Demokrat Congressman Explodes on Constituent

In response to a comment on a recent post, I said that "Congress needs to feel the rhetorical pain until their attitudes have been thoroughly adjusted." At the time, I thought I might have been pushing the envelope with that statement, but apparently I was on the right track:

The scene of a Metro Atlanta town hall meeting quickly deteriorated when Democratic Congressman David Scott (GA-13) suddenly became enraged, and, in a breathtaking display of congressional machismo, began berating constituents.

Scott displayed his temper during a question-and-answer period when Brian Hill, a local resident and doctor, questioned the congressman over his support of President Barack Obama’s proposed single-payer health care system.

“Why are you voting for a health care plan that is shown not to work in Massachusetts and why are you going to institute that in a nation-wide manner?”

With a look of confusion on his face, the congressman first quietly asked an aide, “Is that the type of bill they got going on?” Then, reassured by staff that the bill Hill referenced was, in fact, the bill before Congress, Scott proceeded to respond, insomuch as the Congressman’s angry tirade may be called a response.

“I’m listening to my constituents, OK,” Scott said, with a heavy and awkward emphasis on “my.” “These are people who live in the 13th Congressional district, who vote in this district. That’s who I’'ve got to respond to, OK. Right, alright.”

Grimacing and sternly brandishing his finger at Dr. Hill, Scott’s anger intensified, as did his rhetoric.

“You chose to come and to do it on your own. Not a single one of you had the decency to call my office and set up for a meeting, OK. Do that. Do that!”

At one point Scott chastised some in the crowd for "hijacking" the meeting.

Before yielding the microphone to a staffer, Scott gave an austere warning to Dr. Hill and others present: “Don’t, don’t come and take advantage of what these individuals have done. You want a meeting with me on health care, I’ll give it to you. You come on August 24th. On August 28th.”

Local Atlanta NBC affiliate WXIA-TV reports that Hill, a verified resident of Georgia’s 13th district, has attempted, on multiple occasions and all in vain, to secure sit-downs with the incensed Congressman, however.

Here's the video (poor audio):

The doctor told the reporters he wasn't working for any outside causes and had called Mr. Scott's office repeatedly, asking to speak with the congressman.

"I did not go to a meeting to create any problems, I went to the meeting to literally ask a question that I thought was very, very important for my patients," he said.

Some astute observations from American Power:

The man in the clip, Brian Hill, a doctor, is exactly the kind of deliberative patriot the Democrats keep idealizing... And what does he get? A U.S. congressman pointing fingers and screaming at him for "hijacking" the meeting? ...David Scott epitomizes not just what's wrong with the Dems, but what's wrong with the Democratic majority in Congress.

...

Someone please bring this quote from Thomas Jefferson to the good Congressman's attention: "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

More

Washington Times: Georgia Democrat yells at local doctor over health care

Rep David Scott Corrects Unruly Serf on Health Care

WSJ: Voters send a message to Washington, and get an ugly response.