Politics

MacArthur Jeered At Town Hall Over Dead Daughter [VIDEO]

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Amber Athey Podcast Columnist
Font Size:

Republican New Jersey Rep. Tom MacArthur held a town hall in Willingboro, N.J. Tuesday to talk about the GOP’s health care bill, but got a bit more than he bargained for when angry constituents jeered him when he tried to talk about his dead daughter.

The intense town hall lasted five hours, but right at the beginning, the Republican congressman wanted to share the story of his deceased daughter, who passed from special needs complications when she was 11 years old.

One constituent yelled “shame” when he brought up his daughter, and accused MacArthur of “using” his tragedy.

“I will say shame on you right now actually,” MacArthur responded as the crowd got rowdier. “I’m going to tell you because this affects my perspective on this issue of health care.”

“I’m not going to tell you all about Grace’s life because obviously you’ve read that to the point you don’t care,” he snapped again.

“It’s all you say,” another constituent shouted out.

One yelled, “we’ve heard this story.”

At least one constituent was disturbed by the jeering and tried to defend MacArthur, saying, “have some respect,” but clearly the town hall could only head downhill from there.

WATCH (Comments begin at 7:52): 

Follow Amber on Twitter