So I'm watching this town hall...

**R13** · August 11th, 2009, 10:43 AM

meeting Specter is holding up in Penn right now. I originally thought that the morons were just being focused on and most weren't being shown...but most I've seen are either A) Obviously using talking points B) Just plain stupid. There are definitely some that are curious and have good questions, others act like small children. As I'm watching, it's sorta calmed down...when I first turned it on, it was like a consolidation meeting. I see why now the movement lost steam with Clinton and the rest, it's the immaturity/stupidity/lies etc of these idiots like I'm seeing right now. Props to the ones like Specter that hold these, I wouldn't have much patience with these people. Then you have the Palins fueling the fire with her(as usual) stupid remarks. Ahhhh.

Oh, just cut in with Breaking News...a dem congressman in GA woke up with swastikas on his office(might have been home, but think they said office.) Pretty sickening and embarrassing to the country with both of these groups.

**MikeJones** · August 11th, 2009, 11:07 AM

I bet you have Al Franken posters on your wall

**Gotch** · August 11th, 2009, 11:45 AM

The left has always been on the giving end of loud and somewhat obnoxious protest and dissent. It is understandable that those use to dishing it out are having a hard time in receiving the same in stride.

These people have every right to do what they are doing and you have every right to your opinion of them. They are certainly no lesser informed nor any more organized than any number of previous groups of protesters on the left.

One of the few thing that W. did well was handle dissent, he tended to assert the simple fact that this was their right, shrug them off and continue with what he was doing. The wrong way to handle it was clearly demonstrated by that Ga. congressman recently who came off as a complete idiot and a bully.

My opinion on health care is that the current system is broken beyond repair, it needs to be scraped and this bill doesn't do that. My opinion would surely put me at odds with these protesters, but I still fully and completely defend their right to do what they are doing

**CoeburnCane** · August 11th, 2009, 12:20 PM

I fully support their rights too, as long as they're not being lied to and incited by the likes of FreedomWorks.org and Americans for Prosperity.

There are GOP PAC's (who, by the way, deny that's what they are) that are sending buses to take these people to town halls across the country to simply disrupt things as opposed to join in the discussion and dialogue that's needed on the health care issues.

Those with a legitimate beef who want to discuss things--not a problem.

Those who are there just to show off their signs of Obama with a Hitler moustache and to shout down anyone who's legitimately trying to discuss the issue at hand--I have zero patience for. They're destructive and should be taken away from these meetings b/c they're not furthering the discussion with hate speech and by parroting Fox News talking points.

**R13** · August 11th, 2009, 12:55 PM

There's a big difference in protesting outside or opposing the bill, then to purposely try to bring down the meeting. No one said they never had the right to protest, but somethings are just ridiculous. Even the guy today who is wearing a pistol outside the town hall Obama himself is giving at 1, that's completely stupid and taking things too far to make their "statement". Sad part is that it's being fueled by the "leaders" of the right.

**Gotch** · August 11th, 2009, 12:58 PM

You can't start rationing free speech just because people are "organized" or expressing an unpopular view or exhibiting untasteful tactics. That would be an extremely dangerous and slippery sloop.

There are limits to free speech, bad taste isn't one of those limits.

**Gotch** · August 11th, 2009, 01:03 PM

I'll guarantee you no one is going to be getting anywhere close to Obama with a pistol on their side.

Free speech is a right both indoors and outdoors.

**CoeburnCane** · August 11th, 2009, 01:06 PM

Free speech is great...disruption of a civil, organized meeting for no other reason than hate and to parrot talking-points isn't.

By disrupting these meetings, these people are infringing upon the free speech rights of the people who are there for the purpose of the meeting. Everyone seems to forget that piece of it though.

What they're doing by disrupting these meetings is the political equivalent of yelling "fire" in a crowded movie theater. Free speech sure, tolerated--no.

**R13** · August 11th, 2009, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Gotch

I'll guarantee you no one is going to be getting anywhere close to Obama with a pistol on their side.

Free speech is a right both indoors and outdoors.

There is a guy who is outside with a pistol stapped to him, they were showing the vid on Fox and MSNBC earlier. I do doubt he'll be allowed that close and that he has a sniper assigned to watch him, but I don't get why you would bring it into a crowd/protest and to the one he's at. Actually I do know, it's for attention and nothing more.

**R13** · August 11th, 2009, 01:05 PM

Again there's a difference than someone who opposes and being rational, asking questions and all...than yelling, calling names, not even asking a question, disrupting for the sake of disrupting. They have received far more patience than I think they deserve, this is the ones acting like children throwing a hissy fit. If someone wants to speak out, ask questions, cool...I've seen many who do just that, but the ones acting like idiots are drowning out the rest - both for and against.