I don’t know about “removed” (I’d like to see some cites from Normal Phase) - but possibly not be given a forum to speak. I know that in my school district, you have to either be employed by or a resident of the district in order to be placed on the agenda at governing board meetings. I don’t have too hard a time believing that official meetings can restrict speakers to official residents.
Unless they’re union, then they have the right to show up in their chartered bus with their prefab signs and Move-On written talking points. Oh wait, that sounds eerily familiar…
I was thinking more about questions from the audience. Besides, how are you going to enforce a rule that says “nobody can speak unless they live in the district”? Show ID? If it were me, I would categorically refuse to show any ID. If they can’t make me show ID when the police stop me, by golly they can’t make me show any to give some blow-dried blowhard in an expensive suit a piece of my mind about spending my paycheck.
I don’t think we would, in fact. As ArizonaTeach mentioned, a restricted agenda and who can comment on it is quite common. If the meeting is specifically for the constituents, and only they can speak on the issue, then anybody bussed in to cause problems can be removed if they act in a disruptive manner. “Disorderly Conduct” laws are usually very loosely written.
I think I don’t believe this. Anyone who disrupts a meeting can be removed regardless of where they live.
And I seriously doubt that “out of towner asking a question at a forum for a Congressperson” can be construed as disorderly conduct no matter how far you stretch it. I’ve been to such meetings, and there was no requirement to identify where you live before you asked hard questions. I’ve done it myself.
Where you live is not the point. The charge is that they are training and organizing people to disrupt the meetings. They are sending them to every meeting to shout out the proper talking points.
Right wing organization encourages its followers to disrupt and generally be big pains in the ass at Democratic led town hall meetings, and that’s free speech.
Left wing organization encourages its followers to do something to counter the disrupters and ass-pains, and that’s shutting up voters who dare question the fearless leader.
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. If these Tea Baggers insist on being human scrotums, then they need to shut the fuck up and take their own medicine when someone shouts back at them.
Troubled by it. Not by the motivation, that’s pretty legitimate. But fighting fire with fire, not so sure. Be better if unions would encourage members to attend meetings in their respective districts. Any intensification of the conflict feeds the Dark Side, they get to claim “widespread rage” with health care plans. Of course, they’re going to lie anyway, and that undercuts my premise.
Still, its heartening to see unions regain enough clout to be a threat.
Well, I’m not even poo-pooing the Tea Baggers for what they are doing. Sure it’s obnoxious, but fuck, look at the 60’s; obnoxious demonstrations are the only ones that get noticed.
But when the other side comes back at them, they don’t get to cry “Oppression,” because it isn’t fun anymore.
