Shaheen: Constituents’ “Right Have Been Trampled On” by Protesters
August 6, 2009 by Staff Reporter
Filed under Health
Shaheen lashes out at protesters
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) on Thursday issued a harshly worded press release condemning the Tea Party Coalition “and other groups opposed to health care reform” for protesting staff office hours on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Protesters were present at office hours held today in Grafton and yesterday in Hampstead,” the press release states.
“It’s a disgrace for an organization to deliberately try to prevent people from getting help from their elected representatives,” said Shaheen. “The people who come to my office for help are veterans needing assistance with the VA, senior citizens who need help with Social Security, and small business owners who are having trouble in our tough economy. New Hampshire citizens have a right to get the help they need from the federal government. Their rights have been trampled on.”
“These are not town hall meetings but rather office hours that we host in Town Halls across the state in order to make our caseworkers available to New Hampshire citizens who need help,” said Shaheen. “The organizations that staged these protests knew these weren’t town hall meetings because we called them to tell them so. I recognize the right of people on both sides of the aisle to protest, but impeding the ability of New Hampshire citizens to get the help they need is a line that shouldn’t be crossed. They should be ashamed.”
It is important to note that Jeanne Shaheen herself was not present at the staff office hours but an inaccurate e-mail distributed by Organizing for America at midnight on Wednesday described today’s event as a “town hall meeting with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.”
NowHampshire.com has obtained footage of Wednesday’s Hampstead protest and we have included it below. The videos show that pro-universal health care demonstrators were present, as well, which Shaheen does not mention in her press release. It also shows that at least one of these demonstrators commuted up from Massachusetts to show his support for the New Hampshire senator.
In the video, one of the pro-universal coverage demonstrators can be heard telling another, “we’re not supposed to engage with them. We engage with real press.”
Brace yourselves folks… and if you’ve not been out there with us please join!
Tuesday will be fun!
Shaheen said:
“New Hampshire citizens have a right to get the help they need from the federal government.”
She twisted that presser pretty good. WE were the CONSTITUENTS and she called us protesters. WE were the ones who did not get helped. We didn’t have to see the staffers one on one because we saved them the time by telling them en masse how all 50 of us felt.
(There were 24 outside, but suddenly when we went in more showed up!)
IF we had prevented anyone from getting help, don’t you think the cop there would have at least looked at me on the way out?
She had better retract that presser or I might sue for defamation of my character for making me sound like I did something criminal.
Just a few facts about that day, from someone who was there:
Everyone in the Pro-Public health care option group that day was from NH; the individual that the “reporter” accused of being from Mass. is actually a selectman in Manchester, NH.
The “reporter” never identified himself, but launched himself with guerilla attitude.
The “reporter” (who refused to provide press credentials) spent two hours with the Anti group, then came over to the Pro group with two of the Anti people (including the Tyranny/God sign-holder,) all three of whom were immediately belligerent. This “reporter” was obviously not there to listen, but to challenge. That’s not journalism.
A legitimate reporter from the Tri-Town News had already respectfully interviewed both sides.
At one point, a woman joined the Pro group and stood chatting and sign holding for about ten minutes, before she realized that she had intended to be in the Anti group. Go figure.
There were several senior citizens on the Anti side, yet not one of them complained about Medicare, which is a PUBLIC HEALTH PLAN.
There is so much mis-information swirling around: A Public Health Care Option provides options.
The overall tone of the Anti groups at town hall meetings and events across the country is just that – anti. They are not interested in a dialogue or civil debate. They shout their questions, and don’t wait to hear an answer.
Ultimately, all Americans should be helping to craft a public policy that benefits as many people as possible. Is that a bad thing? We all want the best for all of us; a discussion about public option is a step toward a good policy for all of us.
You idiots. You are falling in line with what the pharma and insurance companies want you to believe.
More money for pharma! Millions of $ in bonuses for insurance ceos!!! Yeah!!! If these ceos can make millions in bonuses, there is no way a government ins. co can make any sort of profit, oh no.
Jeez Louise…This is “journalism?” Attack your target with weirdos and inflammatory signs about tyranny and god…Yeah, thats really credible.
Your video guy spent a lot of time with the wackos, then marched to and attacked the other side with strange religious signs, in confrontational mode, and no conversation was expected or looked for. Just a weird attack.
