# Disrupting Town Hall Meetings **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 3, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176 "2009-08-03T16:17:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/61 "2009-08-05T01:32:10Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Skipped reading the OP, did you? No I read it. Internal memo, sit up front make sure your voice is heard, make him think that your constituency is larger than he might otherwise think. Standard political tactics. You’d all be praising it if Democrats were doing it in a Republican district. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/62 "2009-08-05T01:38:06Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > You’d all be praising it if Democrats were doing it in a Republican district. We all? You got a cite that I have done so? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/63 "2009-08-05T02:24:29Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > No I read it. You sure? All the words? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/64 "2009-08-05T02:25:55Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You know, **Guin** , you _could_ just consider responding to her to be beneath your dignity. But where’s the fun in that? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/65 "2009-08-05T02:28:16Z")
> [@](#): > > …You’d all be praising it if Democrats were doing it in a Republican district. I’m all fired up and ready to deliver a heapin’ helpin’ of praise and hosannas, you bethca! Where did it happen? Give me all the details! ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/66 "2009-08-05T02:58:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You know, **Guin** , you _could_ just consider responding to her to be beneath **your dignity**. Assumes facts not in evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/67 "2009-08-05T03:26:49Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > No I read it. Internal memo, sit up front make sure your voice is heard, make him think that your constituency is larger than he might otherwise think. > > Standard political tactics. > > You’d all be praising it if Democrats were doing it in a Republican district. You really have no idea what the teabaggers are doing, do you? They’re not interested in debate, they’re trying to shout it down. This is not a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/68 "2009-08-05T03:41:17Z")
Did you guys see that! \*\*Carol Stream \*\*made another funny! Our influence is gradually rearranging her DNA! Now, I’m not saying this is proof positive of a just and loving Goddess, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/69 "2009-08-05T03:41:53Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Not a single person here has even suggested that “asking that a congressperson justify their actions” is wrong or to be discouraged. What people have been talking about is protesters who are not even interested in asking questions or hearing answers, but who simply want to shout so long and loud that their political opposition can’t even state their position. And what makes you think that the people going to the town hall meeting are planning to do that? > [@](#): > > Take my Ann Coulter example from my first post (i’m sure you have a pin-up of her on your bathroom wall). And you would be wrong about that, as you are on most things. > [@](#): > > If the people shouting and heckling during her speech had waited until the question period at the end, and asked questions or offered critiques of her speech during that period, i would have had no problems with them. What they did instead, though, was simply to yell out “fascist” and other equally-useless epithets in an attempt to drown out her speech. Again, what makes you think that is what is being planned? You quoted from two seperate sources. One of them is local and will probably have a goodly number of people there. The other group is not local and probably won’t have a single soul there. Yet you do a guilt by association/insinuation thing - they are both conservative groups, therefore this will be their game plan. I’m wondering why you found it necessary to do that. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/70 "2009-08-05T04:03:12Z")
As I’ve been reading this thread, it occurred to me that using people heckling Ann Coulter as an example of the same thing isn’t really valid. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t appreciate hecklers. However, heckling Ann Coulter (or Michael Moore, for that matter) is not the same as interfering with a representative attempting to communicate with his or her constituents. In the first case you’re interfering with essentially an entertainer espousing a political viewpoint, in the second you’re monkey-wrenching the democratic process. Code Pink interfering with governmental proceedings such as hearings is a better example. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/71 "2009-08-05T04:08:14Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > And you would be wrong about that, as you are on most things. My mistake. I’m sure you’re capable of masturbating to her without the poster. > [@Clothahump](#): > > Again, what makes you think that is what is being planned? You quoted from two seperate sources. One of them is local and will probably have a goodly number of people there. The other group is not local and probably won’t have a single soul there. Yet you do a guilt by association/insinuation thing - they are both conservative groups, therefore this will be their game plan. I’m wondering why you found it necessary to do that. Who did i quote? I haven’t quoted anyone in this thread, as far as i can tell. If the people attending the meetings do indeed just ask questions and listen to the responses, and offer criticisms of the politicians and their policies, then that’s great. But there are groups of conservatives who are involved in this campaign who are exhorting their comrades to use methods that are purely obstructionist and designed to quash speech, debate, and explanation. If the people attending the meeting do those things, then my criticism stands. I’ve been talking, in this thread, largely about matters of principle. You can look it up if you’re unfamiliar with the concept. