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Opponents of ObamaCare Shut Out in Tampa Townhall
By Nadia Naffe | 08/06/09 | 10:57 PM EDT | 4 Comments
Catastrophe. The townhall led by Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D) was stacked by members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Opponents of ObamaCare were shut out.
As I walked along the side of the building a man and woman approached me saying, “Don’t go in, the Republicans have the building surrounded!” The Hillsborough County Children's Board which seats about 250, was overflowing with over 1,000 angry Hillsborough County residents.
Anyone who visibly opposed ObamaCare was denied access to meeting and were forced to stand outside. Die hard teaparty conservatives with their homemade signs held high, stood wrapped around the building, chanting “Just say no!” Others stood quietly with signs depicting President Obama as the Joker.
Attendees were upset when news spread that Tampa’s Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D) had left the building refusing to answer any questions. Sources inside the meeting said Rep. Castor actually spoke for 15 minutes then snuck out, stating it wasn’t really her event.
Several police reports have been filed by people who stated the SEIU injured them while trying to shut them out of the building. Tampa Tribune video here.
The last thing I saw was before I exited the event were two women running over to a cop sitting in his vehicle, screaming, “Don’t you see that man over there has a gun?” The cop looked up and calmly replied, “Ma’am in this country people have the right to bear arms”.
TAGS: Kathy Castor, Obamacare, SEIU, Tampa, Townhall, Nadia Naffe
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4 Comments | Related Topics »Hillsborough County (FL) | National
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Comments
Nadia,
Great article. Glad you were there to tell the truth about the meeting in Tampa. Your report that it was the SEIU that shut out any anti-Obamacare people is most telling. Other papers are not reporting this and allude to the violence, if any, being caused by those opposed to Obamacare. Keep up the great reporting.
I was commenting on this on FB yesterday and one of the other writers commented that she would "get the word out" to the SEIU members so I'm not surprised that they had a good showing. Interesting that the unions are behind this bill because eventually they will also be affected if not in the short term with higher taxes but in the long term IF (more like when) the public option finally happens.
One thing I REALLY need to stress is that we CANNOT sink to the level of these folks. The left has the ability to spin anything we do into a negative light and we need to handle ourselves with caution: Speak respectfully, Know the facts, Be concise. Reminds me of the movie "Roadhouse" when the head bouncer was teahing his staff--"Be Nice"
I, like the majority of Americans have been outraged at the actions of those opposed to healthcare reform and the way they have chosen to shout down any civil discussion on this important issue.
These people seem to only wish to prevent Americans from learning about this matter rather than helping the dialogue along. I've watched 75 year old ladies state as if it were fact that healthcare reform would take away her healthcare..........duh, lady, you are already on universal single payer healthcare, Medicare. I've heard the shrill cry of the winner of "Iquitirod" try to convince me that healthcare reform will kill her parents and her special needs son. I've watched healthcare insurance companies pour $1.4 million dollars a day into lobbying to protect their self interests.
I've watched SICKO and I've been screwed by Blue Cross/Blue Sheild. I've watched healthcare costs double in the last 10 years and see them forcast to couble again in the next 10 years.
Reform is not an option, with out it we will be bankrupt.
In the words of Sarah Palin, who will decide who gets surgery and who doesn't? Because when you put your life in the governments hads, thats the kind of choices that are going to be made and it will all be based on politics.
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