Welle’s Bogus Town Hall Meeting in Jackson-Videos
Josh Welle refers to a flash card while answering a question about solar energy
By Art Gallagher
Josh Welle, the Democrat running against Congressman Chris Smith in the 4th congressional district, held a campaign event, dubbed a town hall meeting, in Jackson on Thursday night that appeared to be designed to capture footage for television commercials, rather than to hear from the people of Jackson, as advertised.
Rather than the free wheeling give and take of town hall meetings New Jersey residents are accustomed to, like those of former Governor Chris Christie, and the ObamaCare town halls held by Congressman Frank Pallone and Rush Holt in 2010, Welle’s event featured pre-screened questions read by a moderator. The person who submitted the question was instructed to stand (for the video cameras) while Welle delivered prepared answers.
Room dividers cut the meeting hall in half which created the illusion of a full house. There were roughly 100 attendees in the room that could hold over 300. Most in attendance appeared to be supporters that Welle already knew. Few were from Jackson. The candidate thanked one questioner for coming from Little Silver and another from Belmar. The final question came from a Brick resident (3rd congressional district.) Welle handled 8 pre-screened questions, some with the assistance of flash cards handed to him by the moderator after she read the question.
Robyn Gedrich, a millennial Democrat politician from Brick, which is in the 3rd congressional district, introduced the candidate and his wife, Angela. Gedrich gained national exposure in 2016 when she was suspended from the hook up app, Tinder, for using the platform to recruit Bernie Sanders volunteers instead of casual sex partners.
The hour long performance, which started thirty minutes late, started with the candidate delivering a 23 minute stump speech heavy with attacks on Smith’s character and lies about Smith’s record, followed by 30 minutes of answering pre-screened questions that were read by a moderator who asked the person who submitted the question to stand.
Towards the end of Welle’s answer to the first question, the candidate said “no one is above the law,” referring to President Trump and the Mueller investigation. This prompted to one of the few Smith supporters on attendance to shout out, “what about Hillary Clinton?” Welle awkwardly attempted to continue with his prepared answer until the moderator stepped in and quieted the crowd with the next question.
There were no further interruptions to the scripted event. However, a member of the Anti-Christian, Anti-Cop hate group, District 4 Coalition for Change, a woman from Tinton Falls, approached Butch Budai of Pt. Pleasant Beach, the man who shouted the question about Hillary Clinton being above the law, and offered to have Welle answer his questions one on one. Budai said he wanted to ask Welle about his position on Sanctuary Cities and New Jersey being a Sanctuary State. Welle declined to answer on camera and left the hall, leaving his wife behind, when he saw me setting up my camera to record the exchange.
Joe Sullivan, a member of the Jackson zoning board and rent leveling board, said that Welle has very little support in Jackson, even from Democrats, as evidenced by the fact that the campaign had to go to Brick, in the 3rd congressional district, to get someone to introduce him. Sullivan noted that Welle refused to take any “real questions, all the questions were pre-screeened, This is what you get from a Democrat,” Sullivan said.
As I was leaving the hall, I saw Welle standing by the passenger door of an imported compact car which happened to be parked next to my SUV. He got into the car and closed the windows when he caught my eye as I walked towards my vehicle. I guess he didn’t want to answer my questions either. Angela showed up a few minutes later an they drove away.
More from my site
Welle proclaims “deep, strong, progressive convictions” –Video
Josh and Angela Welle make a fundraising appeal from their shower
Congressman Smith is unopposed in the GOP Primary
Congressman Smith Praises NJ Company For Solar Installation and Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts
Welle’s Company Owes $130,000 In Delinquent Taxes
Welle Wins Ocean Dems’ endorsement to challenge Congressman Chris Smith
Welle’s Tax Plan Would Increase Taxes For 21.3% of CD-4 Residents
Welle the Weasel
MoveOn.org lied to New Jersey donors
Police Benevolent Association Endorses Congressman Chris Smith for reelection
Speaking of open Town Hall Meetings, Rep. Smith has not held one in 25+ years despite dozens of requests to do so.
Link to interview with interview with APP editors where around the 11 minute mark Rep Smith gives ridiculous answers to the editors questions on the subject and refuses their request that he agree to hold at least one this year.
https://www.app.com/story/news/politics/new-jersey/2018/02/22/congressman-chris-smith-fields-questions-watch-live/341828002/
YOU may think those answers are ridiculous and you are certainly entitled to your opinion. But the honest truth is that he delivers for his district. Sorry that’s not good enough for you.
I could always be wrong but I’ll bet 60% of his district will agree he delivers and that the answers aren’t ridiculous
The only ones screaming for Town Halls are those on the vile left who want to insult him and his staffers. BTW, you heard about the death threat last week, right?
You’ve seen the vile stuff on District 4 Coalition For Change’s Facebook page? Further down the page you will see a post suggesting that he’s building a case for being a victim.
https://www.facebook.com/district4coalition/
He’s been called a traitor and worse by these vile people. Why should Smith expose his staffers to such hate?
