Democrats seem to think that ordinary citizens shouldn't participate in their government. We're supposed to keep our mouths shut, go to work -- if we have a job -- and earnestly pay whatever tax Washington wants for whatever reason they want it.
Now that Americans are rising up against the massive health care reform bill, Democratic leaders in Congress don't like the citizen participation one bit. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has cynically dismissed patriotic Americans at town halls as mobs and Nazis, saying some are swastika-wearing.
Democratic leaders are adding unforgivable insult to the injury of a 1,000-page government-centered approach to health care -- a bill that was attempted to be rushed through two houses of Congress in less time than the Obamas took to choose a house pet.
Now, Democrats seem to have brought out the bouncers: In at least one town hall, football linemen-sized organizers tried to block cameras and intimidate opponents of the health care plan. They also prohibited signs at a public event.
An event organized, in large part, by the union members themselves -- who allegedly snuck in supporters to the smallish room before the public was allowed in.
They were still outnumbered and out-argued.
Something fundamental is happening to the American republic -- at least if Democratic thugs don't prevent it: Americans are becoming involved in the very trenches of their government again.
And it's clear from the Democrats' behavior at the town halls that they don't like it.
It's vital for the Democrats to portray the angry crowds as unruly mobs sent by special interests, for the truth is much more worrisome to them: The truth is that the headlong rush toward more government control of our lives is awakening and angering even Democratic constituencies.
Most troublesome is that seniors are coming to understand that their health care is in grave danger from the Democrats' attempts to ration health care.
So the desperate Democrats have turned to slandering the good Americans who have risen up to save their health care and take back their government in this August congressional recess.
Democrats have turned this into the Summer of Slander.
"President Obama and his fellow Democrats have not only embarked on an official campaign to denigrate and discredit the validity of their opponents' ideas," writes Brian Mark Weber, professor of U.S. history at Americn Military University and professor of English at Anne Arundel Community College, "but they cannot even accept the notion that Americans averse to government health insurance are sincere in their beliefs. The President claims the protests are manufactured by conservative organizations, yet another attempt to characterize the activists as incapable of generating their own independent thoughts."
Angry citizens standing up for their rights is always a good thing when it's a liberal cause. Not so today. Now we're mobs.
Well, by that standard, so were the Founding Fathers.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
While this editorial is EXACTLY right and dead on the money, Rick McKee's political cartoon today says it all in one picture.
Never has any administration in history or any Congress denigrated the American public like these yahoos are doing. It embodies the essence of their contempt for this country, what it stands for and its people. "We know what is best for you and we are going to shove it down your throats." This is a bitter pill to swallow (pun intended on health care). We should never trust it when we hear "We are the government and we are here to help" because it usually means "We are here to take more control of your lives".
BTW, great cartoon Rick. You have it nailed.
Note to editor: ... "in this August congressional recess." That should have had a possession sign after August...August's. Plus, this phrase "a bill that was attempted to be rushed through two houses of Congress in less time than the Obamas took to choose a house pet" is troubling. It should have read "a bill they attempted to rush through..."
Move along now, nothing further here to see...{or needs said} w00t! to all above!
The personal attacks on those opposed to the Obama administration are reaching levels never seen in this country. It's impossible for a Republican representative or citizen to voice dissatisfaction with ANYTHING. This is rapidly becoming Castro's Cuba. (The ASU professor should have tried to say something negative about their government when he was there.)
Republicans never had these problems when they staged their own "town meetings" by invitation only. True, these "events" were echo chambers, but isn't that really all a good Republican ever wants? Who needs public debate or thoughtful discourse, when it's in your very nature to obstruct? The real reason these "angry" outbursts are grabbing media coverage is the sheer novelty of them--old, Depends-filling white guys carrying on like those wild-eyed kids from the 1960's.
Sorry to burst your bubble, DASHIEL, but the meetings I've seen have had plenty of younger citizens. Funny, when Bush would meet a Cindy Sheehan crowd everywhere he went, you and the other libs were smiling and gloating about how you're exercising your constitutional rights and that he'd never know a moment's peace. Now the tables are turning for Odumba, and the same use of freedom of speech is happening to the blind morons supporting him, you're now screaming about nazi, hate filled white guys. Go ahead and keep name calling. The sinking approval ratings of Odumba, the 3 stooges(that's Biden, Reid, and Pelosi), and the rest of this idiot congress will be expressed in next years' elections. I'm loving it!
Dashiel - Democrats on the other hand just accost and assault those at the townhall meetings that don't agree with them. Did you not see the vendor outside the meeting in St. Louis that was beaten by the union workers? Beat some "sense" into them huh? That's the way to win them over isn't it? That vendor was probably the inspiration for Rick's cartoon.
ACES you have stooped to a new lever of partisan hatchery. This letter should embarress everyone employed with the AC. And until I see a protest under 55 and none white I can't say they represent all of America. We are a country of more than old white people.
dashiel, you're projecting again.
