Racine Police Escort Hecklers out of Ryan Listening Sessions
No arrests were made, but the crowd in Racine was more vocal about dissent than the crowd in Sturtevant.
Photos
Residents who made up the audience in Sturtevant were decidedly more in Congressman Paul Ryan's (R-Janesville) camp than the crowd he met just an hour later at the Caesar Chavez Community Center in Racine.
Sturtevant was filled with a predominantly older crowd that applauded in support of several points Ryan made during his PowerPoint presentation. Most of the questions there were more about residents looking for reassurance that their Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits wouldn't change, or wouldn't change much, under Ryan's plan.
By comparison, dissent was shouted from amongst small knots of residents in Racine even as members of that crowd, too, clapped their approval at times.
Hecklers were escorted out by Ryan staffers and Racine Police officers. One man who shouted, "Based on lies," in response to Ryan's joke with the crowd that not everyone agreed with him was the first to go. Several others were also asked to leave in short order for interrupting the congressman during his presentation and during the question-and-answer session.
A call to the Racine Police Department confirmed that no arrests were made and that officers were on hand to keep order.
A small group of protestors led by Community for Change's Kelly Gallaher were in front of the community center dressed up as billionaires and holding signs thanking Ryan for their tax cuts.
Today was Ryan's last stops on his whirlwind tour of the First District to tout his Path for Prosperity plan and to answer questions about some of the items in his plan like changes to Medicare, Medicaid, how corporations and residents are taxed, and the devaluation of the dollar.
Bob Webb
7:28 am on Saturday, April 30, 2011
Those who are accustomed to being on the receiving end of wealth re-distribution tend to heckle anyone who threatens to remove the government teat.
Heather in Caledonia
7:50 am on Saturday, April 30, 2011
How do you dress up as a billionaire?
James Anspaugh
8:17 am on Saturday, April 30, 2011
Whatever happened to an open free debate of ideas. The lefties must always lose that debate so they shout down the ideas that they don't agree with, that is not what democracy looks like.
Rose Woodruff
4:15 pm on Saturday, April 30, 2011
I was at the session in Sturtevant. It was not a debate nor discussion. It was Paul Ryan's "dog and pony" show telling us what he wanted us to hear -- certainly not the whole story. And, by the way, I am not on the "receiving end" of government hand-outs -- that is, unless you consider medicare a "hand-out". However, I do remember being younger and struggling financially, and have empathy for those less fortunate!
Duane Michalski
5:41 pm on Sunday, May 1, 2011
Rose, really? You believe that garbage? If you have a better plan i would love to hear it. Waiting....still waiting...oh that's right, the left doesn't have a plan except tax the rich! Bwahahahaha!! What a joke. And since you brought up Medicare, I am all for Ryan's plan, and i would be the first in line for it. Medacare has turned into a unfunded liability and Medacaid is full of waste. I say end them both and redo it, but lets do it right. Just one more thing IF YOU ARE OVER 55 YEARS OLD....THIS WILL NOT EFFECT YOU AT ALL!!!! Before you spout off about something...READ THE DAMN THING FIRST!!! I understand that you don't want to give up YOUR entitlement, but why shouldn't I have the option to do something different, something that WILL make this country stronger?
Duane Michalski
5:45 pm on Sunday, May 1, 2011
And I was there, the Ryan supporters out numbered the confused by a 3.5:1 ratio. And i say confused because there were people there wanting to deal with state issues...not federal issues. You could tell because they had there socialist fist shirts or their RTA red shirts on. (losers)
Harold
10:01 pm on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Um, yeah... he tells us what he wants us to hear... is it me or would any politician do the same. That's a bi-partisan point by the way. What strange comments Woodruff. Would you have politicians talk differently? lmfao!
Harold
10:05 pm on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Oh, and if you're looking for a story of both sides watch news channel... I feel so silly, um...OH listen to uh... Both sides you say? Uh... I think that's where votes come in? I'm just a man though, I have faults and may be way off base here.