Julia Hall

At his health care rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire yesterday, Obama said something very revealing about the friendly questioners.

OBAMA: OK, I've only got time for a couple more questions. Somebody here who has a concern about health care that has not been raised, or is skeptical and suspicious and wants to make sure that -- because I don't want people thinking I just have a bunch of plants in here.

No, Obama wouldn't want people to think that.

There's no question that Obama's event resembled a campaign rally more than a town hall meeting.

Michelle Malkin and The Boston Globe report that the little girl who asked Obama about the "mean signs" wasn't just a random kid.

Eleven-year-old Julia Hall is no stranger to political circles.

Here's her question:

OBAMA: All right. Let's -- this young lady right here. All right, this young lady right here. She's still enjoying her summer. When do you go back to school?

JULIA HALL: I go back to school September 3rd.

OBAMA: September 3rd, okay. What's your name?

JULIA HALL: Julia Hall from Malden, Massachusetts.

OBAMA: Nice to meet you, Julia. (Applause.)

JULIA HALL: I saw -- as I was walking in, I saw a lot of signs outside saying mean things about reforming health care. How do kids know what is true, and why do people want a new system that can -- that help more of us?

OBAMA: Well, the -- I've seen some of those signs. (Laughter.) Let me just be specific about some things that I've been hearing lately that we just need to dispose of here. The rumor that's been circulating a lot lately is this idea that somehow the House of Representatives voted for "death panels" that will basically pull the plug on grandma because we've decided that we don't -- it's too expensive to let her live anymore. (Laughter.) And there are various -- there are some variations on this theme.

(Blah, blah, blah....)

Turns out Julia's mom was an early Obama supporter and big donor to his campaign.

From the Boston Globe:

Julia's mother was an early Obama supporter and donor in Massachusetts during the presidential election, so she had previously met First Lady Michelle Obama, the Obama daughters Sasha and Malia, and Vice President Joe Biden.

"This was my first time meeting Barack Obama, and he's a very nice man," Julia said. "I'm glad I voted for him."

She said Obama won a mock presidential election at the Cheverus School in 2008. And on Tuesday, he approached her after the town meeting.

"He said 'great question,'" Julia said. "I shook his hand and got his picture."

Kathleen Manning Hall, Julia's mother, was shocked when her daughter said she wanted to ask a question. They wrote it down beforehand, and Julia didn't miss a beat when Obama called on her.

"It was surreal," said Manning Hall, a coordinator of Massachusetts Women for Obama during the election.

She said Julia was moved by a woman's testimonial on Tuesday before the president spoke. The woman described her ordeal battling liver disease without health insurance.

"Julia talked about it the whole way home," said Manning Hall, adding that they often discuss politics. "We talk a lot about human rights and having compassion for people."

So little Julia had already met Michelle Obama, the Obama daughters, Sasha and Malia, and Joe Biden. That's quite impressive for an 11-year-old.

Michelle Malkin points out, "Manning Hall has donated thousands of dollars to Obama, as has her law firm."

I really think these staged events do more harm than good.

This reflects poorly on Obama. It's such propaganda.

It's better for Obama to not take questions from the likes of Julia Hall than look like a fraud.

Video.