Video: Carnahan attempts to explain “right-wing assault” comment

One of the most unfortunate elements of the St. Louis political scene is that the local paper, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, is a left wing propaganda machine that slants all news towards the liberal line. Here are some examples of how they reported the news of the event in the Sunday edition;

“While six people were arrested in St. Louis County on Thursday, a scuffle ended a Tampa, Fla., town hall meeting the same night featuring protesters on both sides of the health care reform debate.” No mention of most of them being SEIU members.

“Recent gatherings have featured protesters on both sides of the health care issue. In St. Louis County, members of the Service Employees International Union were present when the Thursday melee broke out, and the AFL-CIO this week announced plans to send members to public gatherings in 50 congressional districts this month.”

“But much of the impetus for protest comes from conservative groups and staunch opponents of health care reform proposals advancing in Washington.”

“Todd Gitlin, a sociologist and former liberal activist whose books have analyzed protest movements, said he is surprised by the speed with which the recent protests have taken shape. Whether they come from left or right on the political spectrum, he said, movements usually escalate slowly. “What is remarkable here is that this went from zero-to-60 just like that,” Gitlin said. “If supporters of health care reform are smart, they will evoke a backlash against those people.”

“Six people, including P-D reporter, arrested at Carnahan meeting”

“MEHVILLE — St. Louis County police arrested six people, including a Post-Dispatch reporter, during a demonstration Thursday evening outside a forum on aging called by U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis.

Two of the people were arrested on suspicion of assault, one of resisting arrest and three on suspicion of committing peace disturbances, police say.”

(No mentiion of SEIU)

“In a prepared statement released Friday morning, Carnahan said: “Sadly we’ve seen stories about disrupters around the country, and we have a handful of them here in Missouri. Instead of participating in a civil debate, they have mobilized with special interests in Washington who have lined their pockets by overcharging Americans for a broken health care system.”

“I will continue to engage with constituents that I am honored to represent in Congress and fight to achieve long-overdue health insurance reform in our country,” Carnahan said.”

One of those arrested was Brian Matthews, 34, of St. Louis city, who works as a rehabber and previously worked on a campaign for a Texas statehouse candidate.

“I feel like it was a bull rush,” Matthews said. “It all came from behind.”

Matthews said he had been inside the forum because he is in favor of a public option for health care. He had attended with a friend, a 51-year-old woman. After it was over, they were walking outside and had a run-in with a man who was trying to videotape them. Matthews said that man from from the GOP. They reported the man to a police officer, who seemed uninterested, Matthews said.

As the pair walked to their car, they saw a man on the street who looks like he had been assaulted. Police surrounded him.

“My friend took pictures,” Matthews said, “and an officer told her not to. She contested that.”

Matthews said he and his friend walked away, arm in arm. The officer followed them, and Matthews friend exchanged words with the officer, Matthews said.

“I can’t tell you how many police officers charged us from behind,” Matthews said. “I was pushed to the ground by one. I was pushed into the back of somebody who was walking away.”

Matthews said he was told he was arrested for interference. His friend was maced “after she was subdued by the police,” Matthews said. She vomited on the side of the road, then later vomited more in the police car, he said.

Kenneth Gladney, 38, a conservative activist from St. Louis, said he was attacked by some of those arrested as he handed out yellow flags with “Don’t tread on me” printed on them. He spoke to the Post-Dispatch from the emergency room at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, where he said he was awaiting treatment for injuries to his knee, back, elbow, shoulder and face. Gladney, who is black, said one of his attackers, also a black man, used a racial slur against him before the attack.

“It just seems there’s no freedom of speech without being attacked,” he said.

Members of the local Tea Party Coalition, a movement that has emerged to counter Obama’s policies, had urged their members to attend Carnahan’s forum, which in turn spurred Democrats to establish a strong presence.

Inside the gathering, while speakers stuck to aging issues, they were often interrupted by yells from audience members who wanted to shift the focus to health care.

“This isn’t even close to civil,” said Steve Belosi, 52, of Lake Saint Louis, commenting on the crowd. “The rudeness was beyond compare.”

Added Joyce Flecke, 70, of south St. Louis County: “A complete waste of time.”

Other recent Carnahan appearances, including one earlier this week on the Cash for Clunkers program, have drawn similar protests. And last week, hundreds turned out to voice their opinions on reforms to the staff of Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

Carnahan issued a statement after the Thursday night’s forum, saying: “Sadly we’ve seen stories about disrupters around the country, and we have a handful of them here in Missouri. Instead of participating in a civil debate, they have mobilized with special interests in Washington who have lined their pockets by overcharging Americans for a broken health care system.”

The St. Louis protests are part of the increasingly vocal debate across the country.

In the week since the House began its break, several town hall-style meetings have been disrupted by demonstrators. These episodes have drawn widespread media attention, and Republicans have seized on them as well as polls showing a decline in support for Obama and his agenda as evidence that public support is lacking for his signature legislation.”

Thank God for Hot Air and other valuable sources for true and complete news coverage. Without it, many city newspapers would be misleading citizens across the country.

Star20 on August 8, 2009 at 11:20 AM