By SUZANNE GAMBOA – Nov. 4, 2009
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. John Culberson had reporters in the room, conferenced on the phone, and his constituents watching by Webcast, Twitter and Facebook when he complained that the GOP has been shut out of writing the health care reform bill.
Culberson and four other Houston-area House Republicans used the “multi-platform” news conference to criticize the House Democrats’ bill and promote the GOP option that was rolled out Wednesday but that has little chance of passing.
The many communication tools can be useful for disseminating talking points in these days of dwindling Washington news bureaus.
While the other House members picked apart the Democrats’ bill, Culberson sat before the 40-inch flat screen connected to his computer to post and watch for comments on Twitter and Facebook.
“The health care bill was crafted behind closed doors and the American people were shut out of the process,” Culberson said in an e-mailed statement. “Through the Internet and social media, I can help bring them back into the process.”
The multimedia news conference was his first, but Culberson has held “town halls” the same way for about a year, spokeswoman Megan Mitchell said. “It often looks like Mission Control in here,” she said.
Despite all the formats, it appears only a few people tweeted on his news conference and the public already had to be connected to Culberson to see his Facebook posts.
Thanks for your vote against this monstrous bill. Health care may need reforming but this plan is not the way.
Dear Representative Culberson,
If you are truly against the health care bill–please voluntarily give up your taxpayer paid health care so that you might appear less hypocritical. I tried to attend a health care forum in Houston a few months ago, but you cancelled at the last minute…talk about shutting out the American people. And, let’s all remember that the great state of TEXAS leads the nation in uninsured…..shame on us. Why doesn’t your website update your voting record? Today is November 8th, and the most recent votes are for mid October.
Qestion regarding your snappy clock showing the national deficit and spending. At what point did you start this? Can you go back and give everyone the figures at different points in time? For example, the day you took office, five years later, and on or about January 15, 2009. Am sure those would be helpful comparative points.
Looking forward to that constituent meeting so we can see the white’s of their eyes.
When is it?
Thank you for your continued opposition to the Health Care debacle. Please continue to stand against this measure. too often we ask you for votes, I just want to thank your for your vote. thank you Joann
DO YOUR RESEARCE AND THEN TELL ME I’AM WRONG.
YES I THINK HEALTH CARE NEEDS TO BE REFORMED.
WE SHOULD HAVE FINISHED WHAT WE STARTED IN AFGANISTAN BEFORE WE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT IRAQ. HOW MUCH IS THAT WAR COSTING THE AMERICAN POEPLE. WE COULD PAY FOR HEALTH CARE WITH WHAT WE ARE SPENDING IN IRAQ.
ALL OF THESE ILLEGAL WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE DRIVING UP HEALTH CARE COST TO.
I’AM A LEGAL LICENSED ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR IN TEXAS. I CAN’T AFFORD TO WORK ON THE HOUSES BEING BUILT IN TEXAS , BECAUSE OF ALL THE ILLEGAL LABOR DOING THE WORK. MOST OF THEM AREN’T LICENSED. THE CONTRACTORS WHO HIRE THEM SUB THE WORK OUT TO ILLEGAL LABOR. WHICH IN ITS SELF IS ILLEGAL. ANYONE WHO CONTRACTS ELECTRICAL WORK IN TEXAS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A ILLEGAL LICENSED CONTRACTOR IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO CLEAN UP OUR OWN BACK YARD HERE IN TEXAS. SO LEGAL TEXANS CAN MAKE A LIVING. START REQUIRING PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS IN THE COUNTY. THEN YOU WOULD HAVE A FAIR PLAYING FIELD. START FINING THE CONTRACTORS WHO USE ILLEGAL LABOR. I HAVE TWO SONS WHO COULD BE DOING SOME OF THIS WORK.
THANK YOU
PAUL H DUNNAM JR
I’AM ALSO A VET VIETNAM ERA
The Honorable John Culberson,
Please vote against the House health care bill tomorrow. It will be devastating to all of us and our freedoms if passed.
Thank you for your efforts in our behalf. Please continue. We are with you all the way.
Cecil and Martha Rix
Mr. Culberson, if you are so against government run healthcare, what bill have you introduced to eliminate healthcare?