Daines talked one on one
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Editor,
This letter is to offer a different perspective on Mr. Craig McClure’s letter to the editor regarding Congressman Steve Daines' appearance at the Lake County Republican Women’s Spring Luncheon at the Polson VFW on May 17.
I also was in attendance. Mr. McClure and I were in the same room, but apparently we were attending two different events. The Congressman Daines I observed came early and stayed long after I thought he would be leaving. He talked to people attending, one on one or in small groups, and listened to questions and concerns. While it is true he didn’t take questions from the floor directly after his speech, he made himself available after that speech to address questions from anyone wanting to ask him. In my opinion, one on one is a far more satisfactory and effective way to answer constituents concerns than a question from the audience that the person sitting next to you may or may not care about. His speech covered a wide array of subjects this audience was interested in, including the economy; energy production and how important it is to Montana, specifically for good jobs and the nation as a whole; and yes, he touched on the Benghazi situation and the IRS’s targeting of certain groups. Many Americans consider these and other breaches of the American trust important issues. Also in attendance were a fairly large number of veterans, from World War II through the current conflicts. Congressman Daines greeted them enthusiastically and made time for pictures and one on one conversations.
I think it was disingenuous of Mr. McClure to try and compare Congressman Daines’ appearance with Senator Walsh’s in Kalispell. It is like comparing apples and oranges. Mr. McClure knows as well as I do that these types of events often have different formats based on time constraints, different audiences, etc. Was every question answered? Probably not. At any public event is every question answered? Probably not. All I know is at this particular event with Congressman Daines, everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time, including Mr. McClure.
Kathi Normandeau
Polson
