Comments on: LaRouchies, Assorted Right Wing Kooks and Obama With Hitler Moustache At David Wu Town Hall

By: bluebanshee

bluebanshee — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:16:39 +0000

Not only was there the “Obama with Hitler moustache” poster at the David Wu town hall but the LaRouchies had lots of other Nazi stuff on display. What kooks!

By: tokyo2la

tokyo2la — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:09:57 +0000

These stupid Larouchies were at the town hall that I went to last night in Monterey. Their Hitler posters were certainly not welcome. I, who rarely engage such people, even told one of them that whatever serious point they would have would be lost because of such a stupid poster. Another refused to say where he was coming from, just saying he was from the United States. My point was that since time with our congressman is limited that only locals should be able to attend. The town hall was packed and I had to stand in the foyet with 100 or so other people because the 200+ auditorium was full 45 minutes before it started.

By: bluebanshee

bluebanshee — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:03:21 +0000

David Wu is having another town hall today at Good Samaritan Hospital. Tom, it would be great if you could be there to present a sane, common-sense perspective and ask a good question. I agree with you that name-calling (”weasel words”) does not help the discussion or elicit willingness to vote for the bill the way we want our congresscritter to.

I was at the Wu town hall yesterday and did not get into the room (Jane quotes me at the start of this article). However, there were lots of opportunities for productive conversations between citizens outside the room. Some folks got educated by their fellow Oregonians — others, not so much, as their minds were not open to reality.

By: paz3

paz3 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:06:55 +0000

Wu is my congressman, and I am sure that calling his rhetoric “weasel words” will endear his critics to him, and make him really eager to vote against any bill lacking a strong public option.

A little maturity might be appropriate at times. Is there some satisfaction in vitriolic name-calling that I don’t get? Please inform me, I hate being left out.

Tom Finlay
Saint Helens, Oregon
1st Congressional Dist - Oregon

By: plaidsportcoat

plaidsportcoat — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:15:31 +0000

My local progressive talk radio station carries CBS Radio Newscasts. This morning, August 11, I heard the following:
“The White House is setting out to debunk WHAT IT SEES AS LIES AND MISINFORMATION.”
Next, in the ten-second-type ,they mentioned an Arlen Specter town hall that was held last night. They played one anti-reform sound bite. I called the head of their radio newscasts and left a message and the guy called me back right away and we had a discussion. I said that the White House was actually going to be debunking some lies and misinformation, so why did they phrase it as “what they see as” lies and misinformation. His reply was that lies and misinformation are in the eye of the beholder. I asked if there were actually such a thing as a “fact” and if there were actually such a thing as “lies” and “misinformation” or do those things not exist, in his world, because “there is always another side”. I asked how he could recognize and report news as though there is no such thing as a fact, lies, or misinformation. So, that was about as far as we got. He protested that they also have sound clips of pro-reform protesters. I would LOVE to be referred to someone who monitors CBS radio newscasts. This guy told me he would read the script and see if he could see what I was saying. Anyhow, just call if you hear slanted news. He had the manners and “listening attitude” down pat - but you know which side his bread is buttered on. Here’s his info:

Harvey Nagler
CBS Radio: Newscasts department
(212) 975-2685

By: joanneleon

joanneleon — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:44:55 +0000

Strongly agree. Specter’s support for the public option was always bogus, IMHO. To get a sense of how he really feels about it, just think about the first few days after he changed parties. In a tv interview he was asked if he would support a public plan and he answered, without hesitation, “No”. That was around the same time that he declared to the nation that he would never be a loyal Democrat.

Then when he got a primary contender, he waffled. Then he supported it. Now he is waffling again, saying we should “explore” it. He’s also trying to use the excuse with the Lebanon crowd that there is no bill in the Senate yet. That drew a great round of boos for him too.

Is it just me or has everyone, including Specter, forgotten that legislation which requires revenue and spending originates in the *House*?

Constitution Article 1 Section 7
All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

I maintain my opinion that the Senate is ground zero of the problems in this country.

By: plaidsportcoat

plaidsportcoat — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:43:56 +0000

I attended Congressman Sam Farr’s Town Hall in Monterey last night. People from BOTH SIDES were lined up before 5 pm for a 6 pm “show.” I got there at 6 pm and there was a crowd of at least 200 in the street outside. While driving to the place, I heard a caller to the local progressive talk radio. He was in line behind a group of anti-reform people with signs and he could hear them plotting their “strategy”. I asked several people who left at about 7:30 what it was like inside – they said people were being civil. It was carried live on the local right wing radio station (- cool! but I want to be there to see) Outside there were 2 young people, a woman and a man, both Black. They had huge posters of Obama with a Hitler moustache – yes, LaRouchies. Pro and anti reform people were mingling for 2 hours with no problems (the policce had shut the little street off) but the folks who left early told me the questions being asked by BOTH sides were so rhetorical it was hard to get any real information. Several older Black people stopped to talk to the young woman. They were civil to her but as they walked away, they told me they were extremely upset about what her presence implicates for the US. A holocaust survivor also spoke with the young woman. For these people, it was terrible to see Obama called Hitler. An 18-year old outgay high school student conversed with the young man LaRoucie. He told him that Hitler had killed gays and blacks. The LaRouchie denied that was true. This is a scary indication of how people choose to believe lies that are easily shown to be false.
Sam Farr, who sponsors single payer bills, has added several more town halls and larger venues to his calendar. He deserves our support.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:22:09 +0000

the people of Lebanon aren’t crazier than people anywhere else.

By: ghostof911

ghostof911 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:15:44 +0000

Thanks. Snarlin’ is certainly not the darlin’ of inner-city Philly. Rendell and Obama simply need to tone down their endorsement and Singleshot is toast.

By: Twain

Twain — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:12:18 +0000

Specter waffles on everything constantly dancing back and forth. I can’t imagine how he decides which suit to wear.