Inevitable

[ericire12]

Yes-men only please!

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08082009/news/regionalnews/talking_stealth_care_183543.htm

WASHINGTON -- New York lawmakers are taking extraordinary steps to make sure their "town hall" meetings on health care don't become angry shouting matches or embarrassing clips on YouTube -- in some cases turning events into private, invitation-only affairs.

A handful of Democratic members of Congress across the country, including Rep. Tim Bishop of Long Island, have gotten booed and shouted down by crowds at meetings with their constituents, in what some charge is a coordinated nationwide effort by opponents.

But several area lawmakers are taking steps to minimize the chance that health-care critics will be able to protest.

* Rep. Steve Israel (D-LI) held a health-care "roundtable" Thursday night, but made the event "invitation only."

An Israel staffer who had been asked in advance about any planned town-hall meetings didn't respond to a Post inquiry until after the event was over.

* Rep. Scott Murphy of the Albany area didn't send out a release about a Tuesday health meeting until the next day, after the event was over.

The release described the event as a "small business roundtable" with business leaders.

The event wasn't included in the public schedule Murphy's office put out in advance.

Rep. Eric Massa of the Syracuse region had to move an event near Rochester outdoors after 500 people showed up at a facility that holds only 100. Massa is continuing to hold open town-hall meetings with his constituents.

Bishop is suspending public town-hall meetings until the end of August, after he got shouted down and faced angry constituents at an event and left with a police escort. The dramatic confrontation was put up on YouTube.

Other lawmakers are stressing "electronic town hall" formats, essentially conference calls that connect thousands of constituents, but where the lawmaker can cut off questioners at any time.

The new tactics came as town-hall meetings degenerated into angry shouting matches and even turned violent in some cases.

In Denver, where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to speak at a homeless clinic Thursday, angry opponents clashed outside.

In St. Louis, six people were arrested outside a packed forum hosted by Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.), while confrontations have occurred at Texas and Michigan events.

And in North Carolina, Congressman Brad Miller received a death threat for his support of health-care reform.

[cookie62]

That's the way to get feed back....................not

[MikeBjerum]

That's the way to get feed back....................not

It is the perfect way to get feedback ... the feedback that you want and that you want the press to see and hear 

[tombogan03884]

 It's the perfect insulation for the socialist coo coo land.

[twyacht]

It is always easier to retain any resemblance of a false dignity by hanging up on a conference call, than actually appearing in person and facing your constituents, and than skipping out the back door when the majority DISAGREES with you.

Cowards and gutless, bastards, I'm sure they can't wait for their "New" Gulfstream Jets and custom 737's to come home to us common folk...and haul ass back to Washington for the next session...

I found a nice wall here in S. Florida.. Old, thick, and stucco,, minimal ricochet.... Good back stop.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

 When I was in the Marines I went to Spain, while I was exploring Rota I found this little square, as I was looking over the buildings I kept seeing these "pock marks" about 4-5 feet off the ground, That was where the communists and Socialists were standing when Franco's troops shot them.

[Kid Shelleen]

More proof that they don't care what we or the Republican Party have to say or to contribute. With solid majorities in the House and the Senate and with BHO in the Whitehouse, they can do as they like and ignore us peons.

[MikeBjerum]

More proof that they don't care what we or the Rpublican Party have to say or to contribute. With solid majorities in the House and the Senate and with BHO in the Whitehouse, they can do as they like and ignore us peons.

And, throw in the rinos that they can use to say it was "bi partisan" makes it all the worse.