Face the State

Twitter, the social networking site where users post updates covering everything from politics to what they had for lunch, can also keep you on the right side of the law. The Denver Police Department (@DenverPolice for the Twitter-savvy) posts blotter entries interspersed with occasional citations to the Denver municipal code - did you know bicyclists are required to obey traffic lights just like cars? Perhaps prompted by recent protests at congressional town hall meetings, DPD reminded citizens yesterday it's a no-no to disrupt "any lawful meeting."

But it's unlikely DPD will be enforcing Revised Municipal Code 38-97 within their jurisdiction during the August congressional recess since U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette is meeting with constituents only by phone.

Protesters on both sides of the health care debate will certainly be out in force at of tonight's town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman in Littleton. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson tells Face The State he doesn't anticipate any problems at tonight's forum, which will be held at the Arapahoe County administrative complex, but his deputies will be on hand nearby to handle any disturbance.

"We would use already applicable and in place statutes around disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace," he said.

There's never any excuse for shouting and physical violence at a political meeting. Peaceful discourse is a cornerstone of America's political system, and any protesters who seek to limit others' speech deserve to be removed and charged.

State GOP chairman Dick Wadhams told Face The State recently, "I do not believe in disruptive crowds." Neither do we. Democrats' health care proposal can and should be discussed in a civil tone.

And we applaud the Aurora Republican's willingness to confront his constituents - supportive and critical - in a public venue. Coffman has the opportunity to show his Democrat colleagues tonight how a town hall meeting, properly conducted, is an effective and vital way to speak to and hear from constituents.

Too many members of Colorado's federal delegation have avoided real contact with voters, holding meetings away from major population centers or pretending like there's time to visit with constituents one-on-one outside a supermarket. Neither approach addresses the public's growing desire to be heard during one of the most important congressional debates in history.