Would You Be "Proud" if This Happened in YOUR State?

"I could be somewhere else. I don’t get [any] extra pay. I don’t have any requirement to be here.” Let me dispense with this one first before i go any further. I find those words to be arrogent, he Is in fact required to be there, at least in the spirit of the office he serves. The senator could have chosen many other ways to put that, but instead, made the unfotunate choice of using those words, the crowd's reaction was apropriate. Now for the rest of my thoughts. I posted in another thread, my outrage at the conduct we are seeing in this debate. It is in fact disgracefull, on ALL counts and sides. This gentlman committed no crime other than being caught up in it with the rest of us. He wasn't part of one of the few genuine "hired mobs" but he was caught up in the same frenzy that is being stirred up by them. the same can be said by those on the pro side of things, being caught up in the frenzy and out right violnce of groups like the SEIU. It Is completly obliterating any real discussion. I want to post what I posted in the other discussion Imentioned because I think it is of great relevence and importance, it is something we should all sit back for a few minutes and consider carefully.....here goes..... **************************************** "[sarcasm] yeh, thats right, the republican and democratic national parties are sending racial hatefull emails and sending thugs to peoples houses. [/sarcasm] COME ON! You are ALL falling right in for it, your being PLAYED like cheap violins. FOOLS! This is EXACTLY what they want you to believe and fight. They DON'T WANT reasonable debate and conversation, NONE OF THEM The Unions, congress, insurance companies, the white house, big national lobbies, NONE OF THEM! And they want nothing more than to drag us down a dark hole of sensless bickering, vicious attacks, misplaced blame, rumors, mis truths, half truths, out right lies, fear and VIOLENCE! . I can honestly say after weeks of watching the "conversation" on the national health care issue, I have never been more embarrased to be an american as I have over the behavior I am seeing in our government, the big commercial interests and most shamefull of all, US. The "people" . Shame on the collective us. After behavior as we have.....no, as we and the world have witnessed, shame on us . We do not deserve the gift our founders have given us. After behavior like this, they would have turned us out on ships and sent us back over to monarchial rule and forsaken us. So go ahead, blame every one but ourselves, blame the republicans, blame the democrats, blame every one but US for our conduct and blame everyone but us for allowing the transgressions of our government because we the "people" have allowed them to be committed."

The one and only thing I'm proud of is the fact that people care enough to go to these meetings and voice their opposition. Did this guy act like a jerk? Probably. Did Specter act like a jerk when he said "I don't have any requirement to be here"? Definitely. Here's the difference Annie. I'm not paying that guy's salary. He doesn't work for me. I AM paying Arlen Specter's salary and he does work for me, or more directly, for the people of PA. I fully agree that many of the people attending these town halls are getting out of line. The problem is, this is directly caused by our elected officials getting out of line. Pelosi is calling them astroturf, Specter is saying he doesn't have to listen to them, just that he has to push this through fast, Conyers is saying it's foolish to read a thousand page bill before voting for it, Chuck Schumer calls hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars "chump change". So far many of these people like Specter holding town halls are only doing it to cheerlead the bill and have not been showing much interest in what the voters have to say. All they're doing is insulting voters and trying to marginalize them by calling them astroturf, angry mobs, etc. The fact that the majority of Americans oppose this crap is completely irrelevent to arrogant politicians like Pelosi and Specter. All they care about is their own agendas.

I heard that the republican wheels are requesting their followers to stage these attacks and disruptions at town hall meetings in order to destroy any chance of a health bill being explained. Just like they did in Florida to keep the vote counters from doing their job. It's just more republican tactics to try and bring down the Obama administration, and at the same time bring down the government of the land that most of us love. OK... You repubs can jump all over this statement. If you have been paying any attention to what is happening you will have to agree. I even saw a picture of Obama with a Hitler style mustache. Now, that is going too far. It was reported on our local FOX news station that a man was standing across the street from an Obama rally with a pistol strapped to his leg. And the police could do nothing about it because he was on the Church property located across the street. There are some real weirdos out there and I hope that none of you on this board condone such as this.

