I know I'm second to publish about this, and if folks ask I'll take it down. But I had a slightly different perspective, and I wanted to share as well.
I've been asked to keep this up, but post a link to MMiddle's diary, which I recommend, and where zipn has a comment that links to a picture.
And thanks for the Rec List, folks.
I’m just back from Steve Cohen’s Town Hall, and thought folks might want to know how it went.
First, I saw no birther signs. But the teabaggers were out in force, including distributing invitations to the next tea party. Sorry, I gave mine back, so I don’t know when and where it is.
The meeting was held in a large room at Bridges, a social service agency that tries to build unity across primarily racial divides. To our south, quite prominently, was St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, to our north was not an area I’d go after dark. Thus, both inside and outside were the stark contrasts that mark this city in particular and this debate in general.
Getting in the meeting was relatively easy, although the line was long people were asked to put their questions, along with their names and addresses on cards. City police, county sheriff’s deputies, and private security were all present and visible. But this is Tennessee, so the first announcement of the meeting asked those with carry permits (which I don’t think the Congressman’s staff had known could legally be brought in the meeting) to report to police or sheriff officers. This was roundly booed, and I didn’t see anyone move. But they were warned. Then folks were asked to stand if they were from the district, and about half the crowd was.
This meeting’s original intent was to introduce both Washington and district staff, with the expectation that there would be some constituent services work done. The out of towners , of course, didn’t want to listen to this, and began to shout things like, "Get to the questions." Steve held his ground and introduced all of his staff, although things were to loud to hear all the names.
The thing I wish Steve hadn’t done was ask any doctors present to speak first. Did he think doctors would be liberal? He thereby gave voice to every right-wing talking point you have heard. Several times he had to follow a doctor by saying "It’s not in the bill." I remember this especially with care for illegal aliens, but abortion and euthanasia both came up. The most prominent sign in the room was "don’t kill my GiGi." When Steve specifically said there was nothing in the bill to do this, and praised his family’s experience with hospice, he was roundly booed. I was especially appalled by the doctor who whined about the pay scale in the bill, and then said that his daughter had wanted to go to the lake house that day, but that he had said he needed to come to this meeting. And I was pleased that Steve pointed out that the federal government funds medical education and residencies and hospitals, including, of course, St. Jude.
It was interesting to watch which questions got right wing applause and which didn’t. I had been in line with some out of towners, and I watched their reactions. "I’m trying to work with the VA to get the best possible administrator for Memphis’ hospital," didn’t get applause. Reading the headline from the local paper, "American Economy Shows Life" garnered heavy boos. I thought it was deft of Steve to ask how many of those boos were for America. When he asked how many were booing the paper, he got a few folks to admit to that.
In the end, nothing much happened. Every time Steve would deny the rumors, right-wingers called him a liar. But the police presence kept a lid on things very well. (I saw one woman who was starting to get worked up get asked to take a seat.) One of the doctors compared the crowd to putting a Memphis basketball crowd and a Louisville crowd in the same room, and it was an apt comparison. Everyone believed that they were right when they came in and believed the same when they left. Given the present climate, I think that’s the best we could hope for.
I want to close with praise for Steve Cohen. He’s in a tough race next year. A very popular yet completely incompetent former (Thank God) Memphis mayor is running against him. We on the left must be very careful not to push Steve into places that will give Herenton an opening. If you liked Harold Ford, you’ll love Willie Herenton. I, too, am proud to have Steve Cohen as my Congressman.
