As right wing fringers push towards ultimate violence towards our representatives we get word that a gun was brought by these folks to Rep Gifford's town hall. Luckily it fell out on the floor and the police were called, but the meeting was cancelled for security concerns.
This is why folks like slink and nyceve are so right-we must continue to funnel in to these town halls for the safety of fair discussion. We are now fighting a war I’m not sure the administration foresaw given that they have included GOP ideas in every piece of legislation-from the stim bill to healthcare. But see the GOP doesn’t care. They want Obama out. Period. They wanted Clinton out no matter the cost.
Also Kudos to Pelosi's great write up in USA Today for calling out the GOP fringers on their Un American activities in stifling debate. As Americans we cannot allow this sort of thuggery to go on unchecked no matter the reports coming out of DC on what may or may not happen to reform. The battle out there right now will determine much. More below with a great response by Giffords, a gun incident at Rep Cohen's town hall and Pelosi's great op-ed.
Published: 08.08.2009
Political Notebook: Giffords' following of conservative activists grows
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Southern Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has a new loyal following — but not the one she probably hoped for when she ran for office in 2006.
Conservative activists, opposed to the Democrats’ health care proposals, are jumping at the chance to confront the second-term Democrat and vent their frustrations.
But for now Giffords is not interested in engaging with people her staff says are using "manipulation" and "racism" to spread their message.
"Yelling and screaming is counterproductive," she told the Sierra Vista Herald at a Congress on Your Corner event last week. There, one visitor dropped a gun at the meet n’ greet held in a Douglas Safeway, her staff says.
That has aides, who called police to the event, concerned for her safety.
"We have never felt the need before to notify law enforcement when we hold these events," said spokesman C.J. Karamargin.
http://www.azstarnet.com/...
And rep Cohen-who faced a hostile crowd of older conservative white folks in a largely black district-had to deal with guns too. Someone did bring a gun and was escorted out by the police. Maybe it was innocent as carrying a concealed handgun is legal there. But this bringing your firearm to met elected officials is very troublesome and alarming. Someone will get hurt. That is why we must attend those meetings and not give in to these right wing folks and their tactics. We cant.
more from tpm-
Following a tense town hall meeting by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) in Memphis over the weekend, local TV reported that one attendee was packing heat and had been escorted from the room -- which if true, would be a dramatic escalation in the increasingly confrontational health care debate. However, TPMDC has learned that there was not in fact any threat made, nor was it a cause for immediate alarm in its full context.
While one attendee did indeed possess a firearm, he did so in accordance with the state's conceal and carry laws, and was fully cooperative when asked to take it to his car due to a no-guns rule for the meeting.
"The gun issue was handled before the meeting," Shelby County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Shular told TPM. The audience was asked at the beginning whether anybody had a gun. One man replied that, yes, he was carrying a gun. He was told to leave it in his car for the meeting, and then did so. An officer followed him to his car, made sure that his permit was in order, and he was then allowed to re-enter the event.
tpm
Its time the dems played hardball. Reps are dealing with guns, the President is facing growing death threats by those accusing him of genocide, and townhalls aren’t being allowed in many cases to serve their purpose because the GOP birthers are shutting them down. So kudos to the Speaker and Hoyer today for calling them out for what they are-UN AMERICAN.
'Un-American' attacks can't derail health care debate
By Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer
...However, it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue. These tactics have included hanging in effigy one Democratic member of Congress in Maryland and protesters holding a sign displaying a tombstone with the name of another congressman in Texas, where protesters also shouted "Just say no!" drowning out those who wanted to hold a substantive discussion.
Let the facts be heard
These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.
Health care is complex. It touches every American life. It drives our economy. People must be allowed to learn the facts.
The first fact is that health insurance reform will mean more patient choice. ....
http://blogs.usatoday.com/...