U.S. Sen. David Vitter, who is parlaying opposition to the Democrats’ plan for health care reform into grist for his 2010 re-election bid, hosts a health care forum in Lafayette Monday afternoon. We know the event is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the south regional branch of the Lafayette Public Library at 6101 Johnston Street. What remains to be seen is if this forum will be another exercise in selective crowd control and message massage.
Vitter has been accused by his own constituents in other parishes this month of being overly selective in who gets into the building to attend the forum, and of screening questions to ensure that the only ones asked are those which allow him to assail the Obama administration’s proposals and smoke of the talking-points pipe. One account from a forum earlier this month in Jefferson Parish accuses Louisiana's junior senator of excluding local residents so that Tea Party members from outside the parish could attend.
... written by justwandering , August 17, 2009 - 06:07 pm
Haven't read much about Mary's townhall meetings. Oh, haaven't been many? Maybe you should do some investigative reporting on Mary's meetings.
... written by Taxpaying American Citizen , August 17, 2009 - 07:28 pm
Yeah...curious no reports of Mary Landrieu being selective regarding her townhall meetings. Is she having any?
I've heard of one in one of the "river parishes", which is about the only place where Obama had a base of supporters last year. Figures...
It's blatantly obvious Walter is a hard left-winger, so his news reports and blog posts should be viewed more as op/eds.
... written by Citizen wanting factual information , August 17, 2009 - 09:22 pm
Walter, If you comment on an event you did not attend and obviously know nothing about you are just gossiping. Please report the facts and not your one sided opinion.
... written by JP , August 17, 2009 - 09:36 pm
Hey, I have an idea. Let's get a bunch of people together who don't know crap about the health care bill and shout down anyone who tries to have civil discourse! Let's call Obama a Nazi and ridicule someone in a wheelchair for daring to support health care reform! Let's hurl cliches and sound bites we collect from hate radio jocks and Fox News! Let's make a sign that says "Death to __________ and their two stupid kids!"
That's how you participate in democracy, right?
... written by ipa , August 17, 2009 - 10:35 pm
Isn't it slightly ironic that, given Vitter's recent past, that he elected to hold the town hall meeting at a venue located less than a block from a strip club?
... written by Town Hall Meetings , August 17, 2009 - 11:05 pm
The consertive people of this country are finally waking up and the liberals don't like it!! Most liberals don't respect the Constitution nor do they understand that this country was created as a Republic. The silent majority has allowed it to become a democracy which it only a stepping stone to an Oligarchy. An Oligarchy form of government is what Obama, his czars and administration are laying out to the American people. Americans are finally standing up for what they believe, for what they know goes againist the Constitution and they are finally making a choice to have their voice heard! The liberal media reports untrue and inaccurate news, they desire to stiffle & confuse with lies, they call concerned Americans mobs. The media is no longer trust worthy nor do they deserve to be called journalist. Liberal politicians want government control all the while they want their "Golden Fleece retirement plan" that they never pay into... they don't pay into Social Security but the politician and there spouse draws....much more than the person that paid into SS all their life. Also,they want there own special healthcare system, WHY is this proposed public health care not good enought for them? Liberal mouths.. actions are telling the American taxpaying citizen that "they (Americans) don't know what's best for them" The time has come! Things are changing, we come in numbers... the sleeping tigers have awoken!
... written by Phil , August 18, 2009 - 12:21 am
I saw Mary Landrieu on PBS's Louisiana the State We're In, last Friday. I guess she preferred that venue.
Oh, and not everybody could get into the Vitter meeting. Fire dept stopped people entering when the facility reached capacity. So now blame the Fire Dept for selectively barring people from the meeting, and make them part of the Democratic paranoid vision.
... written by jared s , August 18, 2009 - 02:33 am
oh and don't think for one second that attendees weren't screened at obama's publicity stunt last week. i love the bi-partisanship this publication attempts to stimulate.
