This is a masterful example of how to face a crowd - a crowd you don't control - and have a rational, meaningful discussion on health care reform.
Maybe it's "Minnesota Nice" at play.
However, calling this setting "an angry mob" is like calling lutefisk a national treasure.
I miss living in MN--I've lived elsewhere for almost twenty years now, and every time I visit MN, I'm struck by the level of civility. I love how the woman in the TEA shirt is obviously skeptical of Franken but she's still politely listening and trying to evaluate his claims.