Video (it Begins): Mitt Romney asked about Mormonism at Town Hall

While at a town hall meeting in Wisconsin, Mitt Romney took a question from a Ron Paul supporter about his Mormon religion. The question was race-based; Bret Hatch wanted to know if Romney thought it was a sin for a white man to "marry and procreate with a black." Romney answered with an emphatic "no" and moved on but what he said a short time after that provided a clear opening for the mainstream media in the coming weeks and months.

Note that while referring back to Hatch a little bit later, Romney said he would not talk about the "doctrines" of  his religion but only the "practices" of his "faith." Again, if Romney thinks that setting these kinds of ground rules for the mainstream media is going to prevent future questions about the "doctrines" of his religion, he's living in an alternate universe. There are some bizarre practices in the Mormon religion he is certain to have to deal with as well, as I wrote about here and here.

There is something else at work here. Over the last several months, we've seen Ron Paul take a hands-off approach to Mitt Romney while attacking both Santorum and Gingrich. Why? As I wrote here, it probably has to do with a belief in the Paul camp that Romney is the least likely candidate to defeat Barack Obama; this would allow Rand Paul to run for president in 2016 as opposed to 2020.

If Mitt Romney thinks this moment was awkward, just wait until the mainstream media begins dissecting the "doctrines" of Mormonism. Though he is doing extremely well among Mormon voters, both he and they may want to be careful what they wish for because they could each end up in a lose / lose situation. No presidency and the "doctrines" of Mormonism laid bare by the media.

I've been saying it for quite a while now; Romney is a terrible choice for the Republicans to put up against Barack Obama because the media will be looking for some Jeremiah Wright payback in the form of a Mormon religion anal exam. Unfortunately, money and groupthink among the Republican establishment appears to be winning the day.

Via ABC News:

Video: Congressman Rips Constituents at Town Hall in Restaurant

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) yelled at two constituents during a town hall meeting in a local bar & Grille on Sunday, November 6th and it was righteous indignation with an extra dose of passion and caffeine. It was also likely fueled by the insane Occupy Wall Street protests all across the country. The woman you can see in this video - and a man you can only hear - seem to be on the side of reigning in big banks and blaming them for the mortgage crisis. Walsh reaches a boiling point and blows up at both of them, very rightfully so.

Any person with the ability to reason can sympathize with Walsh and his outburst. The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) mandated that banks give loans / mortgages to people who would never pay them back. People like the two in this video only seem to be able to look at the banks' bad practices and completely - willingly or unwillingly - refuse to find fault with the government.

Also, take note of the woman who enters the background after Walsh starts yelling. You can see her giggling while she seems to be setting up her phone to do a little recording.

Must see:



h/t The Blaze

Video: Obama gets Earful from Tea Party Member in Iowa Audience

There was a time when Barack Obama represented the angry masses who had a problem with the establishment. While conducting a town hall in Iowa this week, he found himself to be the figurehead of the establishment, on the other end of an exchange with a man who represents an angry constituency - the Tea Party. First up, the video. As Obama was wrapping up his Q&A by seeking out the person who would ask the last question, Ryan Rhodes, a Tea Party activist stood up and shouted the same question multiple times:

"How can you bring people together when your VP called the Tea Party 'terrorists'?"

Though you can't hear the question being asked, you can hear Obama's responses as he tries to ignore Rhodes in favor of another questioner. It doesn't work. Rhodes continues to ask the question until he gets Obama to react. It carried the ring of a Saul Alinsky tactic being used against the president.

According to Alinsky, the main job of the organizer is to bait an opponent into reacting. “The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength.”

Rhodes got Obama to react by comparing any charge that the Tea Party might have been called 'terrorists' to charges that he (Obama) had been called a 'socialist' who wasn't born in the US.

Via Breitbart:



You'll note that Obama said he would talk with the man one on one afterward. According to Fox News, it was difficult to hear what was said between Obama and Rhodes but they did seem to capture the tenor of the discussion:

In an interview later with Fox News, Rhodes claimed that the president had insisted that Biden had not made the original comment.

“He just denied it. He said the vice president didn't make any of those assertions,” Rhodes said. “If he doesn’t want to even admit what was on TV nationally -- all over the place -- then how can you have a conversation?”

