Blog Correction: Keith Olbermann had an update on something I blogged about over the weekend. Apparently, the NY Times Saturday article stating that Fox and NBC had reached some self-censorship deal between Bill O'Reilly and Keith Olbermann is not true. If you're interested in this story…watch this short video from last night…
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
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Now on to today's topic….Bonehead Thugs-N-Disharmony….
Remember back in the fall of 2000 when the Republican machine staged what was later called the "Brooks Brothers Riot", helping to stop the recount of Florida ballots? GOP political operatives were promised swanky resort time if they came to Florida to disrupt the recount…..and it worked. It was the Republican version of American democracy….if you can't win at the ballot box, disrupt the process until you get the outcome you desire.
It's deja-vu all over again.
Whether it's disrupting the democratic process of recounting ballots in Florida or whether it's disrupting town hall discussions about health care reform in America…..the GOP's tactics are the same…..fake some grassroots movement and make it appear like hoards of voters are outraged….raise hell….then point to the hell-raising as evidence of some majority populist movement, in this case, against reforming health care.
It's all part of the anti-democratic GOP playbook……
"People should be asked to meet in the parking lot a half hour before the scheduled start."
"Everyone should be asked to use one of the questions or a similar one that boxes in the Rep. The team should also be advised to spread out inside the hall but should try to get seats in the front half."
"The objective is to put the Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up."
"You need to rock the boat early in the Rep's presentation. Watch for an opportunity to yell out….If he blames Bush for something or offers other excuses—-call him on it, yell back and have someone else follow up with a shout out…..The purpose is to make him uneasy early on and set the tone for the hall as clearly informal, and free-wheeling. It will also embolden others…."
"The balance of the group should applaud when the question is asked, further putting the Rep on the defensive. If the Rep tries a particularly odious diversion (dripping with irony, much?), someone from the group should yell out to answer the question."
Stopping a recount or stopping health care reform….it's all the same…
MacGuffie's memo was posted to the Tea Party Patriots' list serve, which is hundreds of members large, and includes representatives from not just small protest groups, but also major anti-health reform organizations such as Conservatives for Patients Rights, and Patients First, Patients United Now (an affiliate of Americans for Prosperity), and, yes, Freedom Works.
With such broad and powerful memberships, the group is able to co-ordinate protests and counter protests at events hosted by members of Congress and pro-reform groups. And that's just what they've been doing, and plan to do much more over the August congressional recess, during which many believe the fate of health care reform will be decided.
This thuggish band of GOP Jihadists, working off their weapons of mass disruption playbook, and determined to kill health care reform for the sake of a handful of very, very rich health insurers……have launched their summer offensive against the American people…..in Philadelphia, Austin, Long Island, and a host of other locations where congressional representatives were attempting to hold town meetings to explain health care reform.
Remember, 70% of Americans not only want health care reformed in America, they want a public option to private health insurance in that reform. Those seeking to bully and disrupt town hall meetings have been organized (knowingly or not) by corporate health care lobbyists to stop the public option or kill all health care reform,….just like the "Tea Partiers" were organized by America's richest to pre-empt the Democrat's plan to end the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans.
Those who work directly for the fat cats (like Dick Armey) are leveraging the bitter, and often racist, feelings of anti-Obama voters. Those who believe Obama is not a U.S. citizen, those who believe Obama is a secret Muslim, those who believe Obama is a socialist-marxist…..those who simply detest the fact that America has elected it's first black president…..are having their sore-loserness and bitter hatred exploited in order to kill significant health care reform.
Unwittingly or not, those following the GOP's how-to-bully, intimidate-and-disrupt playbook, are being used as props to advance the agenda of the country's most powerful.
And these people are the ones who swear they represent "real America."
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Rev –
Do you honestly believe that the DNC, Acorn, and Moveon.org are any different in terms of wanting to present a unified message or strategy? Every partisan group today has a 'playbook'.
Your source is a bit weak in my opinion – a memo from a Connecticut opposition group does not speak for the RNC by any means. I thought it funny as well that your source is the TPM Muckraker – aptly named.
The difference, in my view, is that most of these opposition groups are volunteers expressing personal views rather than paid operatives of Acorn or Moveon.org.
It appears to me that you have a double standard – these tactics are perfectly fine when they support your position but are heinous acts when they proclaim an opposite view.
Unfortunately, this kind of polarized behavior on both sides and cowardice on the part of our 'leaders' prevents any real solutions to the problems we all face. It seems that rather than finding the best solution anymore the winner is the side that can create the most noise and affect the popularity poles – the only measure that seems to matter to these politicians.
If you remember correctly it was the Democrats who started the recounts in Florida because they didn't like the certified results. also all subsequent, independent analysis shows the Bush won. Deal with it.
Consider….
Pan tries his best to distract after a blog post about……distraction.
That's very special.
