Alaska “Deathers” Heckle Sick People (Updated with Photos)
10 08 2009I am taking a break.
This was a strange and disturbing morning.
I started the day with a big cup of coffee, and an 8:30am arrival at The Egan Center in downtown Anchorage. That’s where the special session of the Alaska State Legislature is meeting today. They have two things on their plate – voting on whether to overturn ex-governor Sarah Palin’s rejection of the stimulus money for energy efficiency, and whether to confirm Craig Campbell as Lt. Governor.
The joint session convenes at 1:00, so I had time to pop over and attend a press conference Organizing for America held about health care reform in front of Mark Begich’s office downtown. I’ve been hearing a lot about these Town Hall meetings across the country where people stand and shout to try to disrupt the conversation and prevent discourse. People are angry and they are taking it out on those who want health care reform. Why this is, is a mystery to me, but it happens nonetheless.
Alaska is different, though. You hear that all the time. But here, in such a small community, we all need each other. We may vehemently disagree with each other politically. We may carry signs in opposition to one another’s opinion. We may campaign for different people and vote for different people. But when it comes down to it, we are more united as Alaskans than we are divided. If you break your ankle on the trail nobody asks your political affiliation, or if your car breaks down on the side of the road at 20 below zero, nobody will look at your bumper sticker and drive past.
I knew there would be protesters carrying signs at this event, but when the press conference began, and four brave Alaskans…regular citizens….stood up to tell their harrowing stories of health care challenges, I never believed anyone would heckle them. I really didn’t. But as I stood there and watched, that’s exactly what they did. They shouted at a mom of a young child with special needs. They asked her how much she got paid by the AFL-CIO.
They shouted at a man with lung cancer, breathing with assistance, telling him he wasn’t an American. 
~~~Heckler (far right) taunts Roland Shanks as he talks about his bout with lung cancer an his trials with health care~~~
They shouted at small business owners who can no longer afford to provide their employees with health care, telling them that they are in cahoots with “Obama’s Dirty Nuts” – ACORN.
I watched these brave Alaskans, not professional media people, not people who do public speaking for a living, get up and subject themselves to taunting from their fellow Alaskans while publicly sharing intimate and personal stories of some of the most emotional parts of their lives. I want to salute them.
Bravery is not wearing a t-shirt with a gun on it, carrying a flag with a snake, and screaming while someone is trying to to tell people how to contact their elected representatives. Bravery is not shouting accusations at sick people. Bravery is not stopping discourse. That is cowardice and ignorance and bullying. That is what you do when you know that in rational discourse you will lose.
Bravery is standing up in the face of anger and speaking your story, telling people how to become engaged with their democracy, and demanding that the government listen to the voice of the majority of Americans, not just the bullies.
Eddie Burke managed to show up, and get on camera. He repeated Sarah Palin’s lies about a “Death Panel.” He did it because it sounded good and because it will inflame his “posse” as he called them. He didn’t say it because it was true. He didn’t say it because he wants dialogue. Alaskans who use fear, and anger to intimidate those seeking discussion and reform harm us all. They shame their party, and their state.
There was a woman who shouted, loud and piercing while people were trying to speak, ”I SPEAK FOR ALASKANS!” The only time I wanted to interrupt, and yell over the discourse was to tell that woman, “You do not speak for me.”
~~~The woman who does not speak for me shouts at Johnathan Teeters of Organizing for America while he tries to give out contact information so people can contact their elected officials.~~~
August 10th, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Margaret Thatcher once said “I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.” That seems to explain the behavior of the loonies showing up at these informational meetings. They don’t have a single argument left against health care reform so they just shout crazy, angry, illogical “stuff”.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:56 AM
A post comment on the Huffpo pointed out this link that could be helpful for people trying to debunk those fictitious emails floating around with the lies in them. These are usually the ones that the Right will post with the page number and ‘ their VERSION ‘ of what the bill says. Some people said their friends or family members were getting those emails.
You see these on Huffpo where people keep cut-and-pasting these lists.
This website is called pleasecutthecrap. Some far right loonies were upset that he was debunking their lies and went off in the comments on his page as well. Trying to discredit him for telling the truth.
It is written in easy to read language with his comments in red to follow along.
