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What is Baron Hill trying to hide?

Indiana Daily Student, September 9, 2009

To the editor:

"This is my town hall meeting for you. And you're not going to tell me how to run my Congressional office. Now the reason why I don't allow filming is because usually the films that are done end up on YouTube in a compromising position."

Congressman Baron Hill said that when he refused to allow a high school student to record his town hall meeting in Bloomington on September 2. Hill’s remark wound up on YouTube in a compromising position anyway, when a portion of the meeting (recorded in full by the local newspaper) was posted on the site.

I'm stunned by Hill’s arrogance. First, Hill was talking down to the people who pay for his salary and his pension. Then, Hill admits a nakedly political motivation to hide his words from the public, and is willing to stifle academic freedom and freedom of speech to do so. What is Hill trying to hide? Where is Baron?

This statement comes less than a month after speaking of his need to "control" town hall meetings, calling some of his constituents "political terrorists" who want to "blow up" a meeting. Such inflammatory rhetoric is unbecoming of a Congressman. Shame on Baron Hill.

Scott Tibbs.