Cogressman to Visit My Office

cwalner

Philosopher
cwalner
Joined
Aug 11, 2008
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I received an email yesterday from my local HR rep that we will be receiving a VIP visitor on monday, congressman Dan Burton (R-IN)

I did some (very minimal) research on him (just the wikipedia entry that I linked) and so far do not like what I see.

Issues with the congressman:

Per wikipedia, he is a political voice for the debunked myth that mercury in vaccines causes autism.

Despite a reputation as the "biggest skirt-chaser in the Indiana legislature" and having fathered a child with a state employee at around the time he was first elected to congress, he campaigns as a family-values conservative.

He has sent a letter to the Indiana AG urging to join in the lawsuit against the recently passed HCR bill. (not an inherent issue, but I do personally support this legislation).

Issues with my company inviting him:

Due to the visit, we will be required to dress buisness professional (shirt and tie for men) despite typically having business casual dress code. This is the first time this has happened in my 12 years with the company, and I no longer own a dress shirt (that fits) or tie and will have to buy them just to go to work this day.

The office has a policy against discussing politics in the office. I find it odd to invite a sitting politician (who is probably just beginning his campaign for the mid-terms) when such a policy is in place.

The company has asked for questions to be submitted through HR to be asked of the congressman during his visit, so I doubt controversial questions will be allowed



For the above reasons I am a bit upset that we are having a politician visit at all, specifically a politician with whom I have the mentioned concerns. I don't like the idea of not speaking out, but I do need this job and fear that being overly aggresive about it could have consequences.

Any suggestions for how I should handle this visit.
 
Let the local press know that the questions employees can ask the Congressman are being screened and that is odd...considering Burton that Burton was likely condemnatory of Democrats back in the health care debate for not facing town halls. When they talk about "socialism" how much more "socialist" can you be than have the questions you ask of public officials screened and censored? Anyway, I'll be the local paper or TV stations might be interested in why Burton is afraid to face real, unfiltered questions.
 
headscratcher4 said:
Let the local press know that the questions employees can ask the Congressman are being screened and that is odd...considering Burton that Burton was likely condemnatory of Democrats back in the health care debate for not facing town halls. When they talk about "socialism" how much more "socialist" can you be than have the questions you ask of public officials screened and censored? Anyway, I'll be the local paper or TV stations might be interested in why Burton is afraid to face real, unfiltered questions.
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The problem with that is that I am not certain that it is Burton who chose to screen the questions. Based on past experience with visits from corporate execs, this is SOP for this office to avoid having us rabble embarrass management in front of thier 'guests'. I don't want to criticize Burton to the media for something when there is an equal, if not greater, likelyhood that this was initiated by the managers here without his knowledge.
 
cwalner said:
The problem with that is that I am not certain that it is Burton who chose to screen the questions. Based on past experience with visits from corporate execs, this is SOP for this office to avoid having us rabble embarrass management in front of thier 'guests'. I don't want to criticize Burton to the media for something when there is an equal, if not greater, likelyhood that this was initiated by the managers here without his knowledge.
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I'd do it anyway. If Burton is not to blame then he can make that claim and perhaps even do something about it when he visits.

We once had a Governor visit my place of employment. No questions, just a tour and speech. He went on to become the first governor of the state to be charged and convicted of a crime while in office.
 
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parky76 said:
did he vote for health-care reform? no?

then fart in his face. :)
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Sorry, Parky. While such behaviour may be socially acceptable in NYC, such an action would not be tolerated in Indy.
Here, I would have to arrange to bring in a cow to do that for me, and I don't want to deal with all that hassle.
 
Lurker said:
I'd do it anyway. If Burton is not to blame then he can make that claim and perhaps even do something about it when he visits.

We once had a Governor visit my place of employment. No questions, just a tour and speech. He went on to become the first governor of the state to be charged and convicted of a crime while in office.
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I would guess Blagojavich, but I hardly beleive that he was the first in Illinois
 
Lurker is right. That it might not be Burton's rule is exactly why to do it...he could push the company to allow free questions...why should the company care? But if you are going to allow questions...as opposed to just a walk through tour...than screening them seems wrong to me. I would hope that were so for Burton as well. Is Burton your congressman? If so, I'd also contact his office and ask, seriously, what he is afraid of?
 
Hey, another Hoosier.

Our state does have some very staunch Republicans. Not at all surprised if your company management are supporters of Burton. I'll be moving later this year and might end up in his district. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to vote against him (or maybe I should run against him...since I'd be an unemployed college student anyways).

I suppose if you value your job more than ideology, probably call in sick or just stay in your cube the whole time.
 
Lurker said:
OH my goodness you are TDaft. ;)
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Ok, I'm daft, but with the recent spate of gubanatorial scandals, I thought most managed to resign before actually being charged with a crime. the two that come to the formemost of my mind are NY and NJ, but as I said, I thought both resigned before they got formally charged.
 
daenku32 said:
Hey, another Hoosier.
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Not quite. My company closed down our Las Vegas office two years ago and consolidated it with the one here in Indianapolis. I currently live and work in Indiana, but I do not quite consider myself a Hoosier just yet.
 
Why not contact HR and voice your issues with a politician coming when there's an HR policy of "no politics" ??
 
Perhaps a foxy co-worker could be induced to set him up for an inappropriate sexual advance with a recording device hidden?



oops.

Not ethical.
But either is calling in sick.

Perhaps you could actually get sick?
 
cwalner said:
I would guess Blagojavich, but I hardly beleive that he was the first in Illinois
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Hell, Blago wasn't even the first of the 2000s.

3 of the last 5 Illinois governors went to prison.

Maybe Thompson and Edgar just weren't caught.
 
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I say people please (I would always say that anyway no matter the issue :p ).

It's not like you could change his mind with a question, and even if you did he's a blood-sucking politician and wouldn't change his vote unless the polls went that way.
 
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