UPDATED: Giffords GOP foe steps in at town hall event

" I thank you for you concern to listen to the Voices of the American people!! American’s lack confidence in this Government because of it’s unaccountability for and mismanagement of the spending of taxpayer dollars! Time for Government to stop wasting taxpayer dollars, become accountable to the tax paying citizens of these United States! When we question why government officials want specific legislation passed, bills that will cost tax payers, they should answer to those who have elected them not ignore our voices and call us Radicals!!
I want leaders who are willing to represent the “voice” of the American people and not their own agendas! A Government that will spend wisely and with restraint for fear of making an already bad situation worse, as Americans are expected to do when running our own household finances!! !! Congress must be required to change the way it handles the budget process and make sure nothing is hidden or confusing to the American people, provide the public a true understanding of the bills and spending problems. I want Congress to revise how they spend our tax dollars and that they are held accountable for their decisions as they have an impact on every American Citizen!!
A government of the people and for the people!!! "

" It is great to see that someone is willing to go out and be in front of the people. I am becoming a fan of Jesse Kelly's more and more everyday. "

" Thank you Mr. Kelly. Please hear us! We are turning to you because you are available and care. When you get elected, don't forget who you represent, and why. "

" Excuse me? "“If they want to stand in front of her and shout at her, that’s their right.” I don't think so!
If they want to engage in polite discourse, seeking information on her positions/votes - that is their right. Shouting at anyone, including a duly elected representative of the people, is not a right - it is an expression of rudeness - bad breeding, as my dear, departed mother would have said. My mother also also said that people who cannot reason, express their ideas - these are the people who "shout"! And my dear, departed mother was one smart woman! "

" where were all of these concerned citizens when bush was dumping 600 billion borrowed dollars on an illegal war?Oh thats right ,they wern't tax dollars yet.Yeah he was the first one to finance a war on a credit card so that he could look like he was doing the country a favor by giveing the average working stiff a small tax breake and the upper 1% huge tax breaks,and then combine that with what Reydun did by deregulateing the banking industry and you got one big finacial mess that this country has never seen before, all dumped on Obamas lap.So he trys to do the best he can to get the country back on track,which the rabid right wing fanatic talk show hosts and republican incumbents don't want to see happen.If they have to lie and fabricate untruths ,then so be it,whatever it takes!Then you have a bunch of ignorant right wingers that only listen to the right wing extremists like hannity and rush and oriely etc.there ready for a revolution.So Obama trys to get health care to all Americans including the wacos that are opposeing him and his plan,and they think ,I mean listen to rush or the likes tell them that Obama just wants to raise theire taxes to pay for a plan that doesnt work.Which is the biggest bunch of bull there is!I wonder how they think that 700 billion dollar and growing daily war bill will get payed with.Of cource we all know what there gonna get in return for all that money?Nada zip just dead and wounded american soldiers,but thats ok as long as we dont get heathcare for all. "

" This appears to be a definite "political grandstand" on Kelly's part. His comments about people should be able to yell at each other seem less than civil. While we all have a right to express our opinion, it should be done in a contructive way. Question - When was the last time you paid attention to somone who was yelling at you?? "

" I am not buying the hogwash and excuses coming out of the office of Rep Giffords regarding why she is not meeting her constituents on Health Care.

When an issue is so very important to the people, and you have a chance to hold a town hall meeting, you do it. You find a way......... you find a way.

GIffords is being glib. Her handling of this one very important issue shows me she is not cut out for the job.