See if it is helpful.
http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/2009/07/deconstructing-the-right-wing-lies-health-bill.html
August 11th, 2009 at 1:16 AM
…I was brought to tears by this piece…I am ashamed of the Alaskans who treated other Alaskans so badly, I am mortified by the lack of empathy and compassion and finally I am sad…and no, not one of those narrow-minded, anger-filled, people speak for me…
August 11th, 2009 at 2:31 AM
Sarah ran for MAYOR and ran a divisive, unfriendly campaign-bringing in unrelated national issues that Wasilla never saw before. Then the truly lucky slide into first base as new Gov. since Murkowski was so lousy in that position and acted out of entitlement for himself and cronies and Whats His Name was the best Dems had to offer…then the one in a million choice by an elderly, past his prime, Republican candidate-one MAN-who met her for 15 minute enraptured chat and whala-she is on the road to Sat Nite Live Fame and now fork tongued Fortune.
Sarah doesn’t care what comes out of her mouth with the help of Meg StapleIt…whatever gets the boys’ juices flowing. Fan the flames, pour gas on bon fire versus inform and discuss. And her first “press release” is this drivel? I haven’t believed a word outta her mouth since telling us she is expanding -in family numbers or her belly size. What crappola that fraud was-including the wild ride from Texas for the good ole baby to be born with a Carhartt cap versus a cowboy hat. Ha! She likes riling up the hormones of her mainly male, white, extreme religious or rt-wing political and Sarah- wanna- be female followers. Her postings will get worst as no staff now, they come unfiltered outta her mouth. Fed-up in AK Interior.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:00 AM
Employer-based insurance doesn’t work. First up, we become serfs to the company that pays the insurance. We must cling to those jobs no matter what. That stifles whistleblowers, creativity, small business start ups, and a healthy lifestyle. People are not using their leave to have vacations, recover from illness, and care for family members. Too scared of losing insurance.
In Hawaii, we have mandatory employee coverage for those who work over 20 hours per week. Sound good? You’d amazed by the number of 19 hr/wk jobs! Or not. It’s completely obvious what happens with that kind of requirement.
For those that do have insurance from employers, they still have to pay for family coverage. We just had a 20% increase. Did the pay go up proportionally? Of course not.
As is occuring elsewhere in the country, employers are searching for cheaper insurance. So employees may stay insured, but the policies are changing, the deductible is increasing, the copay is increasing and the range of services is shrinking. And then there is the insurance company “death panel”, always looking for a way out of paying.
I don’t understand why every single not-wealthy person isn’t up in arms about the health care crisis in the US.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:30 AM
Jamie@250, thank you for those wise words.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:48 AM
First off, I am extremely fortunate that my husband works for a major corporation that provides excellent health insurance. But we know our health care is subject to the whims of the company. If upper management decides to lay him off, close the plant or cut costs by offering everyone medical savings plans and health insurance with a huge deductible, we’re stuck with it.
And so is every single one of us who depends on an employer for health insurance. It’s a take it or leave it situation. Here in Wilmington, NC, if you don’t work for the handful of major corporations like my husband, most of the jobs available are $8 an hour with no benefits. Your only health care option is to hope like hell you don’t get sick.
My niece suffers from a chronic kidney ailment which has no cure and puts her in the hospital on an average of once a year. When her husband’s company switched health plans, they found they had to meet a $9000 deductible. She managed to find a job that offered better insurance (and didn’t bump her for her “pre-existing condition”) but a lot of people in that situation don’t have that option.
Is that what the screamers are fighting to protect?
In contrast, I’d like to offer another example from my own family. My husband is from England. His cousin has a son who’s severely disabled. According to my mother-in-law, the little boy is receiving excellent care, including occupational therapy and phsyical therapy from the National Health. If that’s socialized medicine, I’ll take it.
August 11th, 2009 at 4:10 AM
Unfortunately, what is on offer with the current proposed legislation is NOT socialized medicine. It is, however, a step in the right direction.
August 11th, 2009 at 4:19 AM
This is so disturbing…..on so many levels. I am just saddened by all of this news.
Yesterday, I heard that Fox was insinuating that the White House web site for healthcare was collecting names and would retaliate against citizens who are against healthcare reform.
First of all, HUH? How would they do this? Secondly, they dont want their viewers to have the facts. They want to spoon feed them lies, so they are discouraging them from seeking out the facts. They are telling people that they can’t trust the White House, but trust them.
It is beyond wrong…. yet besides contacting adversters, I feel helpless. How can a news organization discourage people from seeing truth. What is happening to our nation?
