A Senate source tells me that Linda Douglass, Communications Director for the White House’s Office of Health Reform is encouraging members of Congress to carry out their town halls, despite the risk that those events will be disrupted by anti-health care reform protesters.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Though the weeks events have forced Democrats to rewrite the script for August recess, the administration’s involvement suggests that they’re not so concerned about the threat–both physical and political–to urge members to cut back on their public appearances.
Town halls are more popular forum among members of the House, though, and not everyone in the lower chamber is of the same mindset.
Late update: In a statement, Douglass says her message to members was motivational. “[W]e hope supporters of health reform will be out in force in August doing everything from town halls to tele-town halls to visiting hospitals–speaking to people in their home states about how they are being affected by rising health care costs and unfair insurance regulations.”
