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This morning, Politico reported that Democratic members of Congress are increasingly being harassed by “angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior” at local town halls. For example, in one incident, right-wing protesters surrounded Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) and forced police officers to have to escort him to his car for safety.
This growing phenomenon is often marked by violence and absurdity. Recently, right-wing demonstrators hung Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) in effigy outside of his office. Missing from the reporting of these stories is the fact that much of these protests are coordinated by public relations firms and lobbyists who have a stake in opposing President Obama’s reforms.
The lobbyist-run groups Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, which orchestrated the anti-Obama tea parties earlier this year, are now pursuing an aggressive strategy to create an image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform. A leaked memo from Bob MacGuffie, a volunteer with the FreedomWorks website Tea Party Patriots, details how members should be infiltrating town halls and harassing Democratic members of Congress:
– Artificially Inflate Your Numbers: “Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up. The Rep should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington.”
– Be Disruptive Early And Often: “You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep’s presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep’s statements early.”
– Try To “Rattle Him,” Not Have An Intelligent Debate: “The goal is to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before he even takes questions.”
The memo above also resembles the talking points being distributed by FreedomWorks for pushing an anti-health reform assault all summer. Patients United, a front group maintained by Americans for Prosperity, is currently busing people all over the country for more protests against Democratic members. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), chairman of the NRCC, has endorsed the strategy, telling the Politico the days of civil town halls are now “over.”
Aside from the AMA and Insurance Companies, their stooge Dick Armey has filed suits that will take down Medicare and Social Security. At least that way all of those astroturfers won't have to worry about Socialism anymore
Aside from the AMA and Insurance Companies, their stooge Dick Armey has filed suits that will take down Medicare and Social Security. At least that way all of those astroturfers won't have to worry about Socialism anymore
The plan is to get US back to the 1890's.
But I wonder if they remember just how dangerous of a period the 1890's were for the caspitalist class?
Carver County GOP: Doctors, medical societies oppose Obama's Health Care Reform, despite his touting AMA support (http://carvergop.blogspot.com/2009/07/doctors-medical-societies-oppose-obamas.html - broken link)
That is what I'm saying. Most docs are behind the faction against the plan.
That is what I'm saying. Most docs are behind the faction against the plan.
Doctors are behind reform if it helps them, against reform if they stand to lose any money. It will depend on the bill, but if they are for it, bad bill.
Doctors are behind reform if it helps them, against reform if they stand to lose any money. It will depend on the bill, but if they are for it, bad bill.
Got it. So if doctors don't like the bill, that's a good bill. So we're going to alienate those that are going to be providing this health care.
Got it. So if doctors don't like the bill, that's a good bill. So we're going to alienate those that are going to be providing this health care.
Brilliant.
That is not what I said. Your logic is faulty. I said if they like it, bad bill, which does not necessarily follow that if they don't like it good bill. They may not like the bill and it could still be a bad bill. You have to look at all of the health care special interest groups. Insurance companies, Pharms, Hospitals etc. Now if they all don't like the bill...sweet. That is a bill to vote for.
Alienate - you mean disinfranchise? You are starting to sound more like a liberal every day.
That was a quote from your post. Pretty cut and dry.
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