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Obama: I Do Hope We Will Talk With Each Other And Not Over Each Other
Rachel Slajda | August 11, 2009, 1:27PM
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President Obama, in remarks at the beginning of his health care town hall, spoke directly to those who might try to disrupt the event.
"I do hope we will talk with each other and not over each other," he said to applause. "Where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not wild misrepresentations" of what's in the bill.
He also deplored the "scare tactics" and "boogeymen" employed by the opponents of health care reform.
"For all the scare tactics," he said, "what is truly scary, what is truly risky, is if we let this moment pass."
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rbeats
August 11, 2009 1:31 PM
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. -George Bernard Shaw
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Hey Obama - Get in the Fight!!
August 11, 2009 1:35 PM
OBAMA! Stop being a wuss, and tell the public that you will NOT be pushed around by disruptive protestors and lying Republicans. The polls show Democrats have lost support, and the GOP approvals have remained low. This clearly points to the fact that the Public doesn't trust Democrats to have enough guts to stick to their convictions.
JesusChrist!! Is it so hard to not be such a cream puff?!?
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Viva!America!
August 11, 2009 1:43 PM
oh, but it's very easy to be an ass.
You need to remember that he's not talking to a closed door event with others who think exactly like you. But by all means let's have Obama go on a rant so that the next day's headlines could be: Obama Flips Out, with no mention of the substance of the town hall.
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Rich in NJ
August 11, 2009 1:54 PM
The most troubling part of the health care "debate," is that the MSM gives any coverage to lunatics who make stuff up.
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hewhohasnoname
August 11, 2009 3:26 PM in reply to Rich in NJ
It may be troubling, but it shouldn't be surprising. The media is profit-driven, and controversy sells. Nevertheless, we should admonish ourselves for consuming it, often too willingly. They can't sell us what we're not willing to consume.
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atticus1104
August 11, 2009 2:00 PM
People like Beck share much of the blame for this insanity.
Check out Glenn Beck's logical conclusion that a level playing field in our society will lead to slavery.
I am not making this up. Here is the clip.
http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2490
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traitorjoe
August 11, 2009 2:06 PM
Let's give Obama credit for finally going on the offensive and refusing to let the nutbags and the wimps in the MSM define the debate.
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ondioline
August 11, 2009 2:16 PM
"OBAMA! Stop being a wuss, and tell the public that you will NOT be pushed around by disruptive protestors and lying Republicans.
[...]
JesusChrist!! Is it so hard to not be such a cream puff?!?"
Spoken like someone who probably couldn't get elected President of their Neighborhood Association.
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Hey Obama - Get in the Fight!!
August 11, 2009 3:17 PM in reply to ondioline
ondioline: Is he still trying to "get elected", or is he trying to implement the Public Option?
Even if you don't like my venting, you've got to admit he's lost his message entirely since his White House Cribs Episode and his Skip Gates message killer.
Oh yeah, and he's losing on the policy front as well.
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Dorn76
August 11, 2009 2:21 PM
Hi. Thankfully Obama is President and you're just a innertube troll. The man has a way of tamping down overheated excitement, and that is exactly what I saw today. When you are the POTUS, you don't set yourself up in opposition to a bunch of wingnut morons, you stay above it, and you seek consensus. That is what he did today, beautifully.
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Dorn76
August 11, 2009 2:22 PM in reply to Dorn76
For Ruthless Pragmatism Guy
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Hey Obama - Get in the Fight!!
August 11, 2009 2:36 PM in reply to Dorn76
Dorn76: I've never been called a troll before, esp. by you. I'm hurt, actually. I've been here for a long time. Huh... Anyway, I'm just fired up. I'm not apologetic b/c 1) he's losing the public option, and 2) there was a gun at his town hall debate. So, no, this isn't politics as usual, and his zen routine isn't working.
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Hey Obama - Get in the Fight!!
August 11, 2009 4:52 PM in reply to Dorn76
BTW, George W. Bush never sought concensus, and he achieved most of HIS goals. (Granted, they were at the expense of the country. but he achieved what he wanted...) Bill Maher has also asked POTUS to lead unapologetically on his platform, instead of bending over for Republicans. Remember the $300B of "stimulus" that went to Corporate Tax Breaks? That was a total waste, and all because he thinks he can bring GOP'ers to some "common ground". This is a fatal flaw for true Democratic policies.
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traitorjoe
August 11, 2009 2:22 PM
Dorn, well said. Much more effective than Arlen "What was the question again?" Specter.
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wilson
August 11, 2009 2:34 PM
ANyone know where I can watch the video online? Couldn't watch it live due to work.
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traitorjoe
August 11, 2009 2:36 PM
msnbc.com
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wilson
August 11, 2009 3:44 PM in reply to traitorjoe
It's not posted anywhere..
CNN doesn't even have a front page headline that teh meeting ever happened. But they have one for Specter's meeting this morning.
What a joke the MSM has become.
Guess the only thing I can do is contribute to TPM and make sure real news is reported.
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Hey Obama - Get in the Fight!!
August 11, 2009 3:20 PM
Looks like I'm not alone... [From TPM's front page via D. Kurtz....]
"""Frustrated --- TPM Reader DM:
It really is amazing to watch a fringe right-wing movement completely dominate the narrative surrounding the health care debate. The Democratic Party has the strongest governing coalition we have seen in years, and yet, they are being run over by misinformation campaign that includes lies so bold and outrageous that one actually grows to gain begrudging respect for the Machiavellian mindset that allows otherwise seemingly rational people to perpetuate this stuff on a public whose gullibility should never again be underestimated.
Read more » --David Kurtz"""
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MAX TARDCORE
August 11, 2009 4:25 PM
LIVE FREE OR DIE EMPANELLED!
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