Fighting Back the Pushback On Health Care *UPDATED*
Yesterday, bc3b wrote: Dems, Media Working Overtime to Discredit Town Hall Protesters. More information and news is coming out all the time on various town halls and meetings across the country. I wanted to put up a new thread for discussion.
Some headlines from today:
Founding Bloggers: Obama’s Dissident Database – Those Who Would Sacrifice Liberty For “Medical Security” Deserve Neither
Gateway Pundit: White House & DNC Release Labor Goons On Obamacare Town Halls
Hot Air: Video: Thuggish mob of elderly Nazis attacks AARP with questions about health care
Michelle Malkin: Thug life: Enter the unions
Stop the ACLU: Community Organizing President Rails Against Community Organizing
RedState continues to have a Congressional Townhall Calendar posted at the top right corner of their home page.
UPDATE: Don’t miss this editorial from NRO, Insult and Injury, written by the Editors.
President Obama likes to pose as the tribune of the common people, but Americans who show up at town-hall meetings to object to Obama’s plans to nationalize health care are, in the words of Obama’s Democratic National Committee, “the mob,” a bunch of “extremist” yahoos who must be publicly denounced and ridiculed. It’s a remarkable piece of condescension and snobbery, but one that is indicative of how President Obama thinks and does business….
We cannot recall a similar episode in recent history in which a group of Americans bringing their concerns about a public-policy question to their representatives were told to sit down and shut up.
I found it in the Hot Air Headlines where it is titled, Demagogue-in-Chief.
UPDATE II: A comment at Hot Air reminded me of this:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
UPDATE III: Hot Air has a new post up:
White House to Dems on town halls: “If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard”
It’s a post that you need to read. Allahpundit has subtitled it: War on the voters.
[1]
A wonderful potpourri of links INC. I continue to think that Redstate’s Townhall Calandar is such a public service. The only meeting even semi-close to me is on a day I plan on being out of town. But, if I can catch one I am going!
It will be interesting to see Obama’s numbers at the end of summer recess, after all these townhalls have played out — will they be lower or higher? I tend to think the former…..
[2]
Going down, Jan, going down.
This is only a small number of links. This news is everywhere.
[3]
Don’t forget Iowahawk
Know Your Town Hall Mob Agitators!
By Linda Douglass
Deputy Assistant Under-Minister of Truth
White House Health Care Task Force
[4]
Thanks, aureliusx!
I made the link permanent and added the title!
[5]
That is really good! I love the photos!
The satire writes itself–he sees what we’ve all seen!
[6]
Jake Tapper’s Q for Gibbs on the Snitch Squad
Note that Gibbs says: Nobody is collecting names.
Compare that with this from Power Line in which they quote Byron York:
Taking the Dissident Database Seriously
[7]
Power Line also has this up, Mob Rule Spreading, in which they quote some more evasive non-answers from Gibbs about the “fishy” health care email reports and whether or not people will be informed their emails have been forwarded to the government.
[8]
Hitler rants about opposition to ObamaCare and right wingers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRvtWEG_vhQ
[9]
I watched INC’s link on the AARP meeting and it is outstanding!
In fact I think it really encapsulates what is going on in these townhalls, where people are saying they’ve never been involved before, have consequently let govt. get out of control, and that Obama’s sudden and massive debt has only served as a wake-up call that their very freedoms are being jeopardized.
These people are there to protect their “American dream,” that’s all. And, there is nothing heinous about that. The worst thing they did was want to be heard, rather than just listen to AARP give the govt.-speak.
[10]
sooner or later…probably SOONER, some TRUE THUGS from Unions/ACORN are going to actually rough up some older folks simply trying to make their voices heard.
when that happens the media will finally be faced with their Kristallnacht moment. I predict they will remain silent, after all…it’s just some broken glass in the Juden districts, Ja?
[11]
That’s why I’m interested to see where you and mpthompson go for a town hall meeting. Your first hand reports should be valuable, seeing as you’re in the belly of the beast!
