Shouting Activists Pack Rep. Moran's Town Hall in Virginia

Wall Street Journal ^ | August 26, 2009 | LOUISE RADNOFSKY

[La Lydia]

RESTON, Va. -- Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Moran faced a storm at a town hall meeting in his Northern Virginia district Tuesday night, with thousands of shouting activists packed into a high school gymnasium to argue for and against a health care overhaul, flanked by dozens of police officers, television cameras and Washington reporters.

A rabbi's opening prayer and a Boy Scout troop's recitation of the pledge of allegiance at the start of the meeting failed to calm the crowd, which had begun competing chants almost as soon as they took their seats. Hundreds of supporters of the president yelled, "Health care reform under attack! What do we do? Stand up, fight back" and "What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now."

Others in the audience were just as loud when they booed Mr. Moran as he entered the auditorium, and individual opponents of an overhaul yelled out responses to nearly all of the congressman's remarks.

The meeting in the suburbs of the capital attracted campaigners for both Democratic and Republican candidates in the state's gubernatorial race, which is being closely fought. Mr. Moran, who is known for his blunt speaking style, was accompanied on the platform by former Vermont governor and Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean. It was the congressman's first public meeting on health care.

The approximately 3,000 people seated in the auditorium were allowed to carry in signs and placards and were joined by national activists, including anti-abortion campaigner Randall Terry....

[La Lydia]

This guy holds his town hall meeting as far away from the population center of his congressional district as he could get.

[Patrick1]

I checked out some of it on CSPAN, what a zoo.

[Wpin]

The democrat bastards are running scared, as evidenced by Moran’s overreaction to several anti socialism protesters.

[MadIsh32]

He is such a jackass. I have met him far too many times at VA political events and he is a jackass. Thats the only way to describe Rep. Moran. I cannot wait till we get rid of him

[RexBeach]

Mr. Moran still sounds like he lives in Malden, Ma.

Hmmph.

So, shouldn’t the health care supporters be chanting “we want higher taxes!” “When do we want them? Now!”

Geez.

[icwhatudo]

“What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now.”

This chant is used at many of these events. At a town hall in Maryland-we were able to turn it against them by yelling “Our money!” each time they yelled “what do we want?”

[popdonnelly]

“Health care reform under attack! What do we do? Stand up, fight back” and “What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now.”

Sounds like an “organized mob” to me. Not very persuasive chants. They were probably invited by Moran’s staff.

[La Lydia]

The SEIU brought them in by the busload.

[popdonnelly]

“This chant is used at many of these events.”

Having seen the public response to healthcare reform, the Democrats have decided to create a new public.

[popdonnelly]

“The SEIU brought them in by the busload.”

I figured it was either the SEIU or ACORN. The Democrats have to work hard to get a favorable “mob”.

[txroadkill]

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Moran faced a storm at a town hall meeting in his Northern Virginia district Tuesday night, with thousands of shouting activists packed into a high school gymnasium to argue for and against a health care overhaul, flanked by dozens of police officers, television cameras and Washington reporters.

A rabbi's opening prayer and a Boy Scout troop's recitation of the pledge of allegiance at the start of the meeting ...

What was he trying to do, get the moonbats to riot?

[KansasGirl]

“What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now.”

They sound like a bunch of spoiled children. I don’t think that chant helps their cause.

[pnh102]

This guy holds his town hall meeting as far away from the population center of his congressional district as he could get.

I think it would be for other reason. Moran's seat is a safe, solid Democrat constituency so he really has nothing to fear regarding voter wrath.

But what is the story with Randall Terry? If he was indeed offered a speaking opportunity by Moran, why not take it?

[Don Corleone]

“What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now.”

Right out of the old SDS 60's 70's playbook. SOS once again!

[La Lydia]

He held it in Reston so all of us would have to drive out there, which involves paying for the toll road. Moron hasn’t scheduled a town meeting in Alexandria or Arlington, the population centers of his district. In addition to being a jackass, he is a coward. I don’t know what the deal is with Randall Terry. I think he was there because it was his best chance to get in Howard Dean’s face.

[GOPsterinMA]

“All we are saying, is pay your own bills!”

[incredulous joe]

http://www.wmal.com/Article.asp?id=1471998

Thou shalt not speak out against your overlords!

[incredulous joe]

“We won’t pay for murder! We won’t pay for murder!”

[La Lydia]

Though shalt not fail to capitalize “Overlords.” Give them their due.

[freespirited]

I watched part of it on CSPAN. I dont think Moran has read the bill. If he has, he is quite the liar.

[Dawgreg]

Is Jim “Moron” up for reelection next year? I hope so and I hope his constituents see what a pompous ass he really is....of course his voters may be just like him. They’re out there and they vote.:(

[angkor]

Under the dictionary definition for "gerrymander" you will find Jim Moron's 8th congressional district, the entire left half of which was granted to him in 2002.

He chose to hold his "town hall" way out left in Reston, which is 10 to 25 miles distant by car from 80 percent of his constituents.

During DC rush hour.