Maybe we need a stronger PR campaign that highlights the advertisers on Fox who support that garbage.
August 11th, 2009 at 5:35 AM
Whoa. There’s dumb, there’s Republican and then there’s DESPICABLE.
I wonder how those b… sleep at night.
August 11th, 2009 at 6:00 AM
I know that this is hard to believe but people don’t want to hear the truth. We can give them the information & point them to the correct government website but they don’t or won’t read it or listen to it. Their minds are made up. It is bad because someone told them it was. They would rather believe some stranger that sent them a bogus e-mail than figure it out for themselves.
The people (& groups) who have been passing all this crap around about “death panels” and all the rest of the bullcrap don’t CARE what the truth is. They want to be MAD about anything & everything. You can’t force people to see the truth or even listen to reason. They HATE the president – pure & simple.
August 11th, 2009 at 6:16 AM
In the 1960s, young people who incited mob violence on campuses, were arrested. It would appear that policy needs to be re-enacted now. If people are taunting, encouraging violence, behaving in a threatening manner that encourages physical violence….arrest them. It’s a little ironic, however, that the people who did the arresting (or supported the arresting) in the 60s, are now the ones who would be arrested for behavior much more violent than putting a flower in a rifle barrel.
August 11th, 2009 at 7:13 AM
Is the US on the Brink of Fascism?
http://www.truthout.org/080909A
Be sure to read the comments, where many disagree with the authors analysis. She accurately points out many signs though, that are happening right now in this country.
August 11th, 2009 at 7:28 AM
sitting here with CNN running in the background and they had some sort of poll on asking if people thought health care was a universal right ?
81 % said yes. I wish those people would show up at town halls .
August 11th, 2009 at 7:34 AM
I’m at work, so haven’t taken the time to read through all these comments, although I did link to the Please Cut the Crap debunking. That’s great!
I also debinOH’s comment and I do agree that there is no changing these people’s minds. They don’t want to listen to reason. I keep having Facebook messages pop up with my friends saying that they took a poll about whether or not to vote for Obama in 2012. They’ve all voted no so far. And I think to myself “what are you basing that decision on? He’s just getting started!!!”
Anyway, I think its a stupid poll, but the way these people acted in Anchorage yesterday is just heartbreaking. I am just so sick of people not showing any respect for other people. They seem to think nothing of taking these people’s human dignity away. And sadly, they are doing it, so often, in the name of God; “We are a CHRISTIAN nation!”
I am frustrated. I am sad.
August 11th, 2009 at 7:45 AM
My husband is French as many of you know. We talked about this last night, about what is happening in the US. He said to me “Tell them about my dad.” Over 5 years, my FIL had several surgeries, both bypass and several cancer surgeries. After the surgeries and hospital stays, he had what may be called hospice care (”maison de repos”) where he stayed up to 6 weeks at a time and recieved his chemo treatements. When at home, he had daily visits from nurses, home care aide for dressing and washing and getting in and out of bed, visits from his physical therapist, etc. My MIL, who suffers from Parkinson’s, had daily help with cooking, cleaning, laundry. All of this was paid for. They never saw a bill, no out of pocket costs.
Same for my 2 pregnancies, monthly blood tests and doctors visits, 3 sonograms, a physical for the dad, the birth and a week in the maternity ward (once shared room, once private room), post-natal visit, etc. Never saw a bill, no out of pocket costs, excellent care.
How many emergency room visits we have had with the boys in Canada (on vacation), France and Italy: childhood accident, food poisoning on vacation, tiny boys swallowing coins or shoving things up their noses, sun poisoning, etc. Paid $20 in Canada, and maybe 10 bucks for one hospital stay for Clem, 2 nights and a nose probe under general anesthesia.
My dad who worked his entire life for the government was refused coverage of medical care and hospice care when he suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease (in Florida). When I had to have a lump removed asap in NYC, my doctor told me without insurance I couldn’t afford to get it done in the hospital and he did it in his clinic as outpatient surgery for $500 (my month’s money for bills and food).
See the difference?
