Man With Parkinson's Who Was Berated By Tea Partiers: 'I Embody The Controversy'

[cal04]

video at link
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/man-with-parkinsons-on-health-care-protest-showdown-i-embody-the-controversy-1.php?ref=fpblg

The man with Parkinson's who sat down in front of a group of anti-health reform rally in Ohio this week, only to have dollar bills thrown at him by an angry protester screaming about "handouts," tells TPM in a phone interview that he was aiming to present his own body as a powerful symbol of the debate.

"I feel I embody the controversy that was being fought out," Bob Letcher, 60, tells us. "No one was engaging, everyone was screaming. I thought, I don't have to scream, I just have to be there. I walked over and sat down ... I sort of presented myself as an argument by myself."

The episode took place Tuesday outside the Columbus office of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH), where hundreds supporters and opponents gathered for dueling health care demonstrations.

Letcher made his way over to the anti-health care crowd bearing a homemade sign asking, "Got Parkinson's?" I Do and You Might. Thanks for helping! That's community!"

[Jennicut]

1. That man is brave and he totally rocks.

Stupid teabaggers. I would talke their dollar bills and say thanks. It would buy some coffee at the least. I am a type 1 diabetic. I have no doubt that people like this just want people like me to die.

[peacebird]

2. +1000000000000000 He *owned* them. They looked like a lynch mob

[mn9driver]

6. They don't want you to die.

They just don't care if you do, and if asked they will tell you that your illness is your fault. I have to work with people like this every day. Their pathological selfishness and stupidity quite literally turns my stomach.

[MindandSoul]

3. A very courageous man!

What is really sad is that on "teabaggers" face book page, they praise those sickos who insulted this man, and some even implied that this man was a homeless begger and that it was his "normal" job!

[Fire1]

4. THIS country is SICK! FUCKED UP TO THE CORE! n/t

[Forkboy]

10. Yep.

[NNN0LHI]

5. If your ever looking for the definition of shit head just look at the pond scum harassing this man

There it is.

Don

[W_HAMILTON]

8. The guy that mocked him should be outted.

That was a shameful, despicable display. How hard can it be to track him down?

[provis99]

7. If he didn't want to be harassed, he shouldn't have been sick!

How dare he provoke a conservative like that!:sarcasm:

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Yep. He was totally in their face pushing his radical alternate lifestyle agenda as a 'condition'

or 'medical need' or some such nonsense.

You know who the real needy folks are? The white investment bank owner!

Or something like that.

:crazy:

[Withywindle]

9. What a brave man!

:patriot:

Can't have been easy to sit there and stoically endure that kind of hate. But just by being himself he provoked those screaming shitstains into showing their true colors.

I don't wish a debilitating illness on anyone, but...or do I? Maybe I do. I don't want to be the kind of person that would but...yikes, search my feelings, I know it to be true. I DO want those hateful shit-flinging apes to have to limp a mile with this man's cane.