Letter written just like a conservative would have it.
It's always about race, isn't it concernednative?
LYNNda, not a letter.
LYNNda is providing misinformation just like a good little democrat. Editorial, not letter.
Although I agree with many of the opinions of the editorial we have even bigger problems - lack of proper choices. The democrats are spending like crazy and definetly trying to have the governemnts hand in everything - you can decide for yourself if you call is socalism as there are arguments for both sides. The real problem is that we have lack of choices as the republicans really aren't much better and are also wasting our time, money, etc. They have failed to come up with alternative plans to counter the health care proposals of this liberal administration and therefore since they are not part of the solution, they are as President Bush said part of the problem. ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS need to somehow get back to what their jobs really are and STOP spending money like kids in a candy store. Our country needs some true leaders and someone to get these elected officials to do their jobs efficiently. We need a government of the people and for the people but instead (no matter who is in charge) we are getting leaders more concerned with personal interests and "what's in it for me" attitudes and it is disgusting!! We need plenty of grass root parties, etc. to be heard.
lol
If you are tired of all the spin and pr that is simply a defense of profits for health insurance companies please consider joining our voting bloc in support of single payer health care.
http://www.votingbloc.org/Health_Bloc.php
Not only did the republicans,think that the democrats, did not have a say in what they did for eight years,they shut us out completly!!Now the tables have turned, and look like you all don't like the way things are going!!Because you did not win, and you could not dig up any garbage on the president, now you people are doing what you do best, acting like a mob!!Yelling until you are blue in the face, not allowing anyone to get a word in, Those people should see themselves, looking crazy, and out of control.We the people spoke in november, and now we are sitting back, laughing at how stupid you people look, when you do no get your way!!Just do what we did for eight years, accept what it was, and deal with it!!
1941, your revisionist history would do NPR proud. Well done. The Dems embrace you.
I saw a member of the British Parliament on tv last night. He said that he as well as many others in England are absolutely shocked at what is happening in America and what America is becoming. He couldn't beleive that America, the land of the free and capitalism was turning away from what made America great and the best country in the world. He further said that he and many others across the pond were absolutely dumbfounded that America was even considering much less may pass a govt' health system being pushed by the democrats particularily considering what such a system has done to healthcare and the economy in his country. It was even more baffling to him considering the U.S. was considering such changes in the midst of a global economic recession. What dumbfounds me is how he and others in Europe can see what is happening in this country, but so many Americans are oblivious to it.
the democratic party, the party of more; more taxes, more govn't control of your life more entitlements or the illegals and entitlement crowd. yes, the party opf more!
This man has put it all together and says what really is the TRUTH! http://nalert.blogspot.com/2009/07/white-folks-will-riot-pastor-manning.... (Posted in another Letter)
"We are a country of more than old white people." Concerned @ 7:12 Yeah, concerned and Dash., you're right. Old white people should just stay home and take a pain pill. I thought you libs were supposed to be the tolerant ones. If someone were to remark that "We are a country of more than immature black people." You'd have a fit.
I see a poster above refers us to a website in support of single payer health care insurance. Keep in mind that single payer insurance means the government runs everything and pays for everyone. I mean I could just adopt someone if I wanted to pay all his medical bills.
Well I guess the Democrats don't like PEOPLE SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER when THE DEMOCRATS have the power...BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHA
"Not only are uncivil in their disagreement..calling the President a liar..a Nazi, and every other ugly label they can think of.." editorial AC 3/26/06, "..nothing more than a hatefest directed at the Bush-Cheney adminitration.. The protesters themselves.. have nothing constructive to say. They detest Bush, but hate is an agenda, just empty headed slogans they chant and scribble on their banners and placards. editorial AC 9/30/04, "As with Vietnam, anti war protesters are on the rise.. Much of the dissent is not reasoned criticism, whish is welcomed under our system of government, instead it's mean spirited and personnal, accusing the comander in chief of lying and incompetence." editorial AC 5/30/04 I get it, anti Bush protesters bad, anti Obama protesters good. The left should be civil, not call names, chant, not be mean spirited, etc. It's OK if the right beats on doors and windows, screams, shouts down any attempts at civil discourse, pushes their way into capacity rooms, and has empty headed slogans on signs and placards, etc. Maybe the AC should pull their archives from the web so we can't go back and look up their hypocrisy.
TechLover, you put your finger on it without realizing it. There were protestors ad nausea against Bush-Cheney. Keith Olberman ended a show last year saying. "Bush, why don't you just shut up?" The difference in the Bush administration and Obama's is that this Democrat administration attacks the protestors in the media and with jackbooted neoMaoists thugs in person. That's a big difference and the point of the editorial.
Post 8:10. When someone of their own kind speakes the truth, no comments are made.
From what I have read the only "organized thugs" are community organizers and union thugs from the democratic party.