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I received this as an email, compiled by Greg Schultz - State Director, Ohio Organizing for America - so there's no link to the compilation, but there are plenty of good stories below... THE CONVERSATIONS YOU’RE NOT HEARING: News Reports From Across The Country Describe Health Insurance Reform Town Halls As “Passionate But Respectful," “Spirited But Orderly” And “Inspir Healthy Debate”
A Local Washington State Publication Declares Town Hall “A Win For Civil Debate”
Outside the echo chamber of 24-hour cable news, Americans all across the country are attending town halls, holding coffee shop conversations and engaging in respectful, honest debates about the best way to achieve health insurance reform. As the President continues to forge ahead, making historic progress in his effort to reform America’s broken health insurance system, please see below for coverage of the conversations you haven’t been hearing:
Columbus Dispatch: “Crowd ‘respectful’ at health talk”: Sen. Sherrod Brown had no interest in being pushed around by an unruly crowd yesterday, and with few exceptions, the hundreds who attended his forum on proposed health-care reform were opinionated but behaved. Debate was contentious at times and there was some heckling, but the few who made rude comments were promptly shut down by the Ohio Democrat and others in the crowd. Compared with raucous town-hall meetings held elsewhere in recent days, it was tame. "I thought people were respectful," Brown said afterward. http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/08/13/copy/health_meeting.ART_ART_08-13-09_A1_OLEONN9.html?adsec=politics&sid 1
Marietta Times: “Debate so far in Ohio has been passionate but respectful”: Washington County's congressmen and health officials who have attended town hall-style meetings on health care reform say the debate so far in Ohio has been passionate but respectful, unlike some of the events across the country. "There are very impassioned conversations, but (U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio) has been impressed with how respectful audience members in Ohio have been," said Meghan Dubyak, Brown's press secretary. Since he took office in 2007, Brown has held more than 130 town hall-style meetings, but only the last two - in Cambridge Tuesday and Columbus Wednesday - have focused specifically on health care reform, Dubyak said. http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/514943.html
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: “Town hall meetings inspire healthy debate”: Congressman Eric Massa set a good example for how to hold a town hall meeting focused on the emotional topic of health care reform. More than 500 people questioned Massa for two hours outside the Mendon Community Center last Thursday night. The meeting felt Lincoln-esque in its nature, with citizens gathered in a circle around Massa. Most behaved with respect, although a few people shouted now and then. Thankfully, the Massa meeting was calmer. Elected leaders should take that to heart. Letters to the editor show citizens' high interest in health care reform. At Massa's meeting, he debunked some myths about the current House bill and shared his views. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090810/OPINION04/908100320/1041/OPINION/Town+hall+meetings+inspire+healthy+debate
KCUR: “Turmoil wasn't the case in Lee's Summit this weekend, where hundreds of people attended Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver's monthly coffeehouse event.” That type of turmoil wasn't the case in Lee's Summit this weekend, where hundreds of people attended Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver's monthly coffeehouse event. Individual meetings are the typical format of Cleaver's coffeehouses, but many people didn't get a chance to talk with the Congressman because of the high turnout. Still, most stuck around anyway to express their views on health care. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kcur/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1540764/KCUR.News/Health.Debate.Heated.but.Civil.at.Cleaver.Coffeehouse
Atlanta Journal Constitution: “Last night’s townhall meeting by U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., went off without a serious hitch in Clarkston.”: A report from Hank Johnson’s townhall meeting”: Last night’s townhall meeting by U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., went off without a serious hitch in Clarkston, thanks in part to good planning by his staff. Event organizers made it clear that they wanted a respectful discussion — “respectful” was a term used throughout the night — and they tried hard to ensure that happened. Opponents lacked the critical mass needed to turn the meeting in another direction. The makeup of the overflow crowd… In addition, reform supporters are now on notice that they were getting out-organized by opponents, and they made sure to show up in numbers. http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2009/08/11/a-report-from-hank-johnsons-townhall-meeting/?cxntfid=blogs_jay_bookman_blog
Eagle Tribune: “Health care reform sparked a loud, but peaceful, demonstration outside Portsmouth High School”: Health care reform sparked a loud, but peaceful, demonstration outside Portsmouth High School yesterday as more than 1,000 people without tickets to see President Barack Obama threw their own town meeting outside. Both sides shouted at each other over bullhorns and banged drums. But despite the decibel level, both camps also said they want to let the president know this is an issue many are taking personally. Patricia Fennelly of Derry supports health care reform and said she has a stake in the outcome of this debate. As a mental health professional, she said she sees the emotional toll the current system is taking on vulnerable people whose insurance plans do not cover psychiatric and emotional illnesses. http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_224020925.html?keyword=topstory
