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I am going to take the high road here. They write this:
These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.
Health care is complex. It touches every American life. It drives our economy. People must be allowed to learn the facts.
The first sentence is dishonest. The "facts", as much as there are any, are in doubt as they are manipulated by both sides. They are correct that drowning out views is un-American. I would then ask why they attempted to pass legislation so quickly without any sobering, objective debate?
Health care is indeed complex, so no argument there. It does not drive our economy although it is a large chunk of it. People should know the facts, like how it will be payed for, what form it will take, will it be reform or an entire new arm of government.
So again, considering the complexity of the issue as well as the facts that need to be learned, why would Congress attempt to pass this at warp speed? Surley something so complex, so expensive, and so vital deserves a proper debate complete with a moderate pace of action.
Let me repeat: if Obama, Pelosi, Hoyer and Reid really wanted the American public to understand what is in these bills . . . why don't they provide real info and answer questions IN WRITING?
This is a red herring issue!!! This is nothing more than a PR stunt to distract the public from WHAT IS IN THE LEGISLATION!!!!
Poor Nancy. Everyone is shouting her down. Waaaa Waaaaa. The Congressmen can't give answers cause folks are being noisy.
Have you noticed there have been Town Hall meetings with Congressmen who DID answer questions? And folks didn't get out of control?
Are we talking about those meetings? Heck, no. And why?
If Obama and his team wanted to quell the anger, all they would have to do is sit down at their computers and answer the questions.
Instead, they whip up more anger and attempt to pit Americans against each other by posting on a White House website a request that essentially turns folks into snitches. Good grief. Once again - trying to look like the "aggrieved party" - more whining - people are passing around rumors, of all things. This never happened before? I used to get an email every few days with misinformation about GWB's policies.
If Obama and friends would actually talk about the legislation with specifics . . . then folks would listen.
It isn't complicated. We're just asking for the TRANSPARENCY that Obama made a cornerstone of his campaign.
Excellent point anifani. I would be curious to know how many of these meetings DC and others like him have attended to see these protesters in action.
I know of several in my area that were peaceful events for both dem and republican congressman.
The media and Pelosi wants you to believe only their side. The videos I've been seeing are the same ones over and over.
I just want straight answers to my and other questions that have been asked.
I don't need the politician avoiding the question, and then elaborating on about how great it is going to be. I have already had those with Bush. That is why I voted for a change. A change that I did not expect.
I want answers.
Exactly!!!
And the anger is coming not just from one group of folks. People who voted for Obama want what he promised: TRANSPARENCY.
We all thought he was going to explain and discuss. Instead, he has evaded and feeds us happy words, leaving out the substance.
This makes folks angry. It isn't as tho it is only Republicans who want answers and who are angry b/c they can't seem to get them.
If you read the summary of HR 3200, it does not give specifics at all! I read the whole blame bill and came away shaking my head.
The things that Americans want - such as the elimination of pre-existing conditons in our health insurance system - could be accomplished by Congress with a few pages of legislation.
This legislation even amends the IRS tax code, for heaven's sake.
What is it that Congress and the President don't want us to understand? Cause this whining about disruptions at public meetings is an EXCUSE for not being more transparent.
Excellent point anifani. I would be curious to know how many of these meetings DC and others like him have attended to see these protesters in action.
I know of several in my area that were peaceful events for both dem and republican congressman.
The media and Pelosi wants you to believe only their side. The videos I've been seeing are the same ones over and over.
We had a calm meeting here in NC, as well. Some of our forum members posted their experience - as they attended. They were nothing but complimentary about how their Congressman handled the discussion.
It is plain that Pelosi clearly intends to stir this up in an attempt to say - "Gosh, we tried to explain it but the Republican rowdies made it impossible - so - oh well! Guess we have no choice but come back from our recess and just rush this legislation through . . . "
Pelosi, et al, are paid to do the People's Business. If it requires she sit down at her computer and explain that legislation line item by line item . . . that's her job.
But all we are getting are excuses as to why Congress can't seem to DO THEIR JOBS.
Here's my message: Stop the whining and blame-shifting!!!!
Get to work!!! If Congressional leaders can't explain that legislation, then what the hell are they doing creating it?
Nancy Pelosi:
"We are confident that we will get this right"
Wasn't she also confident she could get this boondoggle passed before we had a chance to read it? ? ?
I have a long memory. I remember when she took over as Speaker, she bragged about all she would accomplish in her first 100 days. That turned out to be a joke - even tho she had a DEM majority.
Would that be construed as "Do as I say, not as I do", which is typical of the nanny government.
Quote:
There they go again… McCain mouthpiece Heather Wilson takes us down the trail of negative campaigning by declaring Barack Obama unpatriotic for having the temerity — gasp! — to criticize Bush Administration policies. When all else fails, the GOP pulls out the old chestnut: Dissent is un-American. Didn’t you guys get past that stupidity after the immediate post-9/11 period?
