Matt Collins
08-07-2009, 03:57 PM
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/07/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5225406.shtml
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked at his daily briefing this afternoon about recent disruptions by a small number of Americans (http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/07/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5224581.shtml) who have screamed and chanted as members of Congress have tried to discuss health care reform with their constituents.
"The president believes and has always believed that town hall meetings are a very useful place for the discussion of issues, to talk about the decisions that are facing him and the American people," he said. "They ought to be able to be conducted without shouting and shoving and pushing and people getting hurt."
Added Gibbs: "I think we can have honest policy disagreements without being either disagreeable or certainly without being violent.
Later in the briefing, Gibbs said he knows "the president believes strongly that we can discuss these issues without personally maligning the person that we're discussing this issue with; that we're doing so in a way that respects the dignity of each individual."
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked at his daily briefing this afternoon about recent disruptions by a small number of Americans (http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/07/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5224581.shtml) who have screamed and chanted as members of Congress have tried to discuss health care reform with their constituents.
"The president believes and has always believed that town hall meetings are a very useful place for the discussion of issues, to talk about the decisions that are facing him and the American people," he said. "They ought to be able to be conducted without shouting and shoving and pushing and people getting hurt."
Added Gibbs: "I think we can have honest policy disagreements without being either disagreeable or certainly without being violent.
Later in the briefing, Gibbs said he knows "the president believes strongly that we can discuss these issues without personally maligning the person that we're discussing this issue with; that we're doing so in a way that respects the dignity of each individual."