Remember the line, “it’s the economy stupid,” coined by Democrat Carville? Well, that’s what voters will be deciding this election on.
Please Bob, you are grasping at straws (probably illegal ones) because you got nothing else but the same old tired complaints.
Skype would be a great to use for a town hall.
I really think you could have shoehorned vile in there at least half a dozen more times. Do better.
Easy to see the Josh Welle is an empty suit.He also supports the corrupt Senator Robert Menendez and sanctuary cities. Surprising to see that from a Naval Academy grad.
To be honest, I should have included it more times. But if that’s the only response to reality that you have, it only illustrates how empty the first comments were.
Here’s Welle’s platform:
Open borders
Reverse tax cuts
Sanctuary states
Abolish ICE
Amnesty
There’s your town hall
You forgot one
Women’s rights and abortion
🙂 🙂 🙂
Many Democrat and Republigan members of Congress hold Town Hall Meetings without having their constituents having to plead with them to do so. MacArthur and Pallone have done so. Nothing to be afraid of even if some of those attending might have different opinions on issues rather than yours….that comes with the job…..If u can’t face ur constituents at a public meeting where someone can ask a question or voice their opinion, it’s time to find another line of work
doing a little intelligent homework, and research actual performance in office and real results, that have helped many people, in Chris Smith’s case, both here, and around the world. In this toxic atmosphere today, why would one want to expose himself to often paid, instigated, headline- grabbing scream fests ? And, possibly to violence, which has already been threatening him?” Town halls” these days, are basically photo-ops, for a few who show up to gripe for the opponents, these days. Read, people. Check voting records. Make an assessment of all candidates by their life-work, qualifications, and experience. “ Empty suit” sadly seems to fit Mr. Welle, thus far..And, Bob, please stop superficially whining and toting the talking points..
@Bob English – you can’t be so oblivious to the lunacy gripping liberal democrats. Steve Scalise was almost killed, Sarah Sanders and Kristen Nielson (sp?) Are accosted in public, Maxine Waters and other nutjobs are encouraging mob violence against Republicans, Antifa riots and throws barricades through store windows, riots ensue when a gang member is killed by cops and you wonder why Chris Smith won’t publicly put a target on the backs of his staff and himself? Why should he – so the far left lunatics can orchestrate a chaotic Yuotube moment? This is the world intolerant, narrow minded liberals have created. Blame them
I’m glad you agree that your initial post was devoid of any nuance or better yet rational thought. It would bore people beyond belief to be subjected to such drivel. Sooner rather than later the posters on this site will morph it into Infowars lite, and good Sirs, better believe I have my popcorn ready.
That was DaReal
Did you visit that link for District 4 Coalition For Change. What you see there now is the least vile (yes vile Bob because that’s what it is) of their comments because a lot has been sanitized.
Their hate is among the worst around. They may have cleaned it up a bit but I and others have saved the screen shots. Too bad I can’t post them here.
And you want staffers and the Congressman to expose themselves to that hate? You can not have a rational conversation with people like that.
Here’s a little more on this group if you never read this stuff. This is the group that was pushing Jim Keady. All of them sell hate.
http://www.moremonmouthmusings.net/2017/08/24/monmouth-dem-candidates-speak-at-anti-cop-anti-christian-hate-group-meeting/
http://www.moremonmouthmusings.net/2017/08/26/monmouth-dems-hate-group-women-who-vote-republican-are-stupid/
As a proud Howell resident, this man’s comments and accusations are insulting and false. The only person in Howell who is the face of bigotry is the current Mayor, Ms. Berger, who campaigned on a platform of keeping Lakewood residents out of Howell. She is a Democrat and was brazen and disgusting in her remarks. Will Mr. Wells come out and condemn her for such bigotry? I bet not. Thank goodness Chris Smith is a tireless worker and an effective member of Congress. He’ll win by double-digits.
Good point Joe. Unfortunately the Democrat Party has exactly zero ideas and zero policies to improve whatever level they serve. So they have to resort to threats, violence, and personal attacks as we have seen happen to Congressman Smith. I do agree that he will win by double-digits and hopefully be followed by other Republicans across the country. People are fed up with the garbage of the far left. The best revenge is to crush them at the ballot box
disappear because of the criticism?
he just realized that the back and forth came and went. You can chalk it up as a dub for your side if it makes you feel better.
You’re killing me, you’re killing me
One post at a time.
Did Bob say that Frank Pallone holds town halls? When was that, I must have missed that invite!
I could be wrong, but the last town halls I remember Pallone holding were the ones on Obamacare before that monstrosity was passed.
What I remember at both was Pallone scoffing at people telling him this was a bad deal. Arrogant A– that he is.
are dumbed- down photo ops that rarely serve any positive purpose. Frank has slid by as the luckiest person in Congress for so long, it is now laughable, as to what a district accepts, as to performance in office! Term limits, anyone?
Welle has proven himself to be a stumbling, bumbling stiff the entire way. Absolutely a mess. No chance to beat Chris Smith!