Gladney is the conservative protestor who was injured outside a town hall meeting hosted by Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO):
The irony is that Gladney’s situation underscores the vital need for health care reform. He was recently laid off and lost his insurance (14,000 Americans suffer a similar fate each day). Because he has no affordable health care option available, Gladney is now soliciting donations to pay his medical expenses.
[...]
Under the House’s health care proposal, Gladney would be guaranteed a coverage option and would likely receive a subsidy to purchase affordable health care.
That’s just precious. It’s like Joe The Plumber all over again, who finally admitted to being a welfare recipient, not once but twice. And let me say, while conservatives have blamed SEIU for the attack, one of the men involved who was there has another version of events:
But Elston McCowan, an SEIU staffer, said Gladney was actually an instigator. McCowan accused Gladney of attacking him as he walked to his car. McCowan said he suffered a dislocated shoulder.
"Out of nowhere, the guy just assaults me," said McCowan, 47, of St. Louis.
The SEIU says the Tea Party organizers created “a hostile atmosphere.” I just have to say, as the rhetoric from the right escalates, people are going to get hurt.
One thing that’s not disputed about those injured in Missouri? The guy who works for the union won’t need to go begging for donations pay his medical bills.
Tea Party activist Kenneth Gladney, on the other hand, does. And if that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the two sides of this issue, I don’t know what will.
