Rep. Brian Baird, Democrat from Washington, will not be meeting with his constituents this break.

But during this summer’s month-long congressional recess, he won’t be holding any in person.
Baird said his decision to scrub such constituent gatherings was partly prompted by an atmosphere of intimidation and harassment from right-wing opponents of Democratic health care reform efforts who have disrupted town hall meetings in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas, Ohio and Wisconsin.
“It’s a lynch-mob mentality out there,” Baird said. “There is an ugliness to it.”

Congressman, have you seen these crowds? Half of the folks in this “angry mob” look like they’ve received birthday greetings from Willard Scott.

I would note that it’s Baird’s call, but House Democrats and the White House were counting on these events to persuade the public that they didn’t need to fear the changes they were proposing to the health-care system. A congressman who refuses to meet with his constituents can’t change any of their minds, and is effectively endorsing the status quo, no?