This is a video I made from the few pictures I was able to take at the Tampa Town Hall last night. I was one of those stuck outside. The words n the music say “The God who gave us Life, gave us Liberty at the same time. The hand of force may destroy, but shall not disjoin them!”
Keep standing!
Here is my report:
I was approaching the meeting as people were coming the other way saying the meeting was already closed and they were turned away(right at 6 pm). But I persevered and was in the flow as the line move around the building. I was able to get almost to the doors when police said no one else could go in – even to the air conditioned anteroom. Throughout the hour they continued to not let anyone in even though others were coming out.
Yes there was chanting out side from both sides – “read the bill!” “Obama! “Just say NO!” “Public Option!” “Bring it outside!”
If there were opponents banging on windows as has been reported, it must have been on the other side of the building, where reportedly supporters were being let in the back door.
Yes, half of the room was reserved for SEIU.
If there was violence, from everything I have seen, it all came from ObamaCare supporters.
I saw one man come out to try to make a police report. He was right in front of me. His shirt was half torn off and he had a large deep scratch on his chest. Said someone inside twisted his arm, ripped his watch off. I could not hear what he said about his shirt and the scratch. I later learned that he was forcibly pushed out the doors to the actually meeting room before the doors were closed to people in the anteroom even being able to hear and see. He is the one in the green shirt by the closed doors in the last video* below (this video is also on Eric’s blog – I put it here for reference).
I was confronted by two ObamaCare supporters who demanded why I could not find a GOP town hall to attend. I told them that as a citizen of Tampa, Florida and America I had every right to be there. They kept a running “what a bunch of hired goons” commentary going behind me.
Another supporter with a handmade ObamaCare sign asked me a question. When I tried to answer she violently slapped my hand and told me to “stop trying to put out her eye with my f**ing finger!”. My finger WAS pointed but my hand was at MY waist next to MY body.
The crowd outside was very large and I would say at least 3/1 Obamacare opponents. I can’t report on inside but was told by others I knew who made it in that it was a complete farce. Castor did not answer any questions and left 30 minutes into the meeting by the backdoor.
The meeting was supposed to run from 6-8. Police told us to disperse at approximately 7:10. The actual words were -
“We need you to clear the premises so the people inside are able to exit”
My interpretation – “Americans – get out of the way so the select few can leave safely!”
Many continued to stand in front of the building. I am waiting for the 10 pm news to see how this is reported.
In the words of my soon coming protest song – “I will not apologize, I will not sit down. I will fight for freedom’s cause and beat this tyranny down!”
This video from Fox News Tampa shows me at the beginning in the white jacket n the middle. The woman standing behind with long blond hair, sign held high saying “We want public option” is the one who slammed my hand. By the way – I am fully expecting my pick slip from the school district when they see I was there.
*Last a powerful video from You Tube that happened INSIDE.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
The Democratic party
marshmom (Diary) Friday, August 7th at 7:48AM EST (link)should be ashamed of themselves, for one reason, lying to such a vulnerable group of people as people who truly need healthcare and are naive enough to believe the government is actually trying to help.
For two, using such nasty, mean, and untrue terms to refer to Americans who just want America to remain—-American.
And thirdly, for using abusive thugs to try to beat or threaten these patriotic, hard-working Americans into submission.
The instigators of this coordinated attack are vicious and oppressive and are using tactics of dictators and rulers. If anyone still has a hard time seeing this, they really should open their eyes. This is just further proof that we should be fighting back before it goes so far that we have no rights to fight back.
We need to be careful. We need to be unified. We need to be persistent. I will be praying that people will begin to see this administration, Congress, and their thugs for what they really are and join us in taking back what’s left of our country.
May God bless those who are joining in this effort to save America, whether it is on the streets, on the internet, on the phone or even in their own homes.
Thanks
conteach (Diary) Friday, August 7th at 7:55AM EST (link)I will continue to appear as my school schedule allows. My hand is still hurting from where the tolerant one whacked me. I told my niece that my birthday present to her daughter is to show her this blog and that her great-auntie is fighting for HER future!
Whether you know it or not
marshmom (Diary) Friday, August 7th at 8:00AM EST (link)you are making history. It still remains to be seen just how big this picture will be when it’s finished, but you are doing your part and you’ll have lots of stories to tell your great-niece.
I'm a homeowner in Rep. Castor's district
danielhill2008 (Diary) Friday, August 7th at 8:12PM EST (link)although I don’t live there at present. I wanted to go to the Town Hall, but when I learned who was sponsoring it, i.e., SEIU, my discretion got the better of my valor. I REALLY dislike thugs, and I was afraid, justifiably, I see, that this would turn into a thugathon. No need for me to confront those goons, not good for the cause, and would play to “their” stereotypes. I can be an angry mob by myself when I’m PO’ed. But I was there in spirit, and next time, I’ll be there.
By the way, I’ve been to enough parent/teacher nights to be surprised that Hillsborough School District has any conservative teachers. God bless you, it must be lonely in the staff lounge. Keep up the good fight, and I hope you keep your gig. We need more like you.
the staff lounge
conteach (Diary) Wednesday, August 12th at 12:51AM EST (link)Yes it is very lonely. Truthfully between the politics of most of the teachers’ and the fact that I am expected to be “cool” as a music teacher at my urban school, I am just tired. Most of the staff know where I stand – my McCain/Palin sticker in a school parking lot/neighborhood absolutely blanketed with Obama stickers – was their first clue. I have ferreted out the 4 other conservatives on our staff of almost 90
)
Got a newspaper this week on the history of the local teacher’s union – which I am part of for my won defense against parents and wacky administrative policies. They ended the history with bashing “W” and Jeb Bush and saying that getting Obama elected was the best thing they had done in 2007-08. I want to pull out, but then I have no recourse in scheduling, contract and payroll matters.
BUT – there is only ONE that I have to please…and that will continue to be my aim.