The local newspaper says:
Rep. Jack Kingston has announced that he will host an open forum to discuss health care reform in Valdosta. It will be Monday Sept. 28th at 9:30 am at Mathis auditorium. While not required, those interested in attending are encouraged to register for the event.
He's coming to five counties; table after the jump. Go to the one nearest you and make your voice heard, like Jim Parker in the picture, being photographed by the newspaper at Kingston's last Valdosta event.
Kingston's strategy:
First, numbers and passion matter. You don’t reach a consensus in one town hall, visit back home or congressional hearing but, after a while, a pattern emerges.
If health care supporters don't show up, opponents will be unchallenged...
Then Kingston can claim he heard a consensus against health care reform. He won't vote for it anyway. But this is the chair of the GOP Theme Team, the tactical propagandist for the Republican Party; he shouldn't go unchallenged.
Besides, if nobody goes and makes sure they're heard as supporters of health care reform, telling their own stories, countering Jack's half-truths, people back home may think that he's right and his opinion is the only one. Many will, anyway, but there are lots of fence-sitters and people who think they're alone. They need to hear from supporters of health care reform. That also matters for future issues: lots of people around here don't speak up because they think they're the only one.
Kingston also says (same blog post):
I was expecting 50-60 people but was astounded that 300-500 showed up and some had to be turned away because of seating capacity and the local fire marshal.
Last time in Valdosta they had to increase the room size twice and the one they ended up with was still standing room only, with around 400 people. This time he's booked the 1200-seat Mathis Auditorium, but that may still be too small. Register for the event early to ensure that you don't get turned away at the door.
Interestingly, that newspaper brief does not appear to be online, even though the VDT assistant editor recently wrote a glowing story and a glowing editorial about the RIP U.S. Constitution t-shirt student. Bill Maher took the bait, too, as of course did Fox News. The master of distraction propaganda throws a curve and the media run after it, yet again. Why talke about health care when you can talk about some poor college student whom Kingston says vicious liberals impugned although nobody seems to be able to find the slurs he mentioned.
But many of us do care about health care reform. So let's go to a town hall and talk about it!
County | City | Venue | Time | Date |
---|
Camden | Kingsland | Camden County Recreation Center | 10 AM | Monday, 14 September |
Chatham | Savannah | Armstrong Atlantic State University Fine Arts Auditorium | 10 AM | Monday, 18 September |
Lowndes | Valdosta | Mathis Auditorium | 9:30 AM | Monday, 28 September |
Cook | Adel | Cook County Courthouse | 2 PM | Monday, 28 September |
Charlton | St. George | St. George Church of God Fellowship Hall | 5 PM | Monday, 28 September |
Supporters of HCR don't have to outnumber opponents: we demonstrated last time in Valdosta that a small number who speak up and tell their own stories can make a difference. As Jim Parker said last time:
"Congressman, what is standing between us and our health care is not the government; it is the health insurance companies...." (applause)
Some people ask: where is Sanford Bishop (D GA-02)? Well, I'd like to see him do a health care town hall in Valdosta, but he only has a sliver of Lowndes County in his district, and he already did a thorough series of town halls, including the one in Albany. That one was well-attended by HCR supporters.
So let's go to Kingston's town hall. Dress conservatively. Speak politely. Be pithy. And make your point.
Oh, yeah, Kingston also said:
"If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." Timid or arrogant Democrats who conveniently use the wrath of a few protestors to cancel town meetings should be reminded that these words came from one of their own: Harry Truman.
So are we also too timid to show up and speak to Kingston?