Politics & Government

Ellison: Access to Politicians Should Be Free

St. Louis Park's congressional representative said democracy needs to be an open process.

Rep. Keith Ellison was a guest Tuesday on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Guest host Rev. Al Sharpton interviewed Ellison for a segment called "Town Haul." 

Sharpton introduced several clips that showed GOP leaders being heckled in town hall meetings.

"You see, actual voters were very unhappy," Sharpton said. "Turns out the GOP isn't too keen on those YouTube moments, so they've come up with a solution: Just silence the poor and middle class in their district. Their solution? They've actually started to charge their constituents to ask them questions."

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Ellison then gave his take:

"I say shame on them. You know, democracy means the rulership of the people and these three congressmen who are charging to get access to them really are proving this fear that our country could be lurching toward plutocracy: rulership of the rich."

Find out what's happening in St. Louis Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ellison, Other Leaders Coming to Minneapolis

On MPR's Capitol View, Tom Scheck reported Tuesday that the American Legion's national convention will be held from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1 in Minneapolis. President Barack Obama, GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, Gov. Mark Dayton and Ellison will be some of the speakers at the event.


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