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/72 "2009-08-05T04:11:00Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > As I’ve been reading this thread, it occurred to me that using people heckling Ann Coulter as an example of the same thing isn’t really valid. > > Don’t get me wrong. I don’t appreciate hecklers. However, heckling Ann Coulter (or Michael Moore, for that matter) is not the same as interfering with a representative attempting to communicate with his or her constituents. > > In the first case you’re interfering with essentially an entertainer espousing a political viewpoint, in the second you’re monkey-wrenching the democratic process. > > Code Pink interfering with governmental proceedings such as hearings is a better example. Perhaps, but none of this negates my point. If heckling for no other purpose than to shut down speech and dialog is wrong when done to an entertainer like Coulter or Moore (and i believe it is), then it’s even _more_ wrong when done in a forum where a representative and his or her constituents are involved. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/73 "2009-08-05T04:19:19Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Perhaps, but none of this negates my point. > > If heckling for no other purpose than to shut down speech and dialog is wrong when done to an entertainer like Coulter or Moore (and i believe it is), then it’s even _more_ wrong when done in a forum where a representative and his or her constituents are involved. Exactly my point. Shutting down communication between a rep and his or her constituents is more wrong, much more. Especially when it’s instigated by corporate backed astroturf groups, as appears to be the case here. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/74 "2009-08-05T04:25:56Z")
Here’s a blog post about a group of organizers that was able to suppress a planned disruption of their meeting through good planning. > **[Prognostications (Think Dubya can pronounce that?)](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2009/8/4/13836/02418)** > > Daily Kos is a progressive news site that fights for democracy by giving our audience information and resources to win elections and impact government. Our coverage is assiduously factual, ethical, and unapologetically liberal. We amplify what we... ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/75 "2009-08-05T05:27:39Z")
:rolleyes: _sigh_ Do you all remember what a sick, sad, pathetic joke the “Tea Party” protests turned out to be? This set of protests will be, and will deserve to be, substantially the same. ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/76 "2009-08-05T05:27:40Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Here’s a blog post about a group of organizers that was able to suppress a planned disruption of their meeting through good planning. > [Prognostications (Think Dubya can pronounce that?)](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/4/13836/02418) “And the Tea Baggers will shrivel.” Did they really need to? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/77 "2009-08-05T08:08:40Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > a gov’t that cannot run Medicare, Medicaid, the US Postal Service, or even Cash for Clunkers getting their slimy hands between them and their doctor? Cite? Stand-up comedians notwithstanding, the USPS does a damn fine job. And Medicare is very popular with people who actually use it. And government run VA health care is first rate. Better government run UHC than health care controlled by insurance companies. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/78 "2009-08-05T14:53:32Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Cite? Stand-up comedians notwithstanding, the USPS does a damn fine job. And Medicare is very popular with people who actually use it. And government run VA health care is first rate. Better government run UHC than health care controlled by insurance companies. Facts are irrelevant. If the popular wisdom is that Al Gore says he invented the Internet, then by golly that becomes the truth! And so it is with your silly little reality-based arguments. You really need to pay closer attention to your Aunt Bea’s forwarded forwarded forwarded emails. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/79 "2009-08-05T15:14:59Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Huh? How does going to a town hall meeting and asking that a congressperson justify their actions become fascist in your eyes? Disrupting and bullying and shouting down opponents, as opposed to engaging them in rational debate, is, undeniably, a classic fascist tactic. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176/80 "2009-08-05T15:26:02Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Disrupting and bullying and shouting down opponents, as opposed to engaging them in rational debate, is, undeniably, a classic fascist tactic. Fascists do not, of course, hold a copyright on such tactics, but all fascist movements have made lavish use of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disrupting-town-hall-meetings/505176.md?page=5)