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Georgia Democrat yells at local doctor over health care

If they were truly being disruptive, cops would be handing out citations for disturbing the peace. Angry citizens are going to shout. The way to avoid that is for their representatives to not make them angry in the first place.

Town Halls never strictly adhere to Robert's Rules of Order. It's rather pathetic that the only response the Anti-Republicans have to the ad hoc anger of citizens is to complain about being the focal point of that anger.

People are pissed. The Anti-Republicans need to take two steps back and ask themselves why that is.

Some people are missed. We can even say that many people are pissed, or even that the current majority is as well. But there is a great many who are not, and they, too, are attending these meetings. Are those individuals who support the Democratic health care reform policy simply supposed to sit there and listen to the angry rants of those who oppose it? No, I don't think so. They, too, deserve to hear what their representatives have to say. And if they support Obama's health care reform, then they should be able to say so, or ask the questions that they want to ask without having their representive shouted down by an unruly mob.

I'm not hearing a lot of focus on those people. Instead, we seem to be focusing on those who oppose Obama and the Dems at the town hall meetings, and claiming how wrong it is that they are being shuffled out of the area whenever they're so unruly as to totally disrupt the meeting where nothing more gets presented. It's great that they are so passionate and all, but I disagree with what they are saying. Many other Americans do, too.

Now, regarding this particular town hall meeting, i'd say the representative overreacted. The doctor had a legitimate question, and I didn't hear a large section of the crowd ranting against the representative, so I think his reaction was over the top.
 
The doctor in the video was very confrontational from the get go. Maybe he had a valid question but he chose the wrong venue and the wrong tone to ask it.
Wrong venue? Wrong tone?

So people can only ask questions when it suits the Congressman?

Elected officials are public servants. They do as we tell them. We do not wait on their pleasure, they wait on ours.

EVERY venue is appropriate for the public to ask Congress questions on every topic. If unRepresentative Scott has a problem with that, he needs to find himself a new job.
 
The video of the incident is here:11Alive.com | Atlanta, GA | Video

I don't think anyone was out line. The comments he made were directed at the group rather than the doctor and he seemed pissed that he got a health care reform question when they asked for questions on the topic at hand, a road project, he then told all the health care meeting was on another date in another place and gave information for the meeting.

Make no mistake, the congressmen who will presumably be voting for the bill when it comes up know they are under attack by powerful interests do not be surprised when they act defensively or get upset when someone hands them a loaded question.

The doctor in the video was very confrontational from the get go. Maybe he had a valid question but he chose the wrong venue and the wrong tone to ask it.

After watching the whole video, I retract my earlier comments. Rep Scott was patient with the health care question's, answered despite it not being the topic for the town hall, and informed people when the two health care town halls where scheduled. He was surprisingly patient with some one who was hijacking a meeting with voters on an entirely different topic.
 
Georgia Democrat yells at local doctor over health care - The Back Story - Washington Times



The Anti-Republicans are irritated at voters for asking questions. Probably because they don't have any good answers.

I'm not anti-Republican, I'm just anti-idiot. And anyone who shows up at a Town Hall type meeting to deliberately disrupt the DISCUSSION is an idiot and an asshole.

How many versions of the same story are you going to post, Celtic?

Yeah, we get it, a lot of assholes are trying to rattle folks by going to Town Hall meeting and being loud and obnoxious.
 
I'd also like to point out, that all you see from these various town hall meetings, is a 2 minute clip of a disruption taking place. What you don't see, is the other 1 or 2 hours of the meeting where those pissed off people haven't disrupted anything, and allowed their Representative to present their point of view and discuss local business.

Take a look at some of the videos of how the left conducts itself at various speaking events, where they don't agree with the person speaking, and you will see quite a different approach. They very often don't allow the person to even speak at all.

Whether organized or not, the people showing up at these town hall meetings are pissed off and have legitimate concerns. It's obvious from the videos we've seen the past week, that they aren't there to shut down opposing views, but to make sure theirs are heard.

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After watching the whole video, I retract my earlier comments. Rep Scott was patient with the health care question's, answered despite it not being the topic for the town hall, and informed people when the two health care town halls where scheduled. He was surprisingly patient with some one who was hijacking a meeting with voters on an entirely different topic.
And then decided, after consultation with his handlers, to stand up and throw a little smackdown at someone who had the temerity to ask a question.

The doctor was not rude, he offered facts, not insults, and got no answers, and it's the Congressman who gets mad?

unRepresentative Scott seems to have forgotten what "public servant" means. One of his constituents asked a question, got blown off, which means unRepresentative Scott should be apologetic, not apoplectic.
 
Wrong venue? Wrong tone?

So people can only ask questions when it suits the Congressman?

Elected officials are public servants. They do as we tell them. We do not wait on their pleasure, they wait on ours.

EVERY venue is appropriate for the public to ask Congress questions on every topic. If unRepresentative Scott has a problem with that, he needs to find himself a new job.

