RW Thugs Disrupt Health Care Town Halls

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
RW Thugs Disrupt Health Care Town Halls
40
Tue, 08-04-2009 - 4:04pm

Unbelievable!!!


See videos here...........


http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/03/doggett-health-care/


Right-Wing Thugs Disrupt Health Care Town Halls


http://www.opednews.com/populum/diarypage.php?did=13968


Disruption is emerging as the Right's method of choice for fighting health care reform as the August recess and the ground war for reform begin. Weekend town hall meetings in Philadelphia and Austin were both disrupted by shouting bands of the same basic wingnut type we saw at McCain-Palin rallies in 2008 and at the teabagging events of earlier this year. As previously, video from these events clearly demonstrates just how crazy the grassroots Right has become.


At the Austin event Aug. 1 with Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett (pictured here, see video), the usual suspects showed up shouting "Just Say No" and waving signs that included the usual symbols of communism and fascism worked into statements against "socialized" health care, in addition to an image of Doggett as Satan. The protestors' continued shouting throughout the event was clearly an effort to disrupt it and to prevent any other voices being heard. The same was the case at an Aug. 2 event in Philadelphia with Republican-turned-Democratic Senator Arlen Specter and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (see video). Here, wingnuts with bumber stickers on their heads shouted down speakers to the clear annoyance of others around them trying to listen. One woman held up a copy of the New American Bible and said, "This is the only truth," as though that were somehow an argument against health care reform.


These disruptive actions by Righties are not just an attack on health care reform but also an attack on democracy and open debate, since their express aim is to silence those with whom they disagree. The "me-first" mentality of anti-health care protestors was exemplified by one Carol O'Brien at the Philadelphia event, who told the Philadelphia Inquirer that extending health care coverage to 47 million uninsured Americans might mean that she would no longer be first in line at the doctor. "I don't want to have to wait for care," O'Brien said, clearly unconcerned about the amount of waiting others might have to endure without health care reform. Too bad Carol O'Brien is an unwitting stooge for an insurance industry that would deny care to her just as happily as she would deny it to others.


On the one hand I would hope that, in a public forum such as this, some rules of order might be enforced to prevent disruption and allow all voices to be heard; and that those who insist on disrupting could simply be removed just as they would be be removed from any other public forum. On the other hand I can't help seeing behavior such as this as an opportunity for progressives to demonstrate the depths of irrationality to which the Right has sunk. Good use was made of video from McCain-Palin events demonstrating all sorts of ugly behavior, and good use has been made of video showing similar behavior at teabagging events. As the long, hot month of August progresses I would only expect the wingnuts to get uglier and more brazen, and if they are going to insist on behaving this way we might as well make sure everyone sees the videos.


(See also: Huffington Post, TPM)

Photobucket      The WeatherPixie 

 


Photobucket&nbs

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2009
Tue, 08-04-2009 - 6:39pm

They have the right to assemble and be heard.

This is a situation where it might be tempting to take a page from the Bush playbook. He'd pick and choose which venues were likely to be supportive and ONLY speak there. On the route to that venue and at the venue itself, protesters were kept well away. So much for honest discussion and civil activism.

If it's true that health care reform protesters are using flimsy logic and silly slogans, they should be ENCOURAGED to speak loudly that their absurdities may be revealed for all to hear and see. Let them bluster, say their bit, then escort them gently out so they don't shut down response from the opposition.

Jabberwocka

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Wed, 08-05-2009 - 8:58am

When elected officials take the time to answer questions from their constituents about this important matter it's frustrating to have these rabble rousers ruin this forum. A caller to NPR yesterday,

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2009
Wed, 08-05-2009 - 9:20am

Town hall meetings are supposed to be forums where questions can be raised. Health care reform is a major topic with the potential to affect each one of us. So letting everybody have a chance to say their piece, voice their concerns or ask their questions is actually sign of a healthy democratic process. Who would want to have a crowd of bobbleheads?

The hecklers should have a chance to say their piece once because they may reflect similar concerns from others who were unable to attend. IF it becomes a matter of grandstanding from those who aren't interested in civil discourse but are simply trying to be disruptive, they should be escorted firmly from the meetings by a sergeant-at-arms.

"Enough already my opinion's formed". Huh? I don't understand. Are you referring to the issue of health care reform; or to the subject of town hall meetings; or to some other topic?

Jabberwocka

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Wed, 08-05-2009 - 10:54am

"The hecklers should have a chance to say their piece once because they may reflect similar concerns from others who were unable to attend."


The "hecklers" went beyond merely heckling they they were there to disrupt any & all discussion. They didn't give the elected officials a chance to speak or the audience ask questions.


"I don't understand. Are you referring to the issue of health care reform; or to the subject of town hall meetings; or to some other topic?"


You posted.... "

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2008
Wed, 08-05-2009 - 11:32am

Not quite.

 


"      

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2008
Wed, 08-05-2009 - 11:36am

I thoroughly disagree with this premise...


The hecklers should have a chance to say their piece once because they may reflect similar concerns from others who were unable to attend.


If they couldn't say their piece in a reasoned, civil manner in accordance with the conduct expected in that setting, they should be shown to the door, forcefully if necessary, regardless of who or how many other people couldn't/didn't attend.

 


"      

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2009
Wed, 08-05-2009 - 12:36pm

My points:

We have freedoms of speech which should not be curtailed or restrained without considering impact beyond the immediate/current scenario.

Democracy isn't always neat, tidy, and without rancor, particularly on hot button issues. Alternatives are worse--anarchy like that of Somalia; sectarian fighting like that in Iraq; or authoritarian regimes like those in Iran or North Korea.

When participants in town hall forums have said their piece but become strident and refuse to cede the floor to other attendees, they should be escorted out. But they should be given an initial opportunity to voice concerns.

Thanks for clarifying. Some of the actions/comments were absurd--like the woman who was waving her Bible. I wondered if she was suggesting that the government shouldn't be involved if it couldn't perform miracles like those which Jesus did. Was she perhaps suggesting that the current system is miraculous?

In other words, anybody who's thinking critically or logically isn't going to be swayed by the loudmouthed and abrasive; and the deliberate disruption antics will have a recoil effect for all but the most gullible--it will taint their message, provided they have one.

There are those who have sound reasons for objecting to the health plan as it now stands. I don't like it because there is still no recognition that insurance isn't really what we need; affordable, accessible, quality care is.

Jabberwocka

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2009
Wed, 08-05-2009 - 12:41pm
I'm not saying that those who refuse to comply with standards of civility should be able to continue disrupting speech by other attendees. Only that they should have a chance to say their piece. If they don't have a coherent message, they'll look like fools but won't be able to claim that they were repressed. You know what they say about giving someone enough rope to hang themselves.

Jabberwocka

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2008
Wed, 08-05-2009 - 12:49pm

Okay, that sounds a little more like what I've come to expect from you.

 


"      

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2009
Wed, 08-05-2009 - 12:50pm

Eh? " There is no right to be heard outside of a courtroom or petitioning for redress of greivances." Where did you pick up that idea? As regards the rest of your post, I do agree that town hall/meeting participants should be civil.

But here's something else to consider and the point I was trying to make earlier. When clowns act up, they have no credibility. Their "message" is tainted. Kids at a junior high pep rally is a good analogy. NOBODY takes them seriously.

Responding in kind (http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/08/the_dncs_mob_ad.php) is apt to result in both escalation and loss of high moral ground.

Jabberwocka

Pages