EDITOR,

Political strategists will tell you that the key to winning is the ability to “control the message.” This seems to be the strategy adopted by Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton.

Politics today is not for the timid. People recently have gathered to let their representatives hear how they feel. Many times, these are angry displays, as voters feel as if their representatives are not acting in their best interests.

A recent video of Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y., is fuel for this fire. In this video, he publicly describes his constituents as “right-wingers” and that he will vote against the will of his district on the health care bill.

That is true arrogance. Indeed, the entire legislative branch seems to act above the people, telling them what is good for them despite what they feel. Reps. McNerney and Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, have held zero public town hall meetings to discuss health care. McNerney has had “telephone town halls” — frustrated voters have given their opinions about these staged events.

Do McNerney, Cardoza and others who have opted for this “strategy” feel this is working?

I challenge McNerney to hold a real town hall with real voters, real concerns and real questions. Is he up to the challenge? Isn’t this part of his job? Or does he feel that we voters really don’t understand the wonderful benefits that his party’s leaders have proposed?