This meeting was not organized by the congressman but by another group interested in a road project. He was there as a guest speaker. Further there should be a level of decorum in public meetings, had the doctor simply asked "Mr. Congressman, What are your views on health care reform? How are we going to pay for it?" He would have probably gotten a different reaction.
The doctor started out confrontational and the congressman was defensive.

They may be public servants but you do not talk to them in the same tone that you scold the guy who mows your grass for running over your flower bed. That's why when I am talking about politician no matter how much I think they are screwed up or wrong I don't make stupid puns from their names or disrespect the office they hold and the same would go if I were talking to them. I have always used the proper honorific and the correct name when discussing any president or congressman and the you would do well doing the same. Your silly names for Democrats just makes you look silly.
 
They may be public servants but you do not talk to them in the same tone that you scold the guy who mows your grass for running over your flower bed. That's why when I am talking about politician no matter how much I think they are screwed up or wrong I don't make stupid puns from their names or disrespect the office they hold and the same would go if I were talking to them. I have always used the proper honorific and the correct name when discussing any president or congressman and the you would do well doing the same. Your silly names for Democrats just makes you look silly.
I talk to them in exactly that same tone, because they are on that level.

Actually they are below that level--the guy mowing my lawn is actually providing a worthwhile service. The nimrods in Washington only manage to gobble up my tax dollars and demand more.
 
I'd also like to point out, that all you see from these various town hall meetings, is a 2 minute clip of a disruption taking place. What you don't see, is the other 1 or 2 hours of the meeting where those pissed off people haven't disrupted anything, and allowed their Representative to present their point of view and discuss local business.

Take a look at some of the videos of how the left conducts itself at various speaking events, where they don't agree with the person speaking, and you will see quite a different approach. They very often don't allow the person to even speak at all.

I'd say that's not correct at all. While there are those on the left who do such things, there are those on the right who do as well. It seems like you attempting to portray the left in general as an affiliation who does not respect those on the right whenever they speak, whereas the right is an affiliation of folks who in general always respect those on the left up until a certain point. I disagree.

Whether organized or not, the people showing up at these town hall meetings are pissed off and have legitimate concerns. It's obvious from the videos we've seen the past week, that they aren't there to shut down opposing views, but to make sure theirs are heard.

Then they should do just that - express their concerns. The doctor in the video expressed his, and there was no unruly mob of conservatives shouting down the representative. But there have been a few videos posted which show such things taking place, with little or no concern for those who showed up in support of their representative and health care reform.

I think the representative overreacted, but after watching the whole video, he was fair. He told the doctor and the crowd the date of the upcoming health care meeting, where it was going to be held, and invited everyone to come, not just the supporters but the dissenters in that crowd, too.
 
And then decided, after consultation with his handlers, to stand up and throw a little smackdown at someone who had the temerity to ask a question.

The doctor was not rude, he offered facts, not insults, and got no answers, and it's the Congressman who gets mad?

unRepresentative Scott seems to have forgotten what "public servant" means. One of his constituents asked a question, got blown off, which means unRepresentative Scott should be apologetic, not apoplectic.

What he should have done is flat out told the guy asking the question that he was going to talk on the issue on the 24th and 28th, and he could respect the people here to talk about the topic at hand. He was actually politer than he needed to be.
 
I talk to them in exactly that same tone, because they are on that level.

Actually they are below that level--the guy mowing my lawn is actually providing a worthwhile service. The nimrods in Washington only manage to gobble up my tax dollars and demand more.

You like all people think that you deserve a basic level of respect and you would be right.

Congressmen, judges, policemen, preachers, and anyone in a leadership role deserves a level of respect due their office if not the man. You address them by title and ask questions respectfully. You listen to the answer and then you sit down and let someone else talk. That is how any public meeting is supposed to go, you respect the office and you respect your fellow citizens right to be heard. That is civilized public debate, it is a shame that so many have forgotten that and just want to shove their anger down the throats of their elected officials and fellow citizens.
 
You like all people think that you deserve a basic level of respect and you would be right.

Congressmen, judges, policemen, preachers, and anyone in a leadership role deserves a level of respect due their office if not the man. You address them by title and ask questions respectfully. You listen to the answer and then you sit down and let someone else talk. That is how any public meeting is supposed to go, you respect the office and you respect your fellow citizens right to be heard. That is civilized public debate, it is a shame that so many have forgotten that and just want to shove their anger down the throats of their elected officials and fellow citizens.

Celticlord does not give respect to any one who disagrees with him, but of course those same people should treat others with kid gloves.
 
What he should have done is flat out told the guy asking the question that he was going to talk on the issue on the 24th and 28th, and he could respect the people here to talk about the topic at hand. He was actually politer than he needed to be.
What he should have done is answered the question honestly and forthrightly.

unRepresentative Scott was arrogant, asinine, and inarticulate. He embarrassed himself and the Anti-Republicans with his mewling complaints about constituents asking questions. He can go cry someone else a river--he screwed the pooch on this one, and there's no amount of apologetics that can ever change that.
 