This isn't a matter of both sides doing it. Sure both sides have their political strategy….but only one side, the GOP one, is willing to wreck the place to get their own way. The Florida vote count disruption was caused by GOP'ers. The town hall chaos is being caused by the same people, literally….the same people.
"Volunteers?" What a joke. There's is nothing "average citizenry" about the current GOP bullying strategy.
I have no double standard here….the reason? Democrats haven't thugged their way….unless, you know, you have proof to share.
Pan is acting all coy as he attempts to cover for that same handful of extra-rich Americans that conservative hacks have been covering for forever.
Anything to keep those health care profits high, right Pan?
“Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.”
- Robert Heinlein
My bad Rev. I should have known better. I wasn't trying to distract from the issue at all, merely indicate that these tactics go both ways.
I do have a bias in the healthcare debate – on the side of the physicians and health care provides. The insurance companies do take unfair advantage, both public payers and private insurers. Their stake in this debate is higher than anyone's, but they have little input into the process. Many good doctors have already left the profession, and I expect more will follow if the payment structure for their services is set to medicaid levels.
Rather than seriously debate issues, it's easier for you to pull out the class envy card (is that right next to your race card?) from your deck of canned responses.
You've just illustrated that there's no longer a reason to read your blog, because there's no real exchange of ideas here. Enjoy the rest of your envious, malevolent little life.
Pan….since you have a bias in the healthcare debate….here's a question for you..
my wife had knee surgery about 7 years ago…….her knee started bothering her again so she called the doctor's office who did the surgery for an appointment……she was told that she would have to get an MRI of her knee but she would have to get the order from her primary care doctor…….she got the order and the MRI….she went to the knee doctor and he told her she didn't need the MRI and had her knee x-rayed there at the office
here's the question….who's responsible for the cost of the unused MRI?
Please let me know what medication you are on. I too want to travel to the land of the absurd.
No Pan….if "tactics" like the Brooks Brothers Riot went both ways, you'd have provided evidence. You didn't.
Yours is the "let me confuse the topic by asserting equivalency" "argument"….even when there isn't any equivalency.
Thanks for throwing in your own personalized phony scare tactic about those soon-to-disappear-from-America doctors.
This blog debates all issues…….all facts and comments are welcome. Attempts to distort and distract are called out for what they are.
Now, if you have some evidence that conservative special interest groups are not manipulating the town halls and then calling it a grassroots effort…..bring it.
"envious, malevolent little life"……you know nothing about me other than what I blog here. I know nothing about you other than the comments I read from you.
And then, amazingly, you talk about "seriously debating issues."
angry…my buddy…..I know you are an expert of the quick hitter comment, and I mean that in a flattering way……but are you directing that medication question at me? If so, please explain what's absurd.
First I am surprised by the headline. I thought you were an older fella Rev, or didn't you know that there was a rap group with a name similar to the title, unless you are a hipster. Haha, I like it.
Anyway, I listened to some of the recordings of the people and their screaming matches. What a joke, I would be willing to bet most of them have no idea what they are talking about, they are just saying what they have been told as you point out. I was with you until then, but then you had to say that the Dems never participate in such actions. They are the biggest thugs. Remember the thugs guarding the polling booths that were intimidating
Also, the 70% number is right, sort of. If they can keep their own doctors and get the same types of coverage as they currently have and it is a lower price they will be fine. To change it just to change it just to benefit those uninsured will not work for most Americans. This is the most selfish generation ever. Remember only 45M are uninsured. That leaves 335M insured, most of these are voters. Many of the uninsured are aliens or so they want us to think.
Also, for our politicians to not know what the bill says is unacceptable, as it should be. They are spending almost $2T of our future generations dowery. They throw the trillion dollar word around like it's peanuts.
Also in your last paragraph you seem to be calling the followers of the GOP lemmings. Isn't that how militant members of all of the parties are are? It almost seems as though they are treating Obama like the Dems treated Palen. Not letting the truth get out and when a little of it does they murky up the waters.
"Volunteers?" What a joke" You are right about that. Both major parties had ads this week hiring protestors/poll takers etc, what else could they be, the salary was $8 per hour.
Observers at polling booths aren't thugs unless they try to disrupt voting or the counting of votes. I'm open to Democratic examples of bullying and thuggishness….I just can't recall any.
"Also, the 70% number is right, sort of. If they can keep their own doctors and get the same types of coverage as they currently have and it is a lower price they will be fine."
And that, briefly, is what the progressives' health reform bill looks like.
Only a small group of the GOP's members would I call lemmings. Those who disrupt the town halls do not represent all Republicans……and that should make Republicans upset. America urgently needs moderate, sane conservatives to step up and denounce the nuts and the thugs.
Agreed — Republicans need to put their efforts first into taking back their party. A lot of good conservative principles that could help this country are being left by the wayside because some people — like me — are tuning out all conservatives because we are sick of the nuts and thugs and rhetoric.
