Thoughts On Mike Castle’s Townhall
Delaware Dem and I attended Mike Castle’s townhall yesterday. You can read this thread for a play-by-play of what happened.
My impression is that Castle delivered two opposing messages: the need for reform and slow down what’s the hurry. The eyebrow raising moment of the night is when Castle said in his opening that he thought the filibuster rule was unAmerican. Interesting.
Somehow despite about a 50/50 split between health care reform supporters and status quo supporters, the questioners were 90% against reform. The general talking points were slow down, 1000-page bill and that the government sucks. Most questions were a variation on that them with a few even crazier wingnuts thrown in for color. There was quite a bit of boring speechifying by some questioners who came with prepared texts. Two people actually kind of got booed – two wingnuts and they were the ones pushing the crazy talking points.
I won’t lie – it was really uncomfortable. It felt like reform supporters were outnumbered, though when I looked around only about half of the room would clap for the wingnut talking points. I guess the anti-reformers are louder? As far as calling on questioners – at least one person called Castle out for calling on very few women (though he seemed to be able to select the wingnut women with one exception). He didn’t pick one person of color. The room was also >50% older people who were probably on Medicare. I think Mike Protack actually summed it up best – it was like visiting your in-laws – you hope nothing gets broken and no one gets in a fight (for the record my in-laws are very nice).
Castle seemed to nod along and agree with all the wingnuts but I just got the feeling he just is the “get along.” type. I actually got to talk to him after the townhall. I asked him if he was running for Senate and he looked kind of annoyed, actually. He told me he hadn’t decided. I did get to tell Castle that the bill wasn’t in a hurry, Kennedy had been working on health care for years and he agreed with me. Castle also denied that he was calling on people he knew, despite the fact that one man said he was a big donor, I saw him talking to one woman he called on before the meeting and one man said he had worked with Castle, Reagan and Kemp. Castle’s office also robo-called people about the townhall. Castle himself actually suggested doing a meeting with one side for health care reform supporters and the other half for opponents.
I actually felt kind of sorry for Castle. He seemed like a nice guy and he had to listen to a lot of crazy. However he had the opportunity to correct a lot of misconceptions which he failed to do. I’m proud to say that I informed Castle about the Ezekial Emmanuel talking points and that it was untrue. Castle told me I could make an appointment with his office – right.
There weren’t a lot of people with signs. There was a pro-reform group before the townhall and a few wingnuts with signs after the townhall. There were no Obama is Hitler signs this time.
Pro-reform advocates:
Wingnut sign:
Tags: Health Care Reform, Mike Castle
Am I wrong or do I hear the identical mush coming from Castle, Carper, and even Kaufman? Is there a gnat’s worth of difference between any of their positions?
I think the difference is the “what’s the rush?” I thought Castle contradicted himself with his talking points. He talked about the need for reform and then said there was no hurry. I can also see how some Congresspeople would get the idea that the majority of people don’t support reform. Castle did manage to pick the wingnuts though.
It was a bit of a waste of time. I didn’t learn anything I didn’t know. Castle maybe learned a couple of things.
From what I understand, Kaufman is strongly in the pro-reform (ala Obama) principles on needed health care reform. Carper and Castle both have one principle–let’s all get along, but in Carper’s case that means work to get a compromise bill acceptable with Senate Republicans (40% of the Senate), rather than stand up for the platform and ideals of his supposed party and his supposed President. It can hardly be a coincidence that this is how he can maximize his PAC-contributions from the healthcare industry.
How many Medicare recipients were there to oppose government health care?
Castle gave what – 48 hours notice for this meeting? I certainly would have been there as a reform supporter if I had more time to plan. I actually considered coming with kids in tow but thought better of it. I think that was Castle’s plan.
anon,
It was pretty much a waste of time. You didn’t miss anything. I’d say the room was >75% people over 50. Perhaps about 50% of people who were Medicare qualified. Only a few younger people called on as far as I could tell and they were wingnuts.
I think the nuts were a little smarter. Their talking points this time were “slow down” and “1000 page bill” with the occasional “government sucks” thrown in.
The Patriot act is 342 pages and took what, a week, of deliberations for Castle to vote for.
The last I checked this reform has taken the better part of six months and likely has another two or more to go.
In those six months, at least 11,000 Americans have died due to lack of health insurance.
In that time, over a million people have lost their coverage.
No hurry Mikey, your coverage (via public option) is doing fine.
Sorry anon, I didn’t answer your question. There was only 24 hours notice but Castle’s supporters got robo-called. I think the pro-reform side had decent turnout given the circumstances. Although I don’t know if I’d bother to go to another one unless it’s in a different format. Having wingnuts give prepared speeches was not very informative or pleasant.
From what I understand, Kaufman is strongly in the pro-reform (ala Obama) principles on needed health care reform
I certainly hope so… Did you watch Kaufman’s News Journal video? He was OK with no-public-option, coops, splitting the bill into parts… from memory I think he said something like “I just want to get a bill passed.”
Oh – don’t forget to untie Crazy Eileen this morning.
Castle voted for Medicare Part D which is 416 pages and wasn’t even paid for.
Excellent reporting, UI. Thank you!
I continue with the impression that the pro-reform advocates have not figured out a way to frame/explain this reform initiative. Perhaps it is because we don’t yet have a final bill to advocate and defend. Perhaps it is because the opposition lies and distortion tactics work better, as has been the historical record of these tactics on health care reform, going back to Truman and to Nixon, of all people.
