During Tuesday's Farm Bill and Beyond forum with Congressmen Peterson and Walz at Farmfest, Bluestem photographer Eric Adams captured this image of the woman who called health care reform a "path to communism."
At her turn at the mic, she soon made it clear that she didn't come to ask a question but to harangue the congressmen on the stage.
It was hard to see the action from the front where the media was seated, but Adams had a good view. According to Adams, the woman not only ranted about health care reform and socialism, but also tried to move to the front towards the congressmen. Kent Theisse, the forum organizer in the yellow shirt, then blocked her path and asked her to give the representatives a chance to respond.
Her path blocked, Adams said, she then stomped off. At this point, Congressman Walz said that she had left, and that while she might not want to hear his answer, he hoped the audience did.
Farmfest forums have a reputation of being feisty, but feisty doesn't mean rude. Rather, the political forums are a chance for citizens, elected officials and those who seek office exchange ideas. The near-name calling, and refusal to listen didn't fit in this mold, and the crowds weren't impressed by the attack.
It's likely that the confrontational question wasn't a spontaneous outburst. CQ Politics reports in Health Debate Produces Angry Protests, Angry Retorts:
Some experts on political organization say that despite the disruption of Democratic-run events — and divided public feelings on the health care overhaul — the shout-down strategy betrays an essential weakness on the Republican side, not a strength.. . .
But the nature of the protests suggest
the GOP has run out of options for fighting on substance, said David S.
Meyer, a sociology professor at the University of California-Irvine who
wrote The Politics of Protest: Social Movements in America. “In
historical context, it’s a tool of the weak,” Meyer said. He said it is
noteworthy “that conservatives have to throw this kind of Hail Mary
pass to stop health care reform” in a political system that favors that
status quo. . . .
...Meyer says Republicans should be careful
not to get too close to the protest movement lest they get hit with the
backlash if demonstrators are out of control
“This is
now going to be a potential problem for Republicans who have to take
responsibility for the actions of the people they get excited and
engaged about this type of politics,” Meyer said.
Congressman Walz and Collin Peterson were willing to answer questions. The shrieker, however, wasn't able to ask one nor wait for an answer. And thanks to the skill of the forum organizer, she was stymied in her attempt to disrupt.
A tool of the weak, indeed.
Photo by Eric Adams, Bluestem Prairie.
Seems odd that the substance of this post is based on the tactic (which is used as much, if not more, by the left as the right) rather than the argument itself.
While the current health care plan does not bring us to full on communism it is a very disturbing leap to many of us. Despite Obama's claims to the opposite there is robust competition in health care (1300 insurance companies and almost 5000 hospitals - 2008 census info). Rather than taking the logical steps of tort reform, changing tax laws that allow hospitals to write off losses to the uninsured at the full charge (thereby disguising gains...at the not for profit hospitals) and offering greater tax deductibility of medical expenses, among others - Obama leaps head on into the largest entitlement program in the history of humanity. With no responsible method to pay for the costs other than dubious accounting and pollyanna projections it (along with our folly wars which Obama can't seem to find the exit from) is likely to push into a economic morass of Argentinian proportions.
Posted by: Govtmule | Aug 06, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Govtmule, do you think that TRICARE is Socialism? Do you think that veterans or the elderly -- or any of us -- should simply die in the streets?
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Aug 09, 2009 at 08:54 AM
No, I do not think Tricare is socialism - and as I reread my post I cannot see where I advocated for people dying in the street or affirmatively compared health care reform to socialism. To me this represents a very shallow solution to a deep problem. Rushing to fix this with a government program that will stifle competition - and the search for solutions (to delivering health care efficiently) is foolishness. The private sector has brought us the tremendous advancements in healthcare through the search for profit and recognition - let this continue while we take steps to stop the bleeding on the cost side. If we want the federal government to take a larger role have them provide incentives to states that provide workable solutions is controlling health care costs.
Posted by: Govtmule | Aug 09, 2009 at 04:43 PM
To the substance of the article - the actions of people at Farmfest and the reports from around the nation are distressing. Civility and discourse are always preferable to noise. At the same time the media's attachment of the Astro-turf labels and broad criticism of everyone who is opposed to the current bill as being a right-wing pawn is counterproductive as well. Many of us are simply pragmatists that see a deep well.
Posted by: Govtmule | Aug 10, 2009 at 01:20 PM