Candidates, citizens deserve respectful environment

I have invited many candidates of all political parties to visit us before and since we started our Iowa Coffee Bean Caucus in 2003. I believe that Iowans have this incredible opportunity to meet those who have chosen to run for president by Iowa having the first in the nation status with the Iowa caucuses.

Our goal for the Iowa Coffee Bean Caucus is to give Iowans a grass roots opportunity to meet as many political candidates of all parties and political views. Our goal for all candidates who choose Hamburg Inn as a campaign stop is to provide them with an open and respectful environment and to provide for them the maximum amount of voter and media attention that we can get. The Iowa Coffee Bean Caucus welcomes all political candidates to share their views.

The key word is respectful. It was very disappointing that many who came to the Michele Bachmann event last month did so for the purpose of being as disrespectful as possible rather than engaging the candidate in political dialogue. It also was disappointing that the Bachmann campaign responded with loud Christmas music.

Our goal is not for anyone to agree or disagree, vote for or not vote for a candidate. It is to give everyone an opportunity to meet the candidates.

In the future, the Iowa Coffee Bean Caucus will invite all candidates to stop and we hope that all those who only want to yell and scream will keep it outside and at a respectful distance.

Dave Panther, owner

Hamburg Inn

Iowa City