Did you also post about the Code Pink chicks who did their little disruptions during the Bush era? How about the Moveon.org folks? Or are you only upset over this being against your Democrat president and his representatives? And your title is amusing since I live in Illinois and my state is nothing to be proud of (Blago, for one).

No, I wouldn't be proud if my Senator told me that his presence was a great gift to his constituents and implied that he had no obligation to talk to them or listen to them. I wouldn't be proud of the fact that his office promised someone a chance to speak and then told him he couldn't. I wouldn't be proud of the fact that he obviously felt that being orderly meant "I talk, you listen". In fact, I am not proud of my Senators. I certainly wouldn't be proud of any elected official who thinks he is above the average citizen. He stands in our place, representing our views and concerns. If he feels he stands above us, he's not our representative at all. I bet a lot of Hollywood entertainers would love an audience who had been told they weren't allowed to boo. What a set-up.

Is it really that easy?? They just tell you these people are all MIRACULOUSLY might I add, extremist republicans, and all Obama supporting "constituents" buy it??! Dont you find it even a little bit threatening that their ok with going so far to call opposition LIARS, accused of "spreading lies to incite fear and anger." If anyone's making ANYONE angry its OBama and his administration saying its ok to call any opposing protestor a L-I-A-R, Who does that?!! It's not even politically correct and their doing it right to our faces!

I think thats a good question but let me ask you, would you let ANY other employee say things like I could be somewhere else. I don’t get [any] extra pay. I don’t have any requirement to be here.” “You’re welcome to go.” Not to mention the other crap that spews from him. Hopefully his constituents pay attention and let him know that he is supposed to be working for them!

Aw, Annie, you can't have it both ways. Nobody said a word when the pink code ladies made spectacles of themselves, or when Cindy Sheehan stalked George Bush at his ranch. What's the matter? Is what you're seeing bothering you?? As for Arlen Spincter, well, it couldn't happen to a crappier politician. It tickles me that he's the democrat's problem now. I don't feel sorry for him at all. He made his bed of nails, now he can lie on it.

first of all, I didn't hear about the town hall meeting in PA but I did watch the one that they had in Maryland when Cspan had it on tv today. i think the people in both places have a right for the concerns to be heard. i think it would be more appropiate if they had everyone sign a paper before going in saying they will be have in an orderly manner and if they don't behave in an orderly manner then they will be escorted out. Then if further action is required then they are well aware that the people who hold these town meetings have there right as well. That being said. Both sides have the right for their voices to be heard. What I was hearing in the MD townhall is probably similar concerns to others across the country My concern is this: if this is all the town halls are going to be instead of answering questions in a dignified manner they just need have a website that people can go into to send the questions then have two or three people that will be responding. I'm not talking the house having a website, or the senate, I'm talking about each individual senate and house rep having a site for people to send there questions regarding this particular bill. Back to the crowd getting out of control. I think that the men and woman that wanted to speak should have been given a clip board with typical questions they were wanting to ask then the senator answer them without every single person asking similar questions. This way if there is a question that is unique to a certain group of people that maybe there be a spokesperson for that group to come in to the meeting and ask the question. It would just seem to be to me a more dignified way of doing things instead of each party lashing out at the other.

Honestly, I don't really care about the people getting out of line at these town hall meetings. Let's be honest: they are yelling at POLITICIANS. I don't think very highly of politicians, and as a matter of fact, the majority of them don't deserve anything better. Congress has a higher % of ex-cons than a Steak-N-Shake in south Detroit. Congressmen and women are the most corrupt people on earth. For crying out loud, they just OK'd a bill to spend half a billion taxpayer dollars on luxury planes-FOR CONGRESS! Yes, it was repealed but the fact that it was voted yes on initially (400-30) goes to show the character of the people we elect. We deserve it, America. Stop electing stupid & corrupt people if you want anything to change.