FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Jeremy Sutka, Chair
April 26, 2025
Keith Self digs deeper hole with sham town hall stunt
Hastily called phone-in is yet another slap at voters
COLLIN COUNTY (April 26, 2025) Embarrassed nationally and earning laughs as a late night punchline, Congressman Keith Self has decided to literally phone it in, scheduling a call-in event that his office is laughingly calling a town hall. The call-in is set for Monday, April 28.
The shameless move reiterates his unabashed disdain for his constituents, once again ignoring the electorate’s needs, opinions, and points of view. Incoming calls will undoubtedly be highly screened by his staff to ensure that the Congressman’s sensitivities are not offended, preventing any meaningful two-way conversation. Film clips of him being booed offstage at his March 1 town hall appeared on various national news programs and comedians made him a laughingstock. After the March 1 fallout, he abruptly canceled his March 15 event.
The call-in stunt is not public engagement, by any means, it’s a smokescreen that he’s hiding behind while pretending to be accessible. It’s a complete sham. A real representative listens to their constituents face-to-face, takes unscripted questions, and engages in open debate. Instead, Self is cowering behind a phone line, handpicking which voices he’ll allow to be heard.
“Keith Self isn’t fooling anyone,” says Collin County Chair Jeremy Sutka. “After being overwhelmingly rejected by his own constituents in person, he’s now retreating to a controlled, sanitized telephone event where he can cherry-pick questions and avoid real accountability. If Self were serious about representing Congressional District 3, he’d hold open, in-person town halls where voters can challenge him directly. Instead, he’s proving yet again that he’s scared to face the people he serves.”
Self’s refusal to engage honestly with voters is part of a broader pattern of MAGA extremists who are avoiding tough questions and refusing to take the heat for their decisions. From dodging debates to handpicking friendly audiences, Republicans like Self know their agenda is unpopular, and would rather hide than defend it.
Attendees at the various protests sponsored by the Collin County Democratic Party have been loud and clear on their demands: real in-person town halls; unscripted, and open to all; adequate notice, not last-minute announcements designed to limit participation; and true accountability with no screened calls, no cherry-picked questions.
—