August 11th, 2009 at 8:30 AM
Those astroturfers are so ignorant, so mean spirited, so devoid of compassion, I’m almost speechless. They are interfering with the democratic process. Those poor people who are fighting health problems have every bit of my concern, though. A protracted illness, accident, acute disease or chronic ill health of any kind shouldn’t mean bankruptcy, or loss of the essentials of life; everyone deserves health care whether they have money or not.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Someone mentioned the only way to get at Fox News was to get at the advertisers. Here’s the list
http://skinthefox.com/sponsors_001.htm
August 11th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
“Bravery is not wearing a t-shirt with a gun on it, carrying a flag with a snake, and screaming while someone is trying to to tell people how to contact their elected representatives. Bravery is not shouting accusations at sick people. Bravery is not stopping discourse. That is cowardice and ignorance and bullying. That is what you do when you know that in rational discourse you will lose.”
AKM, you brought me to tears.
At its heart, I do not understand all of this anger and hatred. And it seems like it’s the only thing these people can hold on to.
It hurts my heart to know that this is here and happening in this country.
Thank you, to all of you who have been brave enough to stand up and talk with dignity and respect and pain and hope about what we can do together to make sure we all have the best chance to be healthy. You’ve reminded me that I have not done enough.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:16 PM
#220 Alaska Pi Says:
August 10th, 2009 at 6:56 PM
@198 Elsie -
I agree.
AKM owes no apology for not speaking up to a screaming dingbat….
AKM stands right right up, day after day.
Sometimes speaking, always bearing witness, that’s more than most of us do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have NEVER been so engaged until I heard the brave clear voice of AKM last year!
AlaskaPi you took the words right out of my mouth. AKM has withstood things that would have brought a lesser person down and kept them down. AKM may have been bloodied, but, by the gods, remains unbowed and has my unbounded admiration and respect!
I ♥ AKM and the Mudflats
Namaste
August 11th, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Janet Alexander Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Someone mentioned the only way to get at Fox News was to get at the advertisers. Here’s the list
http://skinthefox.com/sponsors_001.htm
>
>
I went to this link and it appears that the site is a little dated, but good links to many sponsors. I can’t stomach watching Faux Knews to see the current sponsorship. ugh.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Pittsburgh AKMudstock 2009
Sunday, August 16th, 2009 – 1PM – Pittsburgh, PA
AKM will be journeying to the Lower 48 tomorrow! It is all really going to happen! Please note that we have extended the RSVP deadline to FRIDAY AUGUST 14th for any last minute Mudpuppies on the SURGE! There is still time to RSVP!
RSVP by this Friday evening to: HamletsMillMudFlats (at) gmail (dot) com
There is now a PRE-AKMudstock gathering scheduled for SATURDAY NIGHT AUGUST 15th at 7PM or when you get there for those in town by Saturday night! Details are now on the below UPDATE thread link!
CHECK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATE INFORMATION:
http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,7283.msg75900.html#msg75900
August 11th, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Palin is the Frau Goebbels of the right wingy conservative republican party and Baby Eddie (Burke) fluctuates between being the King of Trailor Trash to Sir Oh Get of ex-governor Palin The Liar/Quitter. The hate that has manifested in recent times has members of the Native Community discussing plans to organize an economic boycott. I hope the hate stops.
August 12th, 2009 at 3:23 AM
“Bravery is not wearing a t-shirt with a gun on it, carrying a flag with a snake, and screaming while someone is trying to to tell people how to contact their elected representatives. Bravery is not shouting accusations at sick people. Bravery is not stopping discourse. That is cowardice and ignorance and bullying. That is what you do when you know that in rational discourse you will lose.”
Amen to that.
As well it is not related in any way to the teachings of Christ, it sadly is to some self styled Christians.
Not is it the act of a patriot who appreciates and venerates what the founding citizens of the nation fought and died for.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:09 AM
Scary people these ‘Christians’. They really believe some sort of weird god has given them permission to judge and punish. Did they miraculously turn stone blind when they came to the words ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged” and “Vengeance is mine, sayth the Lord” Possibly; their world is a strange one. LOL
August 12th, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Healthcare in the US as viewed from abroad – worth a read (and the comments are very telling too) – it seems now they are debasing Englandâ��s health care, now that they have debased Canadaâ��s – just pathetic! The world is watching and wondering what direction the US will take – is it heading towards fascism? And will decent Americans let this happen?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/11/nhs-united-states-republican-health?commentpage=1
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/12/healthcare-town-halls-obama
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Right+wing+militias+rise+report/1885444/story.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/deadlineusa/2009/aug/11/nhs-criticism-obama-healthcare
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/12/barack-obama-new-hampshire-gun
August 12th, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Jamie great post and you said it all and make a point some won’t ever see.