Posted on 08/13/2009 12:51:36 PM PDT by markomalley
Washington state Congressman Brian Baird is apologizing for his criticism of raucous town-hall meetings on health care, and is now scheduling some in-person meetings of his own.
The Vancouver Democrat recently said people disrupting other town halls were exhibiting a lynch mob mentality and close to Brownshirt tactics, a reference to Nazi stormtroopers.
But in a statement Wednesday, Baird says he was wrong to use those words. He also called for a more civil debate on health care, and said hes going to hold five town-hall meetings.
In his statement, he calls himself a huge advocate of town halls.
Frankly, I have had concerns about how we can have constructive dialogue and, unfortunately, in response to some of the things weve been seeing across the nation I have said some things myself that I regret, he said. I want to express that regret directly and announce that we will be holding a series of five town halls so people can express their opinions and ask questions.
The first meeting will be Tuesday at Skyview High School in Vancouver.
Hee-hee
Yes, the proverbial handwriting is appearing on the wall.
Very little about the Democrats is transparent except their hypocrisy.
Methinks too late. Mr. Baird, can you say “paper or plastic”? Of course you can!
Do not be decieved protesting Washington State residents: Baird STILL believes you are “Brown Shirts”, he just does not want you to know it becuase it is hurting his POLLING NUMBERS. Throw the bum out and replace Baird with a conservative who believes in upholding the U.S. Constitution and in the RIGHTS of American citizens to reject SOCIALISM and socialist government policies.
Dear Brian,
Too late!
The reason the town hall meetings are so angry is that we believe that Congress is not listening to us, and trying to ramrod the third major piece of legislation w/o listening to any dissent.
If we thought that Congress was listening to us, we’d talk. When they are not listening, we do something else.
ROFL
I thought the exact same thing.
These video of congressmen screaming at the voters and calling them names will make great commercials in 2010.
“These video of congressmen screaming at the voters and calling them names will make great commercials in 2010.”
Did anyone else see the videos of Arlen trying to keep his massive bouncers from throwing out that old guy (who later talked about standing before God)?
The look on Arlen’s face... basically that was the look of a man who knows that his chances for re-election just died in that moment.
Fascist regalia is always on the minds of today’s modern Democrats.
His SW Washington district...from Olympia to Vancouver...is as conservative as any west of the Rockies.
How he ever got elected there is baffling.
‘Methinks somebody got some polling back...’ Yes, indeed it appears this congressturd just hit the fan of internal polling.
20 Simple rules for Town Hall meetings by which elected officials should abide if they want to minimize unruley behavior:
(1) Come to the meeting with a truely open mind.
(2) Actually read than current version of the bill.
(3) Don’t lie or mislead about the contents of the bill since many in the audience have, in fact, read it.
(4) Realize that much of the anger is due to President Obama and your party in congress tying to ram this bill through with virtually no external review by the public. Accept that fact; you caused it, not us. That act alone casue our side to view your side as trying to hide something.
(5) Understand that this is a significant change in public policy. Like it was said, Pres Obama spent more time selecting a dog for his kids that Congress initiallowed for this to be reviewed.
(6) Don’t lie or mislead about the bill (repeat).
(7) Don’t claim that the President or anyone else has a particular position when there is recorded statements by that person(s) to the contrary. You come off as lying when you do or you are lying.
(8) Understand that talk doesn’t seem to work with you all (citizens talking to you). You are not listening. That’s why people get angry and scream to you.
(9) Either you or your party must quit calling your electorate extremists, Nazis, mobs and so on. And for God’s sake, don’t scold your audience. Have you lost your flippin’ minds. We elect you; not the other way around.
(10) Don’t imply or call us racists. It’s just not so. And if you think we are then you probably need help, really.
(11) We are not all part of a vast, organized right-wing movement. The overwhelming majority are individuals who are fed up with the direction the country is taking. You may pretend otherwise but you will discover you’re wrong that this, also.
(12) The telephone town halls are bullshit and just a way for you to hide form the public. Come out and take your bumps like a man/woman. You’re pushing this crap. At least be person enough to take the heat.
(13) Just admit that health care quality will go down under your plan, sepecially for senior citizens. If you don’t believe that you’re either too stupid to represent your voters or you’re lying.
(14) Just admit that it’s going to cost more and you’ll be raising taxes. Realize that taxing the rich can’t pay for all of this.
(15) Stop trying to cover illegal aliens when that’s only going to add to the cost. You can’t claim to be trying to reduce costs while your adding groups that will add significantly to the cost.
(16) There is no “right” to healthcare for anyone. If you can find that in the US Constitution bring the quote, but it’s not there and you know it. Don’t insult our intelligence that it’s there. Just becasue you say it’s a right doesn’t make it so.
(17) Accept the fact that by covering the poor you are enslaving the masses to work for the government to pay for them. It we fail to pay our taxes to fund this stuff we’ll be in jail and our property confiscated becasue you make up a claimed “right.”
(18) Don’t come and lie to us.
(19) Don’t stack the deck with your supporters and think nobody is watching. Slipping your people into a meeting in advance when everybody else has to wait in line is a fraud and you know it. And we know it. But, many of you don’t seem to care. You think you’re getting away with it, and to the media you might be. But to us, we know... we know.
(20) Tell your union buddies that bringing out the thugs is not going to calm things down.
- BFM
That would make a great bumper sticker!
Correction... 22 Rules...
(21) Try to, at least, occasionally consider the limits of the government as defined by our own US Constitition. Actually read the Constitution once in a while and realize the limits it placed on YOU and your associates. You may not read it or care whet it says by many of us out here do.
(22) Finally, try to remember that this is OUR money and not yours. We worked for it and WE should get to decide where and how to spend it. Not YOU!
Last week a Seattle talk radio host was reaming him a new one over the "brownshirts" comment and his chickensh*t plan to do only "telephone" meetings.
There can only be ONE reason for this- you’re right.
The Demodogs are finally starting to realize that we are serious about the tar and feathers right now.
It would be wise for conservatives who desire a successful political career to take note of the real attitude of the country.
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