She doesn't get it.
Please forgive me, I voted for her. Once is enough. "

" While I applaud Mr. Kelly for stepping in and holding a town hall in place of Giffords, I caution him in stating youthful statements like the demonstrations “could not be more appropriate” in relation to the demonstrations nationwide. Perhaps the placement of this statement in this article misrepresented what Kelly meant however it came right after the fact that an elected leader had been hanged in effigy. Demonstrations are one thing, hanging representatives in effigy are another along with spray painting swastikas on elected officials signs in front of their offices. We need leaders Mr. Kelly, not politicians who fan the flames of dissent. I'm with you on health care but I don't want to see anyone get hurt over it, whether I disagree with them or not. "

" This Mr. Kelly sounds like a gutsy person. I look forward to hearing what he has to say. I like what I saw on his web site, votejessekelly.com "

" Question? Is the town hall today? Or tomorrow? "

" Juanaba, my sentiments exactly. Many of us are seeing how are government is not working for us, like they should. The man in office shouldn't be there, but maybe it was God's will, because he has not one qualification and his companions were and are of the worst degree. But our officials that are suppose to represent us need to hear us. I know Senator Kyl is wonderful for example. But I ask also why is not our constitution, "for the people, by the people" being listened to and used? How is the President and all those that support him, ignoring us? This I do not understand. People are angry and hurt, that's why there is shouting, they want to be heard. I feel like I am losing my country more, everyday. "

" Why do the AZ Dems run and hide when people don't agree with them? Kilpatricks and Giffords cancellations are much like Harry Mitchell's no shows in Scottsdale. It's pretty clear that people really want to share their thoughts on health care yet our Representatives don't want to discuss. Even though they are supposedly home on "break" to listen to their constituents before they go back into session you'd think they would hold a town hall on what people care most about right now. Buck up and listen to what your district has to say or get out. "

" I am not understanding what "Bush" has to do with Jesse Kelly.

Jesse Kelly is not George Bush and last time I read the Constitution, the only branch of the government that can authorize war and spend money is the legislative branch. So, in a sense I agree with Guy Smith.....Why should we re-elect Gabrielle Giffords since she voted for the war and its funding!

Go Guy....I support Jesse Kelly too now that you have shown us all the light. "

" Where in the heck is Grijalva?????? "

" The folks complaining about the volume, tone and intensity of the rhetoric against the proposed healthcare changes are hypocrits. Take Guy Smith for example who talked about everything but healthcare.

I would ask Mr. Smith where he was when conservatives tried to speak at universities and were shouted down. Was he vociferous in defending their right to speak against illegal immigration or other topics. Anyone want to bet he was silent.

Sounds to me that Mr. Smith is not fit to lick the boots of the soldiers who defended his right to be an idiot. "

" Where is Grijalva? Doing his work as an agent of the Mexican Government. "

" Giffords is a coward. Just like all the representatives lately who don't want to hear what the oublic has to say,. "

" Well John Clum I don't lick anyones boots nor do I feel that I ihave to.beings I am a 7 year disabled viet nam veteran myself.Be sure and have the facts straigt before you shoot ur mouth off!
As for Gary,you are right the senate and congress did approve themoney for a war that they were lied to about.
Congresswoman Giffords has addressed healthcare to her constituients many times at different types of town hall meetings.But when you a question answer forum and all you have are rebel rousers yelling and name calling at you then not much gets answered. "

" As usual the the questions were not addressed. As for shooting off one's mouth, just look at Guy Smith's original posting.

So you are a Vietnam Vet. Thanks for your service. Benedict Arnold was also in the army. Nobody asked you to lick anybody's boots. What I said is that you are not good enough to lick our soldiers boots. They wouldn't want you to.

Again, you never answered the question about where you were defending the right of conservatives to speak.

No concern about the thugs from ACORN or SEIU beating up a conservative Black because he disagreed with the Obama paradigm. The large crowds screaming "yes we can' during the campaign are no different than the crowds yelling Sig Heil. It is the left and people like you as your posting shows who are angry, bitter and uninformed. Your posting was nothing more than yelling in print. "

" Where was Mr. Smith when Code Pink was disrupting Congressional hearings?

