"We are not Nazi's" complained conservative protesters shut out of the overflowing town hall meeting in Lillington, NC that drew 4 times as many people as expected. Angry at being shut out, but aware of the negative media reaction to conservative protesters, the conservatives expressed restrained anger and displeasure to the press and anyone who would listen. Heated discussions broke out in the parking lot between several hundred supporters and opponents of health system reform but no fights broke out.
Link to NC17 TV Video & Story.
State Employees Association of North Carolina, SEIU Local 2008 made sure that supporters of reform arrived early and set up a panel that took up the first 40 minutes of the meeting establishing a controlled tone to the meeting. Well organized security by the Lillington police kept order. Several frustrated conservatives walked out of the meeting early saying it was a waste of time.
Bob Etheridge exposes the hypocrisy of U.S. Marine who opposes government involvement in health care. Warning, unintentionally ironic wing nut video.
Outside there was a wide mix of people ranging from government workers and in the union on one side to extreme libertarians, fundamentalist preachers and tea baggers on the other. The progressive types backed off from the center of the parking lot, letting the frustrated conservatives vent steam. A kid with a whiny voice took their weak megaphone spouting stuff he didn't understand - not exactly effective protest.
I had planned to arrive very early but let's just say that the map I clicked on the organizing America site gave me the wrong location by about 3 miles. I talked with a number of progressive folks and activists and observed the protesters.
One tall, skinny advocate of reform was carrying a sign that said teabaggers are dupes of lobbyists. When 2 protesters came over to challenge him, I was concerned that the situation could sour but the beefy guy who started talking him stayed reasonable, objecting to the insult. After that situation was long over I suggested to the sign holder that positive signs win over undecideds while negative signs provoke hostility. Positive is a better way.
The situation outside was more volatile.
By Dunn Daily Record
At one point a loud protester said that there was no right to health care in the Constitution and continued to rant about the evils of government health care.
I couldn't resist.
I walked up to the group and asked if he opposed Medicare in my stage voice that went over all the noise. I asked again to verify "Yes" he opposes Medicare.
I didn't bother to argue. I walked away. Some protesters seemed to get a bit more riled up after that but the police maintained a calm but imposing presence.
Late in the meeting enough people had left so that I got in with one woman who was a photographer. I got to hear the last question and see the crowd.
More importantly, I found myself standing in back next to some well dressed young people. I realized that only Mr. Etheridge's staff would be wearing suits on a humid summer evening. I talked with a staffed for 5 minutes who said that he thought that Mr. Etheridge had done well at debunking misconceptions and myths on the health care plan.
Mr. Etheridge was certainly effective when he told the critics that he had read all 1017 pages and all the amendments.
Then I learned something very important. Mr. Etheridge will be holding one on one meetings on health care. I will arrange for my wife and I to meet with him as soon as the schedule goes up on the internet.
You, too, should arrange to meet with your congressional representative too to tell your story and push for progressive legislation.