CNN: “Not all town hall meetings have been raucous.”: Not all town hall meetings have been raucous. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, held a town hall meeting Monday morning in Kennett, Missouri, to help clarify what she says is some of the misinformation that is being circulated. "This is Missouri manners at its best. People have really strong opinions here, but I think we've had a good, full discussion," said McCaskill, who supports a public health care option. "I think I was able to hopefully correct some really bad misinformation. ... People are just getting information that is just flat wrong." http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/10/congress.town.halls/
National Review Online: “No fights, no disruption, just lots of folks wanting to make their voices heard.” Campaign Spot reader Rick sends on word of a member of Congress in upstate New York who wanted to hold appointment-only one-on-one meetings with constituents . . . and got a town hall anyway. No fights, no disruption, just lots of folks wanting to make their voices heard. I can't help but wonder if many Americans will look at the "Chaos! Rage! Insanity!" tone of the cable network coverage and roll their eyes, having had much more "normal" experiences in their local town halls. http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzVlYTNiODgxMWZiMTJlYmQyODk4NzczMzllN2Y1Mjk=
Washington Examiner: “The meeting went on without any major disruptions.”: Congressman Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat representing District 4, hosted a healthcare town-hall meeting last night at the Georgia Perimeter College in Clarkston, GA. The meeting went on without any major disruptions. District 4 is definitely Democratic so most of the attendants were pro Barack Obama healthcare reform. http://www.examiner.com/x-6571-Atlanta-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m8d11-Democrats-come-out-to-support-healthcare-reform-at-the-Rep-Johnson-townhall-meeting
Washington Herald Net: “Everett health care forum a win for civil debate”: By the looks of things, a town hall meeting Wednesday night wasn’t going to sway many opinions about health care proposals working their way through Congress. It did, however, give people a chance to pledge their support or level their objections to Congressman Rick Larsen, D-Wash. About 2,400 people crowded into the ballpark at Everett Memorial Stadium for the forum, which was similar to town halls that have attracted large and often boisterous crowds across the country. Police officers were on hand, but no problems were reported. Larsen said that Everett’s turnout was one of the largest he had ever had for a town hall meeting, and he was surprised that more than 2,000 people packed an outdoor stadium on a weeknight.The questions and comments were “heartfelt, passionate and challenges my thinking,” he said. “I’ll need to think, ‘Is this bill the right one?”http://heraldnet.com/article/20090812/NEWS01/908129947
Associated Press: “2,500 turn out for Larsen health town hall”: About 2,500 people crowded into an Everett baseball stadium for U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen's Wednesday night town hall meeting on health care reform. Anticipating a big crowd, Larsen had shifted the location from a meeting hall. The Washington Democrat heard from some people who said they don't want government-funded health care, and others who said they worry about the millions of Americans who lack health insurance now. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_health_care_larsen.html
WisPolitics: “Moore leads spirited but orderly health care forum”: U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore led a sometimes lively session on health care reform Tuesday evening, with roughly 900 attendees on both sides of the debate filling the auditorium of Milwaukee's North Division High School… Acknowledging people on both sides of the debate who attended, Moore encouraged respect and thanked people for coming out to express their opinion. “This is democracy,” Moore said. Dems across the country have been confronted by angry protesters at town hall meetings on health care they’ve held during the August recess. But Tuesday’s event in Milwaukee was less combative than those that have made the national news over the past week. Moore represents one of the most heavily Dem districts in the state. http://www.wispolitics.com/index.Iml?Article 6940
Associated Press: “Donnelly town hall on health care stays orderly”: Rep. Joe Donnelly says he supports a change to the current health care system because Medicare will go broke unless something is changed. The northern Indiana Democrat told hundreds of people at a town hall meeting in Kokomo on Wednesday that legislation should cover people with pre-existing conditions and provide benefits to small and medium-sized businesses while not increasing the national debt. He said he opposes federal funding for abortion. His comments drew both applause and heckling, but overall the meeting was orderly, unlike some of the rowdy gatherings other members of Congress have encountered. Donnelly says the relatively polite hour long meeting was a testament to the people of Kokomo. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-donnelly-townhall,0,1497247.story
Daily Kos: Town Hall A “Policy Discussion” And Not A “Shouting Match.” Hank Johnson's district is Cynthia McKinney's old district on the east side of Atlanta, so there are a lot of progressives. But this is Georgia, so the district is surrounded by a sea of red… Hank Johnson did an excellent job of assembling speakers. So the opponents, most of whom who had driven at Boortz insistence from the hinterlands outside GA-4, were confused. They were surprised that they appeared to be outnumbered; that the audience burst into applause at the mention of a public option. There were some raucous boos, but the opponents were clearly outnumbered, and many of them began to leave when they realized it was going to be a boring policy discussion and not a fun shouting match. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/10/214125/144
