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twitterRepublicans want to make Reid’s town hall the issue
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Harry Reid
Sun Archives
- Wall Street Journal: Reid will be judged on health care (8-19-2009)
- Reid releases details of 'tele-town hall' meeting on health care (8-18-2009)
- No real town hall, no problem; local radio talker hosts her own (8-16-2009)
- Wave of ads on health care in Nevada target Reid (8-9-2009)
- Reid vows to proceed with bipartisan health care reform (8-4-2009)
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Washington — Angry that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is not holding a live town-hall meeting on health care but, rather, one over the telephone, Nevada Republicans are planning to express their displeasure by filling the senator’s phone lines.
Republican leaders statewide are encouraging party activists to sign up with Reid’s office for the tele-town hall scheduled for next Friday afternoon.
Clark County Republican Party Chairman Richard Scotti said Republicans won’t try to sabotage the event as others have elsewhere.
“We’re not planning any devious disruption of the event,” said Scotti, downplaying any organized effort. “I’m sure we’re interested in listening to what he has to say.”
On Thursday, the state party sent out a release from all of its 17 county chairmen in Nevada with a picture of Reid’s face on a milk carton stamped “Missing” beneath the headline “Where is Harry Reid?”
The release says Nevadans are asking for “real-life town-hall meetings so they can have their voices heard on the significant policy changes occurring in Washington.”
“If Senator Reid is so passionate about these policy changes, why doesn’t he have the courage to defend them in person?” state party official Robert Uithoven said in a statement. “Perhaps we can ask that question if we can get through his taxpayer-funded call screeners during Friday night reruns of Supernanny and Ghost Whisperer.”
Reid’s office expects to dial in 50,000 Nevadans during the Aug. 28 call.
“Sen. Reid serves all constituents — Republicans, Democrats and independents, and he looks forward to taking questions from a broad section of Nevadans,” his spokesman Jon Summers said.
“For some people this is more about going after Sen. Reid than having a discussion on the issues,” he said. “Hopefully anyone who’s encouraging them to get on the call is doing so in good faith so we can have a serious dialogue.”
Republican-affiliated groups have orchestrated a campaign against the Obama administration’s agenda by targeting elected officials’ town-hall meetings during the summer congressional recess.
The conservative group FreedomWorks and others have posted how-to guides for those attending the meetings, complete with questions to ask.
The town-hall protests have since taken on a life of their own with attendees showing up at some events carrying Nazi swastika signs and guns.
Reid has called the protesters “evil mongers” — igniting even more anger from them.
Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley was surrounded by an animated crowd at a North Las Vegas library Wednesday night, after protesters showed up at a meeting of the Clark County Democratic Party’s Black Caucus.
The crowd demanded its own town-hall meeting with the congresswoman.
Video of the confrontation, posted on YouTube, shows someone shouting “Chicken!” and Berkley wheeling around to face the camera and say, “I don’t think I’m a chicken. I’m standing here in front of you.”
Berkley confrontation
She thanked the protesters for coming and invited them to her own upcoming tele-town hall.
Reid had not planned on holding a town-hall meeting during the August congressional recess, but added next week’s tele-town hall to his schedule in response to requests.
Tele-town halls are a common way for lawmakers to connect with voters in their states while remaining in Washington. Democratic Rep. Dina Titus had one on health care this summer and Berkley’s is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. next Thursday. Republican Sen. John Ensign is scheduled to hold several in August.
Reid addressed 30,000 Nevadans during a tele-town hall in July and has hosted several other conference calls with seniors and other groups to discuss health care reform.
Reid’s office said it decided against hosting a live forum in Nevada after seeing the shouting matches that erupted across the country.
“Had it not been for those people, maybe there could have been an opportunity to have a town hall,” Summers said. “When you have a vocal minority preventing the conversation from taking place, you undermine the purpose of a town hall.”
Reid’s tele-town hall next week will work like this: Nevadans can go to Reid’s Web site at reid.senate.gov and register to be on the call.
Those who register will be the first to be called by the senator. The senator’s office will also dial phone numbers of residents across Nevada.