Rhodes added that Obama brushed him aside. “Then he said, ‘We can't have a conversation because you're saying I called you a terrorist,’” recalled Rhodes. “The fact is it demonstrates the deep divide that he is unwilling to negotiate without going after the other side. The whole day was about going after Republicans and talking about how unreasonable they are.”

Note that Rhodes focused on one item exclusively. There are countless problems the Tea Party has with Obama but Rhodes picked one and hammered on it until he finally got a reaction. That reaction was, in effect, one that insinuated that because the president is called names, it's ok for his administration to call people names. Uh, someone needs to tell Obama that's not presidential.

h/t Weasel Zippers

Video: Congressman Tim Scott Threatens Impeachment Push

While House Speaker John Boehner cries and plays golf with President Obama, freshman Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC) threatens to push for impeachment if the president attempts to go around Congress to get what he wants relative to the debt limit. Here is Scott at a recent town hall at which he is asked about Congress having its power usurped by the Executive Branch. It's interesting that people are looking at the Fourteenth Amendment (section 4) in making this case. If raising the debt ceiling is being done to suppress insurrection or rebellion against the U.S., the increased debt is to be considered 'null and void.'

Via LiveLeak:



h/t Hapblog

Video: Out of Work Air America Talk Show Host Heckles Rep. Allen West

The good news is that the more the left's dander is raised by Allen West, the more exposure he will get. The more exposure he gets, the more people will see that he could be the right man at the right time to lead this nation beginning in 2012. He's got the courage to fight like Donald Trump but he's also got the combat experience and the conservative bonafides Trump does not have. When West finally does become a household name, look out. He's well on his way, too, with moments like this.

Former Air America talk show host Nicole Sandler began heckling West at a Town Hall and was escorted outside. Then, she got belligerent and ended up in handcuffs. As she was being arrested, she was boasting about the entire thing being caught on video. Unbeknownst to her, the video makes her look like she deserved to be arrested. Getting in a cop's face and yelling at him tends to do that. A look at the video shows the cop acted with composure and was preventing the situation from escalating. Sandler had every opportunity to avoid the cuffs but pushed the envelope until she got there.

Amidst all that, it's obvious that West is unshakeable.



h/t The Blaze

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) Disrespects Disabled 27-year Veteran at Town Hall

The issue in this exchange between a disabled Army veteran of 27 years is moot at this point since the government shutdown was avoided but how that veteran was treated by a U.S. Representative was utterly disgraceful. As the government shutdown loomed, this audience member began his question by giving Moran the background of his service so Moran's treatment of him cannot be excused based on him not knowing. The veteran wanted answers from Moran regarding the prospect that troops fighting overseas would not be paid in a shutdown. He certainly expressed concern but was polite.

Moran began by thanking him for his service and then proceeded to call the man's questions 'caustic.' When the veteran objected to that, Moran lost his composure and showed an unacceptable level of disrespect to someone who put his life on the line for Moran's ability to participate in the dysfunctional government he's helped to make worse.



Moran has a history of losing his cool as this video courtesy of Jason Mattera demonstrates. Moran should be prescribed some valium and ordered to take anger management classes.



h/t Jawa

Video: Allen West Slams CAIR Executive Director at Town Hall

If Lt. Col. Allen West keeps this up, he's going to wake up and find himself in the White House one day. At a Town Hall, CAIR Executive Director Nezar Hamze attempted to confront West and failed miserably. The entire video is chock full of classic quotes but the one at the very end is what every politician who cares about this country should take note of because the Muslim groups attempt to use it all the time. Hamze plays the victim and accuses West of attacking Islam. In response, West informs the CAIR Director that he was on the battle field and defended the freedoms of Muslims and then tells him to 'go home.'

West is a true leader. Period.



h/t The Blaze

Memo: SEIU Thugs to Intimidate at Town Halls

Alert the Tea Party! An internal SEIU memo has revealed that the group is planning to finance purple shirted rent-a-mobs in coming town hall meetings to push (likely both literally and figuratively) their agenda. In fact, the memo shows that they will spend 'tens of millions' of dollars doing it.

Via the Wall Street Journal:

The campaign—called Fight for a Fair Economy—will focus on mobilizing mostly low-wage minority workers in 10 to 15 cities, including Cleveland, Milwaukee, Miami and Detroit, according to the memo reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The SEIU wants the effort to peak in the summer of 2012, with events at primaries, town-hall meetings and other campaign venues, according to the memo.