I am a Veteran and I was at Hampstead Town Hall on Thursday and I take offense at Jeanne Shaheen’s comments. It is my understanding that “Organization for America”, is actually the one who announced a town hall meeting and when we showed up we were told a staffer would only be meeting with people one on one. We decided to go to the street with our signs while deciding whether to sign up up for one on ones. While we were there someone told us unless we had business at Town Hall then our cars would be ticketed. That’s when we decided to go into Town Hall and see what was going on and to find out when the Senator would be doing a town hall. Jeanne Shaheen only has “Organization for America” to blame for what happened and if she thinks a teleconference town hall will satisfy her constituent, she is wrong.
My apologies for the misspelling in the last post. But then again, the meaning should be clear. Jeanne, you’re out of office as soon as soon as we can make it happen. We’re sick and fed up with all of you and we’re going to clean house on election day. The sleeping giant has awakened. Was it worth it????
Jeanne Jeanne Jeanne;
You don’t get it, but that’s not at all surprizing. I see all too clearly that you and yours are drunk with the power you think you have obtained since 2008. What you and all the rest in DC need to reallize, is that the American people have awakened. We are sick and fed up with your lies and deciept and we are not going to tolerate any of it any more. You lied to obtain the office you now hold. You din’t take the time or spend the effort to read these bills you have tried to ram down our throats. You attacked us for asking legitimate questions you should have had the answers to. And now, no one trusts you. And you have the inmitigated gall to be offended?????? How dare you!!!!!! You say we should be ashamed??? How dare you!!! YOU are the one who should be ashamed because WE are ashamed of you!!!!! You’ll live to rue the day you ignored these “constituants” you now disdane and spout lies about. Your days in DC are numbered, and you will come to reallize that fact on election day. On the other hand,,, you probably won’t see anything at all except the fact that the people don’t want you araound any longer,,, and you’l mosst likely balem them for that too. After all, that’s what the typical “sociopath” does when he or she get called out to be held accountable for their crimes. Anjoy it while it lasts because it’s coming to an end when you try to fool the people once more into voting for your re-election. WE are the American people and you had better damn well go back and re-learn your history, you tyrant!!!
Right, the protestors were there to BLOCK VETRANS. Is it possible to be more dishonest?
Oh and by the way, PAID VOLUNTEERS from MASS? In the purple shirts, one is an illegal or so I’m told.
Shaheen has trampled on OUR rights and needs to retract that statement.
WE didn’t prevent anyone from doing anything and we did not get the help we wanted, which was for her to promise to meet with us face to face.
SHE TRAMPLED ON OUR RIGHTS – read the truth here.
http://www.nhteapartycoalition.org/tea/2009/08/06/shaheen-should-be-ashamed-for-cowardly-misleading-press-release/
I live in NH, I did not vote for her and could not believe she won. Can we just give her a “pink slip” and tell her her services are no longer required?
I have lived here for 23 years, and I have loved it, up until the last few years when the Dems took over Concord.SPEND SPEND SPEND is all they know. I believe they think if they keep up the spending and borrowing, they can start an income tax, Then they’ll have all the money.I also think they have awakened a sleeping giant, “The fair minded, common sense, work every day Great American. I think we need to keep Gitmo open and reserve some space for everyone that voted for cap and tax and corporate execs stimulus and this health care mess.AND OBAMA!!!(Please don’t tell him I said that)
We replaced John Sununu with this? What were other NH voters drinking on November 3rd?
Jeanne, if people need help NOW with the VA, how do you think things are going to be when everyone (except the self-considered elite like you) are in a VA-like insurance nightmare?
Jeanne Shaheen, I’m talking to you. I have the poor fortune to be one of your constituents, but the good fortune not to need your “help” (pork). I pay a rather large amount of tax, and I’ve been watching you blow it irresponsibly, and then blow so much more than the taxes we already pay, that you have beggared future generations for your personal gain.
You guys just voted yourself $200 million worth of new personal jets so you don’t have to ride with the constituents you so dislike, on the airlines you’ve made so unpleasant to fly with your laws and regulations.
And now you’re outraged that the peasants dare to complain. Why, you can hear them all the way to Versailles.
Recognize this?
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Have someone sound it out for you. It will amaze you to discover that this ancient and archaic sentence is still the law of the land.
And listen. The sound you hear may be the wheels of tumbrils.
chip-
“Code Pink is okay with her, upset constituents are not.”
good point…
Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., gave tickets to Cindy Sheehan and code pink members, so they could interupt the State of the Union Address under bush. They were tossed out after becoming far more disruptive, but I wonder how the dems who were silent then, would feel if these grey panthers were invited to an Obama townhall.
I won’t hold my breath waiting for an apology.
how many democrats condemned such actions?