After the senator makes opening remarks, the floor will be opened to questions. Those wishing to ask a question will press a key on their telephones, tell an operator their queries and be placed in line.
The questions will be answered first-come, first-served. But the calls will be screened to ensure a mix of topics are addressed — so there are not, say, 10 questions about the debunked “death panels,” leaving no time to discuss the public option, Medicare or health care co-ops.
“We want it to be truly reflective of who’s on the line,” Summers said.
The senator’s office could not say how many questions would be answered. But typically about 10 to 15 questions can be fielded during a one-hour call.
Heidi Smith, the state Republican Party’s national committee woman, said Thursday that she recently signed up for Reid’s call.
Through e-mail and Facebook, the party has encouraged others to do the same.
She doubts the Republicans on the line will be disruptive. “Most people don’t want to get nasty and start screaming, unless they get really mad,” she said.
Her submitted question: Why is Reid refusing to have a town hall?
Discussion: 42 comments so far…
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This is comedy. Our Senator is scared of his own people. Harry Reid has so gotta go! We really need a senator that represents it people not one that tells us what he/she thinks we want but just are too dumb to know it.
Pot calling the kettle black,
Ensign is more "missing" than Reid.
I'm going to put his picture on a the side of a box on condoms.
Reid can try to hide from his constituents in Washington with these phony "Tele" Town Halls but sooner or later he'll get voted out for putting the DNC above the needs of Nevadans.
Liberals propose legislation which if signed into law will affect on EVERY American yet when the time comes to defend their ideas...they resort to "Tele Town Halls" and distancing themselves from their constituents. Pathetic!
The terrorists are winning!! With 24/7 hate radio and backing from big business and insurance company, the gun toting, screaming idiots put fear and nonsense into all the major issues of our time. Trillion on senseless war, no problem. Trillion on healthcare, problem!!
Those wishing to ask a question will press a key on their telephones, tell an operator their queries and be placed in line... But the calls will be screened"
Too Big Too Fail Senator Harry Reid'm and Weep has no need for a face to face with his constituents.
With $25 million from the lobbyist and backing of the Unions and "Organizing for America", the President Obama's grass-roots political arm the invinible Reid has no need for a face to face with his constituents.
Our Senator is only a phone call Awwwwwway.
Other than pithy sayings and overblown rhetoric the conservatives offer nothing of substance except that which has directly led to the messes Democrats have to clean up. When Future and others like it have something constructive to say I will listen.
On another note I watched C-Span cover the entire town hall of Representative Barney Frank and those opposed to rational and sensible policies, ill informed at best, were much in attendance. They booed, hissed, catcalled, and added nothing of substance to the discussion. They were, in short, uncivilized, incompetent, and an embarrassment to watch.
This is what the incoherent and angry people on the right who post here think a town hall should be like and exactly why I agree with Senator Reid's attempt to keep a civil discourse. When they believe obvious lies about illegal immigrants getting health care insurance, death panels, etc. they add nothing but noise and drown out the ability of civilized people who want to ask questions politely.
I demand the right to make a fool of myself in public by incoherently yelling about things that I fear and don't understand. Normally I would pick a random street corner or a particular tree that looked at me funny, but I what I really want is to fleck my spittle at a Congressman.
mschaffer, the voices in your head are so loud you have forgotten what free speech and answering to your constituents really mean.
Harry is just another lackey. The President is a lackey and here is why; They have "fake" town hall meetings filled with shills who can't generate a real question since they are so hopped up on kool-aid and Messiah worship.
Look at the numbers; Harry's favorable opinion is around 14% and your buddy BHO is at 48% and falling like he has a millstone around his neck.
You blame the Repubs for this yet your beloved Democrats don't need ANY of their votes. I think your teleprompter has broken and all it shows is the same old message "since the Democrats are incompetent leaders, blame the Republicans"
How is that tired drumbeat working for you?
Awwww come on folks! This guy thinks Joseph Smith, a vagabond carpet bagger, was a prophet...Need I say more?
