The scene of a Metro Atlanta town hall meeting quickly deteriorated when Democratic Congressman David Scott (GA-13) suddenly became enraged, and, in a breathtaking display of congressional machismo, began berating constituents.
Scott displayed his temper during a question-and-answer period when David Hill, a local resident and doctor, questioned the congressman over his support of President Barack Obama’s proposed single-payer health care system.
“Why are you voting for a health care plan that is shown not to work in Massachusetts and why are you going to institute that in a nation-wide manner?”
With a look of confusion on his face, the congressman first quietly asked an aide, “Is that the type of bill they got going on?” Then, reassured by staff that the bill Hill referenced was, in fact, the bill before Congress, Scott proceeded to respond, insomuch as the Congressman’s angry tirade may be called a response.
“I’m listening to my constituents, OK,” Scott said, with a heavy and awkward emphasis on “my.” “These are people who live in the 13th Congressional district, who vote in this district. That’s who I’ve got to respond to, OK. Right, alright.”
Grimacing and sternly brandishing his finger at Dr. Hill, Scott’s anger intensified, as did his rhetoric.
“So what you’ve got to understand, those of you who are here, who have taken and came and hijacked this event we dealing with here, this is not a health care event. You made the choice to come here and take advantage of this meeting that these people in Douglasville worked hard to put together to deal with this road,” Scott said, referencing the relocation of a local highway in Douglassville, GA.
“You chose to come and to do it on your own. Not a single one of you had the decency to call my office and set up for a meeting, OK. Do that. Do that!”
Local Atlanta NBC affiliate WXIA-TV reports that Hill, a verified resident of Georgia’s 13th district, has attempted, on multiple occasions and all in vain, to secure sit-downs with the incensed Congressman, however.
Before yielding the microphone to a staffer, Scott gave an austere warning to Dr. Hill and others present: “Don’t, don’t come and take advantage of what these individuals have done. You want a meeting with me on health care, I’ll give it to you. You come on August 24th. On August 28th.”
Scott’s aide told the crowd to pay close attention to the website for details on the health care town hall, but no such details have been made public on the Congressman’s website and emails to the Congressman’s staff have not been returned.
Scott’s veiled suggestion that the concerned doctor was not a “resident of Georgia’s 13th district”—ostensibly rooted in the fact that Hill is white, while Scott represents a district with a large African American population—and the contention that Hill had somehow “hijacked” the town hall is another matter altogether.
As a voter of the neighboring district in Atlanta, Congressman Scott, I must say, white voters like Hill and myself are not out to hijack your health care events, and we are certainly not out to hijack substantive health care reform – for which the same can be said of doctors. Voters are, however, out to prevent the creation of a single-payer health care system, a system you support, albeit a system you supported only after aides reminded you.
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Democratic strategy:
cannedjam (Diary) Friday, August 7th at 11:25PM EST (link)You only represent those who voted for you. Anyone who asks a critical question is intentionally trying to hijack the issue, diminish their intentions and invalidate their existence by suggesting they are not sincere. And whatever you do, do not answer the question!
http://cannedjam.com
He's Got Screws Loose.
farstar99 (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 2:37AM EST (link)Either he’s even more out of touch than your average Democrat, or he’s mental.
Health care
benjesurfer Saturday, August 8th at 2:53AM EST (link)Most congressmen have not read the 1017 pages. Some claim that they need lawyers to help them understand it. Are most congressmen lawyers? The few that are not SHOULD have a lawyer on their staff.
Benjesurfer, you mean like the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee?
Nick Haynes (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 3:37PM EST (link)That’s the one that gets me: if the chairman of the Judiciary Committee can’t understand it, then the bill needs to get shorter and clearer.
If you’re not networking, you’re not helping.
Prognosis:
WilliamU (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 12:15AM EST (link)The Democrats are blind. They really don’t understand nor see that most Americans do not relate to the policies they want to implement. I know my own Congressman Zack Space just had a small private event and made similar disparaging comments towards tea party protestors and the Obamacare townhallers. See link: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/08/05/ohio-blue-dog-zack-space-defends-record-takes-obama-call/
Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.
-Barry M. Goldwater
they are only hurting themselves...
cannedjam (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 12:34AM EST (link)as average Americans some whom have never really been motivated politically before, find themselves getting involved, only to be labeled as fringe lunatics by those who are supposed to be listening.
