A week ago, on April 20, Congressman Lou Barletta held a “town hall” at the Amvets in Lansford. The town hall had been advertised in our local newspaper, the Times News. I had been to a Labor Council meeting on Monday and a Palmerton Area School Board meeting on Tuesday, and I didn’t feel like going to meetings three days in a row. My wife Linda said she would go to the Barletta town hall by herself.
At that meeting she confronted Barletta about his vote in favor of the Ryan budget, a vote to kill Medicare as we know it. While she was talking, two guys wearing tee shirts with the chopped-up snake began to yell at her to shut up and sit down. Another member of the audience, unknown to Linda, stood up and told the two men who were yelling at Linda to “Let the lady speak.” They told him to shut up, he said “Make me,” and he was escorted out of the town hall by the Lansford police. Linda, at that point, sat down.
Today, April 27, the New York Times published an article (“Voters Attack Republicans on Medicare”) in which Barletta is quoted, “My town halls are being disrupted by Democrats. They are apparently being sent to do just that. I am not sensing the general public is angered over Medicare reform [sic]. When I explain that people over 55 are not affected there is almost a sigh of relief. He added, “I am not going to do anything different.”
Ok, here are a number of points:
- He should have said “differently.” It’s an adverb. (Sorry, I can’t help myself).
- Linda’s point was that she has a daughter, a grandson, and nieces, and they will be affected by the Ryan budget, even if she isn’t.
- Speaking in a calm and reasonable manner is not being disruptive.
- Linda was not part of an organized group. She knew one other person in the audience, and he did not speak.
- If Barletta thinks she was part of an organized group, he is stupid. If he knows she wasn’t and is trying to divert attention to public opposition to his vote, he is a liar. You make the call.
Mr. Barletta isn't any different than Mr. Ryan. They are both ignorant, uncaring liars. Not to forget all of the other representatives who voted for Ryan's budget. I am so proud of my Wisconsin neighbors and my former fellow Pennsylvanians for standing up for what is right.
ReplyDeleteMr. Ryan had a town hall meeting and was asked by a senior, "do you know anything about medicare?" His answer, "I'm not on it". The senior said, "that is my point". These so called representatives only care about themselves and their rich friends. Mr. Ryan will have a great pension and have his health care totally paid for by the taxpayers. Sweet deal!
We have Grover Norquist and the Heritage Foundation to thank for much of the mess that the right is creating. He has been responsible for almost every republican in Washington, to sign a pledge to not raise any tax. With their main focus on the rich. We have to keep delivering the truth home to all people.