Jeanne Shaheen: Never before has a United States Senator from New Hampshire worked so tirelessly and diligently to represent the people of…Massachusetts???
And, she calls the folks on our side a “disgrace”.
Can we start a “flag your senator for disgraceful behavior” e-mail hotline?
There is some irony that everyone is missing here. She says: “The people who come to my office for help are veterans needing assistance with the VA, senior citizens who need help with Social Security”
It sounds like so many people need help with the existing gov’t “help” programs like the VA and SS and that she is their only hope to get their problems resolved. If Obamacare passes, there will be yet another whole bunch of people that will also need help. I mean, all of the other public programs require her to help those that get shafted, this is just one more program that EVERYONE will be on, not just seniors or vets. How will her office handle that? Will a congressperson be the only avenue for assistance?
You forget, these peoples’ real constituency is the party machine that funds their reelection.
They figure you’re just the spreadsheet output of an ad buy. Dollars in equals votes out, and the dollars come from Rahm’s buddies.
I hope there’s still enough anger in 2010 to prove their equations every bit as valid as those of the folks who spent the last ten years securitizing mortgages.
“I miss Everett Dirksen, the great Democrat from Illinois. He was a smart and witty politician who said, “When I feel the heat, I see the light.””
Dirkson was a Republican.
RE: “Protesters were present at office hours held today in Grafton and yesterday in Hampstead,” the press release states.
I’ve seen protesters outside the offices of Senators and Congressmen for years. In particular, anti-war protesters have been very vocal during the prior administration. Obviously she doesn’t have the experience of even a normal citizen. Senator Shaheen: grow up and stop whining.
RE: “It’s a disgrace for an organization to deliberately try to prevent people from getting help from their elected representatives”.
QUESTION: What “organization” is this? I have not been part of these demonstrations – yet. But why is it that every time private citizens take time out from work to let their voices be heard in a way that Leftist airheads don’t like, we are part of a lobbying group or some other sinister organization?
RE: “Their rights have been trampled on.”
Really? If access to your office was actually blocked, then you could have them legally removed. Don’t you know the law? Oh, access wasn’t blocked!? Well, then no one’s rights were trampled on. You just don’t like hearing the ungrateful peasants demonstrating that they know more about this garbage than you do.
That’s not difficult. If Shaheen was replaced by a doorknob, the collective IQ of the US wouldn’t change.
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Get used to it, folks. This is what the Left calls “free speech”. I’ve attended many rallies and protests against the Left over the years, and every time I have to watch my back for the professional agitators and union bone-breakers they bring along. I’ve twice seen the Left try to sick the cops on the counter protesters.
Be polite. Be firm. Stick together. And video everything. You’re just part of the process, and you have an opinion that you want the American people to hear. But in the eyes of Those People, your right to free speech ends when you start to say things that they don’t want to hear.
Does anyone remember 1984? Doublethink? Newspeak? Thought Police? The Ministry of Love?
We’re living 1984 in a way that Orwell could never conceive.
We’re all just rolling over, despite the few screams of the tormented. That’s what the Dems hear — the few dying souls that dare to make a fuss.
Shaheen, Pelosi, and their ilk believe that any disagreement with their view is heresy, required to be extinguished, and punishable by “Love.”
I’m not a swastika-waving, Astro-turf eating, pre-programmed tea bagger in a worsted suit. So, what are we going to do to put the brakes on these wigged out politicians? Dare I suggest anything?
Nancy P., are you listening?
Wow. When you try to strip freedom from Americans by ramming an unpopular gov’t monopoly healthcare system on them, they’re not willing to stand in line behind the other people complaining of how existing high-promising gov’t programs are not working. Funny how that works. Shaheen must figure we should just bend over and take it quietly, and when Obamacare doesn’t work THEN it’s our turn to stand in line to speak with her staffers about how Obamacare is failing us just like the VA and SS people in the article. I think the good people of NH have some trash to take out come election time.
So exactly what part of the 1000-page bill (that no one has read) is supported by Shaheen? Didn’t think so.
Whoda thunk that Democrats could actually make me support insurance companies? Oh, the unintended consequences of this administration are many, and ironic.
Representative Shaheen seems to forget that she is a duly elected representative and part and parcel of the duty she has been elected to is to have citizen express their views. And in this case she is the one who has trampled on the rights of those opposing her views on the issue. So to dissent is to trample on other peoples rights now? What next will we have government official charging dissidents for committing thought crimes or for being politically incorrect?
