Here is a YouTube clip filmed by one of our locals.
The meeting was sponsored by SEIU who showed an intimidating presence and yes, more violence ensued… from their end.

This meeting was scheduled to begin at 6 PM, however, a significant amount of people were already seated in the room before they locked the doors to prevent the growing crowd entrance until they were… (ahem)… ready to begin. They filled the front rows with “supporters” and began handing out prepared signs as well as sheets of paper chock-full of talking points… Yep, they were staging the set… um… I mean, setting the stage for a healthy, spontaneous debate… Unfortunately, there was a camera in the hands of “one who must be silenced” andthe tape has gotten out. There is even a cute little moment in the film where one woman realizes that all of this is being caught on tape and she quickly moves out of the shot… and the man who handed out all of the posters suddenly felt inclined to gather them all back and hide them behind the table.
After they have the room prepared, they unlock the doors and allow “everyone else” to come in…. Well, those that could fit anyway. I hear there were

Another telling moment in the clip is when Ms. Castor makes what she feels is a “good point” regarding the logic of Socialized Healthcare… the people in the first three rows stand IMMEDIATELY to applaud… but they don’t face HER… they turn around as they stand so they can clearly direct their cheers toward their significantly larger crowd of opponants BEHIND them..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiulofNmULM

A blogger named “Rick Myers” also managed to sneak in before the meeting started, finding it easy to “blend in with all the SEIU/FCAN,” adding that, “It was pretty easy to blend in, I just had to look lost and un-intellegent.”

He also adds:

“By the time the general public was allowed in, we were briefed on how to handle those opposed to the bill.”

Another “astroturfer” was there and managed to film “the briefing”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3QeH-z2CbU

Hmmmm…. Now that’s how to create spontaneous, grassroots support for your cause, ey!

http://www.meetup.com/tampa912/calendar/11023521/

The Tampa Tribue gave hint that there has been “accusations” about democrats staging these events to make them appear “balanced” or even majority support…

“An overflow crowd of critics was left waiting outside the building — and in some cases pounding on the meeting room doors — while health care reform activists complained that Democrats and union members were guided into the room for prime seats. Tampa police officers maintained control the entire night. ” – Tampa Tribune

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article1025529.ece

“These groups are not concerned about Americans’ access to quality heath care, but are extreme ideologues, only interested in ‘breaking’ the president and thwarting the change Americans voted for last November,” said state Democratic chairwoman Karen Thurman.

Um… Karen… Americans did not vote for this “change”… and “these groups” outnumber yours… and we are not going to let you cram it down our throats without a fight. Your SEIU thugs will not scare us away. You are only making us stronger, more determined to stop you.

By the way, Karen… when your party is out of power and you lose your job (of “changing” America) and you wind up in that growing unemployment line that your party’s actions are creating…? No cutsies… Got it?

Oh, and Cathy Castor?
She left before the Town Hall meeting ended… amidst booes… No one was listening to her anyway. She refused to asnswer questions and simply ran through her list of talking points (which her minions had handed out to others before they let the general public inside the locked doors).

Asked later what she thought of the resounding opposition she faced at that meeting… Ms. Castor said, “It has strengthened my resolve to stand up for families and seniors,” Castor said. “Floridians are bearing a great burden in health care costs, more than almost any other state.”

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/aug/06/071255/protests-passions-roiling-town-hall-meeting-health/news-breaking/

Yeah, we know Cathy… It was those “families and seniors” who were screaming at you to “HEAR OUR VOICE”. One of those seniors you care about so much wasn’t allowed inside your little meeting. Seems you already had the front rows reserved for your personal supporters… like this senior,,, She would be the one banging her cane on the locked door near the end of this familiar clip of your event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnT3Uevy5rU

With the assistance of another gentleman who shared her concerns, they did let her in… and thenthey quickly locked the rest of those “families and seniors” out again.