SEIU spokeswoman Inga Skippings declined to confirm that the memo reflected the final plans of the union, which has two million members, and said its strategy continues to evolve.

The cities designated for the campaign have high concentrations of SEIU members and are in states where governors have proposed cutting benefits to public-sector workers amid worries over pension costs and broader budget woes. In some of the targeted states, lawmakers are considering "right to work" legislation that would eliminate laws making union membership mandatory whenever a union is formed at an employer.

Conspicuously absent from the list of cities SEIU will bully are ones in New Jersey - at least the ones listed in the article. Such cities might exist in the actual memo but if they don't, it says a lot about how standing up to bullies actually does work.

The WSJ article says the strategy is supposed to hit a crescendo in 2012.

Civilian National Security Force = SEIU

Videos: Tucson Shooting Victim Arrested for Threats to Tea Party Leader

His name is J. Eric Fuller and he was one of the victims of Jared Loughner's shooting rampage last week at a Tucson Safeway store. Exactly one week later, he was at a town hall meeting in Tucson hosted by ABC News' Christiane Amanpour. Also in attendance was Arizona State Rep. Terri Proud and a Tucson-based Tea Party leader Trent Humprhies. Toward the end of the town hall, Fuller took exception to what the other two had said and shouted, 'You're dead,' to Humphries shortly after taking his picture.

Unlike Loughner, whose motives for the shooting don't appear to be political, Fuller's likely are. What other reason could there be for a man to target a Tea Party leader after being shot by a crazed lunatic? The irony here is that as the left wing pundits point to the Tea Party for whipping up hatred, the evidence - particularly over the past week - is that such claims may be attributable to them.

Here's video of Fuller being arrested after making the threat to Humphries:



Amazingly, after the town hall, Amanpour was interviewed and was not even asked about the incident. In wrapping up the report, the reporter did mention the incident but did not say anything about it being levied at a Tea Party leader. Nor did he say what the threat was, just that Fuller 'mumbled what appeared to be a threat.'

Disgraceful.



More at The Blaze

VIDEO: RON HOWARD'S BROTHER A CONSERVATIVE?

You've likely seen Ron Howard's brother, Clint in different movies, including the Waterboy with Adam Sandler. The former Happy Days star is a well known liberal, probably in the top tier of Hollywood liberals. However, if this ad is any indication of the political persuasion of his brother Clint, we may have a Conservative actor on our hands.

I'm fairly confident that Opie didn't direct this ad.



h/t Gateway Pundit

VIDEO: REP PETE STARK DOES IT AGAIN

If nothing else, Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) serves as a good barometer for what members of congress are really thinking. Unlike the savvy spinmeisters, Stark usually blurts out the most absurd things without running his thoughts through a filter. That's both good and bad but it at least provides the American people a look inside the corrupt sewer that is our government. In this case, he says the Federal Government can do anything it wants.

Perhaps most disturbing is his reaction to how well that statement goes over with the people at his July 24th town hall. As the crowd predictably boos loudly, the woman who asked the original question tells Stark that he and people that think like he does are "destroying this nation". He's almost nodding in agreement, with a look that says, "Yeah, so what?" He then thanks her for making him feel comfortable. He seems so calm, it almost seemed like he wasn't kidding.

Note to people who attend town halls and want to ask questions. Please be concise and try not to read from notes; it detracts from the passion we all know you feel.

Via Dittos-Rush:

VIDEO: EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY

Democrats should take note here. Evidence the Tea Party is not partisan. Representative Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) was not only confronted by a constituent at a recent town hall about his knowledge of the Constitution - he was publicly humiliated. To be fair, this constituent in particular appears to have memorized the entire document and I'm not sure anyone would be able to meet his standard.

That said - and to the constituent's point - it was LoBiondo who took an oath to defend the Constitution and this video exposes him as completely and entirely ignorant of it. He would have been better off just saying he didn't know. Something tells me LoBiondo went home and read it. Maybe he didn't sleep well that night but the man in the audience who challenged him should have. It's about time. As The Hill points out, LoBiondo is an eighth term congressman (16 years) and he SHOULD know the Constitution backwards and forwards.

Well done, citizen.



