It was 22 years ago when I assigned a young Golden City High School senior Peggy Brinkhoff to cover her first story at the Lamar Democrat, a town hall meeting held by Sen. John Danforth at the Horton Building in Lamar.
I went with her to take pictures, make sure everything went well, and because I have always had a great admiration for Sen. Danforth. It should have been a simple assignment, an examination of politics at its finest, a public servant coming home to hear what his constituents have to say.
It didn't quite work out that way.
I don't remember the particular issues now, but one young man, a recent graduate of Liberal High School, asked the first question in a rude and disrespectful manner and then kept challenging Sen. Danforth, primarily because he did not get the answer he wanted.
"Do people normally act like this"" Peggy asked me.
"This is the first time I've seen anything like it."
The young man continued to shout out questions every few minutes and I, and most of the people who attended the meeting, felt uncomfortable about the way it was going.
Looking back, I suppose it was a portent of things to come. And to give the young man credit, after Bubs Hohulin was elected state representative in 1990, he was consistent. He often treated constituents whose viewpoints did not coincide with his, with the same disdain.
The disruptions being caused at town hall meetings is not a way of creating a dialogure about important issues, it is a way to keep these issues from being discussed. I have no problems with those who feel strongly about issues encouraging people to pack the halls for the meetings; that is what America is all about. Shouting down elected officials and acting like a bunch of thugs is not. If your ideas are strong enough, you don't need to bully and intimidate to get your message across.
It appears Congressman Russ Carnahan was able to keep from having his meeting disrupted by packing the building with supporters of the Democratic health care plan, but that is no way to solve the problem. However, you can't blame him when you see the kind of behavior exhibited by the people who did not make it into the meeting:
The union "thugs" who attacked at tea party guy who was handing out 'Don't Tread on Me' flags.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.examiner.com/x-5738-St-Louis-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m8d6-Eyewitness-Report--Russ-Carnahan-town-hall-is-rowdy-outside-as-protesters-argue
Back in the 70's I saw a movie called Network. I am thinking that Beck, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, or any of the neo-con talking heads could play the Peter Finch role in a made for tv re-make. It is frightening that a movie made over 30 years ago could now be coming true.
ReplyDeleteBeck "joked" about poisoning Pelosi yesterday. I'm not a Pelosi fan but on air "joking" about committing murder is crazy, especially when we have so many nutcases running around.
ReplyDeleteI hope they charge him with something and throw him in jail for a while.
These people have the right to tell the Crooked Congress to read what they vote on IT's THEIR JOB and if thay can't take the heat then stay out of the kitchen and get a real job.
ReplyDeleteHey Sharon, this conversation is not about if they have the right to tell their congressman what to read the legislation, it is about the manner in which they tell them. I think we all agree that a person can go to a meeting and ask questions and tell their congressman their views about current legislation. But it is not right to go to a meeting with the only intent being to disrupt it by screaming, physical violence, and name calling. You would not put up with that from a child much less an adult.
ReplyDeleteYour long-winded introduction did not make you less of a Russ Carnahan stooge, Randy....
ReplyDeleteDon't let hide Russ Carnahan hide behind John Danforth...there is no comparison whatsoever..it's just your way to excusing a bunch of thugs called in by a Democrat...
things are a changin' Randy...and you aren't gonna like it...but you can blame your buddies...
I don't like it when anyone disrupts any kind of meeting whether it be the teabag groups or the showboating Pink Women. People absolutely have the right to protest, but people who think they are making our country better by not allowing others to speak, don't have the slightest idea of what it means to be am American citizen. It is always possible to address problems politely and to be allowed to have your say without having to take away someone else's right to speak. And in the end, we all have the ultimate freedom of expression- at the ballot box.
ReplyDelete'However, you can't blame him when you see the kind of behavior exhibited by the people who did not make it into the meeting"
ReplyDeleteRandy, it wasn't the tea party starting the trouble. A black guy selling 'Don't tread on me flags' was jumped and beaten by a bunch of SIEU people. His supporters were the 'thugs' you mentioned.
Why haven't you updated your post to reflect this fact?
For those who remember kindergarten one of the first lessons taught is no one learns anything and nothing is accomplished if we don't respect one another, take turns and share the talking time!
ReplyDeleteSo I guess all those protesters against the Iraq war during George Bush's Presidency were "thuggish" too, eh?
ReplyDeleteIronically, I remember the left calling their shouts, bell-ringing, paint-flinging behavior as "freedom of speech."
See, it's this hypocracy that I ultimately can't stand.
No hypocrisy from me. I don't mind people holding signs, but interrupting people and preventing them from speaking is wrong no matter who is doing it.
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