"getalife" need I remind you of the 8 years we had with President Bush,
where his approval ratings were in the 20s and 30s,
who started an unnecessary war in Iraq that has cost our country over $1T,
who deregulated the banks and insurance companies and kept the interest rates on homes artificially low so that a risk-fueled housing bubble could develop,
who presided over the start of a recession that now has caused unemployment in Nevada to spike to 12.5%??
President Obama and Senator Reid are in Washington actually trying to DO something about the mess we are in, and these people compare them to Nazis and Fascists. To think, these people have actually bought in to the insurance companies' b.s. so much, that they think injecting competition into the Health Insurance industry is akin to the Final Solution.
Getalife, please, take off the Headphones tuned to Rush Limbaugh, turn off Glen Beck, and "get a life"
The tired old senior citizen re-elect me Reid doesn't want to face his senior citizen constituents. When all he needs is to carry a portrait of the "great one" and Pelosi to support his backbone. Reid could easily fill a town hall with purple shirts and unemployed for further support.
Soon this will be all over Harry. Then for the next 15 months you can join Obama on the campaign trail offering promises.
My question Harry, why didn't you immediately slam Obama for dissing Las Vegas?
atta boy harry...
vegas loves you baby...
you know...
isn't it funny how the poor poor terribly misguided republican clowns cry like little girls when they get out smarted...
a bunch of pathetic wusses...
boo hoo hoo...
wah wah wah...
Thank you getalife for proving the point I made in my prior post.
MAV and mschaffer, keep blaming Republicans (I am not one) and it will all be better for you. You folks remind me of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz except you keep saying, "It's the Republicans fault, it's the Republicans fault".
When you fix your broken record, get back to us.
On a good note, even your Savior BHO can't explain what health care reform means. I guess that Change thing kind of took him by surprise.
I snapped this photo of the crowd arriving at Stoney's for Heidi Harris's recent phony "town hall meeting":
http://www.users.totalise.co.uk/~bigoleg...
I can't really fault Sen. Reid for not wanting to waste his time trying to outshout these obnoxious jerks. Hopefully he is spending his time more productively organizing the reconciliation vote!
Comment removed by staff.
dawg, that is one of the funniest pictures I have ever seen Congress pose for.
Do you have any others? Maybe one of BHO stuttering when his teleprompter broke. Relax, two can play at this.
Did Philanderin' John "I didn't do anything illegal" Ensign hold any town hall meetings to seek public input on flushing hundreds of billions of dollars down the Iraq toilet? I sure can't seem to recall it. Can any of you Reid-haters out there help me out on this?
dawg, funny picture... Where was it taken?
Both Reid & Ensign need to cowboy up and face down their constituents in open townhalls. Yeah, they may take a lot of flak, and could very well come out looking like arrogant idiots (like some other Senators have recently done), but at least it'll show they're not a couple of cowards unwilling to face their own constituents. They're both looking pretty pathetic about now.
If Prince Harry really supports Obama's goal of a Single Payer Healthcare System, so be it. Say so, and explain why that's such a good idea for this country. And if Philanderin John doesn't, what does he SPECIFICALLY propose be done about healthcare in this country and why? They both seem to be MIA when it comes to talking about healthcare with their constituents.
I can't say I would want to face a group of nut jobs, who will just yell and shout about all the lies they THINK are in the legislation.
The GOP lies machine is as strong now as when bush, cheney and rumsfeld were the liars in chief.
Remember, the GOP lies you into a costly war, and now the GOP is trying to lie you out of health insurance reform.
mschaffer,
I've cleaned up the language, hopefully this won't be censored again!
My point to you was that I saw Barney Frank's disgusting fat sweaty self trying to answer those town hall questions.
My favorite was when they young man asked him how we can trust what he says about health care when he swore up and down, over and over again, that Frannie and Freddie were stable and financially sound.
Barney could not answer that question, he kept trying to change the subject, so yes, the crowd booed him.
You can barely understand him anyways, but he had no answer, he kept trying to talk about the war. Those people weren't unruly, they just weren't swallowing his bs.
one thing about the liberals and the democrats, they keep blaming the republicans for all the things that are wrong in this country today. they have no power of reasoning whatsoever!!!
