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Home Front: Politix
Georgia Democrat hollers at local doctor over health care
2009-08-10
Tensions are running so high at town hall meetings that Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, yelled at a local doctor concerned about health care after mistaking him for an "astroturf" political operative looking for a fight.

Mr. Scott became visibly agitated when one of his constituents, a practicing doctor, asked a few questions about health care reform during a town hall meeting. The meeting was held to discuss a road project, but was opened up for questions near the end. That's when Dr. Brian Hill stood up to speak.

Dr. Hill asked Mr. Scott why he was going to vote for a health care plan similar to that implemented in Massachusetts "that is shown not to work" and if he supported a government-provided health care insurance option.

The congressman replied by accusing the doctor of "hijacking" his event.

"I'm listening to my constituents, OK?" Scott said, "These are people who live in the 13th Congressional district, who vote in this district. That's who I've got to respond to ... 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 chose to come and to do it on your own," he yelled. "Not a single one of you had the decency to call my office and set up for a meeting." He went on, in a threatening voice, "You want a meeting with me on health care, I'll give it to you!"

The outburst is yet another example of how confrontational town hall meetings have become over recent weeks, as constituents are becoming more forthright in asking their elected representatives challenging questions. These actions and other forms of protest have been encouraged by limited government advocacy groups opposed to the stimulus package, the Democrats favored health care reforms and other big spending government proposals.

The White House has labeled these efforts "astroturf", shorthand for fake grassroots. To combat these efforts, groups supporting these plans -- such as Service Employees International Employees Union -- have been appearing at these town halls as well, effectively creating local "showdowns" between opposing political powers.

Mr. Scott's public tirade against the doctor was filmed by WXIA-TV News, a local NBC affiliate that confirmed the doctor lived in the congressman's district in a follow-up interview.

The doctor told WXIA he wasn't working for any outside causes and had called Mr. Scott's office repeatedly, asking to speak with the congressman. "I did not go to a meeting to create any problems, I went to the meeting to literally ask a question that I thought was very, very important for my patients," he said.
Posted by:Fred

#9  They're a threat to it as well, John.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-08-10 16:21  

#8  Donks seem to be threatened by democracy.
Posted by: JohnQC   2009-08-10 16:03  

#7   My fondest hope and prayer is that the Dems continue this put down of their constituents and, as a result, loose their a$$es in 2010.

Not if they are as dumb as my racist, redneck constituency.
Posted by: John Murtha   2009-08-10 11:47  

#6  My fondest hope and prayer is that the Dems continue this put down of their constituents and, as a result, loose their a$$es in 2010.
Posted by: WolfDog   2009-08-10 11:28  

#5  who does this plebe healer think he is? Does he not know that Lord Scott only talks to his own subjects and only after HE tells them they can speak to his lordship.

(sarc/off)
Posted by: Broadhead6   2009-08-10 10:32  

#4  Rep. Scott Would like to hear from you.

Poll at his web site:
What is your health insurance status?
Satisfied with my current plan 97.96% (7630)


The urgency of Change (and patronage).
Posted by: ed   2009-08-10 10:12  

#3  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection is the core of the mental illness called Marxism.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2009-08-10 08:41  

#2  Tensions are running so high at town hall meetings that Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, yelled at a local doctor concerned about health care after mistaking him for an "astroturf" political operative looking for a fight.

These Donks continue to ignore Sun Tzu.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

The Donks insist that the Tea Party reps are simply a Trunk reflection of their own astroturfing. For them there is no other understanding of the behavior. Everything else is apostate. They do not know their opponents, or for that matter, themselves.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2009-08-10 08:17  

#1  In other 13th Congressional District news, Clayton County lies in the southern most sector of Scott's lovely 13th district. They've recently lost public school accreditation which has triggered a flight of families from the district (nomo free cheeze for da kids? We'z movin girl, get the Lexux AC goin). The Clayton County school board is notoriously corrupt, as is it's police force, County Gov't, etc. The Georgia Hope grant college assistance program requires high school accredidation. No ticky - no ride. Enjoy the real estate downturn and your assimiliation into Fulton County. Enjoy, LOSERS!
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-08-10 06:52  

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