Dissent is patriotic - not

SFGATE ^ | August 8, 2009 | Debra J. Saunders

[TaxPayer2000]

Imagine it's four years ago and an aide to President George W. Bush posted a blog on the Whitehouse.gov Web site that bemoaned Internet criticism of the Iraq war, then continued: "These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain e-mails or through casual conversations.

Since we can't keep track of all of them here at the White House, we're asking for your help. If you get an e-mail or see something on the Web about anti-war protests that seem fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov."

Substitute the words "health insurance reform" for "anti-war protests," and you get the exact wording of a blog posted by Macon Phillips, the White House director of new media, on Tuesday.

"I can only imagine the level of justifiable outrage had your predecessor asked Americans to forward e-mails critical of his politics to the White House," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, wrote in a letter to President Obama. "I suspect that you would have been leading the charge in condemning such a program."

No lie.

Now I don't think Obamaland was working on an "enemies list" - as some conservatives have charged. But I do want to note how deftly the left has abandoned its old rallying cry, "Dissent is patriotic."

Democratic leaders have taken to dissing health care dissenters who show up at town-hall meetings conducted by members of Congress visiting their districts - and not just for the boorish behavior of the loudmouths.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, dismissed protesters as "AstroTurf" - artificial grassroots support. On MSNBC's "Hardball," Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., exhorted the media to investigate town-hall protesters, as "This is just all organized."

And: "You in the media have to take a look at what's going on here. This is all planned. It's to hurt our president and it's ....

[sickoflibs]

I had the same thought.

[metmom]

Liberals are such hypocrites.

[MadisonABlane]

I question what they would do with the snitched articles and people? If this director of new media going to personally post a reply on each forum? Let them come here and see what happens with their cookie-cutter replies.

[Iron Munro]

Hillary Clinton Supports Protesters!

"I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic.
We should stand up and say, we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration."

-- Hillary Clinton April 28th, 2003

[ChildOfThe60s]

Pretty even handed, especially considering the publication. But I differ with the author on a very significant point:

Now I don't think Obamaland was working on an "enemies list" - as some conservatives have charged.

Total bull. That is exactly what they are working on. To be followed by thuggery and intimidation. Modern Democrats make Nixon look like a piker when it comes to using the IRS and other government agencies to intimidate political opposition. And I suggest Ms. Saunders think hard on that. Because eventually it won't be just the conservatives feeling the jackboot of the government pressing their face into the pavement.

[Jeff Head]

But, but...things are just different when you are an arrogant, marxist elite. You and your chosen one cannot possibly be wrong, or make the kinds of foolish mistakes like that chimp shrub did. So of course anyone speaking out against you, or the chosen one is "fishy" and false, and downright sedition that has been paid for by the evil capitalists. [/dripping sarcasm]

FISHY POSTERS SHOWING UP ALL OVER THE NATION

Barrack Hussein Obama's Whitehouse request to turn anyone in to the Whitehouse web site who is overheard speaking ill or "fishy" of the Obama Health Care plan has called up into many people's minds the abject sensorship of past totalitarian regimes. Many people have written in to the President or their representatives with direct messages regarding this.

MY LETTER TO THE WHITEHOUSE AND PRESIDENT OBAMA REGARDING FREE SPEECH

Others have created artwork conveying the comparisons to past regimes, and the seriousness of the matter:

---

Thanks to ThePeoplesCube.com and JEFFHEAD.COM for the artwork.

[MarkL]

Now I don't think Obamaland was working on an "enemies list"

Oh no? Care to ask "Joe the Plumber" or Sara Palin about being on an "enemies list?"

Mark

[Frank_2001]

“I question what they would do with the snitched articles and people?”

Just ask yourself, “How would the Soviets have handled such reactionaries?”;)

[pyx]

The White House is in bit of a conundrum because of this privacy statute that prohibits the White House from collecting data and storing it on people who disagree with it," Judge Andrew Napolitano

Since the Whitehouse has ALREADY collected email addresses and names, it has ALREADY violated the law. The Whitehouse CAN NOT destroy the email addresses and names it has ALREADY collected because it will violate another law.

In short, the Whitehouse has ALREADY broken the law.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Liberals are such hypocrites..."hypocrite" is such a benign word when it comes to liberals - they're actually liars - they lie routinely through omission - as in this case, when they are demonizing those protesting Obama's deathcare deforms, and deliberately forgetting to mention that only a few years ago they were claiming that protest is patriotic - they are such liars.....

[jessduntno]

Rmember when the “Great Library Check Up” hit the web? The Feds were going to monitor who checked out what books to see whou was checking out BOMB MANUALS? The Left went BONKERS!

[KJC1]

Impeach Obama.

He is accountable to the people, not the other way around.

[RobinOfKingston]

Now I don't think Obamaland was working on an "enemies list" - ...

They wouldn't call it an "enemies list" but it is the functional equivalent.

[Kartographer]

[Atom Smasher]

I agree with you here - that IS what they are trying to do...thuggery & intimidation!

Well stated!

[MadisonABlane]

If they want to put me in Guantanamo, let them. At least I’ll make sure something gets done about the terrorists there.

[Uncle Miltie]

To: flag@whitehouse.gov

“I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you’re not patriotic.
We should stand up and say, we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration.”

— Hillary Clinton April 28th, 2003

---

I dare say the Secretary of State’s disagreement is borderline fishy. If she can challenge the Administration on key policies in public, who knows what could happen next!!!

Oh, by the way, will you be retaining this record of my email, thereby illegally tracking dissent?

Or, will you be destroying this email, thereby illegally destroying records?

Please advise.

FOIA Requests on this subject will be interesting.

Stand by for NEWS!

[PanzerKardinal]

How dare you insult the Beloved Leader, President Barack,

He is the

Supreme Commander at the Forefront of the Struggle Against Imperialism and the United States

Greatest Saint Who Rules with Extensive Magnanimity

Lode Star of the Twenty-First Century

Best Leader Who Realized Human Wisdom

Leader with Extraordinary Personality

Perfect Picture of Wisdom and Boldness

Guardian Deity of the Planet

Heaven-Sent Hero

Power Incarnate with Endless Creativity

Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

Present-day God

World’s Greatest Writer
____________________

All who stand against him, stand against the inevitable tide of history!

Smash The Running Dogs of Capitalistic Big Pharma and Big Insurance!

Smash the Rightist Intriguers and Dissenters!

Forward to Hope and Change!

FORWARD TO VICTORY!!!!!

[rockrr]

It’s always so disconcerting to see something of common sense coming from the sfgate....