Video shows Rep. Honda apparently dozing at town-hall meeting

The Democratic challenger to Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) blasted out a video of the seven-term congressman apparently dozing off at a town hall in September. 

The one-minute video — embedded in a state political blog and sent to reporters by Ro Khanna’s campaign — shows Honda at a town-hall meeting take off his glasses, throw his hands behind his head, and close his eyes while an individual talks about the new healthcare law. 

He then opens his eyes and looks around when the speaker finishes. 

{mosads}The video is from a September town hall Honda called to allow healthcare experts to answer constituent questions about the new law, according to the report. 

Honda’s campaign maintained the congressman closes his eyes when deep in thought. 

“Those who know Congressman Honda well know that he will sometimes close his eyes to focus or concentrate on an issue,” said Honda spokesman Vivek Kembaiyan. 

Honda, 71, is locked in a primary with Khanna, a former Obama administration official, who is running as the fresh-faced alternative to the California incumbent. 

The article goes on to quote Khanna endorsing measures to ban political action committees from donating to campaigns and removing congressional pension plans. 

As the incumbent, Honda has received the endorsement of President Obama, Vice President Biden and much of the California delegation. 

But Khanna has outperformed Honda in fundraising and has a string of former Obama campaign officials working for him. 

The two are facing off in California’s jungle primary, which allows the top two finishers in the contest, regardless of party affiliation, to advance to the general election. California’s 17th district is overwhelmingly Democratic and is likely to see both candidates advance.