August 10, 2009 10:22 AM

Pelosi and Hoyer Speak Out Against Town Hall Disruptions

By
Anna Aulova
Topics
Nancy Pelosi
(CBS/AP)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, have written an op-ed for USA Today discussing the latest town hall disruptions, which they argue should not impede health care reform.

Deeming the protests "un-American" because they disrupt meetings between congresspeople and their constituents, Pelosi and Hoyer both expressed their unfavorable views of the incidents.

Protesters at some town hall meetings have drowned out congresspeople and caused unrest and even violence. They have offered slogans such as "Tyranny!" "Just say no!" and "No Obama Care."

Congresspeople home for their August recess have been confronted by protesters around their homes and offices. The Washington Post reports Rep. Baron P. Hill had so many incoming calls and visitors that his phone lines became jammed. He has been holding clandestine meetings with constituents to avoid any major disruptions and allow everyone to speak freely without protesters shouting over them.

"These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades," Pelosi and Hoyer write. "The dialogue between elected representatives and constituents is at the heart of our democracy and plays an integral role in assuring that the legislation we write reflects the genuine needs and concerns of the people we represent."

They go on to reiterate the importance of passing health care reform as soon as possible and not allowing the "ugly campaign" to hinder the progress of extending health coverage to millions of Americans.

Reform would provide citizens with better choice, stability, lower costs, and better quality, Pelosi and Hoyer write, adding that "people must be allowed to learn the facts" about health care.

They write that despite the disruptions, congresspeople will make their best efforts to hear the concerns of their constituents and explain any legislation in full detail.

"We are confident that our principles of affordable, quality health care will stand up to any and all critics," write Pelosi and Hoyer.

UPDATE 2:03 p.m. ET: House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) has released a statement knocking Pelosi and Hoyer's op-ed piece and condoning the actions of the town hall protesters.

Boehner stated that the Democrats are actually the ones who have worked for months to silence all opposition concerning the health care debate. He went on to say that the majority of Americans are either concerned about or "downright oppose" the Democrats' reform plan - a statement contradicted by a CBS/New York Times poll taken in late July which recorded the support of a government-run health program at 66 percent.

"The fact is Democrats have not been able to address the very real concerns the American people have," said Boehner. He defended the latest unrest caused by protesters by saying that they deserve answers about the costs and benefits of the proposed reform - answers which they have yet to receive.

"It's time for Democrats to start listening. When we return to Washington in September, Democrats should scrap their costly plan and finally work on bipartisan reforms that give Americans what they are seeking: better access to affordable care," said Boehner.

Add a Comment See all 110 Comments
by DouglasV469 August 11, 2009 10:38 PM EDT
Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Hoyer need to remember who they work for!!!!
They anger me so much I doubt I can say much without my passion for their demise being extremely evident so let me just leave it at that.
There is nothing in the constitution to give our government any of the control they already have let alone any more.
All I can say is I CAN'T WAIT FOR 2010 and 2012!!!!
Reply to this comment
by pasmalltown August 12, 2009 8:09 AM EDT
Go ahead and vote, you live in MD or CA there's little else you can do but hope that the voters in those states will boot Hoyer and Pelosi out.
Your "passion for their demise" leaves only hope unless you can vote in those states...........
by olyboy August 11, 2009 12:53 PM EDT
Nancy Pelosi has no idea what it is to be an American. She promotes dependence, not independence. We help the helpless not the lazy. This bill is designed to reward those who don't work and plan and take care of themselves at the cost of those who do. Again, we are driven to the lowest common denominator. We are soon to be an also-ran country.
Reply to this comment
by pasmalltown August 12, 2009 8:16 AM EDT
So, what's new? If you believe that this Nation should not help the needy in our country, then why do you not rant and rave about all the dollars the US sends overseas to help those lazy bums?
by deborahfurtado August 10, 2009 10:31 PM EDT
It is about time that Nancy Pelosi treat Americans who have differing viewpoints from hers with basic respect. Americans who support the rights of all from womb to tomb are not unAmerican. They are pro life and are entitled to their thoughts and opinions.

