Posted on 08/23/2009 9:52:08 AM PDT by rhema
Protesters and citizens asking angry questions have flooded the "town halls" where congressional representatives have tried to sell President Obama's health care reform agenda to the American people.
The protesters have stolen the show, with 69 percent of Americans telling pollsters they are following the story closely. Town-hall-goers -- some raucous -- are probing costs, are raising questions about government encroachment on private life, and are deploring the fact that few legislators seem to have read the 1,000-page health care reform bill. Democrats have often had trouble answering credibly.
The protesters are having an impact. Last week, the administration appeared to pull back on the "public option" as a centerpiece of Obama's reform agenda.
I thought folks on the left loved protesters -- the rowdier, the better. Liberals are fond of reminding us that free speech is sacred, and that dissent -- "speaking truth to power" -- is a patriotic duty. Remember the 2008 Republican National Convention? The ACLU of Minnesota went to court to win a parade permit that would have allowed thousands of protesters, including anarchists who had vowed to shut down the convention, to encircle St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center, where delegates convened.
Today's town hall protesters get no such respectful treatment. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has branded them "evil-mongers." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer have labeled them "un-American." Left-wing journalists have mocked them as buffoons, extremists and crazies.
Most significantly, some Democratic leaders have charged that town hall protesters are not ordinary citizens speaking from the heart, as they appear to be. Instead, they are puppets, part of an "ugly campaign" -- in Pelosi's and Hoyer's words -- orchestrated by shadowy special interests.
If you know town-hall-goers, as I do, you know that most learned about the meetings from friends,
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
The left has big problems with the American people saying, “Where’s the CarFax?” when it comes to their socialist healthcare fiasco.
It's all getting away from them.
The slumbering giant is stirring...and he's waking up hopping mad.
Keep spreading the word...the more people who discover the facts about the Health Care monstrosity, the lower his numbers will go...and the more who will really start taking a harder look at his other initiatives (stimulus, bail-outs, take overs, Cap & Trade, FOCA, etc.) all of which are equally destructive to America.
A PETITION ON FACEBOOK FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RESTORATION
A 4TH OF JULY TEA PARTY SPEECH
...and on the lighter side, take your mind off the Obamanation for a few minutes and enjoy some beautiful Western US scenery slideshows.
After the treatment of Katy Abram at BENEDICT ARLEN’s town hall (and after), YOU EFFING LIBERALS have Absolutely NO ROOM TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING!!
Bussed in the union THUGS and the ACORN HOODS, and it was only THEN when VIOLENCE HAPPENED at the meetings.
Before that, these town hall meetings were LOUD, maybe even RANCOROUS.. but the were NEVER VIOLENT.
WHERE are the HATE CRIME charges against the fat WHITE GUY With the PURPLE PEOPLE BEATER tshirt Calling that Black man a N***** as he KICKED him...
I have 3 Union Members that I consider decent enough to call FRIENDS, I’m even EMBARASSED to admit that I am a member of 2 UNIONS (they aren’t much better, to be honest)
The biggest scandal about Obamacare is that there are few if any legislators that have actuallt read the entire bill.
Three out of four explained that "the message" just wasn't getting out there. The effort was poorly managed. They shouldn't have let Congress draft the bill. It's the Republican's fault. Obama can't keep ahead of the lies coming out of the townhall meetings. I mean really.
Bill Kristol had a simpler explanation: OBAMACARE IS FAILING ON IT'S MERITS. Of course we all know that. Nevertheless is still shocks me to watch the Washington Insiders conjure up these convoluted explanations for what is staring us all in the face: We don't want Obamacare. That is why it is failing. That's all it is. Occam's Razor triumphs again.
The left lies about what it wants. It really wants the rest of America to just STFU nd follow them blidnly and allow them to drive us off of the cliff. You know how in every group there is always someone who wants to change everythign around and then end up messing everything that was done befoe up....these are liberals and if allowed they fowl everyone else’s nest not just their own.
I know it’s been mentioned a million times but I really think it should scare the hell out of us that most congressmen and their staffs havn’t even read (much less comprehended!) the bills they’ve composed and are prepared to foist on us citizens. Congress is supposed to be the most important deliberative body in the nation. Instead, it’s become a laughing-stock and a parody of itself! Even a George Orwell would have a difficult time inventing a metaphor that applies to them. It would be funny if the consequences were not so tragic.
I also saw that program on Fox. I didn’t expect more from Juan because he’s a liberal hack and always spouts the party line. However, I may be wrong but I think there’s an implicit fear still lingering among many commentators that to criticize Obama sharply would make them vulnerable to the charge of “racism.” That may be ridiculous but I think so many media figures are so paranoid about it that they’re afraid to be candid.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.