Jane Hamsher names the names…..and they ain't your 'average Americans.'
http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/how-come-cbs-journalists-cant-recognize-paid-lobbyists-when-they-see-them/
As usual, corporate media is doing their best to protect the guilty.
Rev I remember some intimidation reports, however they were probably made by FOX or Rush or Beck. Is anyone else beginning to lose faith in our whole system.
Rev, if I could be sure of the details of the bill I would be all for it as long as it allowed people to keep their current doctors. And we could maintain the status quo of the good sides of our current plans. That was an embarrassment to all americans over the weekend. To not let a person talk and listen to what he might have to say.
Well I am denouncing the dumb bastards right now. I am so sick of the Reps fighting against every little thing. We need the Gingritch crew back, sh*t was rocky and stuff but at least they were willing to work with Clinton objectively and not fight him on every damn thing. Anyway…..
Hey Bubba, Remember that, Obama won so deal with it! To Pan: I understand and appreciate your argument. But the way it stands now the current system is killing us. It reminds me of the German doctor, when asked by an American reporter to compare his standard of living with his counterparts in the U.S. To paraphrase," I live in a million dollar house and drive a new Audi. Would I like to make more money? Yeah, but I`m very comfortable."
The very things you accuse the other side of doing(and in somecases you are correct) are the very tactics your liberal brethern have perfected.
1. The Dems had waves of lawyers descending on Fla. as soon as Fla.'s results were announced. The Dm. machine attempted to invalidate the overseas military votes. I will ask you onre more time to read the results of the Cvil Rights Commission's study of the 2000 Fla. election and put that rant to bed.
2. The liberal causes have been funded and directed by groups that orginize protests in the name of various causes. The anti-war and immigration rallys are good examples.
3. 70% of Americans may want health care reform but the numbers supporting the current reform are not close to 70%.
4. You ridicule those thatdisagree with you and play the old bait and switch game. Because I am opposed to the health plan I must be A. a racist, B. believe Obama is a Muslim and on and on. Yes I do believe Obama is a radical
socialist but that is not the issue. The issue to me, is the proposed health plan financially sustainable?-NO
Rev you are so intent on villifying one side you fail to step back and look at the actions and motives of the other. Both sides will stop at nothing to gain power and use that power for their own advancement.
Yes Fred, Obama did win. I don't believe I said anything different. I was referring to 2000 in Florida. Which Rev used to show Republican "thuggery". Reading before commenting usually makes you look less stupid.
Some good observations….and once again I thank all for taking the time to comment.
There are many great Americans in the conservative movement. While it's true I use a lot of hyperbole, and yes, mockery…..to liven up the place, I don't doubt for a second the sincerity of conservatives. So, when I bring out the hyperbole and the mockery, as I've noted before, it's usually aimed at the powerful who are often guilty of hypocrisy or wanton manipulation of facts and events.
One size never fits all, you know, unless we're talking spandex.
While there may be legitimate disagreements over health care reform, as angry mentions, it is also true that propaganda, lies and manipulation (as in the town halls) abound in the national "discussion."
I think it's important to understand who is driving the propaganda and manipulation….and why they're driving it. The Republican Party powers don't want the Democrats to be successful on health reform for political reasons….so that's understandable. However, the main opponents to health care reform are the profiteers from the existing system, insurers and pharma.
We need to comprehend the "deathers" and the town hall disruptions with the full understanding of who the opponents in the "debate" really are.
"The Republican Party powers don't want the Democrats to be successful on health reform for political reasons….so that's understandable. However, the main opponents to health care reform are the profiteers from the existing system, insurers and pharma."
Rev I do think that some of the Republicans do want health care reform and see a need for it. They just don't want to socialize it all the way and put govt in charge of the way it is doled out. I agree and feel after watching the a-holes at the weekend town hall meetings that they may have been paid by profiteers in the healthcare system. The Reps have come up with a plan that has some merits to it, however for them to get the Dems to even look at and consider it, the Reps will have to stop using it as a scare tactic and a political stump.
Agreed.
Bubba, I CAN read between the lines, yes?
Nice measured responses, Reverend. By the by, have you turned any of us in to Obama's goon squads using that creepy WH email address, yet?
larry,
I turned Obama in for saying that he only wants the health care public option to provide competition for private insurers. We can't let dangerous disinformation like that slide by. We all know single-payer is Obama's goal.
Single payer, the most efficient approach to managing risk, is a worthy goal….even though nothing coming close to single payer is being advanced by Democrats.
You are simply characterizing Obama's "goals" as something other than what he has clearly and definitively explained.
In the past Obama has clearly and definitively explained that single payer is the long-term goal, taking 15 or 20 years, Reverend. I heard him on the radio. What he and the rest of the progressives are claiming now are lies and most Americans who've been paying any attention at all are catching on.
Obama often "clearly and definitively" contradicts himself.
If the public option stays, single payer will be the eventual result.
If single payer is the end result….then we'll all be better off.