1,200 fill 'raucous' health care forum (Woolsey town hall)

The Press Democrat ^ | September 1, 2009 | Paul Payne

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

An overflow crowd of about 1,200 people attended a boisterous town hall meeting Monday night in Petaluma on the national health overhaul, many expressing support for a proposed government-run program and others shouting it down.

Nearly 100 shut out of overflowing meeting The two-hour meeting, run by Democratic Rep. Lynn Woolsey, was the first and only chance for many Sonoma and Marin County residents to ask questions and air comments before Congress reconvenes after Labor Day to consider the pending legislation.

Dozens spoke on both sides of the debate amid constant jeers and chants from an audience that filled every seat in the hall and spilled out into a second room and the front lobby.

Exasperated by catcalls, Jason Davies of Petaluma, who supports a public option plan, told health care overhaul opponents they missed their chance to control the discussion under the Bush administration.

"You guys had your way!" the software executive yelled into the microphone, drawing waves of cheers and boos. "This is our time to take our country back. We won!"

Opponents such as retired Novato veteran David Nusser countered that most people are satisfied with their current health insurance. Liberals are trying to force a socialist system that would create more taxes, he said.

"Mrs. Woolsey," said Nusser, "you and your group of thieves should go back to the drawing board."

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

I made it to the meeting but got there late and couldn't get in. I'm sure Woolsey picked a small venue (650 seats) on purpose so that she would have a limited crowd to deal with. There is a much larger venue (Wells Fargo) up the road in Santa Rosa, which would have been more appropriate for a meeting which so many people wanted to attend.

[WesternPacific]

Do you know or have you heard what percentage of attendees were for and what percentage were against? The MSM never gets it right.

[tubebender]

writer Paul Payne AKA Baghdad Paul...

[Grampa Dave]

“Mrs. Woolsey,” said Nusser, “you and your group of thieves should go back to the drawing board.”

An excellent summation!

[Uncle Hal]

My wife went to this forum with some girl friends. Following is a letter to the Press Democrat (our local paper) that she wrote to the paper and it was published in today’s letters to the editor.

Woolsey’s forum

EDITOR: I was impressed with how informed most of the questioners/opiners on either side of the issue were at Rep. Lynn Woolsey’s health care forum. What I was not impressed with was the responses or lack thereof from Woolsey. At times she seemed almost disengaged as she thumbed through papers on the dais, failed to answer all of the questions asked and seemed to ramble off figures sticking pretty much to the party mantra. A great deal of passion was generated in that room Monday night. I’m very glad I was there.

[Uncle Hal]

My wife, who was at the forum, said it was about one third pro Woolsey, one third anti Woolsey and the rest seemed to have no opinion. It was raucous with many near fights.