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August is normally a quiet period for politics. A chance for Political Representatives to take a summer vacation, while news and talk radio padded for subject matter. That all changed when Obama's Health Care Reform 'went south' and Town Hall meetings to prop them up occurred. They quickly became the forum to hurl concerns towards your local Congress or Senate member. They also showed, not a lot people liked what 'Obamacare' had to offer. More then anything else, Heath Care has been the rally cry the Right needed to unite the troops together. While certain outrage persists, Health Care Reform protesters have now drifted into uncharted waters.

During the G.W Bush years, the Left defined the use of grassroots movements, creating enough momentum with them to win the Elections of 2006 & 2008. The Right has taken notice, and adopted some 'Grassroots' tactics during the Health Care Reform process. During this period of rapid action from the Right, certain alliances have attached themselves to the debate. Being a 'New Kid on the Grassroots Block', the Right is now in danger of being associated with certain characteristics. Characteristics they should be wiser in avoiding.

Anti Obama sentiment from conservatives, has been festering ever since the 44th President started passing 'Executive Orders' like ordering room service. As the Right looks to gain traction through a Anti-Obama Grassroots movement, joining this alliance is open to anyone that shares a common disagreement against Obama. With such a cheap admission price, anyone can be welcome and now the Right has inherited a murky alliance.

When Nancy Pelosi 'labeled' Health Care Reform protesters as 'Astroturf' and accused them of using 'Nazi' comparisons, some on the Right easily dismissed the Pelosi talk as proof 'She Was On The Ropes' with pushing her Health Care Bill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gsc_R12Q-4&feature=player_embedded

The 'Death Panel' or the 'End of Life Care' section of H.R 3200, was the main focus the Right used to prove 'Obamacare' would usher in a era of 'New Eugenics'. The nation's elder population attended Town Halls and yelled allegations how they were soon to be 'thrown under the bus' by the 'death panels'.

Palin

Even Sarah Palin saw an opportunity to insert herself into the debate and made this comment on her Facebook page

“The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil”.
Sarah Palin Statement on the Current Health Care Debate Facebook August 7th 2009

Around August 14th, the Senate Panel saw the writing on the walls and removed it from the Bill. It was all too late, the seed had been planted. 'Chicken Little' styled rants aimed at the clause continued at Town Hall meetings all across America. By focusing hysterically over this one section, the Right missed their chance at addressing other concerns in the Bill. larouche protester

Before I continue this next point, let me explain how much I loath Representative Barney Frank of the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts. I consider his Congressional performance and utter leftest agenda, a concern for us all. That being said, taking a pot shot at Barney Frank can be extremely irresistible. When a protester started bringing up Nazi comparisons to Barney Frank at a Town Hall Meeting, Frank responded to her question with his own question. “What Planet Do You Spend Your Time On?”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYlZiWK2Iy8&feature=player_embedded

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Like I said, few can resist taking a 'Shot' at Barney Frank, these are two 'Media Pundits' that did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmwV1MN0gU8&feature=player_embedded RUSH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te_N7RBoqjY&feature=player_embedded O’REILLY

EDITOR NOTE: While I object to Crooks & Liars using profanity in the title of their You Tube video (link abive), they were one of the only places I could locate this clip for this post. Also, O’Reilly never pointed out which Political Movement this lady was with, so it does give her a free pass..

As I mentioned earlier, the Right have inherited a murky alliance, this protester asking Rep. Frank the question was a member of the Lyndon LaRouche Movement.

Conspiracy theorist Lyndon LaRouche, leader of a fringe political cult that defies categorization, and his supporters have contributed to the divisiveness surrounding the public debate on health care reform by producing and disseminating materials comparing President Barack Obama and other government officials to Hitler, Nazis and fascists, and by attending Congressional "town hall" meeting and other events around the country.
LaRouche's organization is built upon a cadre of loyal supporters and publications that promote his conspiratorial world views. LaRouche, 86, has a long record of advancing conspiracy theories linking the AIDS crisis, the drug epidemic and international financial crises to prominent Jews and Jewish organizations.
For many years, LaRouche has employed Holocaust imagery to express his opposition to a wide range of political issues. Since May 2009, LaRouche and his network of supporters, many of which are part of the LaRouche Political Action Committee (LPAC), have focused on health care reform, producing signs, banners, pamphlets and other items that employ Nazi imagery, including the Hitler comparisons.

obama -larouchepac

This moment, has cemented what I now call 'Cringeworthy Conservatives'. The Right were so eager in adopting anyone that disagrees with the Health Care Bill, they unknowingly sided with the LaRouche movement. An Organization that were so eager in seeking legitimacy, they came in through the door they had been rightly locked out of for years. So eager was Rush, O’Reilly & company to attack Barney Frank, they defended the antics of a LaRouche supporter. As much as I hate to admit this next point, Barney Frank was correct in asking if she really was an earthling.

Last week, I covered my local Town Hall meeting hosted by my local member Representative Kevin McCarthy for Solid Principles. I was struck by several 'Cringeworthy' moments and had to leave as it was too pathetic to endure. First of all, McCarthy has a safe GOP seat and Kern County is predominantly against Obamacare. McCarthy indicated his support for Health Reform, just not Obama's version of it (no surprises there). During question time, the audience started regurgitated the same 'End of Life' concerns and a plethora of Glenn 'Beckisms'. These tirades merged into one massive 'Cringeworthy' moment after another, as people threw themselves into a frenzy. The hope of making it as a highlight on Fox News the following day as concerned citizens was at stake. If the Right doesn't address these characteristics soon, the allegations or stigma of Right Wing Loonies, may damage it's stock.

With just enough arm twisting, the Democrats could've easily pushed this bill through already as they have numbers to do it. The GOP on the other hand, are spectators and could only fan the Public into pushing back. At the end of 'Round One' of the Health Care Debate, the bell rang while the Left were 'down for the count'. Now in 'Round Two', the GOP & Blue Dogs need to use some 'Rope A Dope' tactics. That is, wear down the energy of those pushing for the current 'Obamacare' Bill and during their fatigue, expose more objectionable elements to invigorate more public concerns. If the Right is going to use this method of defeating 'Obamacare', they need to make sure their supporters are playing with a 'full deck' to comprehend the argument. Likewise, avoiding fringe groups that are looking to use the Health Care Reform Debate as their Grassroots Débutante into the mainstream, is far more risky in avoiding.

Craig Edwards Solid Principles Co-Founder