Video: Door Closed on Health Care Protesters

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The Tea Party protests against the health care reform efforts on Capitol Hill today were smaller than previous efforts -- a rough CBS News estimate puts the total number of protesters around 600 -- but that doesn't mean there weren't fireworks.

The video at left shows what happened when the protesters reached the office of Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat. As you can see, as one protester complains of arrogance and uncomfortable-looking young staffers survey the scene, the office door is closed, prompting chants of "liar" from the group outside.

The apparent ringleader of the group is then encouraged to enter the office; he declines. Another person then seems to ask the man to keep his voice down so that the police don't remove the protesters.

"Do you think that I going to allow a Chavez take over my country? No sir, you're wrong," the man says. "You haven't seen what these people can do to our liberties."

"I don't care about the police, I'm not scared, I've been arrested in Colombia four times in my life," he adds. "...I get arrested here, no big deal."

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by lyndi1 March 17, 2010 2:31 PM EDT: FREE HEALTH CARE???? I am sorry but there is no FREE HEALTH CARE! The people at these offices are aware there is no free health care! Are you unable to work? If you work, you will be paying for health care! The premiums being paid by everyone now are going to go up and the only people who will get free health care will be the poor. Where have you been? WOW! What scares me is all the people like you who think they are going to get a freebie courtesy of the govt. but there is nothing free - premiums will be higher and taxes will go up! Making matters worse, this so called freebie for losers like you is not free and will bankrupt the country! America is about to loose her 3 AAA credit rating which WILL cost America in many ways but what is important to YOU is how much more it will cost Americans to borrow money. By the way, freeloader - Obama has raised the national debt, all by himself 2 TRILLION DOLLARS!!!! YEP, handing out bailouts and spending money on his democratic slush fund etc. has cost America 2 TRILLION DOLLARS AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE GOING TO LOSE OUR CREDIT RATING. KEEP ASKING FOR AMERICA TO PAY FOR YOU TO SIT ON YOUR REAR END AND SOON AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL WILL BE MEXICO BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO WANTED EVERYTHING FOR FREE!!!!!! A JOB WELL DONE - GET A JOB AND OWN UP TO YOUR RESPONSITBILITY AND THAT IS TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN HEALTH CARE! I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR YOU TO SIT ON YOUR REAR AND NOW YOUR HEALTH CARE. LOSE THE IPHONE AND CAR AND BUY YOUR OWN HEALTH CARE! AGAIN, GET A JOB!; Reply to this comment


by vielmann March 17, 2010 1:43 AM EDT: I find it hilarious that the teabaggers think they can bully someone in their own office. Reminds me of when all those people went to Florida to stop the counting of the votes back in 2000. Mob violence is their tactic.; Reply to this comment

by ToolMangler1 March 16, 2010 7:43 PM EDT

"The apparent ringleader of the group is then encouraged to enter the office; he declines. Another person then seems to ask the man to keep his voice down so that the police don't remove the protesters."

They weren't interested in being heard, they only wanted to make a scene. Notoriety is their ID Badge. Helping themselves and not America is what they do best.

Reply to this comment


by jmca2009 March 17, 2010 4:03 AM EDT: How are they helping themselves? don't they want free healthcare too?
They certainly don't appear rich, or even have a job if they can hang out protesting all day.

by OhCry March 16, 2010 6:46 PM EDT

"Do you think that I going to allow a Chavez take over my country? No sir, you're wrong," the man says. "You haven't seen what these people can do to our liberties."

Reply to this comment


by piBen11 March 16, 2010 8:23 PM EDT: Where does the ring-leader think he is? Columbia? He should understand that unlike Columbia, here in the U.S.A, decisions to do or not do are better left to those who have the correct information. Shouting and boisteriousness cannot change the minds of well-informed people from making the rigt decisions.
In spite of what polls about the health-care-Bill indicate, the ordinary Congress person, in my opinion, has more information about the Bill than the ordinary participant of those polls; hence, the Congress person, by right, should vote based on his/her evaluation of the expected benefits of the Bill. After all, that is why the Congress person is elected for. Or do we elect people to Congress to hold the position to be spoon-fed by those of us at home? For sure, we have elected these people to represent us as best they can by using their judgement judiciously on our behalves.
So, let them earn their salaries by voting with courage and do the right thing.


by jimispod March 16, 2010 9:28 PM EDT: Yea, we're not Columbia, but don't tell that to Obama or Congressional Democrats. The Constitution be damned, Pelosi, Obama and Reid know better than you.

Nothing to see here, everything's OK, just move along.

by P0ST1ING_AWAY March 16, 2010 6:46 PM EDT

by thgdriver March 16, 2010 6:19 PM EDT
600 is plenty of organizing. Nobama couldn't organize a school dance. I wonder who he is going to insult next?
=================================================================
Yet he was able to put together a NATIONAL presidential campaign.
Insulting REPUGS does not take much effort.
Your limited IQ's make you guys a "target rich environment".

Reply to this comment


by jmca2009 March 17, 2010 4:14 AM EDT: According to several studies, Republicans have more education, higher incomes and higher IQ's than Democrats or Independents.

Here is one study:
http://phillips.blogs.com/goc/2007/04/democrats_iq.html


by OhCry March 16, 2010 6:44 PM EDT: Obama:

"We need Transparency in Washington"

"Except if it is something I support"; Reply to this comment

by Jean5510 March 16, 2010 6:28 PM EDT

What is up with the LIC? Only 200 people in Ohio. The LIC is going begging to FOXNEWS. What a weak leader. CBS, How is that lovey, hopey, and changey thinken working out for ya?

Reply to this comment


by pasmalltown March 17, 2010 8:15 AM EDT: LIC? Which LIC? Lesbians in Canada, Life Insurance Corp of India, Local Independent Charities of America, or Long Island City? Are you related to Sarah Palin or just trying to be her?


by lakota2012 March 16, 2010 5:34 PM EDT: Aaaah....looked like 16 arrogant teabaggin' conservitards....too bad they didn't get maced and carted-off to jail to cool off a bit.; Reply to this comment


by thebob-bob March 16, 2010 4:42 PM EDT: If you watch FOX news, 1000's are expected to mass on Capitol Hill to stop Socialists from taking over America!!! Oh wait, a few hundred show up ... geee... I guess it really stinks to be so out of touch with America. That's OK, keep showing old film of other demonstrations instead of the piddling attempt to "Take back America for true Citizen Patriots!!!!!" Oh wait, no one's listening. That's OK, keep playing it until Beck comes on during the entertainment portion of the newscast.

I guess the Corporate backers of the Tea baggers didn't pay their 'grass roots' enough to get their butts of the couch. Pitiful!; Reply to this comment


by jxknowles March 16, 2010 4:04 PM EDT: Wow! They were able to get 600 people to attend this turd of a protest? Now, that's organizing.; Reply to this comment

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