Tonight Allen West had another heated town hall. Warns those who speak out.

[madfloridian]

He seems to think he is not to be criticized. Seems he is always warning those who speak out against his policies.

Another Heated Town Meeting For Congressman Allen West

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Police escorted a number of people out of a town hall meeting Wednesday night. It's the second night in a row that Congressman Allen West held what became a heated event.

"I think they are a bunch of jerks," said Anne Dion after police walked her outside. "That's what I think about getting asked to leave."

Trouble was brewing even before the event started. Sign-carrying protesters were asked to leave private property. U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-District 22, warned the crowd about lashing out.

....The warning did not stop supporters and critics from turning up the volume.

"I don't care who's yelling at me, cursing at me, or whatever," said West. "You are still in America."

Is FL Congressman Allen West Complicit in Unlawful Arrest of Radio Show Host

Apparently a radio host was cuffed and arrested.

Allen West, Congressman from Florida’s district Broward County seems to have lost sight of the meaning of the word Town Hall Meeting, and in doing so may well be complicit in what may have been the unlawful arrest and humiliating treatment of a local mother and radio show host. He is certainly up for a lawsuit as I believe that he may well be responsible for ordering harsh treatment against hecklers (so called) from his security detail.

Allen West ‘s Town Hall meeting was attended by young mother, Nicole Sanders who went along as a constituent, wanting to ask questions of the Congressman. Apparently questions were taken on cards and vetted prior to the meeting The meeting was held at a mega church, in fact outside of the Congressman’s district.

Prior to his appearance the Pastor of the Church introduced Mr. West, who had stood for office on a Republican – Tea Party ticket. Ms. Sanders, a well known radio show host and often stand in for randy Rhodes, sat near the front of the auditorium. After West made a comment about Health Care- Ms. Sanders told listeners today, on the Randi Rhodes show, that she asked a follow up question. What ensued was so reprehensible that I could barely believe I was listening to a story about a political event in the United States of America.

She was arrested.

While asking the question, the Congressman’s wife, sitting next to Ms. Sandler tried to grab her cell phone or other equipment from her. What makes this a very reliable story is the verification of everything that Ms. Sanders told via her recording of the event both on tape and video. A private security person came up to Ms. Sanders and pointed her out to a uniformed local police officer. The police officer grabbed hold of Sanders. Sanders is heard on tape saying I am leaving. Then, “get your hands off me.” (repeatedly.)

I listened on Randy’s show intently – not imagining that it could get any worse and it did, progressively worse… She then gets cuffed with hands behind her back. A later witness who called Randy Rhodes show said she witnessed MS. Sanders being “man handled.”

The radio host was locked up for about 17 hours.

Radio Host Freed After Wild West Town Hall

Nicole Sandler found that out the hard way Tuesday when she was arrested for turning Congressman Allen West's town hall meeting into a scene from the Wild, Wild West.

Sandler, who broadcasts her radio show on radioornot.com and used to host an Air America show, was charged with trespassing after she refused to leave the meeting when asked by police in attendance.

She bonded out Wednesday afternoon after nearly 17 hours locked up.

Sandler, 51, was among several in attendance at a church in North Lauderdale critical of West's stance on Medicare and his explanation of the Republican Party's ideas.

Allen West said he would bring liberals to their knees....looks like he is trying.

[Stargleamer]

1. What kind of "Town Hall Meeting" is that?

where "questions were taken on cards and vetted prior to the meeting?"

Contrast this "Town Hall Meeting" to ones held at Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Now that town knows what a Town Hall Meeting should be like!!

[AsahinaKimi]

3. "Vetted prior to the meeting..."

Sounds like something out of the BUSH era.

[Canuckistanian]

9. Or the McCarthy era....

Demagogues don't like to hear their ideas questioned.

[bulloney]

28. West must think his military behavior can carry into his career as a public servant.

He thinks he can do all of the talking, the attacking and the demagoguery, but when citizens are practicing their constitutional right to speak out to their elected officials, he gets all high-and-mighty on us.

