SEIU gets around.If you attended (or attempted to attend) the Rep. Kagen health care event Wednesday night in Green Bay you quickly realized that this was no "listening session." It was nothing more than a pep rally stacked with special interests in favor of the "public option." Because I live in Rep. Petri's district I elected to stay outside to allow Kagen's constituents their opportunity to attend. I shouldn't have bothered because Representative Kagen clearly did not share my concern.

I arrived early to find all facets of the event run by organized labor in a rainbow of different color shirts. The ASFCME was operating the sign in table, the UFCW was guarding all of the other entrances and the SEIU was patrolling the grounds and handing out pro-public option stickers to everyone entering to name a few. Union members were spirited in ahead of time and the public was only allowed to fill in the remaining seats after 5:30 PM when the room was already stacked.

This wasn't surprising given the emphasis that the unions were putting on this event. Here is an e-mail from the SEIU to its members:

Subject: Listening session in your area



Hello to all,

We need to pack the room at this health care reform session with U. S. Congressman Steve Kagen. The right wing opposition have been disrupting healthcare events across the country. We need to be positive, polite and respectful and come out in big numbers in support.

This is one of many healthcare events happening across the state. Please help us get members to this event. Let me know if you have any questions.
SAVE THE DATE: EVENT Wednesday
Congressman Kagen to Host Informational
Listening Session
Constituents of Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District
are invited to attend:
WHO: Rep. Steve Kagen, D-WI.
WHAT: Informational session
WHEN: Wednesday, August 26, 2009
6-7:30 p.m.., CST
WHERE: UW-Green Bay Campus, Phoenix Rm., 2420 Nicolet Dr.,
Green Bay, WI

Green Bay – Congressman Steve Kagen (D-WI) will hold an informational session Wednesday August 26, 2009 to hear from his constituents on the proposed health care reform legislation that the House of Representatives will likely consider in September.
Thomas G. Berger
Union Representative
SEIU Healthcare District 1199WI
4513 Vernon Blvd., Ste. 300
Madison, WI 53705-4993
Milwaukee 414-727-8199 x 14
Milwaukee fax 414-727-8195
toll free 877-306-1199 x 14
Cell 608-225-3494

Jim Steineke, the founder of the Fox Valley Initiative and a Kagen constituent, was one of the public to make it inside.

The event was held at UWGB's student union, and as I arrived I was somewhat startled to see two armed officers, one on either side of the walkway as you approached the venue. Just before that was a so-called "Truth Table" (they literally called it that on a sign attached to the table) that contained the typical pro-government health care handouts. After passing through the very serious security I was immediately struck by the sight in front of me. Standing at the doors were nearly 20 union members (identifiable by their various union t-shirts), some as part of an obvious security detail for the event. Attendees (the public) were only allowed in after 5:30 when the room had already been filled with union members and their guests. As you approached the doors there was a clearly written sign that said "No signs allowed inside".

Seemed innocuous enough until I reached the room and noticed every union member and guest holding pro-public plan signs, wearing "Health Care Now!" stickers, and waving signs saying "Thank You!", apparently for supporting the health care legislation. No opposition signs were allowed.

The staging was great, with rows of union members behind the speakers holding their signs of support. In various reports this had been promoted as an informational session, a listening session, or a rally. It was definitely that latter of the three.

It began with a video, condemning United Health Care and their rich CEO and the many houses he apparently owns. It was followed by a couple of touching stories regarding failures of the system. Tragic stories, felt throughout the crowd. Unfortunately it was never followed by any explanation as to how a public option would help. No details, just talking points and fluff.

Congressman Kagen came in and briefly described how his panel of local experts wanted 10 items in the legislation and 8 of them made it in. He never did mention if his panel wanted a public option, wonder if that was an oversight? It wrapped up quickly and with no questions or debate. No opportunity for those opposed to the legislation to speak, yet most were still very restrained. There were a few shouts here and there of "Just Vote No" and the like, but was a mostly scripted, rehearsed, and staged production for the media.

Some of the public that did make it in left early when they realized what they had walked into. One grumbled about gagging due to what he was hearing so he had to leave. Another told us that despite the "Signs not allowed in event!" posting on the entrance, each seat was provided a sign supporting immediate healthcare reform to brandish during the event.

When the event concluded, the evidence of the organized nature of the event was irrefutable. Persons who had walked in wearing street clothes came out sporting new union shirts and stickers. People who walked in empty handed left with multiple signs supporting the Democratic proposals. Union members dutifully put the chairs away and took boxes of extra t-shirts and signs to the trunks of their cars. The end of the event even included a couple of very stern looking gentlemen dressed nicely complete with requisite earpieces guarding the building.

One comment I overheard clearly illustrated the hypocricy of this event. One group of AFSCME members in the parking lot asked another "Are you guys going back to Milwaukee tonight?" The reply was "Yes." It was just a few weeks ago when Kagen grilled a man from Omro for showing up to his town hall in Appleton. Apparently organized union support from outside his district is OK but concerned citizens that stray are not. Shameless.

Opposing sides before the event.

AFSCME runs the sign in table.

SEIU mans the entrance.

UAW - Present and accounted for.

National Association of Letter Carriers, AFL-CIO delivers.

SIGNS NOT ALLOWED IN EVENT!

Hey, where

Who are these guys?