[12]
GREAT Hitler rant, bc3b!!! thx
[13]
INC, mpthompson will need to coordinate our shopping trip to Brook’s Brothers for pin-stripe suits and wing-tips!
I want to look good for the DNC cameras to make it easier for them to locate me when my re-education number comes up!
all kidding aside, I am truly getting madder madder! sitting at breakfast today they had CNN on in the little coffee shop. Headline (to be followed by discussion)-
Opposition to Health Care Reform: Astroturf or Legitimate Dissent?
“Legitimate Dissent”?? When has CNN ever looked at the ACORN orchestrated events and asked if they were “Legitimate Dissent”?? Easy…NEVER!
[14]
JR -
Linda Douglass suggesting that opposition to health care be reported to the White House is a 21st century version of Hitler’s tactics.
Linking Obama to Hitler and Chicago-style politics to Gestapo methods can be very effective.
[15]
Hey, I want video of that, Justrand!
You have to check out the Iowahawk satire above. Lots of pics of CNN’s idea of “Legitimate Dissent”!
[16]
Robert Gibbs Responds To Whitehouse Website Fishy Emails
Video via Hot Air.
[17]
OK, here is my second attempt at political satire.
Know Your Enemy
Whatcha think?
[18]
Just remember: Printed professional signs represent a “grass roots” movement. Homemade signs are a dead giveaway for “orchestrated opposition.”
Just ask ABC’s Charles Gibson if he ever figures out what the “Bush Doctrine” is/was.
[19]
mpt, I really like it! You should print it and use it as a sign at your town hall!
I see a second career for you in political satire!
[20]
INC, very good idea. I think the left wing stooges need some help in identifying their targets at the meeting. A big sign should help.
[21]
I thought of it because that Norman Rockwell painting is famous (I assume even in CA!) and it would certainly highlight their attempted trampling of citizens!
[22]
INC,
You started this with your links above. But especially the blockquote.
The folks that show up to these townhalls need to do something really quick for those that remain. But it will be hard to pull off. But the first person to gets the mic should state the following —
Would be a nice way to stop the goons. Any physical intervention now is a civil matter for the FBI to handle, with video in hand.
[23]
Using Rockwell’s Freedom of Speech/censored combined with Dr. Dog’s idea would be terrific!
[24]
I started it, eh?
You’d best watch out for us redheads!
I’m in good company with Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington who were all redheads!
[25]
OK, as much as I despise Alan Colmes he does exhibit some self deprecating humor here.
[26]
Damn, wrong link to Colmes. Here it is.
Sorry about that.
[27]
Dated a red head once. Might have married her too, way back when. Vivacious, charming, always HOT, cared about ‘us’. But she was never at peace with herself. That concerned me.
[28]
Not to be forward or anything, but I’ve always found redheads attractive. Knew some pretty ones in years gone by….
[29]
I like women generally.
Nothing wrong with blondes either, and the most beautiful woman I ever met was a brunette. Unreal stunner. She even asked me out, can you believe that? I was unemployed and broke and said no.
Can you believe that? Many years ago. 1992. Whoever married her is one lucky —–.
Anyway, I’m lucky too.
[30]
My wife is tall. That rocks. 5′=10″ and conservative. I’m a liberal compared to her.
We dated starting in 1993. I remember asking her who she voted for in 92, I confessed to voting Perot.
She said Bush. I remember thinking “wow. She’s a righty and a smart, disciplined, calculating one too. Impressive. And, nice legs.”
heh.
[31]
I’m training the wife. She started out liberal, now slightly righty and moving!
[32]
drdog…I love your redress of grievances idea!! mpthompson and I can use it at the TownHall (and Justmary can film it if I can get her a flight up for it!
)
[33]
I’m training the wife. She started out liberal, now slightly righty and moving!
Hey same with me. My wife started out liberal (I kinda did too if truth be told), but she is now to the right of me in many respects. Just give it a few years.
Let’s cheer for smart, good looking, conservative women
.
