Lubbock Left

Still waiting on video — I’ve got it in one big chunk but need to edit it down.

In the meantime, I’d like to share with you the questions that the Lubbock County Democratic Party who attended the town hall decided to ask Congressman Neugebauer. These were voted on Monday night by those planning to attend the town hall the next day.

Here they are:

1. You cosponsored the recent farm subsidies bill, which is actually government run. But in the A-J you opposed health insurance reform because you said it “would be government run.” Can you explain this contradiction?
2. Almost 75% of the nation’s uninsured have jobs, but do not have health care benefits. Can you explain how they can afford health care insurance without a low cost public option, or do you want to leave them uninsured?
3. One in five people in Lubbock county are uninsured. Figures show emergency care is more expensive than preventative medicine, which a public option would provide. Currently Lubbock County taxes fund uninsured trips to the county’s ER.
   Why do you support wasting tax payer money?
4. 50 thousand Lubbockites do not have health insurance. Last year you received nearly $50,000 from insurance companies. Did this money influence your decision to oppose health insurance reform that would cover 50,000 of your uninsured constituents?
5. Would you please make a statement affirming that Barak Obama is a natural born citizen and the legitimately elected president of the Unites States.

I am happy to say that most of these were asked in some form or another, and not necessarily by our group who prepared the night before.

This is an example of real grassroots organizing, not astroturf like what’s been happening at some of these town halls. We are all citizens of Lubbock County and therefore Randy’s constituents. We did not get paid to do this, get bused in from another town (or another district — look for Randy’s folks to meddle in Eastern New Mexico politics next year), or follow the instructions/talking points of a national media personality. We did not plan to be disruptive, but we did organize to make sure our voice was heard.

And, attention KFYO radio personalities: it is consistently right-wingers who are showing up to these town halls with pictures of the President looking like Hitler and calling those on the left Nazis, not the other way around.

Another aside: DFA movie night is today, Thursday 8/27/09 at 7pm at Lubbock County Democratic Party HQ (2809A 74th St). We will show the documentary “Life. Support. Music.” Admission is free, refreshments are provided, and a discussion will follow the film.

I’ve been caught up in all this town hall stuff and forgot to announce it earlier in the week. :)