Tim Murphy (R-18th) Public Forum on Healthcare in Westmoreland Co. becomes GOP talking-point fest.

Mr.Murphy covered all the GOP bases for his mostly-Republican audience last evening at the University of Pittsburgh in Greensburg. (Apparently only Republicans got mailed announcements of the event.) He repeatedly slammed "government bureaucrats coming between you and your doctor" (I guess insurance company bureaucrats are OK) and even mentioned that the Democratic proposals would "fund abortions."

Anyone who spoke against insurance company profits or in favor of single-payer or public option was put down, if not by the Congressman then by other audience members.

At one point a working-poor Mom with child at side got on the public mike and said she was uninsured, at which point the audience members screamed, "Get a job!"

Then you had the people who got on mike and announced that they were on Medicare and DID NOT WANT GOVERNMENT NOSING INTO THEIR HEALTHCARE OR RUNNING IT!

The Congressman barely corrected a blatantly false statement by one woman who said she did not want the "forced instructions on how to kill myself" that are in the Democratic bill. Absent a local Democratic attorney speaking out and demanding Murphy correct the woman's misinformation it is possible the Congressman would have said nothing.

If you are sick and tired of being railroaded by the GOP spin machine, STRONGLY SUGGEST that single-payer and public option supporters (and Democrats in general) attend these "Town Halls" everywhere and SPEAK OUT. Sit all over the auditorium (not in a block) so that as many Dems as possible will have the best chances of getting called on.

I couldn't attend, but from what you describe, it is the worse scenario I formed in my head.

Murphy is famous for doing as much not only through his franking privilege, but in his so called, "phone town hall meetings". You get on, wait to be called on your question, which doesn't happen, and get to hear one or two token soft challenge type questions, then the finally of the same people you describe. I don't believe the phone meetings are any less orchestrated than the fiasco you describe.

Perhaps a letter to the editor is in order. Mind if I borrow from your description, or were you going to send a letter to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette?

That is a shame that people with genuine concerns are being shouted down by paid protestors who are likely non-residents.
Thanks for your report. I wonder if Murtha is going to have a town hall... and if he would allow it to be disrupted?

want to keep tabs on what he is up to. I did NOT get invited. I've called and written the Congressman numerous times so he knows I am for a strong public option at the minimum. What a shock to hear that I was not invited. I even responded to his health care survey. Perhaps my response was the deciding factor on my not making the invite list.