[34]
Well, you never know where one of these threads will meander!
Seriously, though, I just did another update to catch people’s attention. Hot Air has a new post up that links to a Politico article.
White House to Dems on town halls: “If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard”
It’s a post that you need to read.
Allahpundit has subtitled it: War on the voters.
This kind of hardball political thuggery is straight from Axelrod and Messina.
[35]
Anyone still doubt my prediction of violence? Again, imagine if Bush had said this about Code Pink…
[36]
JR, let us know how that goes and share the video if ya film it.
[37]
If Bush had done 1/10 of the things Obama has in the last week it would be screamed 24/7 from the news.
Axelrod and Messina had the Dem Senate caucus in to tell them this.
From the Politico article it looks as if Obama wasn’t there. His minions were there to do the dirty work. Obama had met with the Finance Committee prior to the caucus meeting.
[38]
Anyone doubt my prediction of violence? How else does anyone suppose these people will be stopped?
[39]
Still hoping it can be avoided of course, but hope is not belief. This is gonna explode.
[40]
My wife, the Russian, had all the usual leftist ideas for the longest time. After she was settled in I showed her the family finances and the chunks we never get to use. She was appalled.
She went into why Russia was better. I pointed out to her that the Russian State takes their taxes out but you never seem the biggest one — valuation. The money she made as a teacher was half the real value to the State for the service. She thought about that for a while and actually got mad a Putin.
One of these days I’ll film the little lady popping off the 9mm at the range….
[41]
I think it depends on what happens at these town halls and how many of the Dems have enough sense left to listen to their constituents.
[42]
Yahoo I think violence could happen…
My worry is that our side will throw the first punch. People are so upset their voices are not being heard.
[43]
I’ve been reading the Hot Air thread in the update above as I read this one. I just saw this in a comment:
Violence at Tampa health care forum
Notice how the Tampa news leads off:
[44]
So far from that article, the violence is “at least one fist fight” inside. The photos of the “angry protesters” show at least one American flag and homemade signs. It’s obvious it’s not coordinated!
Considering the statement they quote from the FL Dem Party, it makes me wonder about whether this is just ginned up hype to cast health care protesters in a bad light!
[45]
Also note that the event was sponsored by the SEIU. So they were hoping to have a packed house so that they could have a nodding head session so their toady representative could say — ‘the people have spoken.’ But oh gosh, some normal folks got into the room. Well that topples the apple cart. So I would not be surprised that the person who swung the first punch was union goon.
[46]
My thoughts as well.
[47]
Enzi?! ENZI!! Like WTF is that all about?! Is there anyone out there? My f-in fvkkin fvkk a she-it.
[48]
Hell, I’m now curious to go just for the spectacle of the whole thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if other “normal” people just show up to see what will happen. Justrand, email me with the date/time with the Speier town hall and I’ll meet you there.
[49]
I think it depends on what happens at these town halls and how many of the Dems have enough sense left to listen to their constituents.
They are calling us fascists and shutting our voices out. Now, they will staff the townhalls with brownshirts. Funny, that’s exactly what fascists do.
We are being snuffed out. We are being ignored. They are taking our money and building prisons for us with it.
My worry is that our side will throw the first punch. People are so upset their voices are not being heard.
Tempting, then goading, then if not successful they’ll stage it. This is not hard to anticipate. It’s not as though no one has ever done that before.
It’s happening even faster than I thought it would, and I was way ahead of anyone else I know in predicting it.
We are Germany in the 1930s, right now. We have our Fuehrer.
I’ll die free, now or later, doesn’t matter to me.
[50]
The funny thing about Glenn Beck is he keeps shouting “behave yourselves, no matter what you do!”
Well, of course. But trust me, Glenn, it’s not going to matter much whether we do or not. A few seniors get loud at a town hall, and the Dems start screaming NAZI!
We are going to get railroaded into “starting it,” whether we actually do or not. Just like we get called racists and bigots by the left whether we are or not.
Be ready. Violence is coming.
