Tampa Tea Bagger Townhall Meeting Madness

The Tea Party actuivists were bound to get out of hand. Rep. Kathy Castor and State Representative Betty Reed hosted a health care townhall meeting. WTSP reports how law enforcement had to stop a near riot.

As the building filled to capacity, angry protesters stuck outside began to scream, yell, and chant. At one point, those trying to get inside began banging on windows as Tampa Police officers quickly spread out guarding all entrances.

10 Connects photojournalist Kevin Carlson, currently inside the meeting reports at least one fist fight breaking out inside. Some other journalists remain outside.

Police were called in to handle the civil unrest.

UPDATE 7:13pm

Police on bullhorns are trying to break-up the crowd outside the building on 1002 E. Palm Ave.

Many in the crowd are refusing to go.

A Talking Points Memo reports his experiences of the townhall meeting.

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.

Medicare and Medicaid recipients protesting about government involvement in health care. Many of the protesters organized through the 9-12 Project. The Tampa Tribune describes the 9-12 Project activists.

Chants were popular. When Castor first tried to speak, the crowd drowned her out by repeating, "You work for us.'' Other chants included "Tyranny, tyranny,'' and "Read the bill, read the bill.''

A crowd of 200 or more moved from the building's entrance to the windows outside the room where the meeting was being held. They held up signs and chanted. Some of the messages on the signs were: "Read the bill'' and "No to socialist health care.''

Several of the protestor's signs bore an image of Obama with his face painted as the Joker, an image that drew protests of racism locally when it appeared on a Web site thought to be associated with the Pinellas Republican party.

Tea Party members disturbed a townhall meeting, compared President Obama to a homicidal supervillian and two reported fist fights. Does anyone believe these tea baggers "read the bill"? Many of these people receive some form of government health care and are protesting (what they preceive to be) government health care. The ignorance of these people are staggering.

These are the same people that labeled Obama a Muslim and terrorist during the campaign. Simple fact-checking would have proven these accusations to be bogus. The tea baggers do not care about that. Do the tea baggers believe private insurance are more important than the 47 million Americans without health insurance. Do the tea baggers get misty eyed and hearts beat loudly over the quarterly earning reports of pharmaceutical companies? Have all of them read Milton Friedman? The answer to these questions not very likely. The tea baggers are angry for the sake of being angry.

Update: Tea baggers in the meeting shout down Rep. Castor. TBO.com has the video. of tea baggers in the meeting shout down Rep. Castor. The tea baggers aren't interested in hearing what Castor has to say. They want to shout at her because it makes them feel good. Screw the people that want to hear what their Congresswoman has to say.

Update: This charming tea bagger admits he is an asshole. He calls people communists and tells them to get on welfare. He goes on an xenophobic rant and tells a woman to go back to her country. He claims his ancestors came on the Mayflower. He turns on the charm by yelling "Heil Hitler." Does anyone think this guy "read the bill."