Keep discounting and dehumanizing the people you work for. Keep it up and see how that works out for you.
But what I really think what we are seeing here is two fold. 1) Wishful thinking. They want to think the people who speak out against this are the fringe and not the norm, because that is the only way they are not completely screwed by hitching to Obama’s wagon. 2) Duel realities. These people are so insulated from reality that they have started to subscribe to their own crap. They really have no clue how to take the pulse of their constituents, and have given in to their own hype.
http://cannedjam.com
I'd like to believe they were blind, but
PoliPundita (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 6:44PM EST (link)I’m not so sure. Like most people, I’d like to think they are being misled, and I imagine some of them are. But they can also read polls, and what part of the precipitately falling numbers does any politician not understand?
As much as I hate to say it, some of this smacks of sheer arrogance and partisan pigheadedness. Dems have been trying to nationalize health care for years, and for the first time, they can almost taste victory. It’s hardly any wonder that those in relatively safe districts are insolently ignoring anyone who disagrees with them. They’ve nothing to lose except the opportunity they’ve been waiting for.
Unfortunately...
Jake W (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 2:06AM EST (link)My family has the misfortune of being represented by him. They live in Douglasville. I would include myself, but I am registered to vote where I got to college in Statesboro, which means another Democrat, John Barrow, is mine.
Anyways, given Scott’s past behavior, I can’t say I am all too surprised by this outburst.
“I will not stand by and watch this great country destroy itself under mediocre leadership that drifts from one crisis to the next, eroding our national will and purpose.”
–Ronald Reagan
Jake Speaks.
Unlikely Voter.
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I say #2
seesalrun (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 2:14AM EST (link)it’s really evident from the top down.
Cmon down to flyover Country, live a little at a thermostat at 87 degrees here in ALA.
Pick up some chicken litter, do some watering and I won’t even mention the Cow duties before you tail wags your ass home.
NO CLUE
#2
I say #2
seesalrun (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 2:15AM EST (link)it’s really evident from the top down.
Cmon down to flyover Country, live a little at a thermostat at 87 degrees here in ALA.
Pick up some chicken litter, do some watering and I won’t even mention the Cow duties before your tail wags your ass home.
NO CLUE
#2
oh
seesalrun (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 2:20AM EST (link)that’s after you put in your 40 to pay your mortgage on time.
Have we seen some stats on the regional foreclosures?
I bet, less, far less in the South. Erick?
Revolt of the Taxpayers
erp Saturday, August 8th at 8:16AM EST (link)It’s about time that those who pay the bills get out there and put a stop to the madness.
erp
Sad to see Scott dissemble in this way as he has had good moments
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 9:31AM EST (link)in the past with his support for the Iraq War in the mid-2000s.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Truth to Power
lukematthews (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 11:51AM EST (link)Unfortunately, the press refuses to do its sacred job and so we are forced to. The reason there is so much fury over these bills is the state-run press is not asking these vital questions. We are becoming enraged because instead of speaking truth to power and demanding accountability, the press is meekly reporting whatever the Democratic Party spews forth. If only the press would question and demand answers, this entire debate would become a productive engagement instead of a giant scree on both sides.
Yeah, that's all fail.
jlucasmckay (Diary) Saturday, August 8th at 1:11PM EST (link)I guess “why we’re doing it” wasn’t an official talking point in the memo. I suppose it’s not particularly reasonable to have a thousand-page document read in a day or two – but it’s a shame that Scott refuses to think for himself.
Here in NC
charlesgalt Saturday, August 8th at 2:46PM EST (link)Rep. Brad Miller is quoted in today’s News & Observer:
” I represent three-fourths of a million people, and they are not all going to agree with ME.” (emphasis added)
Golly, I didn’t realize the test was to AGREE with the Congressman. I naively presumed that he might think/vote/act in conjunction with the wishes of his constituency. My bad.
Which is worse
cmw (Diary) Sunday, August 9th at 1:43AM EST (link)OK, so which is worse: the congressmen (like ours in TX-17) who refuse to meet and talk about health care? Or the ones who go mental yelling at those who dare to ask questions? I really can’t decide …
http://www.colinwitt.com/
Jefferson quotes
Ireland Monday, August 10th at 12:10PM EST (link)When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.
This one is especially important in light of this Administration and Congresses over spending.
Never spend your money before you have it.
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.