Astroturfing Obamacare support in Bozeman, MT

Letter From Montana: Obama's Rocky Mountain Townhall

Posted By Mark Amagi on August 21, 2009

This  was sent to me by a friend in Bozeman , MT who  was there.

Hello All,

By now you have probably heard that President Obama came to  Montana last Friday. However, there are many  things that the major news has not covered. I  feel that since "Joe" and I live here and we were  at the airport on Friday I should share some  facts with you. Whatever you decide to do with  the information is up to you.

On Wednesday, August 5th it was  announced locally that the President would be  coming here. There are many groups here that are  against his healthcare and huge spending so  those groups began talking and deciding on what  they were going to do. The White House would not  release ANY details other than the  date.

On about Tuesday "Joe" found out  that they would be holding the "Town Hall" at  the airport. . . . Our airport is actually  located outside of Belgrade (tiny town) in a  very remote location. Nothing is around there.  They chose to use a hangar that is the most  remotely located hangar. You could not pick a  more remote location, and you can not get to it  easily. It is totally secluded from the  public.

FYI: We have many areas in Belgrade and Bozeman which could have held a large amount  of folks with sufficient parking (gymnasiums/auditoriums). All of which have  chairs and tables, and would not have to be  SHIPPED IN!! $$$$$

During the week, cargo by  the TONS was being shipped in constantly.  Airport employees could not believe how it just  kept coming. Though it was our President coming  several expressed how excessive it was,  especially during a recession.  $$$$$

Late Tuesday/early Wednesday the  12th,  they said that tickets would be  handed out on Thursday 9am at two locations and  the president would be arriving around 12:30  Friday.

Thursday morning about 600  tickets were passed out. However, 1500 were  printed at a Local printing shop per White House  request. Hmmmm……900 tickets just  DISAPPEARED.

This same morning someone called  into the radio from the local UPS branch and  said that THOUSANDS of Dollars of Lobster were  shipped in for Obama. Montana has some of the  best beef in the nation!!! And it would have  been really wonderful to help out the local  economy. Anyone heard of the Recession?? Just  think…with all of the traveling the White  House is doing. $$$$$ One can only imagine what  else we are paying for.

On Friday "Joe"  and I got out to the airport about 10:45am. The  groups that wanted to protest Obama's spending  and healthcare had gotten a permit to protest  and that area was roped off. But that was not to  be. A large bus carrying SEIU (Service Employees  International Union) members drove up onto the  area (illegal)and unloaded right there. It was  quite a commotion and there were specifically 2  SEIU men trying to make trouble and start a  fight. Police did get involved and arrested the  one man but they said they did not have the  manpower to remove the SEIU crowd.

The  SEIU crowd was very organized and young. About  99% were under the age of 30 and they were not  locals! They had bullhorns and PROFESSIONALLY  made signs. Some even wore preprinted T-shirts.  Oh, and Planned Parenthood folks were with  them…..professing abortion rights with their  T-shirts and preprinted signs.  (BTW, all  these folks did have a permit to protest in  ANOTHER area)

Those against  healthcare/spending moved away from the SEIU  crowd to avoid confrontation. They were orderly  and respectful. Even though SEIU kept coming  over and walking through, continuing to be very intimidating and aggressive at the direction of  the one SEIU man.

So we had Montana folks from ALL OVER the state with their  homemade signs and their DOGS with homemade  signs. We had cowboys, nurses, doctors you name  it. There was even a guy from Texas who had been  driving through. He found out about the  occasion, went to the store, made a sign, and  came to protest.

If you are wondering  about the press…..Well, all of the major  networks were over by that remote hangar I  mentioned. They were conveniently parked on the  other side of the buildings FAR away. None of  these crowds were even visible to them. I have  my doubts that they knew anything about the  crowds.

We did have some local news media  around us from this state and Idaho . Speaking  of the local media…they were invited. However,  all questions were to be turned into the White  House in advance of the event. Wouldn't want  anyone to have to think off the top of their  head.

It was very obvious that it was  meant to be totally controlled by the White  House. Everything was orchestrated down to the  last detail to make it appear that Montana is  just crazy for Obama and government healthcare.  Even those people that talked about their  insurance woes……..the White House called our  local HRDC (Human Resource and Development  Committee) and asked for names. Then the White  House asked those folks to come. Smoke and  mirrors…EVERYTHING was staged!!!!!!!!!!!

I am very dismayed about what I learned  about our current White House. The amount of  control and manipulation was unbelievable. I  felt I was not living in the United States of  America , more like the USSR !! I was physically  nauseous. "Joe" and I have been around when  Presidents or Heads of State visit. It has NEVER  been like this. I am truly very frightened for  our country. America needs your prayers and your  voices. If you care about our country please get  involved. Know the issues. And let Congress hear  your voices again and again!! If they are  willing to put forth so much effort to BULLY a  small town one can only imagine what is going on  in Washington DC . Scary!!