[donquijoterocket]

35. officers

Especially field grade officers never quite get over that sense of inevitability about their ability and right to command. Colonels, and West was a lite Colonel, just one step from that bird, two steps from that first star may be the worst of the lot plus his innate fascistic tendencies a most unattractive combination. One would hope that even Florida is not so unconscious as to return this weasel for a second term.But it is Florida

[patrice]

2. Okay, so did Sanders not abide by the format ostensibly agreed upon for questions?

Did she submit her question on a card? Was her question being addressed?

What was their "reason" for ejecting her?

[madfloridian]

5. "The radio host was locked up for about 17 hours."

Whatever she did about submitting ahead of time is not worth 17 hours in lock up.

[ohbill]

15. Get Bubba The Love Sponge on her tail!

He’s still in Florida, and he doesn’t take crap from anybody.

[Donnachaidh]

17. she was also MACED in the face

She was on msnbc tonight talking about it.

[chervilant]

19. hmph!

I, for one, am utterly disgusted that we continue to ask what the VICTIM did wrong!

[leftstreet]

4. "You are still in America." It sure doesn't seem like it

K&R

[deacon]

6. When you are truly REPRESENTING the people you don't have to put up with this stuff. n/t

[hifiguy]

7. As a rule,

fascists do not like being questioned....

Just sayin'

[madfloridian]

8. West tells Hannity he will not let "liberals" dominate his town halls.

I sure do hate to link to News Max, but this is just unreal.

Big tough guy, Allen.

"Florida GOP Rep. Allen West says he was not going to allow liberals, who heckled him at a town hall meeting he held on Medicare overhaul Tuesday, dominate the conversation and “take over.” West — a retired Army lieutenant colonel — also told Fox News’ Sean Hannity Wednesday he was not “the type of guy that's going to be intimidated.”

House Republicans have been getting heat over Medicare reform at town-hall meetings back home, but say they are sticking by their vote to lower the long-term cost of government health benefits for seniors.

“I think the most important thing was I was not going to allow them to dominate the dialogue or take over our town hall meeting — and as I told them that I’m not the type of guy that’s going to be intimidated,” West said. “I stand on facts and the truth and that’s what we are going to take to the people down here in Congressional District 22 — you have to be above that and you have to be in control and not allow them to take over the town hall meeting.”


Hate to link, but can't post it without it.

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/AllenWest-Obama-Medicare-town/2011/04/28/id/394358

[dmr]

11. Facts & truth, eh? The real ones or his made-up ones?

I watched the video of his meeting & what struck me was how he stands up there on stage like he's freakin' Patton.

His arrogance gives me the creeps.

I hope that district runs & strongly backs a Democrat when his 2 years are up. We can't let him get a foothold in Congress. One term is bad enough.
:hi:

[Snoutport]

10. Teaparty website: They (Dems) are not the opposition, they are the enemy and they are evil"

They see dems as less than them so they feel justified pulling this crap!

[MaeScott]

12. It is how they roll.....

...so we need to vote evey one out possible.

[RagAss]

13. Evil? We haven't even started getting evil yet. Keep taking our futures away and you'll see evil.,

Fuckers !

[Fuzz]

14. This just proves that liberals are racist, and stuff.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[butterfly77]

16. He seems to still think he is ..

in the military amd that the public at the town hall are his troops who will obey and follow orders if not,they will be taken to tbe brig..

[bertman]

18. His constituents must be hard reich-wingers if they elected him knowing he is this

type of person. It would be very interesting to know if there were any more of his troops, I mean constituents, who were not happy with his vote on the Ryan Budget who wanted to vent their frustration but were not allowed to.

If Nicole Sanders was one of the few, then they are in for a long rough ride with this asshole in office.

I hope there is some way they can charge him with a violation for what they did to her, but having the meeting in a church (or other privately-owned venue) may mean that they can dictate the terms of the "town hall meeting".

I have not seen this on the major corporate media so maybe this is not going to see the light of day. It was on Thom Hartman's show yesterday but that's the only place I know of.

[canuckledragger]

20. I'm of the opinion..

That you stand up to bullies. let them get as pissed off as they want...they HATE to be challenged in any way. if this Allen West guy can't handle it, TOUGH SHIT, he's an elected public official and criticism COMES WITH THE DAMN JOB.

