After receiving no answer from emails requesting a town hall health care meeting, I took up Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann’s call to make a house call on our congressional representative.
Despite less than a week’s notice, up to 50,000 Americans from across the country gathered at the steps of the Capitol Building yesterday to send a message to Congress – ‘kill the bill’. Pelosicare is not health care reform, it is a power grab.
At noon, 40 Republican members of Congress filed out of the Capitol building as the crowd shouted ‘Where’s Nancy?’ Madame speaker was not present on Capitol Hill this day, apparently she was too busy breaking arms over her health care scheme elsewhere.
FYI: Due to an overwhelming number of participants at this meet up, I could not get close to the speakers podium during the rally, but had an excellent view of the Capital Building. I chose that view to capture the speeches on video.
Mark Levin, Jon Voight, and John Ratzenberger (Cliff from Cheers) gave rousing speeches, firing up the crowd. It was a sight to behold! Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann sparkled in her speech to the crowds. Several of the speakers and numerous members of Congress walked along the front of the crowd shaking hands and thanking us for participating in the house call.
Cliff..err…John Ratzenberger looks at the philosophical descendants of Abbie Hoffman, Saul Alinsky and Wavy Gravy – Woodstock Democrats :
Michelle Bachmann – Quoting Abigail Adams and encouraging the crowd to “don’t hold back tell them how you really feel!”
Onward to the reason we gathered in DC – a house call on Congress. Lines quickly formed around the entrances of the buildings housing congressional offices. Chants of ‘Can U Hear Us Now’ and ‘Kill The Bill’ echoed outside the buildings.
Unfortunately for Pennsylvania, Rep Allyson Schwartz (D- Pa) is ready to vote ‘yes’ on whatever health care bill is put forward. She is also eager to levy additional ‘sugar’ taxes on to her constituents in order to pay for the ‘budget neutral’ health care scheme. My message to the congresswoman is simple – “Ma’am, if you vote ‘yes’ on any health care bill, your constituents will vote ‘no’ come November”. Although I was ignored by the staff at Allyson Schwartz office, another constituent was nearly assaulted by Rep. Gerry Connolly’s chief of staff. Should I consider myself lucky that I was not?
You can view more photos from the rally HERE.