Conservative paper cringes at teabagger hooliganism at local townhall.

At health care forum, rowdy action overshadowed an important debate

www.napavalleyregister.com

Monday night’s health care forum in Napa grew unruly and wild, with some critics of the current health care proposals seeking to derail the event, harming their cause and nearly destroying a meaningful forum on a critical topic for Napa and the nation.

The display was unwelcome — and unsuccessful if it was meant to move health care reform supporters toward considering the concerns of the critics. Several callers to the Register on Tuesday reported they were repulsed by the aggressive tactics of some members of the crowd.
To the degree the catcalls, chants and shouts were organized — and it appears from events around the country that they were — we strongly suggest that the organizers find more constructive ways to get their message out.

The forum on health care featured speakers including Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and representatives of Community Health Clinic Ole, the Children’s Health Initiative, the Napa County Department of Health and Human Services and the parent organization of Queen of the Valley Medical Center. It is true that among that group there was no one who truly reflects the views of those who are skeptical of the health care reform effort being led by congressional Democrats and President Barack Obama. That is an imbalance that organizers of such events may want to revisit in the future.
But it seems that some of the demonstrators were primed for action no matter the viewpoints the speakers expressed.

It is to the moderator’s and the speakers’ credit that they kept the conversation focused and answered the questions posed.
In the aftermath, Rep. Thompson agreed to host a telephone town hall meeting on health care tonight at 7. Interested residents can call (877) 229-8493 and enter the passcode 13293 to participate in the hour-long session.

Monday’s event was out of character for Napa County political clashes, even hotly contested ones. In our view, most politically active people here have better sense than to debase the debate that way.

Unbridled anger is not a substitute for intelligent discussion. Catcalls are not replacements for hard questions and criticism.

For health care reform critics or anyone in political life to get their message across effectively, our message is that they should choose a more substantive and respectful approach.