TPM Reader JG reports in from the event …
I was at the riot/townhall tonight since it was about half a mile from my house and I’m always down for a freak show. I also attended the April 15th tea bag party down the street. This was the same audience, very old and very white (half the minorities I saw were in the media, literally). They did indeed close the doors–I stayed outside because I wasn’t about to be trapped in with the nutters for three hours. They started to chant “move it outside” and were infuriated about being somehow left out. I heard some people make the comparison that if they can’t run a meeting how can they run healthcare? (Is this the next meme?) It never ceases to amaze me seeing medicare recipients holding up signs saying “Just say no to government run healthcare” and there was plenty of that.
I left before I saw any actual violence, but certainly believe it. The few pro-healthcare people who were there received an impressive amount of boos and name calling. “Get a job, buy your own insurance!”
Lots of recording devices out by nearly everyone. Uninformed people with cameras stoking hate amongst each other. These things are designed to get footage to get more people mad to get more footage.
