Last evening, September 1, 2009, Michael Steele held a townhall at my alma mater, Howard University in Washington, DC. CSPAN broadcasted it live. The College Republicans and Democrats both sponsored the event and I believe some people from nearby George Washington University may have attended as well.
I watched Steele speak the whole time and was waiting for him to say something stupid but, alas, he didn't. He didn't even say "baby" at the end of his sentences a la a 1970's street pimp, like he often does. The event was pretty mundane and Steele asked several students what they planned on doing after college. Almost all said they planned to go to law school. Ugghhh, we don't need anymore lawyers (and I am one)! Graduate/professional school is always a refuge for recent graduates looking for work in a bad economy.
Anyhoo, Steele discussed his biography and gave excuses as to why he is a republican. He also issued the normal platitudes to those seeking public office about how they should serve the will of Cigna, Aetna, the people. I was beginning to think there would be no discussion of health care. Steele finally got to that subject and something interesting happened. Watch the 2:14 mark in the video below
The lady confronting Steele is named Amanda Duzak whose mother died of cancer due to lack of insurance. Though Ms. Duzak disrupted Steele, she waited patiently for him to discuss health care before interrupting him. There's no comparison of her disruption to the antics of the deathers who are, most likely, anti-Obama protestors and not so much anti-public option malcontents.