On Tuesday in Lebanon, Sen. Arlen Specter stood face to face with angry constituents at a town hall meeting on health care.

In an interview after the meeting, Specter said he placed himself squarely before the people attending the forum because he felt that would make them less likely to scream at him.

On Wednesday evening, U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts took a different tact.

He held his town hall meeting over the telephone.

Pitts said Thursday that doing a telephone-based town meeting — essentially a huge conference call — allowed him to reach 10,000 constituents across his 16th Congressional District, which includes Lancaster and parts of Chester and Berks counties.

"It's a far better way to do a meeting. I've had town hall meetings and only a few people show up," said Pitts, a Kennett Square Republican.

"It's kind of fun. It's like having your own talk radio show."

Not everyone was pleased.

"I was expecting a live voice and a discussion on the phone, and I was all ready to do that," said Sally Vanderslice, a Manheim Township Republican.

She had gotten an e-mail from Pitts' office a few hours earlier telling her to expect a phone call. She was ready when the phone rang. She had a yellow legal pad before her on which she had written her questions about the proposed health care bill.

Instead, she got a pre-recorded message from Pitts apologizing for missing her and telling her that she could call his office with any questions.

John Blowers received the same message on the answering machine at his East Lampeter Township home.

Blowers got no advance notice about the call from Pitts and was not at home. He said he would like to hear what the congressman had to say about the bill and would like to hear him say it in front of a live audience.

"It seemed awfully evasive," Blowers said of the telephone conference call.

Blowers said he has been following the controversy generated by the tone of town meetings on health care reform being held by politicians across the country. In an era of scripted political events, the recent meetings on health care, even when they have turned ugly, have been refreshing, he said.

"It is a rare opportunity for our national leaders to see, in person, people who vehemently disagree with them," he said.

Vanderslice surmised that Pitts was nervous about a public appearance before potentially "rowdy people."

"The man, I've come to the conclusion, is scared to death to stand in front of a group of people," she said.

"I feel it was a cop-out, and I think that was a very ineffective way to deal with his constituents," she said.

Pitts contended Thursday that he was not concerned about the reception he might have gotten had he appeared at a town meeting.

"The Republicans haven't been having a tough time in the town halls; it's the Democrats," said Pitts. He was referring to meetings at which congressmen have been yelled at, speakers who supported the Democrats' health care proposal have been shouted down and crowds have burned effigies of congressman.

"We haven't had any disruption or rudeness in our meetings," Pitts said.

Regarding Vanderslice's experience getting the pre-recorded message, Pitts said there were some technical difficulties experienced by a few callers.

"You're always going to have a few little glitches … when you call 89,000 households, you're always going to have a few people who push the wrong button," he said.

The automatic calls went to 89,000 households in the district, said Pitts' press secretary, Andrew Wimer. About half of those calls went to answering machines. About 20,000 people answered their phones and about 10,000 of those stayed on the line for at least part of the hourlong conference call, he said.

During the meeting, Pitts answered about 15 questions. At least one was critical of Republican policies, but the congressman could not recall anyone speaking in support of the Democrats' health care initiative.

Pitts said he attempted to treat the issues fairly and the questions were not screened. He said he also clearly stated his position.

"I told them I was against it (the Democrats' proposal for health care reform). I explained the bill and told them what alternatives I was for. I was trying to be fair, but I don't think anyone wanted to be argumentative," he said.

Pitts said he took an informal poll, asking people if they supported the bill. Of the 1,500 people who responded, 72 percent said they opposed it, 14 percent supported the bill and 14 percent were not sure, the congressman said.

Pitts said he will meet with a group of farmers next week and speak to residents of a retirement home later this month. He does not anticipate scheduling a large-scale meeting on health care before a vote is taken on the proposed legislation, which could occur next month, he said.

Blowers believes that is unfortunate.

"I think Congressman Pitts is doing himself and the district no good by having the truncated town hall meetings by phone with a select group of people," he said.

E-mail: bharris@lnpnews.com