TN 9 Town-Hall
I just returned for Rep. Cohen's healthcare town-hall. The wingers were out in force and making much noise but there was no violence and Rep. Cohen handled them admirably. He just kept saying the truth and letting people speak regardless of their take on the issue. He asked question that he asked us to answer by standing like, 'Wo has Medicare?' and 'How many of you want to end Medicare?'
The one time that he did show irritation was when at the beginning of the meeting while he was trying to introduce his staff to those of us who live in the district would know who to contact for what constituent services and the out of district protesters were shouting him down about healthcare before we got to that topic.
The crowd was close to evenly split and the shouters won no friends. The made themselves look particularly ridiculous. They tried to shout down even speakers who were on their side. One particularly loud young man who was behind me shouting and complaining about 'socialism' called for the age for medicare to be lowered to 21 so that we could keep the government out of healthcare ;-). There was also a lot of screaming about euthanasia, illegal aliens and abortion.
The one time that he did show irritation was when at the beginning of the meeting while he was trying to introduce his staff to those of us who live in the district would know who to contact for what constituent services and the out of district protesters were shouting him down about healthcare before we got to that topic.
The crowd was close to evenly split and the shouters won no friends. The made themselves look particularly ridiculous. They tried to shout down even speakers who were on their side. One particularly loud young man who was behind me shouting and complaining about 'socialism' called for the age for medicare to be lowered to 21 so that we could keep the government out of healthcare ;-). There was also a lot of screaming about euthanasia, illegal aliens and abortion.
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Thanks for this report, and most especially, for attending your town hall. I'm glad there was no violence, and that Cohen handled things so well.
August 8, 2009 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seconded. Thanks, Larry, for going and bringing back a good report.
August 8, 2009 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
So glad there was no violence and thanks for attending and letting us know how the town hall meeting with Cohen went.
August 8, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the report, Larry. And goody for Rep. Cohen. I think in the beginning the politicians were taken aback by the rudeness and shouting. Now that it has been going on for a while, they may be able to handle it better.
August 8, 2009 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cohen is a freshman US Rep. but was a state Rep for years. As a state Rep he championed some of the most controversial peices of legislation this state has ever seen. He is experienced in handling the wingers.
August 10, 2009 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wish we could clone him and hand him out to blue dog districts.
August 10, 2009 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a never married jewish man he would not be electable in a conservative district. He is not a "real" American.
In addition to his personal life choices he has said some sane things about our drug laws in public that would preclude his being elected except in a heavily democratic district.
August 10, 2009 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm going to a town hall on Tuesday with Tom Periello here in Charlottesville. I was going to ask my son to go with me, but I decided not to because he might end up punching someone out. I'm going with two co-workers instead. I'm bringing my sign:
NURSES FOR A PUBLIC OPTION -- IT'S GOOD FOR U.S.!
I have decided to behave myself and only take pictures (I am also taking a digital recorder, and if I get to "interview" anyone I'll share it with the newspaper. (Don't know how to download it to here, but maybe I'll learn).
Wish me luck! It's from 6 - 8 pm.
August 8, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good luck, CVille, and thanks for doing it!
I think you've made the right choices, by the way.
August 8, 2009 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cheers to ye. Good Luck to Ye. Looking forward to hearing what happened.
August 9, 2009 1:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Security is different at every event ut they were no allowing signs on sticks into the one here. Make your sign so that it cannot be used as a weapon if you want to be sure of getting it in.
August 10, 2009 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
There was also a lot of screaming about euthanasia, illegal aliens and abortion.
Good report, Larry. Those three accusations come up frequently. For the record, the proposed bills have zero references to euthansia. HR 3200 does propose to pay for long-standing Medicare policy that elderly patients be offered a consultation on living wills and advance directives that relate to decision-making in the event of terminal illness, but are totally unrelated to euthanisa.
Undocumented aliens are excluded from proposed federal subsidies under the reform legislation.
The legislation also prohibits federal funding to subsidize any benefits involving abortion. In the proposed Insurance Exchange, at least one plan would be required to offer abortion services, and at least one would be required not to offer those services. I guess one could call that "pro-choice".
August 8, 2009 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
President Obama's weekly radio address addressed these allegations specifically to debunk the blather of Palin, et al.
I thought he did a fine job on this issue.
August 8, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I do too.
August 8, 2009 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey! I really like that wingnut's idea of lowering the age of medicare to 21. Between that and SCHIP ... that about does it, no?
August 8, 2009 10:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
It looks to about cover it to me. As a long time suppoorter of Medicare for all I was ammused to see this fool advocating for socializing insurance for all of us who are over 21.
August 10, 2009 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink