Kim Acknowledges Disjointed Democratic Party Strategy

CHATHAM - Andy Kim holds many "town halls." He's almost up to 90, if you include the ones he's done as a House member before ascending to the Senate.
His latest on Saturday morning may be one of the more memorable ones.
Questions were good and there was some real passion.
After Kim criticized various aspects of the Trump Administration - defying court orders, causing stock market turmoil, the tilt toward Russia - a woman in the audience spoke out.
Yes, she agrees with the senator, but what alternative - other than criticism - are Democrats offering?
Kim said he fully understood the question and that he has some of the same concerns. He said he has suggested a coordinated strategy to his Democratic Senate colleagues - like coalescing around fighting Medicaid cuts. But he does not always get traction.
In fact, he said some have told him not to hold town halls. That advice does not fly with him.
Kim said he enjoys debating his constituents, suggesting that having "uncomfortable conversations" about politics is what an elected official should do.
"If you're hiding from people, and you're not doing town halls, you're not doing public events, it's because you're just thinking about your own needs and comfort," he said, and not the plight of people financially struggling.
So, instead of waiting for a coordinated strategy to emerge. Kim said, "I'm just doing things."
Hence, a town hall in this Morris County town that attracted about 200 people.
He did suggest that Senate Democrats should craft and put out their own budget instead of just criticizing one put forth by Republicans.
Kim has never been a "party guy." Recall that he got to the Senate last year by besting Tammy Murphy, the choice of the Democratic establishment.
On that score, he bemoaned the power of big money in politics and more relevantly, the financial inequality in today's America.
He again brought up a bill he supports to ban members of Congress from stock trading.
"I don't own a single, individual stock and that's how it should be for everyone" in Congress, he said.
The crowd applauded.
Another question came from a man who said he was a retired firefighter who responded to the 9/11 attacks. Now battling cancer, he emotionally spoke about the sacrifice firefighters make and more, pointedly, how the Trump Administration is negatively impacting a health care program for 9/11 first responders. Since the inauguration, services have been cut, restored and some cut again. Confusion reigns.
The former firefighter said attending Kim's town hall was a no-brainer for him. Whatever his fate, he said he wants his wife to be supported.
If he were to go to Washington to see officials involved in the cuts, he said he'd be looking to "punch the bastards in the face."
Kim said afterwards that the man's comments were among the most impactful he's heard at any of his town halls.