One of my relatives was i this war Mr. Smith calls illegal. I don't think she would care one bit that Mr. Smith was in Vietnam. She would despise him. "

" John
Everyone has the right to speak,as long as its not racial slurs or as long as it doesn't indanger peoples lives.However there is a big difference between swastkas and sieg hiel as opposed to yes we can.Anything that was used under Adolf Hittlers regime is not appropriate anywhere any time.So you speak for all the soldiers do you?? hmmm interesting.I allso dont go allong with any group that promotes violence against others.Oh and by the way,when a person yells in print it is done in caps LOL "

" Josephine

Im sorry your relative volunteered to fight in an illegal war,but the fact that he did doesn't make it any more legal.When you attack a soverign nation based on lies,then you have illegally attacked them.Your friend has every right to despise me for my role in the viet nam war,it was an unjust war allso!
Code pink was a group of women trying to put an end to the slaughter of over a million innocent Iraqi people,which is a little more different than shouting sieg hiel and spray paint swastikas and bringing weapons to a town hall meetings that are there to discuss health care. "

" Code Pink is a far left group of lunatics. So if they agree with you the yelling is OK. You proved the point that you are indeed a hypocrit.

My relative would not depise you for your role in Vietnam. You did what your country asked you to do and that should be respected. It, however, does not give you a free pass to be a fool for the rest of your life.

That war was lost because of the people at home and the media who had the same opinion of that war as you do of this one. The discussion as I recall began somewhere in this thread with free speechissues and the right to be heard. You believe in "free speech for thee, but not for me".

One more thing Mr. Smith and you can respond allyou like. I will not because I am interested only in intelligent discourse.
You said over a million innocent Iraqi people were killed. Maybe, maybe not. You have no reliable statistical sources. What is a fact, Mr. Smith, is that the great, great majority of Iraqi deaths were caused and committed by Muslims and not American troops. I guess you were OK with Saddam's slaughter of the Kurds and others. You were not in Iraq and I doubt you have any first hand knowledge other than the garbage you have been reading and to which you have been listening and watching.

You identify with Code Pink. That is all anybody needs to know about you.

Good-bye Mr. Smith and thanks for your service to this country. "

" I see that Mr. Smith supports Code Pink, a group that supports every communist revolution. Communism has killed more people than the Nazis and enslaved more people than the Nazis. Code Pink only opposes war when it is the United States that is involved. Code Pink is at best a far left organization. Way to go Guy. You keep supporting an organization that supports communism.

I can't imagine how somebody like you can look in the mirror, but maybe there is no reflection.

I see you did not like the swastikas being painted if that was even true. I don't either, but you have no problem with Code Pink defacing recruiting centers. Oh, I forgot because they were trying to stop the war, that is OK.

The refernece you made to the one weapon at a town hall meeting is a bogus argument. It was a weapon being carried legally and it was not with the intent to do harm or the police would not have let the person go. I love the smoke screens you left wing folks put up. No wonder that is all you have. You can only shoot blanks so you put out canards like a legal weapon being carried. I bet you oppose the 2nd Amendment as well.

You were not clear in responding to John Clum. Do you support ACORN as well? "

" I see that Guy Smith believes we attacked Iraq based on lies. That is his opinion based on the lies told by Democrats and the press. There is another side much of which remains classified just as the terrorist threat in AZ remains classified. Read the report of the 9/11 Commission Mr. Smith.

Many people including Israeli intelligence believe and probably have the info that during the months we gave Saddam before the war, WMD's were moved into Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

You came a long way from healthcare discussion Mr. Smith, but that is typical. Throw in enough garbage to cloud the real issues. "

" Guy Smith, I missed the part where the war was illegal. Please provide proof, in wriitng, by a fair source that proves this war is illegal. Last I checked, it wasn't. That's just a tired old rally cry of the anti-Bush crowd.
And, it's just a weak argument. Tired and weak. I mean, really? Aren't you getting tired of saying the same old thing? Saying it over and over again doesn't make it right.

And, I could say I was in the military too. There is no way to proce or disprove that here.

But, I don't really care about that. You being a vet doesn't mean your opinion is automatically right. In fact, if your opinion was so right, you wouldn't need to get so angry and insecure..

Good day. "

" Guy Smith wrote: meetings.But when you a question answer forum and all you have are rebel rousers yelling and name calling at you then not much gets answered. "

Lol. The last time I heard the term 'rebel rousers' was in 8th grade History class-and the teacher was referring to our Founding Fathers.