Heavy handed crap just digs the hole deeper & causes more dissent.

[dotymed]

21. IMO, Allen West is a very dangerous Sociopath.

In the vein of Hitler, Mussolini and Bush II.
He needs to be prosecuted. He has NO RIGHT as a Representative or anything els, to have his private security to tell local police who to arrest because they, in a public forum, choose to voice their opinions and not agree with his delusions. The police, again IMO, have opened themselves up to (I hope) lawsuits by doing this.
This is another example of the decline of Democracy.

[chervilant]

27. So very true.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. We humans appear to be plumb ate up with the dumbass.

[rasputin1952]

22. Standard authoritarian behavior...

Rule #1: Do not allow challenges to authority

Rule #2: Use whatever force necessary to quell dissent

West is the epitome of a bad Army officer and a good GOP soldier. Anyone worth their salt knows they lead by example, not by authority; West's entire career has been one of use of authority to gain whatever he can. In his career w/the Army, it gained him a retirement instead of a court-Martial. He's taken the same tack in his after (forced) retirement, it's all about authority, something the Functionalists seem to adore, even though Functionalism is terrible in a complex society. "Fall in line, do what I tell you, don't complain, work until you die and never question me", terrible way to lead, terrible way to live.

West and his ilk despise being questioned, simply because they have no answers, all they have is perceived authority; inevitably, they hop over the line and tick off even supporters...we're seeing a revolt against it now in several places across the country. I just hope the movement carries through until the Radical Republicans are ousted.

[RoccoR5955]

23. Welcome to the Police State of America

Where those who make the laws, and enforce the laws, do not have to obey the laws, because they ARE the laws!

[SnowCritter]

24. Bloody Peasants!!

How dare they question their "betters"!?

I'm reminded of the "Annoying Peasant" scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAaWvVFERVA) except in this case its JUST. NOT. FUNNY.

:mad:

[jeremyfive]

25. Republican Town Halls--Speak Your Mind and Get Arrested

You either agree with the GOP, or you risk arrest and expulsion from the premises.

[mikeburetta]

26. danger danger will robinson

Seams some elected officials missed the civics class when it came to part on "representative government" and being responsible to the ones that elected them..hmmm..what was that book in the viitors center about how laws are made etc..think some need to read that elamentary school book ..its got lots of pictures and big print so shouldnt be a problem for even the most challenged.

[ljm2002]

29. We need to start asking the police...

...whether it's their job to uphold someone's preferred meeting format.

I mean, c'mon. Questioning an elected representative at a town hall meeting is a long tradition in this country. I saw no indication whatsoever that she had threatened him, and the only disturbance was a result of West not liking his meeting format challenged.

Furthermore, when the Tea Baggers were disrupting town halls all over the country, they were loud and unruly yet I don't remember reports of them being handcuffed and removed. Maybe there was an incident here and there, but in general the police left them alone.

We really need to start pressing issues like this.

[yurbud]

30. if only people who agree with you can show up, it's more like an infomercial audience than

a town hall.

[yurbud]

31. USE THIS TALKING POINT: Allan West is a coward who can't face real people who disagree with him

That might be something righties would understand and it definitely would resonate with swing voters.

[saras]

34. Yes yes yes yes yes!

[The Blue Flower]

32. The mask is off

That's the one good thing about what these dictatorial R's are doing.

[fascisthunter]

33. I'd Love to Punch him in the Face

[Dont call me Shirley]

36. Figures that coward would hold his "town hall" at an mic-corporate owned megachurch

Speaking of getting on your knees....Allen west forgot to get on his knees in antichristchurch and beg for forgiveness in advance of all the sins he was planning on committing.

[craigmatic]

37. His district is too mixed politically for him to take his kind of attitude. He'll surely lose next

time.

[SemperEadem]

38. oh, he thinks he's talking to a bunch of marines

under command? He's talking to his employers--he needs to be reminded of that little thing.

What a buffoon.

[radhika]

39. Next, he holds a gun to the side of their heads....

just like he did in Iraq.

And the American taxpayers have been funding this puke for decades - first the military, now the House.