I just got done with a so-called town hall meeting over the telephone with Congressman John Kline from Minnesota. I'm so pissed right now, I can hardly see straight, and my hands are shaking so badly I can hardly type. Follow me below for more information about this wonderful little sham.
I was called for a town-hall meeting. This is done over the telephone. The entire duration of the town meeting that I participated in was 35 minutes. I was in the queue to ask a question, but I never got picked. Not ONE democrat was picked. Every single caller was a money-grubbing, selfish, what's-in-it-for-me Republican. The congressman KNOWS the party affiliation of every single person that is called for these town meetings, so I have no doubt that the calls were screened. He went through the motions... after all I was called to participate in the meeting. Interesting that the dems were only allowed to listen, not to speak.
One of the callers was a crazy woman from my own town (!) that went on and on and on and on about how much money we spend on preemie babies.
"These things come out at 27 weeks and we only take care of them because we can. They cost too much!"
Yes, she actually called what came out of the mother, a "thing". I wonder how she stands on the abortion issue? My good representative let her spew her poison for nearly 4 minutes without interruption. I hope she never has to know the pain of a grandchild being born prematurely and the agonizing decisions that parents and doctors need to make on a daily, sometimes hourly basis.
One phrase that Rep Kline repeated over and over again, is that, "We need to hit the reset button on this bill." I nearly threw the phone.
I didn't get to comment publicly, but I left a blistering message on his voice mail. It went something like this...
I'm so glad for the opportunity to leave a voice mail, as you have not bothered to reply to my last two emails. By the way, thanks for letting the lady that would like to see the plug pulled on all of the preemie babies plenty of time to ramble. We always seem to have an extra dollar to spend on a war, but we can never seem to spend money on our own people. How can good Christian people be so damned selfish and say that you're on your own when it comes to health care?! Congressman, nearly 2/3 of all bankruptcies are the result of medical bills. Your own CBO said that this bill would save the tax payers money! So why are you spreading lies to scare people?
I also said,
I can vote for the people in my government, but I can not vote for the insurance company executives. I trust whom I vote for far more than those only interested in corporate greed.
I ended in a rather childish, but very satisfactory manner...
We had to choke on an 8 year war without being able to stop it. I hope this bill goes through on reconciliation and you choke on it!!
My consolation... I got a high five from my hubby after I threw the phone.
Not that it will make any difference. Not that he will give two hoots what a /gasp Democrat has to say in his district. Not that it will change the lies or the man that spews them. Wednesday ought to be interesting when Obama speaks. I WILL be listening.
(update) changed title and am adding the contact page for Representative Kline.
(update #2) Jeez... I can't believe I spelled his name wrong. My apologies.