You Sir, Shut Up!
Republican Congressman Joe Barton of Texas wasn’t very happy with a constituent at his Navarro County town hall this past weekend who called him out for not supporting the Violence Against Women Act. Moments later, the GOP Rep. told another man to “shut up,” sparking outrage.
“Given your voting record opposing legislation protecting women from violence,” the unnamed speaker began, reading his prepared question from a typed page, “will you make a commitment to us today, make a promise that you will reach out to Congresswoman Jackie Speier and work with her to see this bill successfully through Congress?” he asked, as The Raw Story’s David Edwards reports.
Barton, who scheduled his town halls this month far away from where the majority of his constituents live, did not seem especially pleased to be there.Â
“I voted against it because I think that’s a state issue not a federal issue,” Rep. Barton told the audience.
That did not go over well.
“Violence against women, that’s a national issue,” one man yelled. “That is an issue that impacts everyone everywhere, not only in this country but everywhere.”Â
In the video one person can be heard saying, “Boo!” to the Congressman, and another, “Civil rights don’t go to states,” meaning that civil rights are the purview of the federal government.
Another man yelled, “You represent Texas first.”
It’s unclear, but he appears to be the man to whom Rep. Barton says, “You sir, shut up.”
One man in the audience responded to Barton, “You don’t tell anybody to shut up! You work for us!”
Watch: