Rep. Dan Maffei’s “Congressman on your Corner” meeting this afternoon was trying, extremely trying. A good sized crowd was waiting for him in the library at 10:30 AM. It was a bit difficult to estimate the size of the crowd because we were all in different aisles. We were told we needed an appointment to meet him and ask questions, but later a staffer told us if we came back at 12:30 he would meet with all of us in a larger room. Then someone from the library got out a roll of tape and taped a line on the floor, presumably to make a place for those with appointments to wait. It was very odd.
There was no “angry mob” and the only people that seemed to be organized were those on the side of government run health care. They had printed signs with the Obama logo at the top, and the name and website of whatever organization sent them out at the bottom. (I have video on my camcorder, but I’m technologically challenged. Once I figure out how to upload it onto my computer I will cut and past clips of those signs.) I heard people mention Organizing for America and MoveOn. People were civil and we went off in groups before returning for the 12:30 meeting. I will say, at least Maffei agreed to meet with all of us, even though he didn’t come in to the meeting room until 1:00. While we waited we were told we weren’t allowed to have signs and lectured on how good girls and boys should behave at town hall meetings.
News10Now was there covering the event, but as of this writing there is no video available on their website. Many of us felt Maffei was very condescending. One person asked him a question he apparently didn’t like and he said “I’m not here to take quizzes.” He then instructed his staffer to call on someone else. (If I can find that video I will post it later.) During one of the first questions Maffei turned and started whispering to a staffer while his constituent was talking. He also avoided giving direct answers to questions. He did say he would be happy to enroll his family in a public plan, but he failed to mention that amendments requiring members of Congress to do so were voted down by democrats in committees in both the Senate and the House. So much for honesty.
For most of the meeting Maffei remained seated until someone had the nerve to ask him if he’s read the health care bill in its entirety. He got out of his chair and started wagging his finger at us, saying he was insulted. He went on to explain to the unwashed masses the history of massive legislation and how very complicated is, which is why we have people like him to represent us. After we left, a friend of mine said she needed to go home and take a shower.
Here’s a clip of Maffei wagging his finger, waiving his arms in the air and lecturing the little people on how we need him. Blech!
Update: Here’s the link to the story at News 10 Now. They did not show Rep. Maffei wagging his finger at the little people. TLC reader Beverly was in the spotlight! Great job, Beverly! Joanne, who coordinated the first Tea Party in Syracuse, also had a chance to speak.
John posted a photo of the staff taping a line on the floor at Red White and Blue in the Face. That was just bizarre. It also reminded me – people were wondering how those who can’t even hold a town hall meeting can possibly believe they can run our health care system! Later, Maffei answered that when he said they have “experts.” Ha!
I also failed to tell you about the woman who was vehemently against being videotaped, even inadvertantly. She really made a big deal about it. So we all agreed to keep our cameras pointed at Dan Maffei. There was discussion about how only the press can videotape without permission. Later, one of Maffei’s staffers started filming the group from the front of the room. When someone quietly pointed out that she should put the her video camera away a young security guard told her ”she works for the senator.” I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be taped by an average citizen than someone in government.
Maffei was also asked about lobbyists and he said he is all for campaign finance reform and bragged about meeting with Sam Waterston. He didn’t mention the warning he received from Kossaks. (Via New Conservative Generation) Note to Daily Kos – he doesn’t represent you! He represents the people of the 25th Congressional District of NY. We were there to remind him of that.
Comments I received via e-mail:
From Andy – News 10 also threw in a little dig about how “tempers flared early on” too. Gotta love the press.
From Rich – A very bad combination of arrogance and ignorance from Maffei.
Update: If you follow the link to the News 10 video, you can see the signs of the real “AstroTurfers”.
Was there – I think just before this part he mentioned how some of us in attendance didn’t believe in representative government!!! Talk about insulting. Anyway, thanks for the invite to visit the site. Already added to my favorites.
BTW: other great sites to add to your list
http://sweetness-light.com/
and
http://www.cnsnews.com/
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Hi Andy! Thanks, and it was great meeting you today.
It was all very insulting. I just spoke to one of my friends that we there with us and she’s still steamed. He acted as if we are all too dense to understand the workings of our government. When he mentioned Glass Steagall Act and how complex that was I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing out loud. Bringing up prior bad legislation to excuse current bad legislation!
Take care. Let me know when you start your practice!
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Glad you stuck around. I began to feel very ill not long after Dan arrived; I thought I’d head home and come back for what I hoped would be a public meeting at 12:30. Unfortunately I still don’t feel well. So glad you got some video to post. I’m glad things didn’t get out of hand – he’s an elected rep and deserves the respect that office should carry – any further respect he’ll have to earn.
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Sorry to hear you aren’t feeling well. It was nice meeting and talking to some new people. But other than that is was very annoying.
I hope you feel better!
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[...] Luckily others were able to capture some video and you can read their take on things and see the video at The Lonely Conservative [...]
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BTW – I’ve posted a pic of the staffers taping the line on the floor in a post over at redwhiteandblueintheface.info
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Thanks for the info! I’m going to link to your post on my site.