Congressmen, judges, policemen, preachers, and anyone in a leadership role
These people are not leaders but followers. That's what "public servant" means. I pay their salary, which makes me the leader.

(although I'm not sure why you threw preachers in the mix. Most of them are crooks, but they're a more decent sort of crook than Congressmen.)
 
Some people are missed. We can even say that many people are pissed, or even that the current majority is as well. But there is a great many who are not, and they, too, are attending these meetings. Are those individuals who support the Democratic health care reform policy simply supposed to sit there and listen to the angry rants of those who oppose it? No, I don't think so. They, too, deserve to hear what their representatives have to say. And if they support Obama's health care reform, then they should be able to say so, or ask the questions that they want to ask without having their representive shouted down by an unruly mob.

That's exactly what the Libbos expect people to do when they are pissed about something. Face it, your own tactics are being used against you and it's working. You folks are losing the fight. Get over it.

Personally, I hope they pass the bill. It will spell the demise of the Democratic party.
 
When someone makes themselves unavailable, except during time meant for other occasions, then it says something about that person.
 
Celticlord does not give respect to any one who disagrees with him, but of course those same people should treat others with kid gloves.

I have to disagree with that part, they do not deserve added respect from me or anyone else for that matter.

They are not any better than I am and giving them added respect for no reason implies they are better than I.
 
These people are not leaders but followers. That's what "public servant" means. I pay their salary, which makes me the leader.

(although I'm not sure why you threw preachers in the mix. Most of them are crooks, but they're a more decent sort of crook than Congressmen.)

So what you personally want should be the first thing any elected official thinks of? Should the president get a daily "What celticlord wants" briefing that he reads first? You are but one out of millions, you are not that special. You are a citizen that has no more and no less say than your fellow citizens, and many of them disagree with you, and they have a right to be heard no matter how much you feel that they are stupid and you should be king.
 
What he should have done is answered the question honestly and forthrightly.

unRepresentative Scott was arrogant, asinine, and inarticulate. He embarrassed himself and the Anti-Republicans with his mewling complaints about constituents asking questions. He can go cry someone else a river--he screwed the pooch on this one, and there's no amount of apologetics that can ever change that.

He did answer the question completely and honestly. He then, when the guy continued to push the point, told him that this was not the time and place for that discussion, it was going to be on the 24th and 28th. He treated the questioner with more respect than he was treated. Of course, since he is a democrat, you will not be able to accept that, but that is the truth.

The fact that the guy asking the question was asking about something that the meeting was not about, and misconstrued the rep's position, and continued to push the point made the questioner the asshole here, not rep. Scott.
 
I see this as a perfect example of how unfit for office so many Congress people are. They are unable to think for themselves so they follow instructions or an outline for action given to them by Der Fuhrer in Chieif Obama or a Pelousy type and attack someone for asking a legitimate question and end up looking the fool. These Congresspeople should have either stayed home or taken the time to read at least some of the stupid Bill they voted for.
The union thugs they are paying to threaten people will come back to haunt them since they already beat up one man.
 
2 words for ya'll

Tar + Feathers
 
The video of the incident is here:11Alive.com | Atlanta, GA | Video

I don't think anyone was out line. The comments he made were directed at the group rather than the doctor and he seemed pissed that he got a health care reform question when they asked for questions on the topic at hand, a road project, he then told all the health care meeting was on another date in another place and gave information for the meeting.

Make no mistake, the congressmen who will presumably be voting for the bill when it comes up know they are under attack by powerful interests do not be surprised when they act defensively or get upset when someone hands them a loaded question.

The doctor in the video was very confrontational from the get go. Maybe he had a valid question but he chose the wrong venue and the wrong tone to ask it.

Wrong venue? It's a townhall meeting.
 
That's exactly what the Libbos expect people to do when they are pissed about something. Face it, your own tactics are being used against you and it's working. You folks are losing the fight. Get over it.

That would be incorrect. 'Libbos' neither endorse such behavior from themselves or others. If you're attempting to justify such behavior as acceptable simply because you view your political rivals as embracing that style of communication, then you're way off the mark. Face it, liberals and conservatives react in much the same way. Portraying liberals in general as purveyors of unruliness is nothing more than partisanship.

Personally, I hope they pass the bill. It will spell the demise of the Democratic party.

Not really. While it may result in loss of seats in the Senate and House, and even Obama being elected out of office in 2012, the Democratic party will always be around in some form or fashion, thanks to liberals like myself.

Of course, this is all speculation. I have no idea what will happen come the next election. Neither do you. But we can certainly take wild guesses!
 
So what you personally want should be the first thing any elected official thinks of?
When he's standing in front of me, what I personally want should be the only thing on his mind. First, last, and every thought in between.
 
Wrong venue? It's a townhall meeting.

It was a townhall meeting sponsored by some one other than the rep, and on a topic other than health care.
 
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