Al Green Hits the Meyerland Democratic Club, Dale Napier Reporting ....

It did not take long for Congressman Al Green's constituents to tell him how they feel about his recent vote for the Bush-DeLay-Credit Card Industry's bankruptcy "reform" bill.

They do not like it.

Meyerland Area Democrats' newly elected president, Kellen Wilson, invited Green to come to the Monday night (April 18) meeting to explain his vote. Green re-arranged his schedule to attend the meeting, which was attended by 40 to 50 active Democrats in the Meyerland-Braeswood area.

Green first tried to shelter his bankruptcy vote by talking about numerous issues unrelated to bankruptcy. He mentioned the estate tax. He talked about his committee appointments. He told us he is our Congressman, he wants to be our Congressman, he is our Congressman. He talked about how the bankruptcy bill had bipartisan support, that he was the last vote for the bill, not the first one. He said 302 people voted for it, so he was not alone. He talked about working with the Republican leadership to achieve "bipartisan results".

He talked about making credit card cheats everywhere pay their bills. He talked about all the people that come to Texas to shelter income under the Homestead Act, which he supported in one breath, then bad-mouthed in another. He talked about all the wealthy people like Ken Lay who try to hide behind the Texas Homestead Act. He talked over and over again about making cheats pay their credit card debts.

Kellen Wilson asked the first question. "Isn't it true that the bill was written by the credit card companies and banks that want to take people's homes and cars and personal belongings?"

"I don't know who wrote it," Green answered. That was the spark on the gasoline.

"That's ridiculous," I said loudly. "We all know who wrote that bill. Everyone knows who wrote that bill. How can you say you don't know?"

Green started to respond, then he stopped and looked at me. "Maybe I'll let this young man speak instead," he said, aggressively thrusting the microphone at me. Thrilled to be called a young man after turning 51 the day before, I stood up and spoke to Green face to face, only three feet away.

"I can't believe how quickly you learned to talk like a Republican," I said accusingly.

"When I was a senior in high school," I continued loudly, "my father, barely a year out of the military after 20 years of service, was lying on his death bed. My mother was 39 years old and faced with taking care of herself and four young daughters. The only way she was able to survive this medical catastrophe was to declare bankruptcy. The only way she was able to save her house and keep her and her daughters off the streets was to declare bankruptcy ? but not to cheat some credit card companies. Under this bill, that would never be possible."

"You take all these lines straight out of the Republican's play book, and you don't even sound like a Democrat. This bankruptcy bill isn't about the handful of wealthy and cheats who take advantage of the law. It's about the 90 percent who are scraping to get by, to keep their homes and survive. If the Democratic Party won't stand up for them, who will?"

Green ignored my question and verbally slapped me. He thanked Wilson for being a kind, courteous and gracious host, unlike others in the room (he said). Repeating himself several times, he defensively referred to decorum and respect, slighting me by direct implication. He asked the room if they agreed that everyone should be gracious and not make ungracious and unfair statements.

Three people clapped lightly, briefly.

Green went on to defend his working with the Republicans in the U.S. House.

"I'm not working with Tom DeLay," he said defensively. "I am not a DeLay supporter. But I'll work with anyone who will work with me."

Next club member Eric Lipman asked a question.

"Isn't it true," he asked, "that there are actually 7 states where the wealthy can go to create asset trusts and shelter their money? Is it just Texas? Is it true that the bill did nothing to abolish them? Is it true that no criticisms or amendments were offered by anyone?"

Green did not know about that either.

Others spoke up. Helen Fisher asked about the Homestead Act as well. "Texas is under a lot of pressure to abandon the Homestead Act," she said. "This is all about people saving their homes." Questions and comments continued about the credit cards' companies desire to take homes, cars, and personal belongings.

But no one came to Green's defense.

So Green tried to shift the discussion to Social Security. He referred to the importance of not changing Social Security but simply "paying what we owe", making sure that people get what they paid for. He spoke for several minutes on this theme, but never made a single commitment to support Social Security benefits unchanged or to oppose private accounts. He made no commitments whatsoever. I realized that we do not actually know where he stands on those issues. We better not take his vote for granted on private accounts.

But he was not through. In a final gesture of disingenuous theatrics, he stuck out his hand in a peace gesture to me. When I stood up to shake his hand, Green said "Give me some love, brother," and reached out to hug me. I laughed at the ludicrousness of the situation and hugged him back.

After the club meeting, members discussed the event further, all supportive of the criticisms leveled against Green. Lipman told me he spoke up because he did not want me to be alone. Wilson gave a thumbs-up. Others offered support (and thanks) as well.

"It was the most ridiculous thing when he said 'give me some love, brother'", said club member Emily Walker. "I just couldn't believe it."

Houston city council candidate Herman Litt, also a club member, told me he "wished that it could have been handled more diplomatically."

"I know there is a place for confrontation," Litt told me, "but I just wish we could reach out to him and come together."

"Welcome to the hot seat," I told the District C candidate. "I agree that we all need to work together, but with Democrats defecting to the Republicans at practically every turn, there is a strong feeling that we just have to stand up to our elected officials and let them know that they we won't put up with it any longer."

Note: I first learned of Green's vote at the SDEC meeting in Austin Saturday (April 16). A professional investigator in the party told me that Green's vote for the bankruptcy bill is entirely explained by his contributor list. I have not had a chance to pull the donor list and verify this, but I plan to do it in short order. I welcome helpers! I will report the results.

Dale Napier, member and former vice president, Meyerland Area Democrats Club.

Disclaimer: This article is an attempt to provide an accurate rendition of what was done and said, but makes no claim to completeness. It went too fast and furious! I will stand by the spirit, mood, and level of support that I portray as taking place. Green had no support for his vote or comments at the meeting. I think he lost respect for his lack of sincerity.