Michael Steele Town Hall at Howard University Interrupted By Health Care Reform Advocates | 9/1/09

[DinahMoeHum]

Run time: 05:41 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN2SM2ReJko   Posted on YouTube: September 02, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: September 02, 2009 By DU Member: DinahMoeHum Views on DU: 2375

 
This is cross-posted from HuffingtonPost, which also has excellent commentary by Dave Zirin:

Michael Steele - Meet Amanda Duzak
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-zirin/michael-steele-meet-amand_b_274697.html

(snip)
Duzak, a 23 year old Towson University grad, stood up, against the rules and out of turn.

"My mother died of cancer 6 months ago because she could only afford three of her six prescription chemotherapy medications," she projected. "There are 50 million people in this country who could end up like my mom, suffering or dying because they do not have adequate health care. Everyone in this room and everyone in this country should have access to good health care."

The room woke up and other than those glaring from the front, the applause was wall to wall. But it's Steele's response that makes this moment both newsworthy and a terrible comment on his character. After saying that he believed in a mature, honest discussion and not in shouting, Steele said, "People are coming to these town meetings and they're like ." He then looked and gestured right at Ms. Duzak and said, "It makes for great TV. You'll probably make it tonight, enjoy it." He then turned his back to her, as the crowd clapped.
(snip)

:grr:

[Berry Cool]

1. That ass. He's perpetuating the myth that young people go without health care by choice

because they're young and irresponsible and don't think anything bad will happen to them. Not because they can't GET it because they can't find a job, or because their employer doesn't offer it, or because they have a preexisting condition. It's all about "personal responsibility" and young whippersnappers having to grow up and face reality and pay for what they need. :puke:

[chasitynola]

4. That was the part that got me...

People don't have health insurance because they think they don't need it. Mmm hmm. That's where all of the 47 million come from...thinking they don't need coverage...

And the fact that he decided to talk down to anyone that hadn't attended an institute of higher learning...where they teach people to have discussions and to be 'civilized'. Maybe that woman wasn't able to attend college...how insulting.

[TheEuclideanOne]

2. Actually, I am not siding on the woman this time

Although Michael Steele is about as big of an Ass as I have ever seen, I think that the lady was out of line by just standing up and shouting out her question. I didn't even think that he turned his back on her, at least not directly, because he did seem to walk to the front of the room, but continued to address her.

[wndycty]

3. No Michael Steele was supportive of folks disrupting town halls, he can't have it both ways. . .

. . .also he is an asshole for mocking her.

[TheEuclideanOne]

8. Well, we can't have it both ways either

I can't condemn the rethuglicans for disrupting town hall meetings, but say that it is okay for somebody who supports my cause to do the same. Then again, you could just say, hey we can all go together as a group and shout out our questions out of turn. That is a great idea! We can be just like them!


For all of those people replying back that Michaele Steele is wrong for trying to describe it as if it is just a bunch of young people who are just irresponsible... I agree that is just the type of crap he pulls. Michaele Steele is an asshole. But is that really a point that is up for debate? I am just focusing on how our side is coming across. If we all start disrupting meetings, we will come across just like the other side.

[noiretextatique]

10. her mother died of cancer six months ago...i can cut her some slack

unlike the people who don't even know WHY they are "protesting" healthcare reform.

[eagertolearn]

5. I understand her frustration. She wanted to be able to talk about

something real that caused hurt and he wanted to talk about how cute it was when his son thought he didn't really need health care right away because he was healthy. I went to a town hall meeting and they had a ticket system where if you didn't get your ticket pulled out of a hat then you couldn't ask a question. So I sat through the hour of questions that were ridiculous and only one progressive got her question and she used it on nuclear waste (which is important too but I really wanted to talk about health care). Steele is a total jerk.

[zbdent]

6. She probably made it through their security screening

and wasn't scheduled to be allowed to speak ...

[mcollier]

7. Yeah Right!!!

After his underhanded attempt to try to stir the young group with the suggestion that they would be forced to go out and get health care coverage, something they likely couldn't or didn't want to buy; the lady interrupted with an honest statement of her idea about the debate.

First of all, the proposed healthcare reform would include allowing for individuals 25 and under to be covered under their parents plan.

Micheal Steele is an agent of mis-information and un-patriotic un-empathetic citizen who continues to lead by example the way of republicans to their second doom.

[rainlillie]

9. Give her a break, she lost her mom and Michael Steele is just selling

the same old tired republican bs! She didn't call him a Nazi or all the other vile names that Democrats have been called at their town hall meetings, so whatever! People who applauded his cold response are beyond ignorant.

[ScottLand]

11. I'm too biased to be objective about this.

Steele is a jerk but he's also an idiot.

[WestSeattle2]

12. This guy is SUCH a dumbass. Good Lord, what an

embarrassment. And into this leadership vacuum steps Rush Limpballs and Certifiable Cheney.

Grand Old Party indeed.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Wow. What a heartless bastard.

:mad:

[missededucation]

14. Forever the dumbass

Michael Steele seems to be the lowest common denominator. He
walks around in this haze talking to people who aren't
listening to him. This from somebody who has the luxury of not
even knowing who his insurance provider is(idiot). As a black
woman I find him to be the biggest disappointment since
Clarence Thomas even though Thomas never walked around so
ingnorant to the world around him. All I have to say is please
keep this asshat around he does a world of good for the
democrat party. Peace and blessings.