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So, your rep Dan Mafia, or whatever his mob name is, will start his reading with Glass-Stegall and work his way up to the current Death Care bill? C’mon, look at his dedication! Don’t we elect these people to lecture, not represent us? You New Yorkers are soooo picky. (Love you Karen!)
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A nice little piece from am. thinker http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/08/obama_and_public_debate.html I am out here in Colorado and I do feel for you back there. My rep is supposed to have a local meeting Aug. 18. He is a “demmonrat” and just had a mtg. in Denver area with pelosi. I have a lot of respect for all of you putting up with everything that you did today.
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Kudos to you all for not ending up on the news. Had I been there I would have respectfully waited my turn and then asked, again and loudly “DID YOU READ THE BILL?”
Anything this big, this life altering in the United States, which we know will never be reversed, ALSO deserves the respect of long deliberation and debate. Not rushed to take advantage of a made-up “health care crisis”. Health Care Crisis is what happens in lesser countries that have already tried this. Pfffffffft to the Democrats who have overstepped their bounds. I hope my fellow citizens keep bellowing. Look forward to additional info, LC!
(I believe Clean Face Harry is supposed to be in town with the new Messiah, Bill Clinton, on Monday. Too bad I have to work for a living, I could go and use some sign language….)
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He seems to have no fear that he will lose his seat. Talking down to constitutients just doesn’t seem very smart. It is comforting to know that we can vote them out, until we think about it and realize, that…maybe we cannot.
LC, can I post this at my place when you’re ready? The more people that hear these stories, the better.
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Thanks, Lou and Terry! Maggie, of course you can cross post! John and C-Gen – I just added “Upstate NY Blogs” to my blog roll. Any other upstaters out there, send me an email at LonelyConservative@yahoo.com and I’ll add your link. Daneen, it’s probably best that you can’t go, some union thug would probably assault you for speaking your mind!
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[...] an astounding ability to believe utter nonsense, even when faced with facts that contradict it. Video: Dan Maffei wags his finger at constituents! – Updated – lonelyconservative.com 08/08/2009 Rep. Dan Maffei’s “Congressman on your Corner” meeting [...]
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Dan Maffei should never have been offended by that question unless he had something to hide. He should be aware that many of his colleagues have admitted on YouTube and on the news to not having read the bill. If anything, he should be offended at the low standard his colleagues are setting. If he had actually read the bill, he should have been grateful for the opportunity he was given to set the record straight with News 10 there to broadcast it. Seeing that he took offense to the question and never really answered it, we know the answer. Thanks for the “representation”, Dan.
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I heard from someone who had a one-on-one meeting with Maffei. He said he was agitated and even scolded him. What a weenie. That’s my word of the day. Weenie!
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I am taking this to my site LC. I have been lining up videos of protests and townhall meetings but this is first hand from one of us. The arrogance of these Democrats! or maybe all politicians. I am so angry I am just about spitting nails over the way people are being treated and what our Congress and President are saying about us. Brenda Bowers
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Thanks Brenda! Spread the word!
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[...] None of these democrats can answer “Where are the jobs?” Dan Maffei even bowed his head in shame (as he should) as he hurried off to do his important legislative work. You know, the kind of stuff simpletons like you and I are too dumb to understand. [...]
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[...] hall meeting in the Syracuse area this summer. I guess he doesn’t want to get caught on tape wagging his finger at constituents again. That sort of thing doesn’t play well in an election year. Plus, he’s too busy fund [...]
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[...] hall meeting in the Syracuse area this summer. I guess he doesn’t want to get caught on tape wagging his finger at constituents again. That sort of thing doesn’t play well in an election year. Plus, he’s too busy fund [...]
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[...] to Dan Maffei’s 2009 town hall meeting. Watch him wag his finger at his constituents. He didn’t like being asked if he read [...]
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[...] out matters to us. Funny, he won’t have a town hall meeting, I think he’s afraid of a repeat of last year. When he was asked if he read the health care bill be sprung from his seat and wagged his finger at [...]
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[...] of the finger wag can be found here!) Share this post Hide Sites $$('div.d24841').each( function(e) { [...]
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[...] Maffei won’t have any town hall meetings because of last year’s debacle when he wagged his finger in the faces of his constituents. So he had a “virtual” town hall meeting this week. While searching to find out what he [...]
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[...] ironic. Rep. Dan Maffei (D-NY) didn’t bother reading the health care bill he voted for, but he’s in town touting a “literacy caucus.” Syracuse.com: U.S. [...]
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[...] Maybe that’s because they polled “likely” voters. Heh! At least he refrained from wagging his finger. [...]
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[...] those of you who tuned into the debate, and missed the one public town hall meeting Dan Maffei accidentally stumbled into, here’s how he looks when he’s [...]
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[...] More details of the meeting can be found here. [...]
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Seems like he actually did answer the question, maybe you just didn’t like the answer?
By the way, did you read the health care bill? Seems like you just hate the idea because you obviously DIDN’T READ IT YOURSELF.
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[...] (Video of the finger wag can be found here!) [...]
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