So, thanks for the comparison! "

" Mr. Smith;

It is inappropriate for anybody to paint swastikas. What flag will fly over Fuehrer Obama's White House? "

" Hey Bill Murray.

Good question. Apparently Grijalva is with Giffords. Another old saying; If you're afraid of the heat, stay out of the kitchen. If this is representation, I'm the Pope. "

" Why are all thse people attacking poor Mr. Smith? Give him a break. Don't go after the defenseless. "

" Hey no problem,there just ur typical right wing extremists,that don't debate with true and accurate facts.instead the revert to name calling and slanderous remarks.Just like right wing radio hosts like rush ,shawn,Bill etc.When all else fail, lie and fabricate a bunch of innuendo that is totally wrong,then throw in a couple racial slurs,and you got the ditto heads frothing at the mouth.Then again it doesn't take much to get a rabid right winger frothing.ROFLMAO.Just look at theire last president as an example of how they act.Bush lied to his country and the world,then attacked an innocent soverign nation based on those lies,and trampled the geneva convention,allong with our own civil rights,all to the tune of 900 billion dollars,borrowed dollars at that.But look what they got for theire hard earned(I mean borrowed) dollars..zip and over 5000 dead American soldiers,not to mention the maimed and crippled,and not to mention the over 1 million dead Iraqi people.Now there up in arms because this president wants to give them all health care.ohhhh that communist obama,trying to give me affordable health care!! "

" BN Kate
When you attack a country for no reason,that is illegal,just like it's illegal to shoot someone unless it is in self defense.The democrats didn't lie to the world and say that sadam had weapons of mas destruction,your man bush did that,and then when the lies surfaced all he could say then was(Well sadam was a bad person and needed to be killed).So he killed him and over a million other people.i think you are the one that needs to be reading 9-11 reports! "

" I guess you are too intellectually challenged Mr. Smith to get that I was being sarcastic. No support for you from any of these people, but hey they must all be wrong and you have the monopoly on wisdom and knowledge.

You continue to ignore the points people make because you have no way of answering with any degree of intelligence.

Nobody in this 'dialogue" threw in any racial slurs and your generalizations are disgusting and repulsive. What you guys do is play this race card to get people to back off so they will not be called racists. Guess what Mr. Smith - it won't work. We know your game and we won't play it.

A discussion that started out on health care you turn into your diatribe of hatred for Bush. Get a life.

Guess what? The world thought Saddam had WMD's. Guess what? He did or did the Kurds just decide to die.

There were plenty of other reasons given to attack Iraq not the leats of which were the continued violations of UN resolutions. The last time I looked firing on our planes enforcing the "no fly zone" is an act of war.

For those of you reading this thread, I would simply ask you to note that Mr. Smithnever esponds to points made by other people. He just keeps repeating the same old tired talking points. "

" Mr. Smith:

Ooo, I should be the one reading the 9/11 Commission's report. Great arguement Mr. Smith. Actually, Mr. Smith, I have read the 9/11 Commission report. That was just for starters. Apparently, you have not read that report or any other book or report on the subject and that speaks volumes as to your intellectual capacity.

Maybe you are right, Mr. Smith. Maybe the only reason we went to Iraq was so that, as somebody else said, to protect the right of people like you to be idiots and shoot their mouths off with no idea of what they are talking about.

As others have pointed out, you address nothing raised by anybody. You simply continue to spout your hatred for Bush and seem to know nothing about anything.

Essentially, you are pathetic and not worth anymore of my time. So continue with your ridiculous inane postings, but along with Josephine Marcus above you will not get a reply. I am sure many of the others are also tired of trying to communicate with you on any level above the 3rd grade. And Josephine, did you notice that Mr. Smith never replied to your comments re: Code Pink. He must agree with their tactics. Pretty sad that a veteran supports hatred for our military.

Good job Jessica. Isn't it amazing that somebody who claims to have served this country can have so much hatred for it.

Bye, Mr. Smith. "

" Hey, all you people trying to converse with Guy Smith. Don't you have anything better to do? Just send him to the veterinarian for rabies and distemper shots and forget about him. "