[51]
Here I go again. Breathe slowly…………
[52]
We’re all going to have to watch our blood pressure! A commenter at HA copied and pasted a craigs list ad for a paid protester. He said it had been flagged for removal.
[53]
More on news and videos from Tampa at Moderate in the Middle and from Hot Air.
[54]
From Gateway Pundit:
SHOCK VIDEO— DEMS SNEAK UNION THUGS INTO CARNAHAN TOWN HALL– 1,000 Tea Party Taxpayers Locked Out!
[55]
The Strange Case of Professor Obama and Mr Hussein is a real life drama playing out in the aftermath of the Presidential election of 2008. It is about the dilemma of the American citizen who sees strange dissonances between the new found Messiah, Professor Obama, and the ever more emerging misanthropic, pyromaniac (reference note #1) Mr. Hussein. It is a vivid portrayal of a split personality, split in the sense that within the same person there is, or was, both an apparently good and an ever more emerging evil personality each being quite distinct from the other. In mainstream culture the very phrase “Obama and Hussien” will come to mean a person who’s words are vastly different in moral character from his actions.
Reference note #1: Such individuals who lack ulterior motive have traditionally been referred to in layman’s terms simply as a variation of a pyromaniac. Most such maniacs lack conscious motivation although they are fully aware of the acts they are failing to stop or they themselves are committing. Typically they will feel intense pleasure, gratification, or relief when causing destruction or when witnessing or participating in the aftermath. Motivation is also classified as pathological and non-pathological. Some research suggests that feeling such joy at horrific situation is pathological. Other research suggests that some motivation for this comes from rational thought. Taking joy in horrific situations for envisioned gains in political power and/or the concealment of the imposition of devious plans are examples of supposed rational decision making.
In layman’s terms, your President in a rabid dog.
[56]
While on a run this evening I was thinking about what Obama’s goons might try to say and do at town hall meetings? Are they actually going to plead the case for an expansive federal government take over of the public health sector? Obama is the king of obfuscation and he can get away with it, but his goons will look like utter fools. I really can’t imagine any of them opening up their mouths to consume time at the microphone.
One the other hand, if their goal is antagonize the legitimate voters into fights and mayhem, it could really backfire on them. So far, the meetings have been loud and boisterous, but not violent. Should violence erupt Obama and his minions left a long paper and web trail encouraging his sycophants to into the faces of others.
The biggest danger is Obama and the Dems turning the regular folks at the town hall meetings into the underdogs being bullied by union and other thugs. I just don’t see how that will fly with the American public. Even if the MSM doesn’t report it enough of it will leak out via the web I don’t think a lid could be put on it.
If Obama and Dems were smart they would just cancel all town hall meetings and absorb the indignation of the citizens denied access to their representatives. However, the fact they seem to be calling out the “rent a mob thugs” make it appear their reflexively following the tactics that worked so well for them in Chicago.
Let’s up they stay dumb. It’s not a winning strategy.
[57]
rwy: “Be ready. Violence is coming”
it’s here.
and it’s gonna get MUCH worse. We are playing by Chicago rules. I plan to very vocal and very vigilant at the Town Hall.
[58]
RedState had a link to this on the Tampa scene:
Protests, passions roiling town hall meeting on health care
Here’s a video from a Hot Air commenter:
[59]
From MM, late tonight:
SEIU and the “persuasion of power”.
She comments briefly on Tampa and St. Louis and has excerpts from a chapter on the SEIU in her book, Culture of Corruption.
[60]
One more and then good night!
This is a Hot Air headline title: Photo: Obama cultist gets in protester’s face
with a link to this news item.
Protesters in Ybor City drown out health care summit on Obama’s proposal.
Ignore the press bias and look at the photo of the woman pushing a man’s face.
[61]
Found this video on Powerline. Not sure if it was linked above.
I like the comment from the crowd where the guy says something to the effect “If it took Obama six months to find a dog for his children, then why did he insist congress get the Health Care bill written in three weeks?”
A pretty good line.