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)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Mon, 08-10-2009 - 9:48am

"leave folks like this twisting in the wind, ignorant and confused about their options"


I guess this what they'd prefer instead of informing/educating

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Mon, 08-10-2009 - 11:38am
When a liberal interrupts a Republican event, its portrayed as the ultimate form of patriotism. When a liberal brandishes Nazi slogans against a Republican they are exercising free speech. If a conservative does something much more tame to a Democrat they are somehow a thug. Wow, talk about double standards.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Mon, 08-10-2009 - 11:51am

What the hell is wrong with these people?


They don't give a rat's patootie about anyone else.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2009
Mon, 08-10-2009 - 1:08pm

How many town hall forums were held about the Iraq war? I don't recall that many were. We weren't solicited for input by the Bush regime which had already made up its collective, if severely limited, mind. Bush himself rarely made speeches in front of audiences which might not greet him with universal delight. Remember this?

<<“I want you to stand, raise your right hands,” and recite “the Bush Pledge,” said Florida state Sen. Ken Pruitt. The assembled mass of about 2,000 in this Treasure Coast town about an hour north of West Palm Beach dutifully rose, arms aloft, and repeated after Pruitt: “I care about freedom and liberty. I care about my family. I care about my country. Because I care, I promise to work hard to re-elect, re-elect George W. Bush as president of the United States.”

I have defended the rights of those with opposing points of view, to speak their piece civilly in the various forums. But here's where the line should be drawn: When the intent is not to engage in meaningful questions and answers but to overtly disrupt proceedings and prevent others from being heard as well. That simply should not be tolerated from either Republicans or Democrats because there is nothing democratic or constructive about such tactics.

We who read and post here regularly have a pretty good idea about where you stand on the issue of health care reform. Surprises me not at all to see a defense of the obnoxious and obstructionist tactics being used. Hopefully, others will care enough to not allow a few to mislead and/or shut down the debate.

Jabberwocka

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
Mon, 08-10-2009 - 2:28pm
I'm very sorry to hear about dad. Do what you can to help he and mom out in this trying time. I'm sure you will. Keep your chin up.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2002
Mon, 08-10-2009 - 3:13pm

Thank you for your kind words of support.


I'm fortunate in having a strong medical/veterinary background and a best friend who is an RN. Because of this I have been able to advocate for my parents. But not every patient has that avilable through their family. Some people have noone at all. I think that is what I find so frustrating about how this voluntary, end of life counseling OPTION being twisted into government driven euthanasia. It's farcical.


This kind of thing is no different than the people who were claiming Obama was a Muslim and stirring that kind of hate during the election. I have no problem with open dialogue and debate, but outright lies and twisting of information that could BENEFIT others, especially in these end of life matters, is heinous. Especially when they aren't offering any solutions, only lies and mis-information.



iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Mon, 08-10-2009 - 3:33pm

Town halls are done by members of Congress, both House and Senate all the time. It has only recently become an issue because Democrats are getting the smallest taste of what liberals have been pushing out for years.

You can see in this video http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8292819 a Democrat using the states police power to remove a disabled man and his father who dare to not agree with Mr. Dingell's view of the health care bill. I guess change we can believe in is living in a fascist police state?

You'll like it, until you disagree and get arrested. Sigh, liberals in my experience always seem to think the ends justify the means. Getting rid of dissent if possible, will eventually destroy our Republic. Unfortunately liberals don't seem to understand this, and instead feel giddy portraying conservative protesters as thugs. :(

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2007
Mon, 08-10-2009 - 3:43pm

Well atleast those who are against something are allowed in the room. GWB came to Columbus, numerous times. Protesters weren't allowed within two miles of the route from the airport to the place he was speaking.

Don't waste your time typing that this isn't GWB.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2009
Mon, 08-10-2009 - 10:41pm

The link you posted was one which aired on network news. I saw it---did YOU? The father was making a nuisance of himself at best and at worst, USING his disabled son to play the aggressive victim card. He didn't have a question, he wanted to monopolize proceedings. Having a child with cerebral palsy does not grant carte blanche to behave badly, or refuse others an opportunity to speak. Palin used the same pathetic approach and victimized her baby son with Down's Syndrome in her Face Book reference to the "death panel". Sick, sick, sick. Poor little guy. Just mama's pawn to be used when she wants to make political points based on zip, zilch, zero, nada. I'd bet a significant amount of money she didn't read the bill, much less understand it since there is nothing to back her overheated and ridiculous claims!

Fascism? My goodness, you have NO idea of what fascism is if you believe that widespread efforts to reform a grossly expensive but stunningly inefficient health care system; or enforce some measure of civil discourse at a public forum, is fascism. Take a break from Rush. His "talent on loan from God" shtick is a crude and heretical disrespect of the entity which created a vast and magnificent universe.

I ask again. What town halls were held as forums to solicit support for the Iraq war? If they were so common and "liberals pushing" to squelch the views of opinions of others, then surely there must be at least a couple to which you can allude.

Ends justify the means? Wow, that's breathtaking. From what I can see it's not liberals who are spreading lies, disrupting meetings, and acting like ignorant clods. I have NO problems with conservative rallies, reasoned discourse, and differences based on FACTS. Would welcome them because I don't care for the dominance of a single party; and because I don't believe that another layer of insurance is the answer to containing health care costs while simultaneously meeting the needs of the nation for affordable, accessible and quality health care.

Unfortunately, there has been precious little of reasoning or alternative plans coming from the talking heads or pundits on the right. They'll cede the high ground to rumor, innuendo, fear mongering, and illogic at the sound of a supporting mob; and seem far more intent on seeing how quickly they can dive into the depths and live among bottom dwellers. Ugh.

The danger to that Republic of which you speak comes, ironically enough, from Republicans who haven't quite grasped that partisan loyalties, poor governance and sensationalized grandstanding to mobilize mob mentality is NOT going to advance the nation's best interests.

Last but not least, I don't use the word "thugs" lightly. Those who worshiped at the altar of Kali sacrificed in human life. http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/000322.html

Jabberwocka

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Tue, 08-11-2009 - 12:28pm

Limbaugh Compares Democrats To Nazis


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzSNsMy98BY

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