Kathy Castor - Healthcare Town Hall Meeting in Tampa - 8/6 (YouTube)

[VotingHillary]

What was this about Obama the Uniter? More thug tactics...and the only voices permitted are those in agreement.

Oh, and before I hear anymore about the Tea Party folks, I have a question.

When all the anarchists try to destroy my town in September's G20 meetings, are you all going to say "this wasn't organized"?

Last time I saw these kind of tactics was the DNC convention in 1968 with Daley's goons.

YouTube - Kathy Castor - Healthcare Town Hall Meeting in Tampa - 8/6

[musgrrl]

As much as I am for people being able to voice their opinions and have their representatives here them, in this video clip I saw nothing but people disrupting the meeting. Why didn't they just act stealth and be quiet and then ask their dissenting question? That's the sane way to confront these congressmen and women. Other than that, these people are going to be called disruptive and will be put out. If I were security, I would have put them out too because they were yelling over the lady and being rude.

I am not a fan of this healthcare effort right now. I think the Obama administration has missed the mark on this, but at the same time, this clip really doesn't serve the opposition well.

[VotingHillary]

As much as I am for people being able to voice their opinions and have their representatives here them, in this video clip I saw nothing but people disrupting the meeting. Why didn't they just act stealth and be quiet and then ask their dissenting question? That's the sane way to confront these congressmen and women. Other than that, these people are going to be called disruptive and will be put out. If I were security, I would have put them out too because they were yelling over the lady and being rude.

I am not a fan of this healthcare effort right now. I think the Obama administration has missed the mark on this, but at the same time, this clip really doesn't serve the opposition well.

Your point is taken, but I have a real problem with the "thug" tactics on the other side as well.

[cindyb]

Tempers are boiling over, these people are being insulted and plain old ordinary Americans are being being called names by their own government simply for disagreeing with this rotten Health Care Bill.

Politicians never let anyone talk, they just talk over them, the goverment is not listening, the govt doesn't care, that is very apparent.

There is no reaching across the aisle, it is Barack's way or the highway.
People are pissed and they aren't taking it anymore.

[cindyb]

I fully expect Team Obama and thugs to manufacture some awful violence and blame it on the citizens protesting at the Town Hall Meetings.

That is a terrible thing to say, but it would not surprise me in the least, that is my true opinion of Barack and his thug mentality.

[hobbitt]

There is a good article, with quotes from Rep. Castor, which indicates that both sides had representatives there, and that many were unaffiliated.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/aug/06/protests-passions-roiling-town-hall-meeting-health/news-metro/

The comments are interesting: some (angry) blame the Republicans for the riotous atmosphere; others (angry) blame the Democrats, ditto; some insist that they were there and only the worst parts of the meeting were shown.

But most of the those commenting are angry.

And that is the worst part of this debate. People, affiliated or not, are angry. And confused. And afraid. And the heat of the debate is not being reduced by our elected leaders: they are fanning the flames.

These leaders could easily rectify the situation, if they chose to.

Stop demonizing the Other Side.

Stop writing thousand page bills filled with vague confusing language. Stop trying to legislate everything on earth in one bill. Nothing says that the Health Care Reform needs to be accomplished in One Fell Swoop.

Listen to the constituents, understand their fears and confusion, and spend some of your campaign money to create an ad: " This is what the bill proposes; This is what I am going to vote for because..."

And then guarantee your re-election: "And as soon as the bill is signed into law, I will remove myself and my family from the Congressional health care system and join the same health care system that I just voted for to cover you."

[VotingHillary]

And then guarantee your re-election: "And as soon as the bill is signed into law, I will remove myself and my family from the Congressional health care system and join the same health care system that I just voted for to cover you.

The President and the Congress could ease a ton of fears if they included in whatever bill they pass that it will be the healthcare program that covers all government employees including themselves.

The fact that they don't says much about this bill...it is the American version of Marie Antoinette...let the public "eat cake."

[karate kid x]

The President and the Congress could ease a ton of fears if they included in whatever bill they pass that it will be the healthcare program that covers all government employees including themselves.

The fact that they don't says much about this bill...it is the American version of Marie Antoinette...let the public "eat cake."

Well the healthcare bill that they will pass indeed will apply to all government employees.

they don't call it the public OPTION for nothing

[TheTaoOfBill]

The police should have escorted each one of the teabaggers out. This is a townhall. Not-a-let's-shout-over-the-representative-hall

These people are ruining the system for people who actually want to discuss the issue and should not even be allowed in the door.

I say if anyone is seen holding a protest sign or chanting protest slogans or otherwise joining in with protesters in any way should be barred from entering the building.

If you want to actually discuss healthcare then don't join the tea baggers

[VotingHillary]

Well the healthcare bill that they will pass indeed will apply to all government employees.

they don't call it the public OPTION for nothing

yea, their option is to keep their golden policy or choose this piece of crap they are shoving down the people, the employers throats instead.

yea, some choice they have...and some choice we have.

[hobbitt]

Well the healthcare bill that they will pass indeed will apply to all government employees.

they don't call it the public OPTION for nothing


Read it again. FEHBP is exempt from this new legislation.

Government employees would have to OPT into the public plan. Surely no one is that dumb.

[jlynne]

Well the healthcare bill that they will pass indeed will apply to all government employees.

they don't call it the public OPTION for nothing

Not true -- "For those who have existing insurance and are satisfied with it, nothing will change."

[foxyladi]

Not true -- "For those who have existing insurance and are satisfied with it, nothing will change."

nothing will change i hope so..