re: #33 keithgabryelski

You’re presenting this as if it is the congressman’s fault that these town halls have grown ugly.

This is the fault of the organizers that are inciting people to gather at these town halls and disrupt them AND the fault of the people that follow the directions of these organizers.

It sounds like you believe that Think Progress canard about massive organizing and talking points being faxed hither and yon. Turns out that was one guy with a $5K PAC and 23 members on Facebook. Conservatives typically don’t mindlessly follow some “leader” they’ve never heard of.

The stories I’ve read and the videos I’ve seen indicate that the town halls turn ugly when congresspersons or other organizers (such as the AARP person) refuse to take questions, are unable to manage their own meetings, and recite a list of Pelosi-isms. This Congressman knew what he would be facing and went out of his way to move to a larger venue and conduct the meeting so everyone had a chance to have their say. He defused any potential anger and turned it into a positive experience. Good for him.

re: #42 keithgabryelski

With any context you can understand that “speak out” is code for “disrupt the normal discourse”.

Since no one is preventing people from talking except those that are shouting down the speakers at these events, it is reasonable to assume he is advocating the continued disruption.

You’re psychic? You know what Walter was thinking based on two words? Maybe “speak out” means “disrupt the normal discourse” on the left. Where I come from, it means saying what’s on your mind without allowing others to intimidate you.