So far, the naysayers are winning their battle, I’m sorry to say. My hope is that Obama et al have a closing strategy in mind that will reverse the trend, because we certainly must have reform, in my view!
I don’t think any of our delegation is helping themselves with their “more-mush-from-the-wimp” acts they are pulling. Castle has actually managed to energize his own base against himself, and furthermore has put his ticket-splitting Dem supporters on notice that he does not support health care reform. Carper has lost the hold-your-nose support he used to get from the left. Kaufman – who knows… A vote against real reform could put Kaufman in the Carper/Lieberman zone.
The point is the more our Dems act like Republicans, the better chance they will lose to a real Republican. Of course they will probably remain insulated by the Delaware Way.
http://standwithdrdean.com/whipcount-results shows Senator Ted Kaufman as ‘standign with Dr. Dean’ in favor of the public option, one of the 45 Democratic Senators to go on record.
Carper is, of course, a Maybe. Perhaps if a lobbyist asked him nicely …
That townhall meeting was really depressing. I’m sorry I went, but it sure made me realize how organized the right-wingers are. Except for a couple legitimate questions, it was evident they don’t even care if reform will help them or not– haven’t bothered to even find out the truth about it – they just want it defeated.
How ironic that the head of Christiana Care (where the townhall meeting was held) had a wonderful op-ed piece in the NJ this morning about the real need for health care reform. Hope he talks to Castle in private.
June,
I was thinking because Castle said we can make appointments with his office, perhaps it would be worth the effort to get a few people together to make an appointment. And the more small groups that are willing to do this, the better. We don’t want Castle to think that the nuts are the majority. We need to remind him that he lives in a Democratic state and the majority of his constituents supported change.
What I find depressing is that people showed up not to ask questions but to deliver emotional but otherwise content-free speeches. If that’s the goal, write a letter or email — don’t force everybody else to listen to the bee in your bonnet.
Castle is a long shot. Health care reform will be passed without Republicans, so the time would be better spent meeting with Kaufman and Carper, to let them know we will hold them accountable if they vote for half-measures.
I just called Castle’s office and politely explained how unfair it was last night that no pro-reform participants had a chance to talk. The young man said there was no way to tell how someone felt when they had their hand up (which is true) but I suggested next time he deliberatly ask for pro-reformers to raise their hands and call on them also. The staffer agreed that was a good point and said he would suggest it to the Congressman.
UI, I think that’s a good idea. Since he said that to you, call his office and repeat what Castle said and ask to make an appointment. It never hurts to have our side talk to anyone, even if it seems hopeless.
Good morning.
Let me offer some reality to those who did not attend.
1. Castle gave a lengthy pro and con beginning and also his version of what his principles and requirements were. Long but informative.
2. The 1000 page bill is its own worst enemy as it adds over a trillion dollars to the debt, does little for health outcomes and many of the sections are very intrusive.
3. The audience was about 65% against 35% for.
4. Focusing on the Medicare population is good theater but the fact remains Obama would take money away from the program, about $500 billion.
5. The bill will not pass, at least not anywhere near what is now. Obama dropped the ball on this one badly.
6. Yes, too many of the questions were mini sermons not Q & A.
7. The people were called on was a cross section even if you disagreed with their views and three of the most vocal people were women under 50. There were two Dr’s and the most supportive Obama plan supporter was a male senior citizen who is a Republican.
8. I offered to UI an opportunity to be part of a real Town Hall meeting September 8th at Talleyville Fire Hall where the left and right will offer ideas and debate plans.
It is time for those who say they know so much to speak up logically and leave the silly keyboard comments.
Mike Protack
We got a robo call from Mr. Castle on our answering machine and my bride and I have always been registered independent now unaffiliated.
The problem with a show of hands is everyone is for “health care reform.”
So right anon, they all talked about reform when what they really wanted was nothing done.
Out of curiosity: were there any wingnuts attacking Castle from the right, for example on S-CHIP and cap-and-trade?
Cap-and-trade didn’t come up and S-CHIP was discussed briefly by Castle in his opening remarks. There was at least on guy who said that Congress has taken unconstitutional power – basically a far right argument about the 10th amendment. Castle did shoot him down by saying using his logic a lot of programs would be unconstitutional. I got the feeling he may had heard that one before. There were at least two guys who attacked Castle from the right.
Actually, one lady speechified and included cap and trade in her rant..right about the time she got yells to “ask a question” already. That was the brunette whose WNJ photo looks like she’s baring her teeth.
Thanks Nancy. That’s probably why I didn’t hear it, I was in the middle of the hecklers. 🙂
Which is something you, Mr. Protack, support. Amazing how all the Republicans are suddenly scared of cutting spending on Medicare.
Ha! “Amazing how all the Republicans are suddenly scared of cutting spending on Medicare.” And amazing how they all worry about the deficit now that they have nearly spent us into bankruptcy….
What nice professionally-made signs the pro-govt health people had! Not a Castle fan, but at least he had the mangos to have a town meeting-what about Carp and what’s-his-name?
Now that I witnessed what happens at townhall meetings, I say Carper and Kaufman are doing the right thing by not having them. It’s just a forum for the right-wingers to perpetrate their screwed-up ideas.