A First Hand View of a Raucous Town Hall Meeting

[alienlovechild 75]

There were no lobbyist-funded buses in the parking lot of Mardela Middle and High School on Tuesday evening, and the hundreds of Eastern Maryland residents who packed the school’s auditorium loudly refuted the notion that their anger over the Democrats’ health care reform plans is “manufactured.”

“I went to school in this school,” a man named Bob told me. “I don't see anyone in this room that isn't from Mardela Springs right now.”

“We’ve been quiet too long,” said a woman named Joan.

They came to yell at their congressman, freshman Democratic Rep. Frank Kratovil, and they were surprised to hear that the “Congress in Your Corner” event to which they had been invited -- by a robocall from Kratovil himself -- was not to be a public airing of grievances, but instead an opportunity for private, one-on-one sessions with the freshman Democrat.

As the crowd grew, and began venting frustration over the fact they would only be meeting with the congressman behind closed doors, Kratovil’s aides suggested he switch to a town hall format.

The aides seemed nervous. Last week, someone hanged Kratovil in effigy outside his district office in Centreville, Maryland.

“I am here because I understand that I do represent you folks, okay?” Kratovil said, after entering the auditorium to applause. “The opinions that you folks have, I need to know. There are legitimate concerns.”

Just then, someone in the audience shouted back, “Our freedom is being taken from us!”

Kratovil is a Blue Dog Democrat who signed onto a letter last month urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to delay a vote on a health care reform bill until after the August recess. His officially “undecided” stance on health care reform makes him a prime target for frustrated constituents already miffed that he voted for the House Democratic leaders’ energy bill last month, after initially telling voters he was “undecided” on Cap and Trade.

The former county prosecutor won his seat – formerly held by a Republican -- last November by just 2,852 votes.

Boos and cries of “You don’t get it!” were hurled at Kratovil, as he suggested that the current health care system needed to be fixed.

“You're deceiving us! You're trying to shove this stuff through,” one woman yelled.

“I'm not! But I hear you,” Kratovil pleaded.

“This bill is un-American,” said another voter, who asked whether Kratovil has read it.

“I am reading it right now,” he said.

In an interview before the session, Kratovil admitted he’s under heavy pressure from both the constituents in his conservative-leaning district and his party’s leadership, but, alluding to his vote on Cap and Trade, he said he’s already cast unpopular votes.

By the end of the 90 minute town hall -- which Kratovil told the crowd was his fourth interaction with constituents that day -- the congressman looked exasperated. He was hounded by jeers all the way out to his car.

In talking to a few attendees afterward, one man said he now admires and respects his representative.

“He stood up, he took his shots, and did it like a man,” a man named Bill told me.

Two elderly women said they were embarrassed by their neighbors.

"They were rude! Oh, they were behaving terribly," one said, calling it a "disgrace to our community."

Said another of the anger, which sounded very much to her like what she hears on Fox News and conservative talk radio, "If it's not manufactured, they're brainwashed."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/20...ll-meeting.html

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

The libs are diggin a big hole on this and its just gettin deeper. Let em dig! I heard Pelosi say last night that the ppl doing this were swastika wearing types.

The Libs are starting a fire that they will never be able to extinguish! Remember Obama making fun of t-baggers along with a few here? Guess who aint fvckin laughing now?

FIRE IN THE HOLE!

[alienlovechild 75]

Remember Obama making fun of t-baggers along with a few here? Guess who aint fvckin laughing now?

Most of these people have never been confronted with a differing opinion so naturally they have to "manufacture" boogeymen to explain the whole situation.

Reminds me of a professor I knew who said the Japanese had never been defeated or invaded before and couldn't understand how they lost the war. They came up with Godzilla has the embodiment of nuclear creation that trashed Tokyo.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Remember Obama making fun of t-baggers along with a few here? Guess who aint fvckin laughing now?

Most of these people have never been confronted with a differing opinion so naturally they have to "manufacture" boogeymen to explain the whole situation.

Reminds me of a professor I knew who said the Japanese had never been defeated or invaded before and couldn't understand how they lost the war. They came up with Godzilla has the embodiment of nuclear creation that trashed Tokyo.

Exactly.

[cdneh 3,112]

The libs are diggin a big hole on this and its just gettin deeper. Let em dig! I heard Pelosi say last night that the ppl doing this were swastika wearing types.

The Libs are starting a fire that they will never be able to extinguish! Remember Obama making fun of t-baggers along with a few here? Guess who aint fvckin laughing now?

FIRE IN THE HOLE!

She didn't say they were swastika wearing types. She said they were carrying swastikas. Another lie.

The only pic of a swastika has been one, of a guy who had a placard with the words ObamaCare on it, and their symbol, and one of those red lines through it, like Ghostbusters. Which meant NO ObamaCare.

The way this woman lies I cannot believe she can retain her position.

Let them dig. They are burying themselves.

Geeze..I had better get myself off to their website and report on myself.

[The Dude 206]

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

The libs are diggin a big hole on this and its just gettin deeper. Let em dig! I heard Pelosi say last night that the ppl doing this were swastika wearing types.

The Libs are starting a fire that they will never be able to extinguish! Remember Obama making fun of t-baggers along with a few here? Guess who aint fvckin laughing now?

FIRE IN THE HOLE!

She didn't say they were swastika wearing types. She said they were carrying swastikas. Another lie.

The only pic of a swastika has been one, of a guy who had a placard with the words ObamaCare on it, and their symbol, and one of those red lines through it, like Ghostbusters. Which meant NO ObamaCare.

The way this woman lies I cannot believe she can retain her position.

Let them dig. They are burying themselves.

Geeze..I had better get myself off to their website and report on myself.

Wearing? Carrying? I totally understand you libs are startin to feel the way you did in 2000. by the way, where are all the supporters for the HC bill anyway? Tied up out back by the swastika "carryin" bastages?

[cdneh 3,112]

The libs are diggin a big hole on this and its just gettin deeper. Let em dig! I heard Pelosi say last night that the ppl doing this were swastika wearing types.

The Libs are starting a fire that they will never be able to extinguish! Remember Obama making fun of t-baggers along with a few here? Guess who aint fvckin laughing now?

FIRE IN THE HOLE!

She didn't say they were swastika wearing types. She said they were carrying swastikas. Another lie.

The only pic of a swastika has been one, of a guy who had a placard with the words ObamaCare on it, and their symbol, and one of those red lines through it, like Ghostbusters. Which meant NO ObamaCare.

The way this woman lies I cannot believe she can retain her position.

Let them dig. They are burying themselves.

Geeze..I had better get myself off to their website and report on myself.

Wearing? Carrying? I totally understand you libs are startin to feel the way you did in 2000. by the way, where are all the supporters for the HC bill anyway? Tied up out back by the swastika "carryin" bastages?

No liberals here ta.

[luckytxn 2,264]

The bleating Koolaid drinking sheep are stunned that most are not following and are laughing at them from the sides.

[The Dude 206]

[Danno 1,228]

Yeah this seems to be "The dodge"...

"I will meet with my constituents ONE at a time".

One of ours who is afraid to face the people is pulling the same thing now.

I guess if they won't come to us... we will have to go to them.

Perhaps we can do the Cindy Sheehan number and camp out in front of their homes.

The Media loved it then......