Let me repeat: if Obama, Pelosi, Hoyer and Reid really wanted the American public to understand what is in these bills . . . why don't they provide real info and answer questions IN WRITING?
This is a red herring issue!!! This is nothing more than a PR stunt to distract the public from WHAT IS IN THE LEGISLATION!!!!
Poor Nancy. Everyone is shouting her down. Waaaa Waaaaa. The Congressmen can't give answers cause folks are being noisy.
Have you noticed there have been Town Hall meetings with Congressmen who DID answer questions? And folks didn't get out of control?
Are we talking about those meetings? Heck, no. And why?
If Obama and his team wanted to quell the anger, all they would have to do is sit down at their computers and answer the questions.
Instead, they whip up more anger and attempt to pit Americans against each other by posting on a White House website a request that essentially turns folks into snitches. Good grief. Once again - trying to look like the "aggrieved party" - more whining - people are passing around rumors, of all things. This never happened before? I used to get an email every few days with misinformation about GWB's policies.
If Obama and friends would actually talk about the legislation with specifics . . . then folks would listen.
It isn't complicated. We're just asking for the TRANSPARENCY that Obama made a cornerstone of his campaign.
My Representative let people ask questions online, in a public forum. Too many people, instead of asking questions, made statements based on talk show hosts ramblings, filled with comments of commi-this and socialist-that and the-next-revolution. But he still responded to legitimate questions that the community voted on as important in a video response, directed at the person who asked the question.
I hope he has a town-meeting, but I would only be able to attend as a part of news crew, and not as a general citizen, which is the case at most political events.
The fallacy is in the statement concerning drowning out opposing views.
The truth is that our Congressional leaders have no clear understanding about what is in the legislation. They are working off talking points and a summary of HR3200, wh/ reduces hundreds of pages of very complicated language to a matter of paragraphs - and no details.
It is not a matter of one side drowning out the other. It is a matter of folks wanting to know, specifically, what the legislation contains and what it MEANS.
The problem is not with loud voices being un-American.
The problem is with elected officials - and the leadership team of Pelosi and Hoyer (and Reid) - refusing to spell out - in writing - on websites and in correspondence, email, newspapers - exactly what Obama is trying to accomplish with this legislation - and how it works.
Instead of doing that, it appears the leadership wants to shift blame to there being no discussion because people are being loud.
Good grief! There is more than one way to get out a message, isn't there? So why aren't they using those other methods?
In an age where folks can do what we are doing right here . . . share thoughts via the internet . . . Congress and the President want us to believe they can't seem to get their message out - and answer questions - cause someone got rowdy at a Town Hall Meeting? What year are they operating in? 1920?
Sure seems to me the President had no problem getting his message out via the internet, emails, twitter, etc. when he was running for the Office of President. What happened? He and his staff suddenly forgot how to connect with the constituency that elected him? Everybody suddenly lost their Blackberries?
I don't think so.
The White House already built a website for citizens to learn more about Health Care reform.
WASHINGTON - Nineteen-year-old Naureen Shah has been called a Taliban, a Nazi and un-American.
Three of her classmates at Chicago's Northwestern University have been questioned by the FBI since the enactment of the Patriot Act, the U.S. government's anti-terrorism legislation.
I've been called all kinds of names says Shah, a second-year journalism student. But I think it's the Patriot Act that's un-American. I think broadening the war to a place like North Korea is un-American.
Her experience reflects an anti-dissent environment being fostered by law-enforcement agencies, the Republican administration and its right-wing friends in their robust campaign to quash criticism of the war on terrorism.
Barry Reingold, a 60-year-old retired telephone company worker in San Francisco, recently had two FBI agents visit his home to question him about criticism of the war on terrorism he voiced while working out at his local health club. The agents filed a report on him.
Journalists Jackie Anderson of the Sun Advocate in Price, Utah; Dan Guthrie of the Grants Pass Daily Courier in Oregon; and Tom Gutting of the Texas City Sun have all been fired for writing columns questioning the war. In Washington, some senior White House and Capitol Hill reporters have been frozen out by lawmakers for expressing similar sentiments.
The Houston Art Car Museum had a recent visit from FBI and Secret Service agents who cited several reports of anti-American activity going on here. The museum was showing Secret Wars, an anti-war exhibit set up before Sept. 11.
A.J. Brown, a freshman at Durham Tech in North Carolina, says two Secret Service agents knocked on her door to question her about a report that you have un-American material in your apartment. They asked about a poster on her wall opposing the state of Texas' death penalty.
The campaign against dissent is being led by President George W. Bush, who has said repeatedly that you're either with us, or you're against us. His press secretary, Ari Fleischer, has warned: Americans need to watch what they say, watch what they do.
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