Notes from the Trenches
Tom Duffy, Chair DFMC
Cindy and I went to protest Trey last night and it was a very interesting experience. We started holding the signs a little after 5:00. By 5:45 we had about 75 people all with signs and a megaphone or two to lead chants. And we had a photographer and reporter from the H-T as well as WTIU. People attending the fund raiser started arriving around 5:30. Most acted as if we did not exist – but there were some good natured waves. I kept asking people if they would come and talk with us since Trey won’t meet. No takers.
About 6:00 Cindy and I went into the fundraiser with Mike Molenda and Janet Stavropoulos. We owe a HUGE thank you to Katherine Devich for offering tickets to attend. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Overall there were about a dozen dems at the affair – most of whom had been outside protesting. Before going on to the details of the affair, I would like to thank William Ellis, the chair of the Monroe County Republican Party and the MC for the event. He was gracious and friendly in welcoming us and, as Trey was distracted as he visited tables, William made sure Trey made his way back to our table.
I did have a brief conversation with Trey, but before that let me provide a few notes on what was said at the affair:
• Luke Messer is running for Joe Donnelly’s seat in the
Senate.
• Donald Trump Jr is going to be at their State meeting
(apparently this is hot off the press)
• Trey told us that he really wants to hear from the people. He
hesitated on voting for Trump care because he wanted to
read it, think about it, and ask citizens what they thought.
• Trey also told us that he really wants to know what his
constituents think so every week they make 300 to 500
random phone calls to constituents to learn what is on their
(our) minds. That is a large number of calls – so those of you
were there let me know if I got it wrong – but that is what
at least two of us heard. If they are randomly selected
constituents, I would expect some of us got one of those
calls????
In talking to someone in the drink line we were asking how Trey won the primary. I was told that he did little meeting with people but rather flooded the district with mail, phone calls, and push-pull polls. But he spent very little time with people. Remember this is just the opinion of one person I was talking to.
Trey visited all the tables before he talked. When he came to our table I told him I was chair of DFMC and told him about William Ellis (chair, MCRP) and Robert Hall (Grass Roots Conservatives) coming to one of our meetings and receiving a spontaneous round of applause. And that most importantly we found common ground on redistricting and money in politics. I told Trey I would like him to be part of a DFMC meeting and have a conversation with us. He said yes, he said “yes” several times – emphasizing that we are all “Americans first.” He had his PR person give me his phone number to find a date. Cindy recorded the conversation just so there is no missing the commitment he made. You can listen to it here.
So, while I suspect this is going to take some persistence, I am hopeful we will be able to host a very interesting meeting.
