Posted on 08/12/2009 6:19:20 AM PDT by a fool in paradise
Tuning in to President Obama's health care town hall today, you couldn't help but notice how much tamer the line of questioning was compared to what Obama's fellow Democrats have been up against.
By and large, instead of the persistent tough queries that greeted the likes of Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Arlen Specter (D-Penn.), the president fielded much easier questions.
The toughest questioner tried to tag him on his earlier comments approving of a government-run "single-payer" system but unfortunately couldn't get the point of distinction between it and the much more amorphous "universal" health care system, thus allowing Obama to filibuster on the point and not fully answer the question.
Aside from that, however, the questions were rather tame and besides Obama's gaffe inadvertently conceding that private companies like FedEx and UPS do a better job of shipping packages than the government-controlled Postal Service (effectively undermining his entire point), the conference was rather bland and uneventful.
That's likely by design. As Roll Call reported earlier today, Democrats, at least in the House, have been making some major adjustments to their town hall strategies to ensure that opponents of Obamacare have a lot tougher time making their voices heard:
House Democrats have been talking tough about continuing to hold town halls in the face of disruptive protesters. But many are quietly tweaking their events to minimize the influence of the angry participants.
Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) announced Monday on his Web site that he is restricting attendance to his public events to residents of his district.
Unfortunately, due to a coordinated effort to disrupt our town hall meetings, we will be restricting further attendance to residents of the 29th Congressional District and verifying residency by requiring photo identification, Green said.
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) spoke on a panel at his Monday night town hall in Clarkston. He set up a designated protest area outside and had extra police on hand, although the event never erupted into shouting matches, according to local reports. [...]
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) took a different tack: She framed an Aug. 2 town hall as a prayer vigil, which had the effect of warding off protesters. [...]
Other Democrats are avoiding public events altogether and instead opting for telephone town halls.
People generally are on better behavior around the president granted, but there seems to have been a distinct sight of stagecraft in Tuesday afternoon's discussion. Expect more of this as the debate moves along.
The irony is palpable in all this considering how during former president George W. Bush's time in office, Democrats persistently criticized him for "staging" events. Now, it seems, the shoe is on the other foot.
Even if the “organizers” go in early to “set up,” this rule can still be used against them. Even the Purple Shirts need to exit sometime, and folks with video cameras can be waiting. When they exit, folks can video while they ask the “organizers” to show their photo IDs. When they refuse to do so, that refusal can be shown all over the net the next day.
Our goal is to win the hearts and minds of the American public. They may run their staged meetings, but if everyone knows they’re staged, the meetings will do more harm than good for the rats.
Use their own rules against them.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if Alinsky helped us take this republic back?
Dennis Moore (D, 3rd, Ks) wasn’t going to hold any townhalls either,
but got an “excuse” yesterday when an angry constituent called his office.
Reportedly, the caller “raised his voice” and was “very critical of Moore” and “mentioned health care reform” but never threatened Moore or his staff.
This was Moore’s excuse to cry for the safety of his staff and his constituents and not hold any town halls.
Sounds like Dennis needs to find his dry big boy pants.
I SO agree with that.
“Quick, somebody call the ACLU, she’s not separating church and state.”
I believe jail is the appropriate remedy for this offense against The Leader and his State.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2313893/posts
The NappyOne
“Aside from that, however, the questions were rather tame and besides Obama’s gaffe inadvertently conceding that private companies like FedEx and UPS do a better job of shipping packages than the government-controlled Postal Service (effectively undermining his entire point), the conference was rather bland and uneventful.”
He intentionally put this in the public record to cover his behind when/if the health care bill is passed and when it becomes a huge failure. He’ll simply bring this up as something he is on record saying and everyone in the MSM will go with him on it. Someone needs to record that this was in fact a slip up and he personally believes the government can do a better job than private industry.
That won't fly...since he is holding it in a PUBLIC LIBRARY....
Suppose Jive Talkin’ Liar Obama, gave a “Town Hall”
...and everyone realized it was just another rigged Socialist Union Mobster Goon packed Pep Rally?
...the American People...locked outside.
and the U.S. Secret Service, complicit in the political goonery...
Not at all, they will be let in a side door with no ID check required.
And she was bussed in from out of state.
His other two arranged “Town Halls” will equally be Socialist Union Mobster Goon Bundestag rallies.
Heil! Jive Talkin’ Obama!
“Accuse the other side of what you are doing”..Lenin
Nice...
Unfortunately, due to a coordinated effort to disrupt our town hall meetings, we will be restricting further attendance to residents of the 29th Congressional District and verifying residency by requiring photo identification, Green said.
++++++++++++++
Let’s take the protests to their offices - let’s publicly invite them, in our own press conferences...as someone suggested yesterday, we’ll have town halls - and invite our opposition.
Let’s have a true debate?!
Who is scared of the facts?
We KNOW the answer to that.
It started when they wouldn’t give us enough time to read the bill.
Then it proceeded to untoward pressure to pass the monster out of the House by end of July.
Then it continues with the cowards not allowing people to speak out at the town halls. [they don’t have the answers.]
People are growing more and more aware of this despite the despotic cover-up and Orwellian tactics of the Socialists!
[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2314188/posts - to discuss the above poll]
So dissent and debate = bad behavior.
+++++++++++
Dissent and debate not allowed at last night’s farce of a town meeting - despite the pres__ent’s lies to the contrary in advance. This pres__ent’s words have NO VALUE...from the moment they leave his tongue.
(something I’m sure she would herself protest if it was done by a conservative).
++++++++++++++++
HYPOCRITE can’t be used too many times, or too strongly with these socialists.
Unfortunately, due to a coordinated effort to disrupt our town hall meetings
++++++++++++
OK, then they’re no longer town halls and are now your private little loveins, foo...
*****************
He opposed efforts to verify that persons VOTING in the 29th Congressional district ACTUALLY LIVED THERE.
Damned hypocrite. Then again, he IS a Democrat.
++++++++
Says it all - wow...
A Republican commits a gaffe when he mispronounces a word. A Democrat commits a gaffe when he tells the truth.
obummas townhall was a SETUP. the question cards were given out to certain people as they entered. Everything obumma does is a SETUP. Corrupt Crook
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