August 3, 2009 4:28 PM

Rally Interrupts Dem Rep.'s Health Care Town Hall

By
Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics
Health Care
(gpoaccess.gov)
Democrats in Congress are under pressure from their leadership and the White House to spend the August recess selling health care reform to their constituents, through town halls and other events.

But what happened to Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), left, over the weekend could be a sign of what's to come to some Democrats who represent some Republican-leaning states or districts.

Doggett was holding a town hall at a supermarket in Austin when it was interrupted by what could be called a rally against President Obama's health care plans. A video of the protestors chanting "just say no" over and over again appeared on YouTube (and you can watch it below).

The Austin American Statesman's Patrick George reports that the protestors began after someone asked whether the congressman would support the bill even if he found his constituents were against it, and Doggett said he would.

Several within the mob had signs protesting "socialized medicine," as Politico's Glenn Thrush points out.

Politico's Martin Kady II adds that it seems the protests are linked to "Tea Party" activists who arranged protests on Tax Day, April 15.

Politico points to this Web site -- Operation Embarrass Your Congressman – which says its mission is "To expose the arrogance, ignorance, and insolence of our elected representatives."

"These arrogant, ignorant, and insolent people have embarrassed America, trampled the Constitution, and ignored their constituents for far too long," the Web site reads. "Attend their townhall meetings during recess and press them with intelligent questions (unlike the main stream media), asked in an intelligent manner to see if they are really in touch and on board with 'the will of the people.'"

In addition, the liberal blog Think Progress has this memo by Bob MacGuffie of FreedomWorks, a GOP activist, which lists "best practices" for "rocking the town halls."

On today's "Washington Unplugged," Marc Ambinder, CBS News' chief political consultant, said he thinks the "town halls are probably going to be pretty disastrous for the Democrats."

"And it's not because of any particular quality of the Democratic Party," Ambinder said. "It's simply if you're the party in power and you're trying to sell something that is very complex, those who are against it are going to get their people out to the meetings much more easily, much more efficiently than your party is."

"Not a lot of good television is going to come out of this month for the White House," he added. (You can watch more of the interview and the rest of Washington Unplugged here.)

Think Progress today also talked with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who fought back against the protests, saying he hopes his "colleagues won't fall for a sucker-punch like this."

"I think members should be out, speaking with the public, meeting with people who are the health care professionals and talking about the current situation," Durbin said. "I've done it and I'll continue to do it. But you know, I hope my colleagues won't fall for a sucker-punch like this. These health insurance companies and people like them are trying to load these town halls for visual impact on television…. That's almost like flooding the switchboards on Capitol Hill. It doesn't prove much other than the switchboards have limited capacity."

For his part, Doggett said today that he was more determined than ever to pass health care reform, reports W. Gardner Selby of the Austin American Statesman.

In a statement appearing in Politico and the Statesman Web sites, Doggett called the group a "mob" and called the group part of the "party of no."

"This mob, sent by the local Republican and Libertarian parties, did not come just to be heard, but to deny others the right to be heard. And this appears to be part of a coordinated, nationwide effort. What could be more appropriate for the 'party of no' than having its stalwarts drowning out the voices of their neighbors by screaming 'just say no!'" Doggett said in the statement. "Their fanatical insistence on repealing Social Security and Medicare is not just about halting health care reform but rolling back 75 years of progress. I am more committed than ever to win approval of legislation to offer more individual choice to access affordable health care. An effective public plan is essential to achieve that goal."

It also should be noted that although Texas went for Republican John McCain in last year's election, Doggett's district voted for Mr. Obama by almost a 20 point margin.


Add a Comment See all 22 Comments
by kt8268 August 11, 2009 12:18 PM EDT
I am done with the outright lies , spin, hatred, and journalist who use bloggers as their source. CBS is blocked on my television, on my kids tv, my parents, my sisters, their kids, their families, their friends,their friends relatives, co-workers, co-worker families and so on.

Must be why their ratings BOMBED last week.
Reply to this comment
by akajim August 6, 2009 10:21 PM EDT
That's right, it's all a vast right-wing conspiracy!!
Reply to this comment
by bajen_us August 6, 2009 2:14 PM EDT
To speak to the first comment in the thread. These are not right wing whackos who don't want any health care reform. There are many ways to tweak the current system (and yes all we need is a tweak not an entire overhaul) to make improvements that don't involve government involvement.

This discussion would go much better if people would stop spreading mis-information and resporting to ad hominem attacks. I realize not everyone would do this; however, if the majority of the people would get more civil and ignore the attackers (from both sides) we could make some progress.
Reply to this comment
by bajen_us August 6, 2009 12:40 PM EDT
The writer of this piece should read this: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/08/liberals_push_bogus_conspiracy.html.

