Tea bagging disruptions spreading and becoming a little more heated.
This is from Rachel Maddow's show yesterday:
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From St. Louis Post Dispatch:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/nation/story/5420430FDF2036F08625760B00136BBC?OpenDocument
Dueling protesters disrupt Carnahan forum on aging
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Friday, Aug. 07 2009
In St. Louis and across the country, the debate over health care reform is
growing louder.
On Thursday evening, a forum on aging called by Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St.
Louis, drew an overflow crowd of several hundred to Bernard Middle School gym
in south St. Louis County. Dozens of people, many carrying signs about the
health care debate, were kept out because of the turnout. The back and forth
between factions within the crowd created a carnival-like atmosphere inside and
out between members of the movement opposing President Barack Obama's policies
and groups who came to show support for the president's proposals.
Six people, including a Post-Dispatch reporter, were arrested after
confrontations outside the school, said county police spokesman Rick Eckhard.
Two were arrested on suspicion of assault, one of resisting arrest and three on
suspicion of committing peace disturbances. Carnahan was gone when the ruckus
started, Eckhard said.
Kenneth Gladney, 38, a conservative activist from St. Louis, said he was
attacked by some of those arrested as he handed out yellow flags with "Don't
tread on me" printed on them. He spoke to the Post-Dispatch from the emergency
room at St. John's Mercy Medical Center, where he said he was awaiting
treatment for injuries to his knee, back, elbow, shoulder and face. Gladney,
who is black, said one of his attackers, also a black man, used a racial slur
against him before the attack.
"It just seems there's no freedom of speech without being attacked," he said.
It was unclear why Post-Dispatch reporter Jake Wagman, who was covering the
event and shooting video for stltoday.com, was arrested. As she photographed
the arrests, Post-Dispatch photographer Dawn Majors said she heard Wagman yell
her name and say that he was being taken into custody. The officer said Wagman
had been interfering, Majors said.
Members of the local Tea Party Coalition, a movement that has emerged to
counter Obama's policies, had urged their members to attend Carnahan's forum,
which in turn spurred Democrats to establish a strong presence.
Inside the gathering, while speakers stuck to aging issues, they were often
interrupted by yells from audience members who wanted to shift the focus to
health care.
"This isn't even close to civil," said Steve Belosi, 52, of Lake Saint Louis,
commenting on the crowd. "The rudeness was beyond compare."
Added Joyce Flecke, 70, of south St. Louis County: "A complete waste of time."
Other recent Carnahan appearances, including one earlier this week on the Cash
for Clunkers program, have drawn similar protests. And last week, hundreds
turned out to voice their opinions on reforms to the staff of Sen. Claire
McCaskill, D-Mo.
Carnahan issued a statement after the Thursday night's forum, saying: "Sadly
we've seen stories about disrupters around the country, and we have a handful
of them here in Missouri. Instead of participating in a civil debate, they have
mobilized with special interests in Washington who have lined their pockets by
overcharging Americans for a broken health care system."
The St. Louis protests are part of the increasingly vocal debate across the
country.
In the week since the House began its break, several town hall-style meetings
have been disrupted by demonstrators. These episodes have drawn widespread
media attention, and Republicans have seized on them as well as polls showing a
decline in support for Obama and his agenda as evidence that public support is
lacking for his signature legislation.
Energized conservative activists have vowed to fight Obama's policies.
The president wants to use the government's clout to subsidize coverage for
millions now uninsured, regulate insurance companies more closely and attempt
to slow the rise of medical costs.
The protesters insist they're part of a ground-level movement that represents
real frustration with government spending and growth.
In Denver on Thursday, about 250 people on all sides of the health care debate
waved signs and shouted slogans in front of the Stout Street Clinic as House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi toured the medical clinic for the homeless.
"Just say no!" yelled those demonstrating against health care reform.
"Yes we can!" shouted back those who support Obama's plan.
The Republican Party says it's not behind the protests, but Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid of Nevada scoffed at the notion that the protesters reflect
grass-roots sentiment. He held up a piece of artificial turf during a session
with reporters.
"These are nothing more than destructive efforts to interrupt a debate that we
should have, and are having," Reid said. "They are doing this because they
don't have any better ideas. They have no interest in letting the negotiators,
even though few in number, negotiate. It's really simple: They're taking their
cues from talk show hosts, Internet rumor-mongerers ... and insurance rackets."
Republicans answered.
"All the polls show there is serious concern, if not outright opposition, to
the president's health care plan," said Antonia Ferrier, spokeswoman for House
Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio. "Democrats are ginning up this cynical
shell game."
