HEBRON | Whether an indicator of public mood during economic crisis or just poor manners, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky's first Porter County public forum of the year was not pretty.
Visclosky's 90-minute meeting with a standing-room-only crowd of more than 60 people at the Hebron Public library was peppered with interruptions and mutterings from a handful of attendees.
The spectacle culminated in a man calling Visclosky "contemptible" for his stance on issues.
"I love my country," said the man, who refused to give his name or hometown after the meeting, "but I hate my government." The man labeled President Barack Obama a communist and Visclosky a coward.
Discussion of the health care bills approved by the House and Senate last month got the meeting off to a rocky start.
Neither bill was perfect, Visclosky said, leading to an outburst from Lorraine Bank, of Lowell.
"My kids are going to be put in jail if they don't have health insurance," Bank said. "What kind of bill is that?"
Visclosky said one positive attribute of the plans was a public option, which drew muttering from several in the audience.
Visclosky also addressed issues of the economy, trade laws, transportation, support for higher education, energy, green jobs, deficit spending, campaign finance reform, a credit card holder's bill of rights and flood control in northwest Indiana.
Wheatfield resident Don Hancock asked a pointed question about the bailout of mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Visclosky vigorously refuted claims that U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., precipitated the financial crisis.
"You're telling people stuff that's not true," Bank shouted.
"Lady, you're listening to too much Rush (Limbaugh)," Tom Schlundt, of Hebron, said from across the room.
Visclosky displayed a moment of pique at one interruption.
"If I could answer," he said with a pronounced tightening in his voice, "... that would be greatly appreciated."
In response to the recent House ethics committee investigation of him, Visclosky said, "I have kept that public trust you have given me."
Upcoming town forums
TODAY
10 a.m. -- Hammond
Calumet Conference Center, Purdue University Calumet
2300 173rd St. -- South Entrance
Noon -- Munster
Munster Town Hall
1005 Ridge Road
2 p.m. -- Highland
Lincoln Center
2450 Lincoln St.
4 p.m. -- Griffith
Griffith Town Hall
111 North Broad St.
6 p.m. -- Hobart
Hobart City Hall
414 Main St.
THURSDAY
10 a.m. -- Chesterton
Westchester Public Library Service Center
100 West Indiana Ave.
Noon -- Valparaiso
City Hall
166 Lincolnway
2 p.m. -- Portage
City Hall
6070 West Central Ave.
4 p.m. -- Lake Station
City Council Chambers
3625 Central Ave.
6 p.m. -- Gary
Gary Public Library, Wildermuth Branch
501 South Lake St.
FRIDAY
10 a.m. -- East Chicago
City Hall
4625 Indianapolis Blvd.
Noon -- Hammond
Hammond Public Library
564 State St.