Parts of the Dogget article are not really correct.
Reply to this comment
by dickbarnes August 6, 2009 12:49 AM EDT
Sorry to burst so many bubbles...

I have been a tax economist for government, a business owner, and a graduate school professor in business and in economics. More importantly...I have actually read the Health Care Reform bill being discussed.

Before getting into a discussion regarding legistlation...read it. You will be shocked. This bill is indeed a federalization of a large and multi-faceted industry, ranging in size from small, single physician practices, to large national hospital chains. The bill is huge, because every facet of the industry is addressed...and the bill will control each facet into bankruptcy so we will be forced to beg bureaucrats for our very lives when we become ill.

This is not a Republican or Democrat issue folks...this is life or death. Read the bill...it is frightening.

Another point...basic civics: these congressmen and women who are "fighting back" at community meetings...they should all be fired, regardless of party. They have far too often forgotten that they are our employees...we are their bosses. When they meet with us they should be expected to listen quietly and politely to our concerns and as us for advice on what they should do. Any behavior to the contrary is inexcusable...and conspiracy paranoids are off track...stop kissing up to those in office! Remember...they are the servants...we are the lords!
Reply to this comment
by jab232 August 5, 2009 8:38 PM EDT
These protests are stage-managed and scripted through GOP and corporation-sponsored web sites. This is a tactic the GOP has been using since the vote count in Florida.
Reply to this comment
by wildchild19968 August 4, 2009 4:26 PM EDT
What Doggett doesn't understand is that he is a servant of the people...he should listen to his constituents. Instead he says these people who oppose the healthcare bill are being manipulated by the insurance industry or the republican party. Maybe people are just mad because they see this senator trying to push legislation through without putting his finger on the pulse of his constituents. Or could it be that Obama and democratic senators are trying to "manage" the healthcare crisis without regard for the governments record on managing medicare, medicaid, and Social Security as are all broke. HEY DOGGETT: throughout history town hall meetings function is for government officials to truly listen to the people, rather than it being used as a venue to shove some 1200 page document that you don't even understand down peoples throats...that's why people are mad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by hurleyjr August 4, 2009 3:31 PM EDT
Enough, The Right Wing complains that we spend too much money but yet they are willing to take the time to do this. To disrupt a town hall meeting where real people need to talk to their representive and voice their opinions. It is their right to do so and this disruptive political lackys are taking that away from them.

They should be arrested and put in jail for doing this. This is not how our and I say our country should work.

I am republican from PA and I am appalled at this behavior. I have medical issues, my Wife has medical issues, and my 6 year old daughter just had her Gaul-bladder and spleen removed. The Private sector mediacal insurance company just increased our plan rated by 13% this year and in order to cover all of my medical issues my wife and I had to both take medical coverage to cover everything. So we pay over $1000 per month

If anyone trys to stop me from voicing my right to speak calmly to my representive at my area's town hall meeting I will have them arrested for preventing me from exercising my rights as a voter and citizen of the state of PA and of the USA.

These Republican distruptions and distractions are not welcome and anyone involved needs to feel the full extent of the law.
Reply to this comment
by Bradcpa August 4, 2009 1:25 PM EDT
I was at the Lloyd Doggett event last Saturday and it was a mob situation. This was not really townhalls in a hall with a PA, but a meet and great outside a local supermarket. The purpose is to meet with Constituents one on one about issues rather an open forum. Doggett does these events and in the course of an hour he meets with 10-20 people one on one often times dealing with personal issues (such as an IRS or social security issue). A national program supported by FreedomWorks, RedState, Michelle Malkin and various other conservative groups organized for this event and gave us a little political theater. I identified in the cast of characters hard core members from the Libertarian Party and Texans for Tort Reform. Dogget got blindsided by political theater that was right out of Abby Hoffman's play book from the 1960s except this came from the right instead of the left. Actually it almost seems like Hitler's Brown Shirts who shouted down those who do not agree with them and prevent civil discourse. If you watch the video you can see Nazi Germany in the 1930s. I really want to know how many Americans want our politics governed by the political fringe who are not only uncivil but dangerous. I asked one of the group if he would run against Doggett in the next election and he responded that he just wanted to "kick his a**." Is this the way we do politics in America?
Reply to this comment
by tincup356 August 3, 2009 10:04 PM EDT
"The Austin American Statesman's Patrick George reports that the protestors began after someone asked whether the congressman would support the bill even if he found his constituents were against it, and Doggett said he would. " this is the same attitude that ALL legislators take when it comes down to what the people that voted them into office want......they want to be represented,,,that is what people elect them for....NOT to sit back , go AGAINST the wishes of the people and sell their vote to the lobby dollar......'We the People" are sick of it,,,,,,Ross Perot had the right idea years ago....he said,,," It is time to take the shovel and clean the barn".,,,,,,,whether it be by vote or revolution ,,,,,,, the CROOKS in Washington must go.
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