A caller on Thom Hartman today said that his army commander told him, "We can sing together, but we can't all shout together." That got me thinking about another strategy for screamers at town hall meetings.
Before the meeting starts find a few fellow constituents who will start up singing anytime someone gets out of control with their boos and jeers and wacko nonsense.
I think if you start singing "God Bless America" others not in on the plan will join in with you. Certainly the righties won't want to appear unpatriotic by refusing to sing such a beloved American song, so they'll be torn and most likely start singing as well.
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.
It's short and sweet and will allow for the Representative to get control of the meeting again.
It would be nice if in the end we could have some harmony in all senses of the word as well.