A recent letter to the St. Cloud Times highlights and shows the concern across the 6th District: Rep. Bachmann is out-of-touch and prefers talking with Larry King to talking with her constituents. In addition to not holding any open town hall meetings to the public, she has declined many of the forums proposed by non-partisan groups.

Read the St. Cloud Times letter after the jump.

Dear U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann,

During the past few months I have watched intently as you have attended forums in Washington, D.C. and Texas while coming home to the 6th District only to ride atop floats in a number of parades.

I have watched as you make appearances on national television shows such as Bill O’Reilly and Larry King while coming home to the 6th District only for river cruise fundraisers involving a select few individuals.

I have watched as you avoid and ignore offers to debate or discuss issues from your opponent.

I have watched as you avoided Farmfest and opted to send low level staffers in your place.

My question is what will it take for you to pay attention to the people of your district?

It seems even in an election year and at the height of election season you are displaying an attitude of ownership over this area and thus feel no need to be in personal contact with the people living here. Granted, you and I don’t agree on much and I support Elwyn Tinklenberg but how can you and more importantly, how can your supporters justify a 20-month tenure in office with nary a single open forum or constituent meeting in the district?

Are you simply too busy? If so, perhaps you could talk to Rep. Tim Walz in the 1st District and ask him how he juggles three times more committees than you and has still found time to meet on numerous occasions and in numerous places with his constituents.

This is a reliably conservative area and the chances for any Democrat to win it are long, but I have to wonder if you aren’t taking advantage of that inherent conservatism by assuming you don’t even have to show up to win.

Eric Austin
St. Cloud