We have a president that has rabbit ears and he hears all the criticisms thrown his way....His polilcies are failing and yet he still blames the republicans and Bush....what is wrong with this picture....he takes no responsibility for anything!!
he has spent three trillion dollars since he has gotten into office...the house and senate are intimidated into passing bills that they have not read....he is pushing a healthcare reform that has no merit...he is pushing propaganda to promote this bill and has not said anything about what the bill contains or how he is going to pay for it....one day medicaid is working and in the next speech it is broke...he is wishy-washy and totally undecisive in his decisions..he bows down to dictators and apologizes for america to all the world leaders....how can we continue to have faith in a liar!!!
we have done a lot for the nations of this world and DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A WEAK PRESIDENT APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE....
he is on the verge and the path of destroying our country...we will be killed through taxation without representation!! pelosi and reid are right there with him...they need to be replaced....
a start is in 2010....get two of them out of office!
how this little rat has been in office as long as he has is astonishing.We all know he makes a better eye for land deals.well I guess it comes with the job.
We can no longer stand by and let the Republicans dominate the health care issue to the point of its destruction!
Our taxes pay a majority of the cost of healthcare for our Congress people.
While many of us are struggling to afford medical insurance/medical bills.
While Congress people try to stop healthcare reform.
While Congress people accept large contributions from lobbyists to prevent health care reform.
http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/p...
henderson,
Barney Frank was sweating, you idiot, because, as many in crowd said, it was very close and hot that day.
He in fact did answer that question by saying he never asked anyone to trust him. They could check out what the bill says or if they want to claim he, as a minority member in ~2003, was somehow responsible for Fannie Mae/Freddi Mac they could actually go back and verify the timeline. Well you flunk comprehension testing again.
mschaffer, you really need to step away from the kool-aid as I am afraid you have over-dosed.
when the dems start telling what is in the bill and becomes specific on the details instead of the same tired old rhetoric.....maybe someone will listen....
wow...obama goes to the ministry to help in his crusade.....i believe that is a violation of the seperation of religion and government....
quit grasping at straws....tell the truth and quit lying!
obama,pelosi,reid,frank,dodd = ICEBERG! The united states is there titanic to SINK!
How I wish the Hilton, or, any other casino for that matter, was takng bets on 2010.
The political tsunami will make '94 look like a day at the beach.
BTW, does anyone know how those Austrian language lessons are going for Obama?
I'm not worried. Dear Leader, in addition to being a proud self-proclaimed Citizen of the World (as opposed to proud American), was educated in some of the most prestigious institutions in America, and, of course, he is a natural born genius (!) -as the media never ceases to remind us. I'm confident that this learned man is ACING every Austrian language quiz his State Department tutor
throws his way!
Plus, I don't know abour the rest of you, but did you see the way Khaddafi towed the line with
regard to that Islamic terrorist returning to Libya?
Talk about a proud moment for American diplomacy. Now, THAT'S the respect for the United States that I'M talkin' about!
Let's see, this Jihadist murdered over 180 Americans on Pan Am flight 103, many of whom were in
the prime of their life (I mention that "prime" part since, as we all know, if you're in that "undesirable age over 60 category"-Helloo, Mr. and Mrs Old, Expensive and Now Useless-no medical soup for you!)
But, seriously, I am personally SHOCKED that this terrorist, now home on early release from his Scottish prison, received a hero's welcome-complete with a flower-strewn parade- in total mockery of Obama's verrry stern admonishment that they better put this man under "house arrest"!
Just, WOW. How disrepectful. Seriously, does NO ONE in Libya read US Weekly? Helloo, Obama
is a CELEBRITY whose wife has nice arms and he deserves RESPECT. I think it is the height of
rudeness to ignore his presidential missives, especially because as Obama recently proclaimed, we are "not at war with Islam"; it is absurd to think that these people might be at war with us!
For the life of me. I cannot understand how the Libyans could make Obama look so impotent by
being so blatantly defiant. After all, I'm sure the thought of a teed off Obama petrifies them WAY MORE than the thought of an angry Bush/Cheney combo. (C'mon, you KNOW it's true!!!)