WVIR-TV Charlottesville: “For the most part the crowd was subdued and in support of reforming the system.”: Hundreds packed Charlottesville High School for "Tom in Your Town." Perriello took the stage and fielded questions on healthcare concerns. But for the most part the crowd was subdued and in support of reforming the system. Perriello says the current bill needs additional work before he signs off on it. The entire crowd was on board with that sentiment. "Most people had really legitimate issues and concerns. I didn't think it was acrimonious," said Joan Burchell who lives in Albemarle County. Perriello says the current bill needs additional work before he signs off on it. The entire crowd was on board with that sentiment. http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S 885372
Daily Kos: “We Had No Disruptions Or Violence”: Last night the health care fight came to Monterey. Congressman Sam Farr, the progressive Democrat that represents us in the House (CA-17), held his annual town hall at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Although the wingnuts succeeded in filling up about half the seats, we had no disruptions or violence. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/11/765129/-How-We-Won-the-Monterey-Town-Hall-Last-Night
Philadelphia Inquirer : “Sestak health-care meeting a spoonful of sugar… overwhelmingly civil”: About 650 people - diverse in age, race, and occupation, but nearly all supporters of a health-care overhaul - last night crowded into a Center City church for a town meeting with U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (D., Pa.) that, in sharp contrast to recent gatherings across the country, was overwhelmingly civil. Many said they went to Broad Street Ministry because they felt their point of view wasn't being heard. "We just haven't been getting our story told," said Antoinette Kraus, an organizer with Health Care for America Now. "The supporters of health reform have been missing from the debate. We support Obama's health-care plan, and we can't wait any longer for reform." http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20090813_Sestak_health-care_meeting_a_spoonful_of_sugar.html
Democrat and Chronicle: “Health care bills supported inside and outside meeting in Rochester”: The discussion over health care reform at times has been rancorous, but Wednesday people who agreed to disagree still found something to talk about. "The folks outside don't hurt us at all," said Larry Knox, regional field director for OFA. "That's why OFA was set up, to get people engaged." Ricardo Adams, 54, of Rochester, was on West Main Street, showing support for a single-payer system. “Affordable health care sounds good,” Adams said. “Some people can’t afford anything. My mother died three weeks ago as a direct result of not having health insurance. Her thing with hospitals was the bills. People shouldn’t have to worry about bills to save their life.” Shatyce Bristow, 22, of Rochester was new to the debate and came to learn about OFA. She works in customer service, has no health insurance and thinks it costs too much. “I think it’s a right that everyone should have it, not just people who can afford it.”
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090813/NEWS01/908130337/1002/NEWS/Health+care+bills+supported+inside+and+outside+meeting+in+Rochester
Charlottesville Daily Progress: “Perriello’s town hall mostly civil”: More than 1,300 residents packed Charlottesville High School’s auditorium Tuesday night to deliver their views on health care reform to U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello. Unlike many other such town hall meetings hosted by Democratic lawmakers, Perriello’s forum was not disrupted by vocal opponents of the health care proposals under consideration by Congress. If anything, the crowd at Perriello’s town hall was mostly in favor of health insurance reform. Many asked Perriello, D-Ivy, to support the so-called “public option” that would allow the federal government to provide health insurance coverage. “Will you support a public option?” asked Bob McAdams, who was laid off from his software consulting job in December and has struggled to get his health insurance company to cover his medical costs. “I would do it in a heartbeat. Get the insurance company off my back.” LINK ( http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/local_govtpolitics/article/perriellos_town_hall_mostly_civil._many_residents_ask_him_to_support_public/43912/ )
California 10 News : “The majority in the room not only supported health care reform but Davis, as well.”: A town hall meeting on the Obama administration’s health care reform proposals held Tuesday night in Hillcrest by Representative Susan Davis, (D) San Diego, was relatively peaceful compared to other meetings around the nation, 10News' Bob Lawrence reported. "There was plenty of fire but none of the fireworks ,” Lawrence said…Scores of people were stuffed into the town council meeting room where Rep. Davis took questions but there was none of the acrimony seen at similar meetings held around the country. The majority in the room not only supported health care reform but Davis, as well.“People raised a lot of issues and concerns but it was constructive and not what we've seen on TV recently,” Davis told 10News. http://www.10news.com/news/20366105/detail.html
The News and Observer: “Lillington health forum is overcrowded but less boisterous”: The health-care debate attracts such intense interest that more than 250 people were turned away Wednesday night from a forum held on the Central Carolina Community College campus in this Harnett County town. Part of a series of town hall meetings sponsored by the State Employees Association of North Carolina to build public support for President Barrack Obama's proposal to change health care in America, Wednesday's meeting overflowed its location after U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat, announced he would be participating. Those who made it inside seemed roughly equally divided on the issue. There were some scattered laughs and hoots, but the meeting was far more sedate than the contentious forum held Tuesday night in Rocky Mount by U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1645336.html
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