HUFFINGTON POST: The entire episode, carried live by all three major cable news stations, offered a window into the type of conservative histrionics currently being exhibited at these town hall forums. It also, at least in one instance, exposed how unconstructive some of these opponents of reform truly are. After one participant detailed his concerns with the legislation, Specter asked the gentleman what he would like to see done. “Some of the things I would 
like to be done, okay, are…” the man paused, searching for an answer. “Tort reform!” the crowd screamed. “Tort reform, yes,” the man responded. “Thank you very much, I lost the chain of thought.” And then he was off. “Some of the things in our current bill that I don’t particularly like, and you have addressed already, one of them was non-U.S. citizens health care. You have indicated that you would not vote for a bill that has non U.S. health provisions within it. I do recommend though that we do what the state of New York does for the homeless. We can take the non-U.S. citizens and give them an airplane ticket and ship them back.” MORE
RELATED: What we’re seeing in these angry town halls these days is the last gasp of the angry white man. He’s not quite sure what he’s angry about, but he knows he’s angry. It’s not the world he used to know. He gets the disquieting feeling that he doesn’t rule the roost anymore. And it’s driving him crazy. One of the chants at the town hall events was, “No national health care!” Okay, mission accomplished. No one has proposed such a thing. So, I guess they can go home now, befuddled at what they were yelling about. The reality is that what they have been manipulated into arguing against is a public option that would give them more choices, not less in health insurance. It wouldn’t nationalize health insurance at all, let alone any part of the rest of the health care industry. But this isn’t about health insurance. It isn’t even about health care. You think those people are really this animated about having less health care options and making sure it costs more for them and their family? No, this is visceral for them. And it has nothing to do with their perceived choices on health care. This is about the sinking feeling in their stomach that they are losing power in this country — losing control. That the reins of power are slipping out of their hands and they don’t know what to do about it, except yell, really loud. MORE
PREVIOUSLY: ‘Outrage’ At Constitution Center Staged By Goon Squad Hired By Lobbyists For Big Medical