Roughly 2,000 people showed up at Lakewood's Harry Lang Stadium to hear from, and sound off at, Rep. Adam Smith.
I showed up a few minutes before 7 pm (coming from my daughter’s soccer practice). Representative Adam Smith was already talking. I left at 8:45 pm and the crowd was still making statements and asking questions. I recorded the audio from the Public Address system, and will try to get it uploaded so you can hear it for yourself.
A few highlights from my notes:
Question: I’m happy with my current high-deductible plan. It works perfectly for my family. As the plan is currently written, will I, in five year, be able to keep my existing plan?
Smith reply: No. If your high-deductible plan does not meet a minimum federal standard in five years, it must be brought up to those minimum standards, most likely at higher cost.
Question: As written, will you vote for the health care bill?
Smith reply: No! (Which was followed by loud applause). The tricky part is it won’t come to a vote as it is currently written. Furthermore, there are three versions of the house bill. Smith went on to say he favors the health exchange component and a public option (which elicited loud applause and booing).
At one point, during an abortion question, tempers flared to the point where a great deal of yelling and shoving caused Rep. Smith to pause for a few moments until the audience could settle down.
There was a great deal of cheering, booing, hissing and jeering as questions and comments were made from the audience as well as from Smith.
I encourage anyone who attended that wants to sound off on something said, or not, to either send me an email, post your comment below. I implore you, keep it clean and respectful.
Sam says
On the subject of keeping it “clean and respectful”, this Town Hall was a lot more civil than I had expected and actually had a great back-and-forth session with solid answers and honesty on both ends.
There was one exception, and to clarify the above statement, the moment of yelling and shoving wasn’t because of the question on Abortion, but because during that question another member of the audience started walking around with a poster of Obama with a Hitler-moustache and waving it in people’s faces. I’m guessing (just a guess) that he chose to stand up during the Abortion question exactly because people would already be angry and ready to cause a scene. I wouldn’t count this one against the event, though, as we all know the guy was probably from Seattle anyway and was just down here to try and start trouble (and actually the guy who shoved him was probably from Seattle too).
All in all, great event, and great job Lakewood for keeping it classy.