LW Thug Disrupts Health Care Town Hall
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| Mon, 08-10-2009 - 11:57am |
I'll apply the standard of libraone from her thread about RW thugs. I'm certain all who don't have double standards will be outraged over this LW thug, who also happens to be a Democrat House member.
Georgia Democrat yells at local doctor over health care
Tensions are running so high at town hall meetings that Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, yelled at a local doctor concerned about health care after mistaking him for an "astroturf" political operative looking for a fight.
Mr. Scott became visibly agitated when one of his constituents, a practicing doctor, asked a few questions about health care reform during a town hall meeting. The meeting was held to discuss a road project, but was opened up for questions near the end. That's when Dr. Brian Hill stood up to speak.
Dr. Hill asked Mr. Scott why he was going to vote for a health care plan similar to that implemented in Massachusetts "that is shown not to work" and if he supported a government-provided health care insurance option.
The congressman replied by accusing the doctor of "hijacking" his event.
"I'm listening to my constituents, OK?" Scott said, "These are people who live in the 13th Congressional district, who vote in this district. That’s who I’ve got to respond to … So what you’ve got to understand, those of you who are here, who have taken and came and hijacked this event we dealing with here, this is not a health care event."
"You chose to come and to do it on your own," he yelled. "Not a single one of you had the decency to call my office and set up for a meeting." He went on, in a threatening voice, "You want a meeting with me on health care, I'll give it to you!"
The outburst is yet another example of how confrontational town hall meetings have become over recent weeks, as constituents are becoming more forthright in asking their elected representatives challenging questions. These actions and other forms of protest have been encouraged by limited government advocacy groups opposed to the stimulus package, the Democrats favored health care reforms and other big spending government proposals.
The White House has labeled these efforts "astroturf", shorthand for fake grassroots. To combat these efforts, groups supporting these plans — such as Service Employees International Employees Union — have been appearing at these town halls as well, effectively creating local "showdowns" between opposing political powers.
Mr. Scott's public tirade against the doctor was filmed by WXIA-TV News, a local NBC affiliate that confirmed the doctor lived in the congressman's district in a follow-up interview.
The doctor told WXIA he wasn't working for any outside causes and had called Mr. Scott's office repeatedly, asking to speak with the congressman.
"I did not go to a meeting to create any problems, I went to the meeting to literally ask a question that I thought was very, very important for my patients," he said.
(NOTE: The WXIA video report of the event that includes the congressman's remarks and the post-interview with the doctor is available on their website here under the video titled "Congressman Scott's Town Hall." HotAir.com, a conservative-leaning blog, also has it embedded into their item about the town hall here. It is more easily accessed on HotAir.com)

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Thanks. Sometimes I just get really frustrated about an issue and take it to heart. I guess it's as much or more the lies that anger me even more than my feelings about the healthcare issue. I can't understand WHY so many Americans are just not learning and researching about it. Instead they are simply believing what Hannity tells them, as if his word is gospel.
I have some questions. What do you term people who ought to know the truth of what is actually going on; yet who seemingly choose to distort and mislead the public into believing that citizens are in danger from that which does not exist? What do you call them? I don't believe that "thug" is the right term because it carries the connotation of brute force rather than finely tuned deception.
There are several people I have in mind (though this is NOT a comprehensive list). Sarah Palin. Dick Armey. Betsy McCaughey. Newt Gingrich. Each of these people is either a current or former politician. They have access to the actual wording of proposed legislation. Don't even have to go searching for it online. And they have lied in interviews, in online postings, and in just about any possible way to give a distorted and fallacious picture of what health reform would do. Nor are their words of the "oops" variety. When called to account for their statements, they can't provide any substance. BUT THEY KEEP ON LYING, DECEIVING, FEAR-MONGERING. The gullible, the fearful, the paranoid.....they hear and believe.
In my humble opinion, the insidious planting of outright lies and exaggeration, with just enough truth to sound plausible, is far more dangerous than any gang of "thugs". Am wondering how a democracy can survive when facts don't carry the day and ignorant mobs are fostered. And am wondering what the proper term is for the power-hungry partisans who care more about defeating their opponents purely for political purposes than meeting the needs of their constituents. "Traitors", comes to my mind.
Jabberwocka
Boehner and the former head of Countrywide Mortgage, Angelo (aka "Tangelo") Mozilo, both seem to be interested in being golden brown. Had wondered about whether they use tanning salons, sunbathing, or sprays.
In any event, I vote we roast them if they so admire the look.
In fairness to Boehner, he's only said that the the House bill "MAY start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia". His statements on health care haven't been quite as egregious as some others.
That said, the man seems to have a tear tap he can turn on at will. I don't trust rampant emotionalism. Sleazeball politician--that's John.
Jabberwocka
Well, let's see...one story about LW thugs and how many about RW thugs? Oh...there was another incident where an Obama supporter was thrown out of a TH meeting because she had a pro-Obama sign.
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