From Steve Walker, LA.BarackObama.com by email:
June --
I wanted to send you an urgent invitation to an important health care town hall with Sen. Mary Landrieu this Thursday, August 27th.
She'll be talking to constituents and gathering feedback. Whether you ask a question or show your support with a sign, attending this town hall is a powerful way to show where you stand and thank those in Congress who are fighting for reform.
....
Please arrive as early as possible to the health care town hall, and make sure that the most powerful voices in this debate are those calling for real reform, not angrily clamoring for the status quo.
Grandpère and I will attend the town hall meeting, starring Mary Landrieu. Although Mary does not support the public option, and Obama seems less than forceful in demanding that it be included in a health care bill, I know the angry foes of OBAMACARE and ANY type of reform will be there in force, so we want to be there as a counterforce.
Good for you! There are no townhalls within easy driving distance of us, which might be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget your brass knuckles.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say maybe you'd better go armed, but I see Counterlight beat me to it.
ReplyDeleteBe careful, Mimi---it's a jungle out there....
Prayers for strength in the mix
ReplyDeleteAlso we want a full report.
ReplyDeleteBe sure to wear your bullet-proof vests.
ReplyDeleteMimi, you are in my prayers. I also thought about your safety. Take the extra-big handbag with you, and you should be able to protect GP as well as yourself.
ReplyDeleteLove you for going.
We've been standing outside the building since 11:00 AM. We just got into the air-conditioned auditorium and are in our seats. TBTG.
ReplyDeleteAlready, I've had a screaming woman get in my face and wave her cardoboard sigh so close that I thought she would hit me. I suppose it would not have been a lethal blow, since it was only cardboard. I've already been told, "Fuck you, you bitch!" I've been told, "Obama is Fidel", by a Cuban-American, and lots more.
The meeting hasn't started yet.
That would be "cardboard sign" - not a sigh.
ReplyDeleteWhen faced with a comment like that, an old friend of mine used to look concerned and ask sweetly, "Do you kiss your mama with that mouth?"
ReplyDeleteRemind your Cuban-American friend that Fidel has outlasted all the estadoünidense presidents!
ReplyDeleteHang in there Grandmere. You're braver than I am.
ReplyDeleteThe mob is screaming. I hope that they STFU before the meeting starts. I want to hear the speakers.
ReplyDeleteDoxy, that would have been a good riposte.
Mickey, the woman is NOT my friend.
Yhe abuse did not come because I was silent. Just saying. Grandpère keeps telling me to be careful.
ReplyDeleteWho ARE those people and what have they done to my country?!?!?!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you and Grand'père! and Prayers.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh Grandmere. God bless you. Please write and tell us you arrived home safely.
ReplyDeleteLet me make it clear that I did not initiate a single conversation with the abusive people. They approached me, and when they voiced opinions with which I did not agree, stated my position. I did not call names. I may have raised my voice some when folks scremed at me. I admit that I laughed a couple of times at some of the foolish things that they said, and that probably inflamed them.
ReplyDeleteThe meeting went well, for the most part. The chanting stopped once the meeting started, with only a few shouters breaking in from time to time.
I'll say more when I get home.
Oh my, I hope it all did go well. Doesn't sound like it started off too promising.
ReplyDeleteYou are a brave soul! I cannot wait for your report.
ReplyDeleteI look on in horror at the news reports of these town meetings. I keep saying what Doxy said, "Who ARE those people and what have they done to my country?!?!?!"
Lotsa typos in my comments, I see.
ReplyDeleteThere are many angry people in this country, and there are many ignorant people in this country. Sometimes anger and ignorance are wrapped up in the same person.
In my milieu, Mary Landrieu and her supporters are the good guys. And that's the way it is.
Oh, Mimi, did you make the local news? Maybe they filmed the woman that called you a fornicating bitch! You could probably make it on Keith Olbermann with a quote like that! Are you home yet?
ReplyDeleteSusan, no media people were around, but a man with a videocam filmed the scene. I know that he was not from the press, because I asked him. Really, I would not want to see a replay. Once was enough.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you came through it all in one piece! Giving thanks for your bravery.
ReplyDeleteThanks all for your prayers too.
ReplyDeleteMary, I didn't feel brave. I'm not one to bite my tongue, when folks come at me. Grandpère is more circumspect and more Christian, one might say, even if he's not much of a churchgoer.