Rep. Jordan spars with local protesters

Feb. 21--FREMONT -- U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Urbana) traded political views with protesters outside the historic home of 19th-century President Rutherford B. Hayes on Monday, a rare though fleeting success for liberals and progressives trying to get local Republican lawmakers to hold town hall meetings.

About a dozen people peppered Mr. Jordan with comments and questions about Russian influence on President Trump, the future of the Affordable Care Act, abortion rights, and climate change.

In all, the protesters got about 15 minutes of Mr. Jordan's time as he arrived and departed from an hourlong program and tour at the Hayes Presidential Library and Museums for a Presidents Day program.

Daisie Reish of Grafton, Ohio, challenged Mr. Jordan on whether the Republicans would investigate the relationship between the Russian government and President Trump.

Mr. Jordan said he was concerned about Russian President Vladimir Putin, too.

VIDEO: U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan meets protesters at Hayes Presidential Library and Museums

Mr. Jordan told her that the House and Senate intelligence committees are looking into Russian involvement with the Trump Administration. He said he might eventually support a select committee, but warned that it could take two years to get started with such a committee.

"We can't afford two years," interrupted Michael Reitz of Oberlin.

Jennifer Harvey of Bowling Green said she came to protest Mr. Trump's immigration policy that she said amounts to a Muslim ban, which she believes is unconstitutional.

"I am horrified that there's talk of repealing the health- care plan without a replacement," Ms. Harvey added.

One woman said to Mr. Jordan that there were "a lot of protesters and not very many supporters."

"There were a lot of supporters in the last election," Mr. Jordan said.

Abortion came up when Janet Garrett of Oberlin, who was Mr. Jordan's Democratic opponent in 2014 and 2016, accused him of telling her that a pregnancy caused by rape was "an act of God."

"I did not say that," Mr. Jordan responded, but said all life should be protected.

A man told Mr. Jordan that many women get abortions because they are "desperate and suffering by the hands of a man who abandoned them," and that males want to make abortion illegal.

A Trump supporter who came from Lorain County intervened to argue with the man's claims, saying he doubted that most abortions were the result of women being abandoned by men.

"I feel he was doing a fine job. I just think some of these people are crazy over the top," said Jim Lawhead of Wellington, Ohio.

Inside the museum, Mr. Jordan asked about 15 children historical questions that were provided by the Hayes home staff. He awarded them tickets to horse and buggy rides around the estate. He then took a tour of the museum.

Gabrielle Hess, 5, of Tiffin, answered three questions about presidents, with a little whispered help from Dad and Mom.

The dad, Aaron Hess, said Gabrielle likes the horse rides at the Hayes house. Sarah Hess, Gabrielle's mother, said they come every year for Presidents Day.

"We just think it's awesome that a president of the United States' home is so close to our home. It's a beautiful place. Rich history," Mrs. Hess said. Also with them was Isaac, 20 months.

Trying to get congressmen to hold town hall meetings is the aim of a various Democratic, liberal, and progressive groups.

A group called Toledo/Sylvania Interfaith Friends scheduled a town-hall meeting today from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Toledo Muslim Community Center, 5045 W. Sylvania Ave.

They said they invited U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green), whose district includes parts of South and West Toledo and western Lucas County, but his staff said he would not attend.

"The town hall, which will take place without Latta as a way to elevate constituents' concerns, comes during the weeklong congressional recess, when many members of Congress are taking the time to meet directly with their constituents. Although several groups throughout northwest Ohio have pressured Latta to have a public town hall, so far he has not made any public announcements that he will hold one," the group claimed.

Mr. Latta's communications director, Drew Griffin, confirmed that Mr. Latta will not attend the town-hall meeting.

Mr. Jordan also talked to protesters in Marion, Ohio, when he held a similar event at the President Warren G. Harding home Monday morning.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.

Related Items

Hayes Presidential Library and Museums, Protestors, Rep. Jim Jordan, Presidents Day

Click to comment

Guidelines: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Comments that violate these standards, or our privacy statement or visitor's agreement, are subject to being removed and commenters are subject to being banned. To post comments, you must be a registered user on toledoblade.com. To find out more, please visit the FAQ.

___

(c)2017 The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)

Visit The Blade (Toledo, Ohio) at www.toledoblade.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.