Gaah!! Like I said, total disrespect. BUT, I'm totally sure Libya's slap in the face is anomoly because they are a very powerful country and can afford such defiance.
Let's hope those Austrian lessons keep progressing!
When Bush's ratings were in the 20s and 30s, Sean Inssanity said that it showed what a great leader Bush was, to stick to his convictions and not be influenced by the polls.
Why dows Obama want health care reformed?
"The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation."
-- Karl Marx
Inflation comes around when you print money. (Wiki Robert Mugabe)
The best way to destroy the capitalist system is to debauch the currency.
-Vladimir Lenin
************************
This is the moment when we must build on the wealth that open markets have created, and share its benefits more equitably. Trade has been a cornerstone of our growth and global development. But we will not be able to sustain this growth if it favors the few, and not the many.
-Barack Obama
The goal of socialism is communism.
-Vladimir Lenin
My administration is the only thing between you [CEO's] and the pitchforks.
-Barack Obama
One man with a gun can control 100 without one.
-Vladimir Lenin
Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee.
2003
"These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis. The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."
This NYT story from September 2003, clearly shows that the first substantive Fannie and Freddie reform from inside government came from the Bush administration. Spurred by worries that Fannie and Freddie were cooking their books and taking too many risks, Treasury Secretary John Snow proposed placing the companies under Treasury oversight with strict controls over risk and capital reserves.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/11/busine...
Until "We the People" can get together and agree in a bipartisan way to the facts that, yes there are Democrats and Republicans working together to confuse the public and who lean to the sides of lobbyists before standing up for us by supporting and protecting "We the People".
If we can't come together as one nation and let our elected leaders know that we are not satisfied with the jobs they are doing and no more idle talk just positive action, I guess we'll just have to sit back, drink our beer, and watch as our rights are ripped up and our Constitution changed even more.
Do idle citizens deserve the freedoms that were given to us by our forefathers?
What is the motivation to have a town hall meeting where a bunch of retards from the right jacked up on Republimeth will yell and scream and not discuss issues in a rational manner?
Excellent question, notacon. 'cause rush told em too, I guess.
Unbelievable, once again the left dismisses public outrage over hijacking healthcare and denigrates those that are outraged.
Keep up the good work, Mr. liberal. When a Liberal protests he is guided by idealogy, when a conservative protests he just misguided or worse he is hopped up on conserv-a-crack.
I almost can't wait until 2010.
I wonder why he at least can't go on television; accept the calls 'live', and have it broadcasted via C-Span and our local television stations.
I watched Dan Lundgren in California; that town hall went very well for the most part, I think.
We can't have our representatives that are PAID TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS, 'hiding out' like this; this is almost unbelievable - evene for Reid!
getalife;
"The town hall protests have taken on a life of their own, with attendees showing up at some events carrying Nazi Swastika signs and guns."
Much of the blather being shouted about is mock outrage orchestrated by nut-job "conservative groups" who have a financial interest in the status quo.
I honestly think it's GREAT if real people with real opinions, whatever they may be, show up to participate; However, that's not exactly what we're seeing here, is it?
Nevada already had one town hall that was so caustic that the video went viral. Looked REAL good for Nevada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVS4Zgjm8...
These town halls on "health care" are anything but. There are a ton of reps & senators in other states doing the same, especially in the west where the heat is restrictive for those with health problems.
As far as pre-screened questions, I went to a Bush event in 2004 in Albuquerque. Had to submit my social security number for a background check 1 week before the event before I could even get a ticket, as as it turned out, there were no questions taken.
Mred,
Rather than buying a box of condoms, maybe you should save your money and invest in some proof-reading software.
The government needs to stay OUT of our lives. Approximately 80% of Americans are happy with their health insurance; however we're expected to sacrifice (yet again) because of the Socialists that happen to be in power at the moment. In case you have all forgotten, Capitalism is what this country was founded on and it's the only thing that can fix our problems. The government can't create prosperity, it can only create dependence.
Reid needs to get off his high horse... WE THE PEOPLE are upset and he's got his head so far up his rear that he can't hear us.