Jennifer Vogt-Erickson was very one-sided when she wrote about Congressman Hagedorn’s legislative accomplishments on Dec. 4. Firstly, Jennifer, as I’m sure you know, the Democrats control the U.S. House. They control the floor. Nothing gets voted on unless Nancy Pelosi says it does. A lot of times, members in the minority get very little of their bills to pass through the House because they do not hold the majority, and many Democrats would much rather focus on impeachment than doing the work of the American people.

As to the gentleman at Hagedorn’s town hall, Hagedorn was not rude in any way to that man. The man first started speaking and debating the Congressman during someone else’s question. Funny enough, you fail to mention that in your letter. That’s why Congressman Hagedorn said “let other people speak” because it was not this man’s question, it was the question of someone else who waited for their turn to ask a question. There was also a man who clearly has no patience who kept yelling at the Congressman, calling him a coward for not holding a town hall in his county yet. It’s called having patience. This is a 21-county district. Congressman Hagedorn cannot be everywhere at once, and his staff has multiple office hours across the district that essentially serve the same purpose as town halls. To that man, please don’t be rude and have some patience like everyone else.

Lastly, I think that you, like a lot of Democrats, are confusing “listening” with “agreeing.” Congressman Hagedorn listens to every question and comment he is asked, which is why he is able to engage with constituents in a respectful and knowledgeable way. Congressman Hagedorn is a conservative, he campaigned on being a conservative for six-plus years, and he is doing what he said. Just because he doesn’t agree with someone, doesn’t mean he is not listening to them. For example, I don’t agree with your assessment of Aaron Farris’s letter, and I don’t agree with you responding to almost everything he writes in an almost stalkerish style, but that doesn’t mean I’m not listening. I hear what you say, I disagree with it, but I listened.

Jose Zeferino

Albert Lea