Remember the marketing rule of complaints. For every 1 person who actually complains there are 10 that never do business with you gain and don’t let you know why.
For each of these protesters there are probably 100 or 1000 that are against the health care disaster but can’t get to a place to protest.
Exactly. Politicians also know that those who are really stoked for or against you decide your fate. They are the ones who will make the largest contributions and comprise the tireless volunteers who make phone calls, knock on doors and put fliers on cars. You want those kind of people on your side.
You're not going to get that level of commitment from people who won't get off their duffs unless you give them walking around money, free bread and circus and provide transportation in A/C coaches.
Politicians also see the national polls and realize that the opposition is not an anomaly to their district - it's widespread. They read the tea leaves, so to speak.