Posted on 08/21/2009 3:17:35 AM PDT by Son House
The auditorium at Mankato East seats 700 people, all of those seats were filled, as Democratic Congressman Tim Walz took the stage at a health care town hall.
As we've seen in similar settings across the country it did not take long for this discussion to get heated.
The tone of the discussion was set early, when the introductory speaker said there is nothing political about your need for health care, but that didn't prevent fireworks from happening.
Mankato is where Democratic Congressman Tim Walz is from, and there were more Democrats in this crowd than Republicans.
"You tell em Tim, speak the truth."
But it didn't take long for a vocal opposition to speak loud and clear.
It first came when Walz said lawsuits against doctors are not the cause of high health care costs.
"It has had no positive impact on controlling the cost of healthcare."
Another heated moment came when this woman said her nursing association supported a public option.
Walz says he's undecided on whether he supports a public option.
He says if we do nothing we'll have what we have - a bad system.
He also says our health care system will not dramatically morph into something completely different if legislation passes this year, he says it's a much longer process than that.
The issue of healthcare wasn't solved here tonight, but a lot of people had the chance to voice their opinions and frustrations.
Walz was the retired National Guard elected in 2006 to stop the War Iraq
Walz hosts a noisy, yet rather civil town hall
Questioners supported a government-backed option to private insurance, decried profit in health care, took a side step into energy policy, bemoaned that millions have no health coverage today and urged that the congressional health proposals be completely scrapped.
Walz’s staff said he likely will hold a similar town meeting on health care next month in Rochester.
“It’s important to be here,” Gloria Platz, of Springfield, Minn., said as she waited for two hours with her husband, Albert. “I’m worried that some of this money is going to pay for abortions and that our Medicare health care may be rationed.”
Walz Talks Health Care At Town Hall Forum
http://www.keyc.com/node/26524
And with the first question, came the first boos...Walz says, [Tort reform in Texas] had no impact on health care costs... (boos)As he heard from both sides, Congressman Walz reiterated his support for the federal government taking some role in reforming the system.He says, If we continue down this road, we simply aren’t going to be able to do what we are doing. This is going to get worse.’
And at times, the congressman himself got a little heated...Questioner says, ‘In the powers givin to Congress, no where does it say the government can take over health care, take over banks, take over the autho indistry, take over the country... (applause)
Rep. Walz says, ‘The problem with your premise is, the banks came to us; the automakes came to us... (boos and applause)
The meeting was slated to end at eight o clock tonight, but with a capacity crowd, and even more people outside, the meeting was extended.
he likely will hold a similar town meeting on health care next month in Rochester.
^
Another rigged town meeting?
a capacity crowd, and even more people outside, the meeting was extended.
^
Yet Democrats ‘need’ to pass a 2013 bill this year, 2009?
Here’s what happened at Town Hall meeting in Montana:
Subject: What Really Happened in Montana
This was sent to me by a friend in Bozeman, MT who was there.
Why do we tolerate this?
Hello All,
By now you have probably heard that President Obama came to Montana last Friday. However, there are many things that the major news has not covered. I feel that since Bill and I live here and we were at the airport on Friday I should share some facts with you. Whatever you decide to do with the information is up to you. If you chose to share this email with others I do ask that you DELETE my email address before you forward this on.
On Wednesday, August 5th it was announced locally that the President would be coming here. There are many groups here that are against his healthcare and huge spending so those groups began talking and deciding on what they were going to do. The White House would not release ANY details other than the date.
On about Tuesday Bill found out that they would be holding the “Town Hall” at the airport. (This is only because Bill knows EVERYONE at the airport) Our airport is actually located outside of Belgrade (tiny town) in a very remote location. Nothing is around there. They chose to use a hangar that is the most remotely located hangar. You could not pick a more remote location, and you cannot get to it easily. It is totally secluded from the public. FYI: We have many areas in Belgrade and Bozeman which could have held a large amount of folks with sufficient parking. (gymnasiums/auditoriums). All of which have chairs and tables, and would not have to be SHIPPED IN!! $$$$$
During the week, cargo by the TONS was being shipped in constantly. Airport employees could not believe how it just kept coming. Though it was our President coming several expressed how excessive it was, especially during a recession. $$$$$
Late Tuesday/early Wednesday the 12th, they said that tickets would be handed out on Thursday 9am at two locations and the president would be arriving around 12:30 Friday.
