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ISen. Tom Udall, albuquerque VFW Post 401, June 30, 2009
Wasn’t sure how to start this article about our newest Sen. Tom Udall’s visit to Albuquerque Tuesday at the VFW Post 401, (commanded by a woman, no less.), when anti-President Obama, obvious tea-bag-party supporters just about ruined it for everyone with their disrespectful hoots and hollers after discussion turned to government stimulus, cap and trade, healthcare, etc., etc.
Needless to say, it was standing room only for the noon-time meeting with an all-age crowd of New Mexicans. There were a few obvious GOP who interrupted and yelled and hollered out baseless facts, and were chided by most of the crowd to “shut up.” One woman behind me, well-dressed, with sunglasses she did not remove was the worst. She interrupted nearly every comment with some anti-Obama, Rush Limbaugh-provided BS.
Sheep, honestly.
As a long-time journalist, it is absolutely unnerving to me when people stand up to speak and repeat the same complaints given a second ago by another person in the audience. It happened a lot!
Then there were the few completely, off-the-wall comments, one concerning midwifery compensation, and an obviously-disturbed woman who called our President a “communist dictator,” along with other ramblings that accused Obama of everything except the common cold, which was covered by another, passionate woman in bright yellow, who pleaded with the senator to ensure the water system is clean of pharmaceuticals. (She must have said “excrement” a dozen times.)
There was a female self-proclaimed schizophrenic who said she wants to work, but now must repay the government disability for her compensation given while she was earning “money that goes back to stimulate the economy.”
Quite a few comments were made by doctors not “medical doctors,” they said, mind you, but pompous-sounding men who worried the government is “out of control.”
A very emotional man, “with 12 grandchildren,” cried when he said our government is restricting our freedoms, and he would willingly give back his VA benefits to ensure the USA stays “free.”
OK, a little over-the-top, but part of the very vocal audience, who Udall said, at the end of the hour-and-a-half session, that although the town hall meeting was “raucous,” it was important people stayed active in the democracy.
“Stay involved,” Udall said. “It’s things like this that make a difference.”
Udall did not speak much at all. He joined John Garcia, state secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services, in asking audience members to “be civil,” and “try to put yourself in the others’ shoes.”
Even a “mid-school” (junior high?) teacher, commanded the room to be respectful, saying, “My students don’t even act like this.” The crazy rambling woman (Tommie?) in front told the teacher, “Shut up.” Not a very good representation of adults, if you ask me.
Anyway, the town hall kicked off with the “Raging Grannies,” a group of aging, female, peace activists, who sang, to the tune of “Sunny Side of the Street,” a hand-written song positive about single-payer, public healthcare (HR Bill 703).
They were booed a bit, by the doctorates in the crowd, but Udall made sure to endorse the same system of healthcare reform, and added that polls show 78 percent of all Americans agree.
Udall also touted the updating of the Montgomery GI Bill, which updates veteran’s benefits - somewhat. World War II returning veterans got a college education. When I separated from the U.S. Navy, there was $300 available to me for college, and that was in 1986.
As for the few and far between comments made by the Senator, prompted by audience “questions,” was that he believed (terrorist-accused) detainees were entitled to a fair trial – something the Bush Administration changed laws to ban, and his support for the Cap & Trade legislation that works to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil sources.
The angry people in the crowd focused on the item in the Cap & Trade law that requires homeowners to upgrade their homes for energy efficiency before selling them.
It surprises me that these were people, like me, who have heard about recycling and energy dependence for 30 years! It is the same premise of the NIMBY (not in my backyard) idiots who don’t want to pitch in and help save this planet for future generations.
A teen boy, about the only one other than Udall in a tie, spouted off some percentages (emissions “would only be reduced by .07 percent by 2050, while by (year) 2035, energy costs will rise by 90 percent.”) saying the Cap & Trade would result in higher prices for Americans.
“I am not sure I agree with all his facts,” Udall said, later adding that he is “proud of our President, and hope Congress has the guts” to pass it.
“Or we can go down the same road,” of relying on seven foreign countries who control 66 percent of fossil fuels distribution. “What choice do we have?” Udall said.
As for the stimulus money the government is giving to pull this country out of this recession, (of course, the loudest were against any form of Obama government), Udall explained how focusing on energy helps the planet in the long run, how our infrastructure has been neglected, falling apart, (literally), and must be fixed, which will lead to more jobs.
Udall also said New Mexico is a great resource for solar, wind, and geothermal companies relocating here bringing more jobs.
At the end Udall staffers were available to get contact information from constituents who needed assistance with federal agency issues. I spoke to one staffer about my federal unemployment benefits being cancelled after two weeks because, at the time, New Mexico had not hit 6 percent unemployment. He gave me a form to fill out, and said he would write me. After calling into Udall's office the next morning, I was told the situation was under state jurisdiction, and he contacted another staffer in Gov. Bill Richardson's office who will get back to me.
The federal unemployment extended benefits program is not being enacted in 25 states, reportedly. Colorado and New Mexico are two of them (can't seem to find this list for the others). Employees in Arizona and New Mexico workforce offices are confused as to which pays when - even though New Mexico hit 6.5 percent unemployment in May, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Meanwhile, there are a lot of us who are stuck.
For more info: Sen. Tom Udall, New Mexico office, (505) 346-6791
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