Via The Hill:

VIDEO: NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN FACES ANGRY CROWD

Democratic congressman Rush Holt of New Jersey held a town hall this week and his first response to a slew of very tough questions that started with the premise that our country is bankrupt, started by attempting to dismiss that premise. Shortly after Holt says, "our country isn't bankrupt", he is met with a slew of scoffs and boos. Holt then proceeds to hem and haw to the point of rummaging through his papers trying to find a USA Today article of all things, to make his case. Notice I said, "trying to find".

What Hold did is all anyone can really do when faced with the cold hard truth in front of an informed audience. Pretty obvious he wanted to leave but couldn't.

VIDEO: GINGRICH CHALLENGED AT TEA PARTY

This really was awesome. As the race in New York's 23rd District begins to draw increasing national attention, Gingrich seems to be wiping more and more egg off of his face. In short, the Republican candidate is a far lefty. Her name is Dede Scozzafava and Newt has officially endorsed her.

Newt's problem. The conservative candidate (you know, the guy who should've gotten the nomination) is Doug Hoffman. With news that Sarah Palin and Rick Santorum have endorsed Hoffman, momentum is definitely going his way. Now we learn that Pawlenty may be supporting Hoffman as well. My guess is Santorum learned his lesson when he endorsed Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey in the 2004 primary. The result? Santorum loses in 2006 and Specter defects in 2009, leaving both Senate seats in Pennsylvania in control of the Democrats.

It would appear that the paradigm of the old Republicans needs to be tweaked a bit. If Hoffman pulls this off, it will be a HUGE warning shot not only to Democrats but to Republicans as well.

Anyway, Newt's strength is speaking. At a Dallas Town Hall on October 22nd, however, an every day citizen put him in his place as far as I could tell.



h/t to H4A

VIDEO: DEMOCRAT REP. HEARS ABOUT CZARS

You only see a shot of Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) once but it's right after the speaker slams him and it's obvious he doesn't like it. The bottom line though is that Obama's czars are unconstitutional and VERY SCARY, Van Jones notwithstanding.

Note that as the speaker gets a standing ovation, the Obamautomatons just sit there looking like.........well.......Obamautomatons.



h/t to HOT AIR

SOLOMON: OBAMA SHOULD HAVE STUDIED GHANDI

Michael Solomon over at Where Did My America Go has an op-ed about how Obama has awoken a sleeping giant with his arrogance and, dare I say, lies. By now we're all familiar with the two most absurd and arguably defamatory statements Obama has made about doctors over the last several weeks.

First, he accused doctors of intentionally taking out tonsils for extra cash then implied that they amputate the feet of diabetics for the same reason. SOLOMON NAILS HIM on both with facts:

When he (Obama) stood in front of the press and explained that my “pediatrician would rather take out my child’s tonsils than treat the symptoms with pain killers and antibiotics because he gets paid more from the insurance company,” I went into my usual rant at the one-eyed digital monster that I keep screaming at which never answers me. “You idiot,” I screamed. “You really expect the American people who have half a brain to believe that idiom?” My pediatrician will send me to an ENT surgeon to remove them and cure my child. He will never see him again for tonsillitis. So he is taking money out of his pocket, not lining it with medical insurance checks. What about the economic effect of mom or dad staying home with a sick child and missing time from work. No income, no taxes no money to pay for your new health care bill.

If that wasn’t bad enough he then told us at a staged town hall meeting, “If you have diabetes and need your foot amputated the surgeon collects $30,000 to $50,000 from Medicare for the surgery.”

“In fact, Medicare pays a surgeon between $740 and $1,140 for a leg amputation," said the American College of Surgeons (ACS), which is care that includes evaluation of the patient the day of the operation and follow- up care that is provided for 90 days after the operation. Private insurers pay a variation of the same amount, said the group, adding that it is "deeply disturbed" over the President's "uninformed public comments." Then the President told us “health care costs in the U.S. are almost twice what they are in the UK and Canada.” Here is a quick economic lesson for you Mr. President. It is twice as expensive because we get twice as much care. Consumer education 101, “You get what you pay for.”

Obama has a problem on his hands and if he was honest (I know, bear with me), he'd have to admit it's an unintended consequence of the Community Organizing tactics he's using that were birthed by his ideological hero, Saul Alinsky.

