It was a scorcher out in east San Diego County on Saturday afternoon as the crowd gathered to attend Congresswoman Susan Davis’ Health Care Town Hall. The east county has traditionally been a haven for right-wing fringe groups, and they were out in full force for this event. As we approached the Spring Valley Gymnasium, we were greeted by members of the John Birch Society handing out DVD’s so we’d understand how the Constitution works. The driveway was lined with a motley collection of birthers, deathers, Jesus freaks and anti-abortion protestors.
By the time the doors to the event opened at noon, it was well over 100 degrees outside, with a blazing sun and no breeze whatsoever. And the crowd had grown significantly larger than the 1000 seats available in the gymnasium. A quick check of the signs that people were carrying seemed to indicate that pro-health care reform forces had succeeded in mobilizing a significant majority of the multitude.
For those lucky enough to get inside the Town Hall, the air conditioning was working just fine. Those stuck outside were fortunate that the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department had the foresight to provide a generous supply of bottled water.
Inside the hall, pro and anti reform forces traded chants, and paraded back and forth showing off their signs to the crowd. There were a few instances of heated words being exchanged, but by and large, things were civil. Things were settling down to a dull roar, when a full throated cheer filled the room.
Entering through the doors were…. Billionaires For Wealth Care, a collection of men and women dressed to the nines, carrying signs, waving and blowing kisses to the crowd. The signs, which included “Don’t Tax My Face Lift”, “Keep the Money Flowing”, and “A 428% Increase in Premium Costs is Just Good Business”, had the effect of confusing the anti-reform crowd. Finally, they got it and it turned briefly ugly as threats were made.
Luckily, Rep. Davis’ people decided to start the Town Hall at that point. The Billionaires left the building shortly thereafter, getting into a super stretch limo parked out front.
Go here for the gallery of photos taken of the event.
See here for additional coverage of this event by OB Rag.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for showing up you guys. I couldn’t be there because I have out of town family who didn’t want to spend their vacation at a town hall meeting. Weirdos. Anyway, the wealth care billionaires are great! Thanks for cluing us in to them. I love the confused look on all the protesters faces as they walk through the crowd. Classic! “Obama, he was born on another PLANET!” lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHVwrCzRUX0
thanks for posting that video, jon. don’t cha just love how confused the wingnuts are?
Thank you so much for braving the heat :)
I watched a guy with a sign that said “no to socialism” stand up and applaud wildly as the Billionaires paraded through the room. When they realized what was really going on, a voice yelled “Hey- if you were really wealthy, you wouldn’t be here.” We yelled back- “no shit.”
As one of the few Billionaires, I must say Life Is Great !, especially when seeing the utterly confused and flabergasted looks on the faces of most of the disparate fox news inspired wingnuts and dittoheads assembled both outside and inside the over packed event. OB Rags report is exactly right on, thank you Doug.
The most asked question from the little people supporting my interests, and who could speak in a complete sentence, was where will the money come from for any proposed national or insurance option health care plan?
Cool regards to all, whew!
Dave Chase – thanx to you and all the “Billionaires” – you guys provided needed levity and depth to the progressive side that day.
Check out the U-T’s coverage of the meeting http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/aug/30/emotions-run-high-health-meeting/?metro&zIndex=157652
This piece would lead you to believe that the anti- reform forces outnumbered the pro-reform forces, which is patently untrue. It was almost 3-1 inside and 2-1 outside. There was no reference to the Billionaires either.
Let’s set the record straight.
Dave Chase-A big shout out and Boy Howdy to Ya! Everybody else-Dont sweat the small stuff-The governing class has never given credit to the people for anything and never will. Best We’s be concentrating on were we can be the most effective. A crtical mass has got to be brought to bear upon Senator Feinstein. That’s the strategic moment now. What tactics we use should be left up to democratic consensus. But “to delay is to invite danger”! (whoever said that:>(
jon, have you been to youtube lately? There are 40,000 hits on the video, it’s a hit :)
town hall makes national gossip blog…. more pics.
http://wonkette.com/410804/personally-what-wed-prefer-is-a-profit-minded-corporate-actuary#comment-398790
yay. it got picked up at huffington post!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/doug-porter/billionares-for-wealth-ca_b_273117.html
good job!
The event got picked up by Liberty One Radio
Nice link JC!
Annagrace, I’m pretty sure that “U-T” stands for “Un-True”
Nice work Doug, do you think anything was accomplished?
It almost sounds like it wasn’t simply just a big whiner-fest.
well, dave, something did get accomplished.
a whole bunch of us went out there into the middle of right wingland (right next to klantee) to make sure that the traveling wingnut show could not shut/shout Susan Davis down–that is their publicly stated strategy and they failed.
i think that the national publicity (other folks have been doing stories and posting videos as well) that this guerrilla theater received, shows that sometimes it’s a good tactic to fight teh (sic) crazies with more crazy.
the best strategy for defeating these sorts is better organizing and education. sadly, getting the left to march in step has (accurately) been compared to herding cats.
Dave- you stated elsewhere that if we don’t like our reality we need to change it… A number of us felt that the town hall meeting was a place to change a “reality” played out across the country this month that we don’t much like. I believe that it made a difference- the outcome would have been far different if the majority supporting health care for all had stayed home.
You are absolutely right- this isn’t a dress rehearsal. (But are you SURE I can’t leave this planet with a u-haul? Damn….)
Go Doug!!! :)
HAAAHAAA…They stole the show????? Oh please.
They went in for 15 minutes and then were kicked out.
85% of the people there were AGAINST the HCB.
Would you like to see video?? I filmed the whole thing!