Furthermore, I would like to have a civil discusssion with Nancy Pelosi about this. Just becaause I maintain that my tax monies should not be used to fund abortions does not mean I am unAmerican. I don't want tax monies to fund abortions. That is pure and simple. Nancy Pelosi, I'd love to have a civil discussion with you about this but I realize it will never happen.
Reply to this comment
by pasmalltown August 11, 2009 8:32 AM EDT
I think that what is "pure and simple" about this article is Nancy and Steny are willing to have "civil discussions" about healthcare. Your dream about a discussion about abortion funding(as it relates to healthcare) with Ms Pelosi may come true if others at townhall meetings would be "civil". And you've got to be willing to travel to CA.
by deborahfurtado August 10, 2009 10:26 PM EDT
It is about time that Nancy Pelosi treat Americans who have differing viewpoints from hers with basic respect. Americans who support the rights of all from womb to tomb are not unAmerican. They are pro life and are entitled to their thoughts and opinions.

Furthermore, I would like to have a civil discusssion with Nancy Pelosi about this. Just becaause I maintain that my tax monies should not be used to fund abortions does not mean I am unAmerican. I don't want tax monies to fund abortions. That is pure and simple. Nancy Pelosi, I'd love to have a civil discussion with you about this but I realize it will never happen.
Reply to this comment
by Know_One August 10, 2009 9:35 PM EDT
http://truthiest.blogspot.com/2009/08/more-reichwing-corporate-astroturfing.html

More Reichwing Corporate Astroturfing by Big Pharma Goons
Faked Grassroots:

The Ultra-right, so far right that they are 4th Reich, has launched another breakout Battle of the Bulge.

Sending in more busloads of stormtroopers who don't have jobs, or home lives, or family obligations, across state lines to 35 cities is a front group called "Our Country Deserves Better PAC".

According to false-messiah Sun Myung Moon's Washington Times newspaper:

The group's Tea Party Express kicks off a bus caravan on Aug. 28 and will host 35 rallies in cities and towns from coast to coast that will end with a taxpayer rally in Washington on Sept. 12

... Mr. Wierzbicki, whose organization was formed during the 2008 elections and now boasts 350,000 supporters.

The cross-country bus tour is being supported by many groups that have been active in the tea party protest movement, including FreedomWorks, the conservative advocacy group headed by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, the National Tax Limitation Committee, and Tea Party Patriots.

Other organizations were conducting their own lobbying campaigns against the administration's health care plan, including the Washington-based Americans for Prosperity, which has launched a Patients First bus trip that has been touring through Virginia, North Carolina, Nebraska, and other states. The buses are emblazoned with the campaign's banner logo

The Tea Party Express caravan, which will include two 45-foot buses, several RVs and SUVs, and a moving van for additional equipment, will begin at a rally in Sacramento and head out across the country on 22-day tour of cities from Reno, Nev., to Bridgeport, Conn., before its Washington finale. Advance teams are promoting the rallies in each city, most of which are the hometowns of Democratic lawmakers who are considered vulnerable in the 2010 midterm elections.

Bridgeport Connecticut is the home of Sun Myung Moon's university and theology school. Moon can always be counted on to bring out a crowd of cult-devotees on demand.

Correcting some falsehoods of the Moonie Times:

1. The 350,000 members are mailing lists merged from several longstanding Reichwing organizations and have not signed up specifically and exclusively for this particular campaign.
2. "Our Country Deserves Better PAC" is a republican-organized campaign limited to conservative republicans only plus any others who can be duped into falling for their spam.
3. FreedomWorks, Tea Party Patriots, Americans for Prosperity, Patients First, are all one single organization with multiple names and with overlapping executives and decision-makers. For example: bosses Dick Armey and Killer Koch Brother David Koch are tied to all of them.
4. While "they" claim 350,000 members, many who don't know that they have joined or are counted because of the multiple fake organization names, Obama was elected by over 9,000,000 more votes than the loser, and the voters gave him a mandate to change healthcare for the better.
Reply to this comment
by Know_One August 10, 2009 9:26 PM EDT
http://truthiest.blogspot.com/2009/08/more-reichwing-corporate-astroturfing.html

More Reichwing Corporate Astroturfing by Big Pharma Goons
Faked Grassroots:

The Ultra-right, so far right that they are 4th Reich, has launched another breakout Battle of the Bulge.