Thursday morning about 600 tickets were passed out. However, 1500 were printed at a Local printing shop per White House request. Hmmmm......900 tickets just DISAPPEARED. This same morning someone called into the radio from the local UPS branch and said that THOUSANDS of Dollars of Lobster were shipped in for Obama. Montana has some of the best beef in the nation!!! And it would have been really wonderful to help out the local economy. Anyone heard of the Recession?? Just think...with all of the traveling the White House is doing. $$$$$ One can only imagine what else we are paying for.
On Friday Bill and I got out to the airport about 10:45am. The groups that wanted to protest Obama’s spending and healthcare had gotten a permit to protest and that area was roped off. But that was not to be. A large bus carrying SEIU (Service Employees International Union) members drove up onto the area (illegal)and unloaded right there. It was quite a commotion and there were specifically 2 SEIU men trying to make trouble and start a fight. Police did get involved and arrested the one man but they said they did not have the manpower to remove the SEIU crowd. The SEIU crowd was very organized and young. About 99% were under the age of 30 and they were not locals! They had bullhorns and PROFESSIONALLY made signs. Some even wore preprinted T-shirts. Oh, and Planned Parenthood folks were with them.....professing abortion rights with their T-shirts and preprinted signs. (BTW, all these folks did have a permit to protest in ANOTHER area)
Those against healthcare/spending moved away from the SEIU crowd to avoid confrontation. They were orderly and respectful. Even though SEIU kept coming over and walking through, continuing to be very intimidating and aggressive at the direction of the one SEIU man.
So we had Montana folks from ALL OVER the state with their homemade signs and their DOGS with homemade signs. We had cowboys, nurses, doctors you name it. There was even a guy from Texas who had been driving through. He found out about the occasion, went to the store, made a sign, and came to protest.
If you are wondering about the press.....Well, all of the major networks were over by that remote hangar I mentioned. They were conveniently parked on the other side of the buildings FAR away. None of these crowds were even visible to them. I have my doubts that they knew anything about the crowds.
We did have some local news media around us from this state and Idaho . Speaking of the local media...they were invited. However, all questions were to be turned into the White House in advance of the event. Wouldn’t want anyone to have to think off the top of their head.
It was very obvious that it was meant to be totally controlled by the White House. Everything was orchestrated down to the last detail to make it appear that Montana is just crazy for Obama and government healthcare. Even those people that talked about their insurance woes........the White House called our local HRDC (Human Resource and Development Committee) and asked for names. Then the White House asked those folks to come. Smoke and mirrors...EVERYTHING was staged!!!!!!!!!!!
I am very dismayed about what I learned about our current White House. The amount of control and manipulation was unbelievable. I felt I was not living in the United States of America, more like the USSR!! I was physically nauseous. Bill and I have been around when Presidents or Heads of State visit. It has NEVER been like this. I am truly very frightened for our country. America needs your prayers and your voices. If you care about our country please get involved. Know the issues. And let Congress hear your voices again and again!! If they are willing to put forth so much effort to BULLY a small town one can only imagine what is going on in Washington DC. Scary!!
Kathy
Bozeman, Montana
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Just drop it. Click here for free information on weight loss surgery!
Indiana has had tort reform back under Governor Bowen (a physician).
No doubt it could be better, but Illinois is simply criminal.
Next week this guy goes to Rochester MN where the Mayo clinic is headquartered. No doubt Rep. Walz is fully conversant in the various lawsuits lodged in Illinois, where they appear to have no facilities, by former "customers" who were dissatisfied with what they found in Minnesota, or some other state where Mayo actually has points of service.
One does wonder why Mayo doesn't have something in Illinois? They certainly have tens of thousands of customers there ~ people travel hundreds of miles from Southern Illinois to get to the Mayo clinic in Rochester (for example), and extole its virtues in several videos available on the internet. Then there are the professional litigants who appear to be chipping away at the federal courts to force Mayo to submit to the will of Illinois state courts.
Who does Walz work for? Is he representing people in Minnesota or is he fronting for a Chicago lawfirm?
Someone find out.
So all I have to do is spend all my money and go bankrupt and I can come to "US" congress and you can bail me out, is that right? Everyone needs to send their electric/gas/credit card bills to congress, because if you do that they can help you out.
“Rep. Walz says, ‘The problem with your premise is, the banks came to us; the automakes came to us... (boos and applause)”
Well, the people are coming to you now and they are telling you to butt out!
Defensive medicine reportedly wastes $200 Billion per year, which would go a long way to insure the uninsured.
LOL, what a fool!! This is the same as saying "They made us do it". Yeah, great leadership there...
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