I attended Jesse Jackson Jr's (IL-02) townhall meeting to discuss health care on Tuesday. I've tried to get to as many townhalls as I can in the area, and I've watched them on TV. I have a fair idea of what to expect when I arrive at a meeting. My republican rep holds insider events that are not really townhalls. She doesn't produce alternatives, and she's become adept at the scare tactics. Once she's off her talking points, she's lost. I've heard other republican reps, too. Some are better speakers, but none with solid alternatives that they can produce. None of their ideas have been submitted to any accounting office so I'd be able to compare them with HR3200. These affairs are not well advertised and often only "invited guests" get in.
I showed up at Jesse Jackson Jr.'s townhall, which was open to everyone, expecting that teabaggers, conservatives, Larouchies, Republicans, and the whole cast of anti-health care crowd would attend. Finally, a chance for them to take a progressive politician on. Location near two large airports and just off two major interstate highways, so there would be no problem with transportation. Given their presence, the Chicago Police felt the same way.
But, nary a one of them showed up.
According to the comments to my previous diary. The general feeling seems to be that anti-reform people aren't that stupid. They would have no benefit to showing up with their hateful signs and guns in IL-02. Some said it's such a blue district that the red viewpoint would be lost. But I tend to look at this a different way, and I'm calling all of them out on their behavior. They had their chance to put up or shut up last night, and then chickened out.
Sure, teabaggers, it's OK to send your women to rant at Barney Frank and throw the word Nazi at him like it's no big deal. What big, brave Americans you are to do that.
And, yeah, gun-toting goons. You are so badass to show up with your weapons in Arizona. Pose pretty for the cameras now, yahear? I do understand where you're coming from. My children never wanted to take off their favorite Halloween costumes, either, no matter that it was way past the appropriate time to wear them. It's an important lesson that someone should have taught you by now. Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you SHOULD. Go speak with your mothers.
Oh, and I'm supposed to think you're all just so tough and scarey to deal with when you shout down and try to intimidate the likes of Claire McCaskill? Well, end result for the cameras was that you pretty much got schooled by the teacher.
You all applaud when Sammy Whatzagruder (Joe the Plumber. I'm not sure how to spell his last name and do not respect him enough to bother looking it up.)says he wants to beat up a 68 year old woman just because she disagrees with him on some issues. Well, quit backing losers and quitters and maybe you'll someday find a woman you can support. Until then, yeah - Nancy Pelosi is a strong hard-working woman who has earned her position in our government whether you like her ideas or not. And you are inferior to that. You prove it every time you open your mouth and can do nothing but make threats to her as your only rebuttal.
And you passed up this golden opportunity in IL-02? Well, I'm calling you all cowards and bullies. Whatsa matter Freedom Works? Couldn't get anyone to sign up for this one? If any of you truly believed the crap you're spouting, you would have been there to have these people see and hear your viewpoint. Why didn't you think it was worthwhile to have them hear the "other side" if you think what you're saying is valid? Why didn't you want to ask Mr. Jackson any of your burning questions? You like your look on TV when you're screaming and foaming at the mouth at me, but you don't want to run the risk of having people in IL-02 look at you like the freaks you are and just pass you by? Yeah, I can see where you might not want to put yourself in that position. No way to twist that into any good propaganda.
Or do you think that the people of IL-02 are irrelevant? Well, I was there, and I can tell you they are very relevant. Nurses, doctors and a variety of citizens spoke. They were positive, had intelligent questions that you could have learned from, and they want what's best for America and all her citizens. They ARE the working people of America. Once again, a little history lesson about just what's made this country work the past century. It was all of those steel workers and nurses and guys on the night shift.
And I cannot say the same for any of you antis. I don't see any heart in any of you. Part of being pro-American is caring about ALL Americans, even the ones working the night shift.
I'm not looking for violence. I've read diaries and seen press reports for weeks now about progressives, liberals, Democrats and pro-health care reform people showing up at town hall meetings even though they knew they were going to be outnumbered. They showed up with their signs and took all the abuse. And they never started any fights. They carried no weapons or signs that advocate violence. They were trying to educate everyone about their viewpoint. They were trying to get people to think of health care as a right of all American citizens. Win or lose, they care about America and all its people. I do not see that with the anti crowd at all.