I’m not normally an activist type but the recent behavior of the democrats on this issue is pushing me in that direction. In any case feel free to report me to flag@whitehouse.gov as a dangerous dissident. I’m sure I’ll be in good company their list.
I miss Everett Dirksen, the great Democrat from Illinois. He was a smart and witty politician who said, “When I feel the heat, I see the light.”
We don’t have smart politicians anymore; We have entitled politicians.
uhm hello, Obamas former group Organizing for America told PRO reform folks to come out in force. Nice she blames tea party patriots, Pfft. I am a 22 yr Dem and I do not want this health care rammed down our throats the country is broke
you cant get blood from a stone
I lived in NH for 20+ years. Graduated from Alvirne High School in Hudson. I used to be a proud former New Hampshirite, and proud of the tough, no-nonsense yankees that lived all around me in Hudson, and Mont Vernon.
What happened to you people?
‘”Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) on Thursday issued a harshly worded press release condemning the Tea Party Coalition “and other groups opposed to health care reform”’
Oh, I see. In Jeanne Shaheen’s patrician mind, why would anyone want to protest against “reform”? Gee willikers, Mrs. Cleaver, ain’t “reform” automatically a grand thing? Why protesting against “reform” is like…like…protesting against Motherhood, Apple Pie, Panda Bears, and Martin Luther King! Horrors!
Yeah, Madam Shaheen, I get it: we provincials are just too stupid and churlish to figure things out for ourselves. We should just shut up, accept our can of government cheese and Cash-for-Clunkers coupon, and thank our lucky stars we have political geniuses like Jeanne Shaheen to lead us by the nose to ObamaLand.
Another democrat joker. What a bunch of idiots along with their moron followers.
This is the same Shaheeh who proudly took $100,000 raised at a Hollywood event partly sponsored by the co-founder of Code Pink.
Code Pink is okay with her, upset constituents are not.
Dissent: no longer patriotic (or tolerated)!
Denouce me at flag@whitehouse.gov.
What an incredible coward.
Can’t allow constituents to protest, but won’t name the “organization” that is the issue. How about some names instead of strawmen.
Oh, and since she has to have a phone in town meeting there is no doubt that anyone disgruntled with her poor legislative activities will not have a voice. Nothing like not facing the constituents.
Every NH voter should remember this the next election she’s in.
“The organizations that staged these protests knew these weren’t town hall meetings because we called them to tell them so.”
I would sure be interested to know exactly what “organizations” Shaheen’s office claim they called!
Shaheen said:
“New Hampshire citizens have a right to get the help they need from the federal government.”
Gee … where in the Constitution is this “right” given? Sheesh!
The amount of arrogance is stunning. We are the bosses of those in congress, never forget that. They get angry because we won’t show up at these meetings and simply applaud talking points? Too bad. You have not performed and now you are being called into the boss’s office for an earful.
The real disgrace is how scumbags like Shaheen can stand up with a straight face and say, “We’re from the government and we’re here to help, you ungrateful bastards.”
i’d file the SIEU stormtroopers under the “Be Careful What You Wish For” category.
The attendees are, despite the wh portrayal, older and common folk.
I’m hearing that the dems are looking to provide their own security/friendly faces, and the outcome is not going to be pretty. In mobilizing a group and designating them to support the healthcare bill, the potential for over-zealousness arises.
One could only imagine the damage that could be done, if union thugs are dragging out old people, or even threatening them. Who knows, maybe the balck panthers who were pardoned in Philly, might show up outside with their clubs in hand.
If the dems want their supporters to counter the concerned and issue motivated attendees, they must accept responsiblity for their behavior. They have thus far, failed to tie the rowdy voices in with the gop, suggesting that either the gop is competent in their organiztion(please…) or that these citizens are bona fide ‘individuals’.
I wish the dems all the luck in organizing a counter mob, that DOESN’T bear the taint of party affilation and organization. By the fact that they are organzing them, will be their undoing.
Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals only works if you are trying to unseat the establishment. Obama better figure out that his playbook doesn’t work when he is the one in power.
Good lord, what about the rights of the people who oppose Obamacare? What about their right to be heard before the government votes to takeover their health care?
I am increasingly disturbed at our ‘representatives’ inclination not to represent our views and interests.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is shall we say, “not a truth teller”. Shame on you, madame.
“A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.”
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Obama, Boxer, Pelosi, Reid, Shaheen, et al: Socialists, Deceivers, Evil.
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I dare you to report me to flag@whitehouse.gov.
I still have a hard time realizing that New Hampshire voters have such short memories as to elect former Governor Shaheen to represent us considering the amazing amount of damage she did to the state while running it.