Good HC townhall in WA. today!!
My mother and I attended Cong. Rick Larson's HC townhall today in Mt. Vernon, WA. It went pretty well all and all. This being the NW even our right-wing crazies are a bit more civilized so only a few real boisterous folks there.
I estimate 400 or so people there ( so many that less than half could fit inside the building!)
Also, we pro-reformers either kept parity with the wing-nuts or outnumbered them.
Many visible "single-payer" and HealthCare NOW! signs and activists. Tons of Obama 08 stickers on cars and people,( first tip off was alot of Priuses'). The congressman did an excellent job from the begining of keeping order and controlling the direction of questions and staying on HC!
A few folks could be heard at a few occasions attempting to shout down something, but it was quickly overcome and quieted down.
We only stayed until it was scheduled to end and so not sure how long beyond it went, but he indicated that he wanted to keep to the timeline as best he could.
Prior to going I had received numerous emails from the WH, OFA, HealthcareNOW! and the county Dem. party about the event and to RSVP. The party was doing phonebanking yesterday to get our folks there and it appears to have worked!!!!! I think we are on to em' now.
The key everybody....if someone tries to shout down or control...just insist to the Congressman/woman and/or moderator that you came for info on HR.3200 and/or Senate HELP bills and want to learn and that they are out of order, this is supposed to be a discussion.....but do it politely and firmly!!
I think the situation is getting firmly under control now and we are taking back control of the message......let's keep our heads up everybody and DON'T FORGET TO ATTEND YOUR LOCAL TOWNHALLS!!!!!
We must out manoeuver them with our numbers and ideals.