I've actually been defending Congresspeople from BOTH parties for (smartly) looking for alternate ways to have exchanges with their constituents rather than activist-gamed town halls that have become entirely unproductive. I've been saying this for years.  And BTW, it's not just R's that are currently avoiding town halls, it's D's too...

http://nypost.com/2017/02/24/democrats-facing-re-election-are-skipping-out-on-town-halls/

And I don't blame them. Activists are RUINING town halls as a method of communication with constituents, by turning them into political stunts. 

I also get sick of this crazy suggestion that town halls are "part of their job". No, they're not. Communication with constituents is, which can take MANY different forms. Activists just WANT it to be in the form of town halls so they can game the system and turn them into political stunts for the cameras with mob tactics. Shout-downs are not exchanges, they're just boorish, unproductive behavior.