As President Trump's policies enrage those on the left, Massachusetts' representatives in Congress are faced with a decision: Should they vocally oppose the president now or organize for opposition later? Rep. Stephen Lynch hosted a town hall meeting with constituents last week to hear how they want the veteran South Boston Democrat to act in the Trump era.
Lynch is an incumbent in relatively safe seat that stretches across Boston, along the South Shore, and south down to Route 495. He met with constituents Friday night in Milton, on the more liberal side of his district.
"Based on the number of calls we've got to our office since Mr. Trump took office, there's a lot of fear and anxiety out there, and it's been nonstop," Lynch said before the meeting at Milton's high school. "It seems that with each tweet, each executive order, with each cabinet appointment and Supreme Court nominee, there's been a steady drumbeat of fear, apprehension, trepidation."
Before the meeting, Lynch spoke about being realistic about how effective Democrats like him, firmly in the minority, can be at stopping President Trump's policies through congressional obstruction.
"Well, we're outnumbered by 55 votes in the House, and we're not in much better shape in the Senate. So I don't know how much obstruction there really can be," Lynch said.
Lynch arranged the forum to give constituents a chance to air their grievances about the new Republican government and to hear what they wanted from him, he said. The town hall was advertised as being about how to keep America safe while protecting constitutional rights. It was was held just one week after the president's controversial immigration ban went into effect.
"Given that you're calling this Town Hall keeping America safe, I wanna know what you're gonna do," one constituent asked. Lynch replied that his goal is to "stop Trump from weakening our national security. Using diplomacy the way it should be used."
"So how far is my United States representative willing to go?" the voter asked again.
"You know what," Lynch said, "I'll do my best, how about that?"
Over and over again, speakers took to the microphone to tell Lynch they want him to be in open opposition to Trump, and they don't care if that opposition is merely symbolic.
"You are in a very safe district. You're in a very strong state. We have a strong history of liberal causes and fighting tyranny. Be out there on television. Be out there, and we want to see you. Take this guy and hold this guy's feet to the fire," another constituent told Lynch.
It's a new game. And I think that's what the people here were saying. Not just be louder, but be more effective and vigorous in your defense of our position.
Two weeks into Trumps' presidency, people at the Milton forum, which attracted voters from Boston and surrounding towns, wanted Lynch to be more aggressive in opposing the White House's agenda. Specifically, several at the meeting wanted him to sign on to a bill barring the president from putting political appointees on the National Security Council. Lynch doesn't think the bill meets legal muster, but he told one voter he is willing to do what his constituents want.
After the three-hour town Hall, Lynch concluded that some of his constituents want him to be a much more vocal advocate for progressive positions.
"It's a new game. And I think that's what the people here were saying," Lynch said. "Not just be louder, but be more effective and vigorous in your defense of our position. And okay, I heard them."
In the eyes of these voters, Lynch needs to be more aggressive than he has ever been in his eight terms on Capitol Hill. He'll even have to ramp up his tactics on social media to combat the Twitter-happy president.
"I wasn't a big tweeter, but I've got to be on Twitter now. That's what people are listening to, so I gotta use that medium more," Lynch said.
Lynch is facing a challenger from his left in his next Democratic primary for reelection — video game developer and activist Brianna Wu, who has accused him of not being progressive enough on health care and women's issues.
Friday's forum and the primary challenge make one thing clear: As Democrats scramble to oppose Trump, moderates like Lynch are going to need to channel the frustration of their districts or face more opposition from voters.
