NRA member "Randy the Welder" unwittingly helps Obama at Montana townhall

The video here from Obama's August 14 health care townhall in Montana shows a local welder taking around a minute to ask him a question. He first points out that he's a proud NRA member, then gives a shout-out to cable news (presumably Fox News), and then launches into an incredibly weak question. He basically wants to know how Obama is going to pay for all this stuff. That's certainly something we'd like to find out, but we aren't going to find it out unless those who are familiar with "cross-examining" people start asking Obama questions. To be frank: Randy took time that someone else could have used to far greater impact. That doesn't mean that Randy's concerns aren't valid, and it doesn't mean that his views shouldn't be represented. It just means that in order to achieve his objectives he should have instead helped to find someone who's more experienced with holding people accountable. Randy probably doesn't do his own dental work; instead he finds someone who's trained and experienced in that field.

The proof is in the pudding: all Randy did was allow Obama to launch into a long reply with one of his standard sales jobs. It's the role of leaders - such as those on Fox - to encourage those who follow them to act effectively. Those incompetent leaders - not just including those on Fox - have not done that, but instead have simply encouraged people to go to meetings and act out or ask predictably weak questions.

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Tue, 08/18/2009 - 19:26 · · Importance: 4