Attendees actually let Jared Polis talk during latest health care town hall

When he's not doing beer bongs with Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert, Rep. Jared Polis has been staging health care town halls during the August recess -- more of them than colleagues such as Betsy Markey, Ed Perlmutter, Mike Coffman and Doug Lamborn. And while it's far too early to say...

By Michael Roberts

August 24, 2009

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When he's not doing beer bongs with Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert, Rep. Jared Polis has been staging health care town halls during the August recess -- more of them than colleagues such as Betsy Markey, Ed Perlmutter, Mike Coffman and Doug Lamborn. And while it's far too early to say that such sessions are generally becoming less contentious, Polis's latest, staged at the Mary Carpenter Recreation Center in Thornton over the weekend, didn't devolve into screaming sessions about death panels and Communism -- at least judging by the video above. After pro-reform advocates offered up the lame chant, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, the status quo has got to go," Polis greeted a crowd in the facility's parking lot with thanks for advocating their health care position, whatever it might be, and then spoke at length on the subject without constant jeering and interruptions. Will wonders never cease. See for yourself by watching the video above.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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