(Sen.) Specter faces angry crowd at town hall meeting

[sabra]

Source: CNN

LEBANON, Pennsylvania (CNN) — A hostile crowd shouted questions and made angry statements Tuesday at a town hall meeting on health care led by Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter.

At one point, Specter shouted into his microphone that demonstrators disrupting the proceedings would be thrown out.

"We're not going to tolerate any demonstrations or any booing," he said after one audience member shoved another making an unsolicited speech. "So it's up to you."

...

One woman prompted a standing ovation by telling Specter: "I don't believe this is just health care. This is about the systematic dismantling of this country. … I don't want this country turning into Russia, turning into a socialized country. What are you going to do to restore this country back to what our founders created, according to the Constitution?"

Specter responded by noting his support for the Constitution as a past chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on issues such as warrantless wiretaps.

"When you ask me to defend the Constitution, that's what I've been doing," Specter said.

...

Specter remained calm most of the time, except when a woman asked if the bill meant a 74-year-old man with cancer would be written off by an overhauled health-care system. He responded angrily, calling such a scenario a "vicious" rumor.



Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/11/specter-faces-angry-crowd-at-town-hall-meeting/

[David__77]

1. The "1994 coalition" is shrinking by the day.

This is an attempt to resurrect the angry white reactionary coalition of 15 years ago. The problem is that the country and its people have changed. What garnered the right a bare majority then will not do so now, even under the most favorable scenario and the greatest of Democratic bumbling. Also, these conditions do not exist, as Democrats are energized and more unified.

[RobinA]

19. I Disagree

There has not been a big change that I can discern. people still want what best for them and damn anyone else's interests. Obama may have been elected, but here in PA, people are still screaming "No new taxes" as the infrastructure, both physical and social, sinks into the morass. "*I* have health insurance, so why is change needed?" It STILL doesn't dawn on them that their insurance could disappear tomorrow. That only happens the their no-good neighbor/cube-mate/guy in accounting.

[ejpoeta]

2. that's funny for some reason....

a woman who wants to restore our country back to what the founders created..... does she KNOW what the founders created... because back then women couldn't vote... women couldn't own property... in fact, women were little more than property. is that what she wants to go back to??? really??

[Gin]

3. Specter handled the meeting well (IMO)

g

[ImOnlySleeping]

7. retribution

I did take a bit of enjoyment in that he was at least somewhat responsible for helping to create the base of ignorance that was up in arms. I also noticed that CNN cut away as soon as that one dude asked him if he ever read the Koran. I'd like to see what happened there.

[CBHagman]

8. Specter said the guy had the right to read the Koran...

...if he wanted to.

The guy was trying to say that there was a passage in the Koran condoning the killing of unbelievers, and from there the questioner moved on to the question of bringing Guantanamo detainees to the U.S. and whether there were risks to that. Specter basically said that the Congress hadn't yet worked out the details but that if someone came to stand trial in the U.S., there would be maximum security.

Then he went on to the next question.

[ImOnlySleeping]

11. mercy

I suppose the brief answer is better, rather than getting off topic.

I guess the concrete in Cuba is more Muslim-proof than that in Cleveland. Also, I assume the guy never read the Old Testament.

[PA Democrat]

18. The guy didn't even know how to pronounce the word "Koran."

What he said sounded like "corn" and Specter had to correct him.

I, like you, found myself thinking, good Arlen, get a good look at the base of the party you just left. YOU helped create these very nut jobs who have now turned their insane rantings against YOU.

[Fluffdaddy]

23. You are wrong........Specter was NEVER their kind of republican

[ejpoeta]

5. i'm just flabergasted at some of the stuff these people are saying... do they think

before they open their mouths?? i know i wouldn't want to go back to a time where i could be basically sold to another man by my father because the guy needed someone to raise his kids. i mean, really!!

[CBHagman]

10. See if you can't find a transcript of the event.

If you look at the questions Specter got (It was done take-a-number style, with a staffer handling the numbers), you'll see that much of it was devoted to A) rumors and misconceptions about the health care plan, B) resentment towards Obama and claims that he wanted them (the questioners) to shut up, C) resentment towards unspecified figures and complaints that "they" were asking them to shut up, D) generalized resentment towards the government, E) loud assertions that the questioners were Americans, damn it.

