I wonder how this is legal? Sounds like taxation without representation.
- DC: first time?
- The republicans do 'representation for no taxation' but only for a select few
- Unless the town hall is paid for with taxpayer dollars or held on government property, it's a citizen who happens to be in Congress having a private event with their political supporters.
  
  Same as a political party convention or fundraiser dinner,.AFAIK.
  
  (And, depending on state law, even a function on government property may be legally private.)
  
  No, that's not how it works.
  
  So, how does it work? Does your state have a law requiring congressional "town halls" to be open to the public?
  
  Town halls by their definition are open to the public. He is holding a private campaign event.
  
  He is lying to the public by calling it a town hall.
  
  Or it is a town hall, and he's lying to the public by claiming he's allowed to exclude non-Republicans.
  
  "town hall" is a style of event. Back when there were meaningful debates during presidential campaigns, it used to be a regular choice.
  
  I guarantee you that they were closed events, with attendees chosen legally-arbitrarily by whatever TV network was hosting the event.
  
  So long as he takes questions from those in attendance, it's a town hall. Even if no cameras are allowed.
  
  The public put their name in a hat and submitted questions for presidential debates. Those people were picked to speak. Still was open to everyone. This is not a town hall.
  
  I assure you that anyone who ever put on a town hall debate, including the League of Women voters and definitely the TV networks, screened the questions and reserved the right to exclude anyone they chose to.
  
  No debate or political event since well before Nixon/Kennedy has been "open to everyone".
  
  You missed the point. Anyone can apply. The questions are screened. They don't discriminate based on party.
  
  14 upvotes? Take a civics class you schmucks, Jesus tapdancing Christ
  
  So, what rule do you think makes "congressional town halls" work differently than any other campaign activity?
  
  Elected officials do not hold town halls for campaign purposes. They are meant to be an official act to address actual constituents. They are not for fundraising or rallying.
  
  I think the main point is that non-republicans are still forced to pay taxes, but the elected official is denying those people representation. If he wants to hold a non-republican only event for equal representation, then that's a really dumb way to do it, but at least is closer to acceptable.
  
  It's the "taxation without representation" thing, not the "blocking a demographic from their private event" thing.
  
  Even on government property, there's exceptions. Like a private study room at the library.
- "taxation without representation" I believe was a slogan, not a legally binding principle.
  
  I get ya. It was a rallying cry for revolution, not really anything that ended up in writing as law.

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