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Georgia Democrat yells at local doctor over health care

garn

Well-known member
http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/back-story/2009/aug/08/georgia-democrat-rages-against-local-doctor-over-h/

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.
 

MsSage

Well-known member
Who is spreading LIES about what?

Seems like soemone needs to teach the congressmen how to spell.....ASSUME

Maybe all these people who are talking out really are wanting answers for those they elected
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
The liberals just-don't-get it. They're in denial. They need to come away from the land of cotton candy clouds and get back here to reality.
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
I am going to actually take up for this guy a little. I saw an interview with him and he had a good point to me.

He was asked to come talk at this meeting about road projects. It was not a town hall meeting he put on he was just invited to this special interest one on a specific subject about road projects.

That is what he meant when he said he was not going to let them hijack this one. He is having one next week about Health Care that he is putting on.

Not saying I am on his side on the issues, because he brought up race crap that made me like him less. But I did see his point, and as he pointed out he is one of the Blue Dog Democrats holding things up.
 
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