Reminds me of that saying, "Live by the Sword, Die by the Sword". It's still early but politically speaking, Obama may need to substitute "sword" with "Alinsky".

Solomon puts it this way:

Take heed town hall attendees “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” -Ghandi

As for a history lesson Mr. President you should have studied Gandhi not Saul Alinsky.

Be sure to read the WHOLE THING.

VIDEO: CONSERVATIVE MOLE AT LIBERAL TOWN HALL

Jason Mattera is awesome. He and his cameraman have on many occasion provided a glimpse into liberal insanity at different events. He even got Charlie Rangel to cuss him out before fleeing for the open elevator.

This time, Mattera donns funky sunglasses, a Jamaican colored hat, and a Bob Marley T-shirt and gets the liberal whack jobs to say things they would never admit to if they knew who we was.

DATELINE: RESTON, VA on August 25th.

30% of Americans still strongly approve of Obama's performance. Here's a great cross-section of who makes up that group.



h/t to HOT AIR

VIDEO: ASTROTURFING TUTORIAL

Yet another example of astroturfing, courtesy of the Obamautomatons. Health Care for America Now (HCAN) was in action at a town hall for Jan Schakowski (D-IL). Note how this organizer is coaching the HCANs how to stand up and "block" when opponents stand up to protest.

Also note how he's come up with the incredibly original and insightful chant of, "Health Care Now".



Just as a refresher, here's Jan Schakowsky back in April claiming enthusiastically that the insurance companies will be put out of business. Personally, the line I was most disturbed by was, "This is not a principled fight." Can someone explain to me why you would choose sides not based on what you believe is right but on what you want?

Sounds like that Alinsky-inspired, "ends justify the means" mentality at work.



Here are the websites for SCHAKOWSKY and HCAN.

h/t to GATEWAY PUNDIT for the HCAN video.

VIDEO: COP SAYS AMERICA NO MORE

My bottom jaw is still down and resting on my keyboard so please excuse any misspellings. A protester outside the town hall of U.S. Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) at South Lakes High School in Reston, VA is told by a cop that he no longer lives in America. That's not all. There's plenty more. This guy appears to have been overcome by spores and now has Obama-fever.

DATELILNE: Reston, VA - August 25th, 2009

A man holding an Obama-as-the-Joker poster similiar to this one was ordered by Police Officer Wesley Cheeks, Jr. to take it down. The best reason given as to why this one had to be taken down while others could remain up was that this particular poster had a "picture" on it. Well, 65% of all communication is visual so I can see why Officer Cheeks may be offended by an image rather than words but that still doesn't give him the right to act like he's working for a banana republic.

Among the unbelievable quotes are:

"My Job said it can't be here so I'm doing my job."

Or how about Cheeks' explanation for why this particular poster can't be up but others can:

"You got this with a picture. That's the difference. This got a picture on it. That don't have a picture on it."

Or this:

"Sir, if you put the picture up, you will be charged with trespassing and you will have to go."

Lastly, when the poster holder claims, "but this is America", Cheeks says,

"It ain't no more, OK?"

See for yourselves..



Take note of the third party in this video who tries to help the cop out by saying that schools have different first Amendment rights rules. You can hear him chirping all the way until the end of the video. Cheeks even tried to piggy-back on that claim as well.

I've already spoken with an 10 year plus Austin cop who happens to be an Iraq / Afghanistan vet about that claim. His response?

Total Bunk.

One other item of note is that Howard Dean allegedly spoke at this particular town hall.

h/t to GATEWAY PUNDIT who is stepping up big in these uncertain times.

VIDEO: HOWARD DEAN CAUGHT IN BALD-FACED LIE

Fox reporter Griff Jenkins was on hand at a town hall in Virginia on August 25th where Howard Dean spoke. As Dean was leaving, Jenkins questioned him about something he said on August 24th. Here is what Dean said on August 24th: "This Republican Party is determined to undermine President Obama."

On the 25th, Jenkins confronted Dean on those words and Dean proceeded to vehemently deny ever saying them while hurrying out of the building.

BALD.....FACED.....LIES

The video is over four minutes but if you want to fast forward to the good stuff, go to the 2:18 mark.

CLICK HERE to watch.

Oh, and don't forget to go to the 2:47 mark as Jenkins asks a protester holding a poster with Howard Dean's picture on it what he'd like to tell Dean.

More at FOX NATION