Maria Isabel’s Blog Entry on the SJL Town Hall Meeting (Updated)
[Guest post by DRJ]
Patterico’s most recent post on Sheila Jackson Lee’s 8/11/09 town hall meeting links an entry at Maria Isabel’s Organizing for America blog that summarizes this event. This is where Roxana Mayer claimed to be a doctor and it is also the event where Sheila Jackson Lee talked on her cell phone while a constituent asked a question.
The text of Maria Isabel’s post is below the fold but this is my summary of Maria Isabel’s views on that event:
Sheila Jackson Lee did a good job listening to the speakers (presumably even when she was talking on her cell phone). Maria Isabel did a good job keeping a straight face as she listened to the “confused and angry audience.” The 3rd woman sitting with Maria and Roxana may be Julie.
One more thing: The town hall meetings are being organized by “our reps,” presumably Organizing for America since the statement was written by OfA rep Maria Isabel on a BarackObama.com blog and since the following day’s SJL event (8/12/2009 @ Tidwell Community Center) specifically lists Organizing for America as the host.
UPDATE: The Lone Star Times continues to follow Sheila Jackson Lee’s events (great job, LST). Here’s her newest explanation of that cell phone call she took while a constituent was speaking:
“Another day, another town hall meeting. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s latest meeting was definitely more lively than the first one. And she had some breaking news. Remember that cell phone call she took while Tracy Miller was asking her a question? Well, Rep. Jackson Lee now says that the leadership of the House has set up a hot line for immediate, line by line answers to the bill and that is who she was talking to.
Gotta love her.”
Lots more at the LST link, including this post where Tracy Miller issues a challenge to SJL.
— DRJ
Maria Isabel’s blog post:
“Attend your local ‘Town Hall Meetings on Health Care’
By ** Maria Isabel ** – Aug 12th, 2009 at 8:02 am EDTFriends,
Thank you so much for sending in your notes to Senator Cornyn regarding health care issues. I have just printed 34 beautiful notes to carry with me to the meeting today.
Including DJ Mark Anthony’s request for the Senator to report the lies on TV commercials and the colorful picture of Pat Boone.
It is not enough to write President Barack Obama, we have to contact our elected officials, in particular the ones that are not supporting our Prez.
It is not too late, send in your notes to me anytime, John Cornyn’s office is 5 minutes from my front door.
Also attend the town hall meetings being organized by our reps.
Yesterday Julie and I attended the one in the Fifth Ward, it was an interesting experienced [sic] actually being there vs. watching on TV.
Our Madam Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee did a fabulous job! She came prepared with presentation boards and handouts of the bill.
SJL was very clear and to the point on issues. She was kind and listen to the speakers and promised to take back to Congress our views and concerns.
She kept control of the meeting beautifully! The folks that spoke out without being called on were not addressed and ended up looking disrespectful and foolish.
Congresswoman Jackson Lee clearly sorted thru some of the creative fabrications, lies, and misconceptions floating out there. It was difficult for me to keep a straight face listening to some of the comments from confused and angry audience.
I think some folks are just extremely disappointed we have a Democratic government in place now. They display anger and frustration using the usual rhetoric.
I posted the pictures from the meeting on http://www.facebook.com/maria.isabel and will add to Flickr later after my meeting today.
Here is the town hall for today with SJL:
What: Public meeting with
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeWhere: Tidwell Community Center
9720 Spaulding Street
Houston, TX 77016When: Wednesday, August 12th
Arrival Time: 6:30 p.m.
Start Time: 7:30 p.m.For your protection and the protection of our elected officials you need to RSVP to be admitted in the room:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpfcqh
It’s not just about me and my family, I care for you too, Mom says it’s a sign of being a Democrat!
Maria Isabel”
Good lord, this woman is almost as illiterate as Sheila Jackson Lee. I’m sure she has high self-esteem, though.
Houston Native (bdabea) — 8/15/2009 @ 3:58 pm“I [will] care for you [whether you want me to or not].”
Yup, she’s definitely a Democrat.
Socratease (c086dd) — 8/15/2009 @ 4:04 pmThat’s really, really public!
Scott Jacobs (d027b8) — 8/15/2009 @ 4:19 pmIt’s not just about me and my family, I care for you too, Mom says it’s a sign of being a Democrat!
Yes, as everyone knows, Democrats are famous for doing the most – from their OWN FUNDS no less – for people outside their own families.
Whether in donating time or money, liberals are the true helpers of people in need. They are the models for all of us.
Even P.J. O’Rourke, a conservative writer, admits this.
no one you know (1ebbb1) — 8/15/2009 @ 4:34 pmDRJ, check your email. 😉
Stashiu3 (ed6467) — 8/15/2009 @ 4:37 pmI wonder how the founding fathers would feel about Americans needing to show their IDs to see their representatives or having to RSVP in order to gain admittance to kowtow to them.
Are we closer to the founding father’s vision of government or that of the government they revolted against?
Thomas Jackson (8ffd46) — 8/15/2009 @ 5:30 pmI’ve updated the post with new links to the Lone Star Times blog.
DRJ (cabca2) — 8/15/2009 @ 5:49 pmJust for giggles, has anyone tried to verify that “hot line” with their rep?
Houston Native (bdabea) — 8/15/2009 @ 6:09 pmGood for Tracy Miller, reasonable, polite and well spoken. Not pretending to be *anyone*, either. Why on earth wouldn’t SJL jump at the invitation…other than she suspects she would get her clock cleaned… but other than that…
The hotline statement is curious. I read this at The Hill and wondered if in reality it’s a hotline for town hall Democratic leaders to get help in real time with pesky questions being asked of them at the moment that they are stumped by… perhaps because They Haven’t Read the Bill?
Although the war room, or “healthcare hotline,” is primarily designed to give members the ability to get immediate health policy answers and updates from leadership offices, top Democrats are also planning to use it to help their colleagues respond effectively to political and press attacks, if necessary.
Dana (57e332) — 8/15/2009 @ 6:12 pmThat’s very interesting information, Dana. Maybe SJL actually was calling for her talking points, but she didn’t want to admit it at first. Nevertheless, it’s a sad day for a politician when her best defense is she needs someone else to tell her what to say.
DRJ (cabca2) — 8/15/2009 @ 7:10 pmThe Times is starting to get a clue. Late but maybe not too late. Now if they can only connect the dots.
Mike K (addb13) — 8/15/2009 @ 7:39 pmCould not one of Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee’ constituents request the phone records from her blackberry to check to see if indeed she was calling a “hotline” as she claims?
If she declines to verify her claim by sharing the records one could attempt to retrieve them via a FOIA request.
I would not doubt Ms. Lee’s claim that she was talking to a hotline, but Tracy Miller told Fox News that Ms. Lee would thank local officials in the town hall for attending after completing the phone call and answering the constituent question. So the appearance that Lee was making political courtesies at the conclusion of her calls raises doubt that she was calling a hotline.
Bren (8fbd06) — 8/15/2009 @ 8:23 pmNevertheless, it’s a sad day for a politician when her best defense is she needs someone else to tell her what to say.
Isn’t that remarkably similar to TOTUS?
Dmac (e6d1c2) — 8/16/2009 @ 8:01 amCould not one of Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee’ constituents request the phone records from her blackberry to check to see if indeed she was calling a “hotline” as she claims?
Any constituent can compel the release, Bren?
steve (83f04b) — 8/16/2009 @ 10:54 am