Saturday, Rubio wasn’t there — but “Lil Marco” was, in the form of a felt puppet taken to the lectern.
“We wanted to bring attention to the fact he wasn’t showing up,” said Rob O’Brien, group coordinator for the liberal group Indivisible Central Florida, which organized the meeting. “So we decided, what could be better than a puppet?”
O’Brien said the group sent invitations to each of Rubio’s offices, only to be told the senator had “other engagements.”
“Lil Marco,” O’Brien said, “was able to answer questions as a puppet” based on Rubio’s voting record and past statements.
Rubio told CBS 4-Miami interviewer Jim DeFede in February that he wasn’t doing town halls because “liberal activists” would boo him no matter what he said, in hopes that the rancor would be shown on television.
Though Rubio has been on the receiving end of most of the frustration during the recent wave of liberal activism and protest, Nelson hasn’t been immune, either.
Pressure from liberal groups — and the possibility of a primary challenge — may have led Nelson to join a filibuster of Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.
This month, Nelson spokesman Ryan Brown said the senator has spoken to spectators at an air show in Lakeland and with local leaders and small business owners in Orlando, Port St. Lucie, Fort Myers and Gainesville.
But no town hall has been scheduled. Asked why, Brown said the schedule was still in flux.
O’Brien said that Nelson spoke at an Orlando rally this year and has been more responsive than Rubio in answering their questions.
“I think a lot of people in the Indivisible movement would like Sen. Nelson to be more progressive,” O’Brien said. “I try to remind them … that this is a purple state, so he has to be a little more moderate – which is what I think Rubio should do as well.”
Rubio’s offices also have also been criticized as being extremely difficult to reach even by telephone, with many callers finding that voicemail boxes are full.
Rubio spokesman Matt Wolking said in an email that the offices “have been fully accessible and responsive to constituents.” In cases of high call volume, “any voicemails are retrieved as soon as possible, and every effort is made to serve constituents seeking assistance in a timely manner.”
But, Wolking added, “as part of the coordinated strategy of disruption outlined in their online activist manual, liberal protesters are carrying out ‘mass office calling’ in which they all agree to call in on one specific issue that day. … Their goal is to flood offices with calls and emails, disrupt our ability to respond, then complain to the press that they aren't getting a response.”
Wolking cited a number of Rubio’s meetings with constituents, including roundtables with local officials in Jacksonville and Pensacola, a visit with workers at a shipbuilding company in Panama City and an appearance at a Vero Beach prayer breakfast.
Outside Rubio’s Orlando office Tuesday, protesters holding the latest of their now-weekly rallies held signs reading, “Looking for Marco” and “Hold town hall meetings.”
“I don’t quite understand,” said Sarah Grimes of Kissimmee. “If you’re a politician, you should feel it’s part of your job to answer questions of your constituents.”
Rubio’s office staff often went outside to talk to protesters at previous rallies, but there was no sign of that happening Tuesday. A staffer brought a reporter up to the office, but another eventually referred all questions to Wolking in Washington.
The Senate is scheduled to reconvene Monday. The next scheduled recess is the week of Memorial Day.
“If you’re a politician, you should ... answer questions of your constituents.” Sarah Grimes, Kissimmee