And so forth.

Of course the first thing these highly indignant questioners demanded was that...other people shut up. So they're not clear on the concept of the First Amendment.

[Lagomorph]

17. Today, in some countries...

...young men can trade their sisters to each other. No wonder they're fighting Westernization.

[llmart]

26. No one ever said these people were smart......

and they are showing their ignorance more and more each day.

[wordpix]

30. American education at work

[Cha]

4. Good for Specter 'cause they're some real

fucking dumbasses out there.

[DesertDiamond]

6. Wow. Now that he's a Democrat (or DINO?) he gets to see what it feels like

to face the people on the side he used to be on. Interesting.

[marshall]

22. He shit all over everyone, he shouldn't be surprised that they stink

Specter is a man without a party, for all intents and purposes. The Republicans (who voted him into office) feel betrayed, the Democrats know he's just a panderer and he's not their guy--they didn't vote for him. He has nobody other than whatever special interest groups line his pockets.

What a miserable sunset to his political career.

[bemildred]

9. Now there is a guy (Specter) hoist by his own petard.

He has always been a first-class panderer to the booboisie. I agree with the guy that thinks this is kind of funny, in a sick sort of way.

[Psephos]

15. positively karmic n/t

[Joe Chi Minh]

12. Spectre should have asked them: "Why are you repeating

Cain's question, 'Am I my brother's keeper?'

Even if you are atheists, and the words of scripture mean less than nothing to you, there is still the matter of most people having been denied proper gainful employment for many years now, and therefore being denied proper health cover under the present system; still being crucified on a cross of gold. And all in favour of those who have more than enough for ALL their needs. Shame on you, you Satan's spawn!"

[KTinaY2008]

13. This may have been said already but it seems to me that

these protesters are so scared of any information getting out. If I were truly against something I would go to a town hall meeting wanting a healthy debate. If they are so certain that their view points are the correct view points than why try to stop people from speaking? Why interrupt? They are truly scared of the accurate information getting out and so are their controllers Limbaugh, Beck, etc. Bottom line is, when Health Care Reform is passed they know that is it for the Repukes. The Repukes will be history.

[Joe Chi Minh]

14. Your last point is very interesting and persuasive. The longer they

obstruct it, the more certain and comprehensive their party's demise.

[4dsc]

16. I see stupid people everywhere..

These people are just demonstrating how stupid they truly are.. They cannot and will not thing for themselves because they'd all get headaches.

[undeterred]

20. That audience was full of crazy people.

Mike Malloy played a few minutes of it on air. I don't know if they're naturally crazy or paid to act that way. I almost felt sorry for Specter.

[Vidar]

21. I don't like saying it , but good for Spector.

[Blue_Tires]

24. All these stunts should really speak to the mountains of cash the

insurance companies have poured into the anti-reform campaign...Has ANYONE, anywhere ever spent THIS much time, energy and money in a coordinated (non-presidential) campaign? Big Oil? Bankers? NRA? Automakers? Miami Cubans? Big Pharm? Big Ag? Mormon Church?

[yellowcanine]

25. I grew up in Lebanon County. Definitely in the "Alabama" part of PA.

Lot of white Pennsylvania Dutch Lutherans except for a substantial pocket of Hispanics in the City of Lebanon.

[debb17055]

27. One step forward, and two steps back.

I live in the red "T" zone of Pennsylvania and I really wanted to attend this event. Unfortunately, I broke my collar bone five weeks ago and even showering is difficult for me, let alone hair and makeup.
Oh, by the way I was laid off of my job so I have no insurance at this point. Try looking for a job in this market when you have zero confidence and are in pain.
I think there is a good reason I call myself a progressive. It's called progress... Hello?
This woman needs to learn that we are not living in "The Wonder Years" era. Get with the times, and educate yourself. It's really not that hard to do, unless all you watch is Faux news.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

28. "What our founders created"

What does she want? Slavery reinstated? Women's right to vote repealed?
Christ.

Or does she want a return to the way things were before Dumbyass fucked things up?

[wordpix]

29. these protesters sound like Faux Newscasters, spouting the memes of the day

:puke: