August 4, 2009: Disappointed by Peaceful Town Hall Meeting, Republican Bloggers Exhort Protesters to Attend Future Meetings

Christopher Murphy (D-CT) holds a town hall in Meriden, Connecticut, to discuss the Democrats’ attempt to reform health care. Unlike many other town hall meetings in other areas (see June 30, 2009, July 6, 2009, July 25, 2009, July 27, 2009, July 27, 2009, July 31, 2009, August 1, 2009, August 1, 2009, August 2, 2009, August 3, 2009, August 3, 2009, August 3, 2009, August 3, 2009, August 4, 2009, and August 4, 2009), Murphy’s meeting, held at a local library, is peaceful and relatively undisturbed by orchestrated groups of angry anti-reform protesters. Instead, Murphy hears one story after another of constituents denied health care by their insurers, or having life-saving treatments delayed by those insurance providers. “I really feel we can get a system of health care in this country that covers everybody and costs less than what we have now,” Murphy tells the audience. [Meriden Record-Journal, 8/4/2009] Local bloggers express disappointment in the lack of protests at the Murphy town hall, and exhort conservatives and anti-reform proponents to take part in Murphy’s future meetings, as well as other Connecticut Democrats’ meetings. Blogger Chris Healy writes: “One’s [sic] perrson’s [sic] mob is another person’s concerned citizen’s group. People should be vocal, direct, but polite and respectful. Most of the yourtube [sic] tapes show that. If Members of Congress get upset because people are shouting at them, maybe they should listen.” [Chris Healy, 8/5/2009]