Congressmen afraid to meet with their own constituents is not just a North Carolina phenomenon. Here’s the story of Arizona Democrat Gabrielle Giffords, who not only avoids a meeting that she set up, but then tries to claim she was never planning to attend anyway:

The reality is that there was no unruly mob, which was apparent to everyone who attended. There were only concerned constituents who showed up to the only public appearance she planned to make in Tucson during the recess. And the only reason we were there was to ask her for one public townhall in which we could voice our concerns.

In fact, rather than disrupt the movie night, Tea Partiers helped the La Placita Cinema set up their chairs!

UPDATE: Nev. Sen. Harry Reid wimps out too:

The most powerful man in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), announced on Friday that as a result of recent protests at town hall meetings he won’t hold any such political gatherings during this month’s Congressional recess.

Instead, he will only do what’s called “telephone town halls” where he and his staff have complete control over the questions being asked and who’s asking them.