Sending in more busloads of stormtroopers who don't have jobs, or home lives, or family obligations, across state lines to 35 cities is a front group called "Our Country Deserves Better PAC".

According to false-messiah Sun Myung Moon's Washington Times newspaper:

The group's Tea Party Express kicks off a bus caravan on Aug. 28 and will host 35 rallies in cities and towns from coast to coast that will end with a taxpayer rally in Washington on Sept. 12

... Mr. Wierzbicki, whose organization was formed during the 2008 elections and now boasts 350,000 supporters.

The cross-country bus tour is being supported by many groups that have been active in the tea party protest movement, including FreedomWorks, the conservative advocacy group headed by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, the National Tax Limitation Committee, and Tea Party Patriots.

Other organizations were conducting their own lobbying campaigns against the administration's health care plan, including the Washington-based Americans for Prosperity, which has launched a Patients First bus trip that has been touring through Virginia, North Carolina, Nebraska, and other states. The buses are emblazoned with the campaign's banner logo

The Tea Party Express caravan, which will include two 45-foot buses, several RVs and SUVs, and a moving van for additional equipment, will begin at a rally in Sacramento and head out across the country on 22-day tour of cities from Reno, Nev., to Bridgeport, Conn., before its Washington finale. Advance teams are promoting the rallies in each city, most of which are the hometowns of Democratic lawmakers who are considered vulnerable in the 2010 midterm elections.

Bridgeport Connecticut is the home of Sun Myung Moon's university and theology school. Moon can always be counted on to bring out a crowd of cult-devotees on demand.

Correcting some falsehoods of the Moonie Times:

1. The 350,000 members are mailing lists merged from several longstanding Reichwing organizations and have not signed up specifically and exclusively for this particular campaign.
2. "Our Country Deserves Better PAC" is a republican-organized campaign limited to conservative republicans only plus any others who can be duped into falling for their spam.
3. FreedomWorks, Tea Party Patriots, Americans for Prosperity, Patients First, are all one single organization with multiple names and with overlapping executives and decision-makers. For example: bosses Dick Armey and Killer Koch Brother David Koch are tied to all of them.
4. While "they" claim 350,000 members, many who don't know that they have joined or are counted because of the multiple fake organization names, Obama was elected by over 9,000,000 more votes than the loser, and the voters gave him a mandate to change healthcare for the better.
Reply to this comment
by Hakon_Montag August 10, 2009 8:01 PM EDT
Do the math. If the government option is going to cost anyone more than $10 a month you are being ripped off. Remember they have said "not for profit".

Go to http://mbodesign.com

Read my POEM "Quiet freedom"

Then click on the link to the left called "Perfect 10"

Or you can just go straight to that page here

http://mbodesign.com/perfect10.html

Remember $10 a month. I have done the math based upon United Health Care and their customer base of some 23 million insured members.

Too many details to ramble on here. Anyone that wants the truth of health care costs email me.

$10 a month or you're being ripped off.
Reply to this comment
by AConcernedAmerican August 10, 2009 6:22 PM EDT
I want the same health and retirement plan that congress has... That's the one someone else pays for. Actually I think congress should test out this health plan on themselves... Better yet let them move to Canada or the UK.
Reply to this comment
by estellh August 10, 2009 5:31 PM EDT
Pelosi, why blame republicans? You were in Washington, you never changed a thing then. Why now?? Could it be your on a run away train, with taxpayers money and nobody can stop you. This health care reform ha ha you as a government agent cannot take care of Social Security or Medicare. How long have you been in office? Time to let people put you out to pasture. We have free health care in Oklahoma. Sooner Care for children and Welfare adults who refuse to work use the emergency rooms and I pay for it. Keep Government out of my choice of Doctors, medicine, and insurance. I am an American, not un-American because I dare to disagree with you crazy people in Washington. Snub me, I'll snub you come election time. I am a DEMOCRATE too.
Reply to this comment
by citizzen123 August 10, 2009 5:24 PM EDT
Only the completely delusional ASSUME it is all the "Republicans" who show up at Town hall who DO NOT WANT a luntic-bad government take-over of all our health plans!

It is not "Republicans".....It is "citizens"!

CITIZENS. duh........
Reply to this comment
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