... written by Claude , August 18, 2009 - 12:41 pm
Oo, roaring tiger Republicans. What a joke. These people are simply uneducated sheep who watch too much Fox News and listen to too much R. Limbaugh. They are a disgrace to democracy and a disgrace to true Republican ideals, which they fail to comprehend. It's no wonder they support a soi-disant Christian such as whoremonger David Vitter, who is using their ignorant rage to rebuild his sullied political carreer. And now they are toting around guns at Presidential rallies! They should be advised that progressively-minded people, like the ones who founded this country, can bear arms as well.
... written by cocodrie , August 18, 2009 - 01:08 pm
I don't like the slanted tone of this article. The interchange at Vitter's townhall meeting was completely civil. The sentiments expressed were intelligently expressed and typical of views of the majority of citizens of Acadiana. In addition, it was clear that the mood of the participants was heartfelt. I have e-mailed Landrieu several times, only to receive 2 form responses which did not address my concerns. I have e-mailed Melancon several times, only to receive no response.
... written by JP , August 18, 2009 - 01:42 pm
Town Hall Meetings, you're a purveyor of Limbaughian loopiness. In your echo chamber everything is the fault of THE LIBERALS!! You've got to be kidding when you charge others with reporting inaccurate news and lies. You know how right-wing politicians and advocacy groups have been saying that the British health care system would not treat Ted Kennedy's cancer because he is too old? Well, a former British Minister of Health said this is absolutely false. He debunked other fantasies being pushed by your favorite people. So tell me, who are the ones perpetrating lies? It's the right-wing talking heads who drive people into a world of fear and hatred, and it's sickening. The result is the guy who carried a sign to Obama's town hall meeting saying "Death to Obama, Michelle and her two stupid kids."
I don't know the right way to address health care reform, but to see the vitriol and the lies being spread by right-wing spinsters is appalling and embarrassing.
... written by Citizen , August 18, 2009 - 02:05 pm
"It's blatantly obvious Walter is a hard left-winger"
Heh, yea, anyone who doesn't fall in step with the psycho neo-cons is a hard left winger. Brainwashed much?
So let me get get this right. You'd believe the lies of a man who campaigns on family values and then can't even keep his own D*** in his pants? At what point will you be convinced that David Vitter is a joke?
Do you have any relatives on Medicare? Oh you do. Any why are they on medicare instead of private health insurance? I mean if a government health plan is so horrible, wouldn't it make sense to get off of medicare. Oh they can't because private health insurance companies don't take risks on old people, or anyone with a pre-existing condition. Perhaps we should just yank grandma's medicare and just let her die, think of the money we'd save. Oh gee wouldn't there be an uproar if we REMOVED the existing government health plan. What a bunch of freaking hypocrites.
... written by Taxpaying American Citizen , August 18, 2009 - 03:58 pm
"Heh, yea, anyone who doesn't fall in step with the psycho neo-cons is a hard left winger. Brainwashed much?"
Wrong. I don't subscribed to the neo-conservative philosophies of cutting taxes while increasing spending to record levels and running up national debt. That's what members of both parties in Congress did over the last 8 years, while then-President Bush signed off on approval.
Do you even know what neo-conservative means and the philosophies of such a group? Or do you just like to throw it out to describe anyone who does not want government-run health care.
As for Medicare, go ahead and discountinue it...provided that the government disperse checks to everyone who paid into the system plus the interest they were promised it would collect over the years. Oh yeah, that's right, Congress since the 60s has raided that and Social Security and run the systems bankrupt!!
Walter is a left-winger, just like Limbuagh is a right-winger. I don't take either as legitimate, un-biased sources of news. In fact, I'm currently on page 344 of the health care bill, H.R. 3200. I'm actually reading the bill.
Are you?
... written by Out spoken , August 19, 2009 - 12:17 pm
Jp.... upset because the average people want there voice to be heard. your not used to it... so you blame blame blame... you fit right in to the liberal mold.
... written by justwandering , August 19, 2009 - 09:18 pm
Walter, why no story on Vitter's townhall meeting? Seems like everyday you look for something negative about Vitter to print. Did the townhall go that well???????
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