Good planning Jim (although I have no doubt that the extremely inconvenient venue and time were both 100 percent intentional).

By the way, Moron's staff removed a map (very similar to the one shown below) from his web site within the past week or two, replacing it with a less starkly ridiculous Google Map. I guess the gerrymandering looked silly to them as well, because I hotlinked it to Free Republic several times recently, and it must have caught their attention.

[angkor]

>>> If he has, he is quite the liar. <<<

Yes, Moron is quite the liar.

[Tribune7]

I’d love to see him go down.

[angkor]

>>>> I cannot wait till we get rid of him <<<<<

The silly twits of Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, and now Reston will not get rid of him until he dies of cirrosis.

[La Lydia]

All members of Congress have to run for re-election ever two years. The trouble is, there are several People’s Republics in his district (thanks, Virginia House of Delegates). so it has proved extremely hard to get rid of him. In addition to being a Socialist, he is a violent drunk who has 1) attacked a 9-year-old boy and accused the boy of trying to steal his car and 2) beat up his wife on the front lawn of their house in front of multiple witnesses and HE STILL GETS RE-ELECTED BY THE IDIOTS that surround me here.

[angkor]

>>>> He held it in Reston so all of us would have to drive out there, which involves paying for the toll road. <<<<

During rush hour!

Good tactical move to evade your consitutents, Moron!

[patton]

Well, you know darn well I didn’t vote for him!

[Bigg Red]

They were probably invited by Moran’s staff.

&&&&
Yesterday someone posted an email sent out to Rats telling them come out to support the socialist plan. They were even told to wear blue shirts and to come early to be seated.

[xsmommy]

thanks for posting it, i was unaware that it was as ridiculous as that looks! It would take, at the very LEAST, an hour, to get to Reston from Alexandria during rush hour.

[KC_Conspirator]

Yeah, whats next, the "Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho" chant?

I know some people who attended last night out of their own concern as a citizen.

[GOPsterinMA]

Damn - that’s a good one!

[La Lydia]

Excellent map. Thank you so much for making my point for me better than I did!

[maggief]

[dusttoyou]

democrat bastards are running scared

Watched some of this on FNC and it was hilarious seeing moron and dean with the disbelief and fear in their eyes! The fear is not of the crowd, but of their future.
Almost as nice as the fantastic teddy news this morning.

The dems are getting the sinking feeling they have pooped in their nest. Negabama will be next under the dem bus.

[piytar]

And apparently they were still vastly outnumbered...

[mware]

How about Moran yellin' into the microphone,

"Throw them out, they do not belong here"

[kabar]

He won with 68% of the vote last time. I doubt he will be defeated. I wish we had a good candidate to go against him.

[maggief]

Check this out!

Austin Morrill of Annandale, Va. , who supports health care reform, rallies the crowd before the start of a town hall style meeting on health care reform hosted by former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean and Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va. , at South Lakes High School in Reston, Va. , Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. AP Photo

Opponents of the health care reform bill shout at former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean at a town hall style meeting on health care reform with Dean and Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va. , at South Lakes High School in Reston, Va. , Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. AP Photo

[incredulous joe]

Technically, it probably would have been better if Terry had someone from Moran’s district to lead the charge.

Still it’s a free country? Right?

[angkor]

Here's the original image from his web site. It's still sitting there on the server, but it's no longer linked and displayed on any web page.

Obviously it's too embarrassing.

http://moran.house.gov/images/district_map.jpg

[kabar]

I was there last night. There is no doubt that Obama’s Organizing for America had stacked the deck. They handed out the signs and had the Obamabots serve as props. It is really amazing the the Dems have to go to such lengths to combat real citizens who are self-organized and self-motivated. Despite that, Moran couldn’t control the event.

[La Lydia]

Despite that, Moran couldn’t control the event.

Very telling.

[kabar]

Moran had everyone fill out a form with name, address, email address, and a photo ID to get in. SEIU goons were at the door.

[angkor]

>>> I hope his constituents see what a pompous ass he really is <<<<

His core constituency in Arlington is right up there with the
People’s Republic Of Cambridge (Mass.) and Berserkely, Calif.

[incredulous joe]

“I’d love to see him go down.”

I’m not sure that is going to happen.

Regardless, I think this kind of stuff helps to charge the base in the more conservative regions of the Old Dominion.

I also believe that it creates an opportunity for the indies and mods to wake-up.

Moran says that he will not support a bill that does not include “public option” many who are not politically inclined don’t even know what this means or how much it will cost them.

We now have the opportunity ~ and obligation ~ to dialogue and educate our neighbors. Real “over the hedge” style grassroots.

VA will be a red state after the next election.

[xsmommy]

That map is every bit as ridiculous as the fact that he is continually re-elected, being the horses ass that he is.

[incredulous joe]

What was it like outside?

[tflabo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FDx-wkhr9c

Heres the vid.

[oh8eleven]

Watched some of this on FNC and it was hilarious seeing moron and dean with the disbelief and fear in their eyes!
I saw the fear in their eyes too and cheered!

"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny;
when the government fears the people, there is liberty." - Thomas Jefferson