When Liberals protest it's "fascism," when Conservatives astroturf-protest it's "democracy"
(Rachel Maddow discussed the astroturfing a-holes going to the August town halls.)
You can always count on the media and the wingnutosphere to be hypocrites whenever any sort of protest takes place. For Republicans, they usually have to pay for their Zombie Plumbers to show up which is called: Astroturfing.
Astroturf refers to apparently grassroots-based citizen groups or coalitions that are primarily conceived, created and/or funded by corporations, industry trade associations, political interests or public relations firms.
No, it's not the fake grass that was used in baseball and football stadiums, but big cash being paid by corporations to promote conservative philosophy and undermine real change. Matt Yglesias writes: Astroturf vs “AstroTurf”. Read it.
The Malkins of course just love Astroturfing and probably view it as just another tool conservatives have to lie and cheat their way through another tough issue. And the media wittingly comply with their wishes. Think Progress has a whole list of these lobbyist/corporate shills. Even Newt Gingrich is supplying a toolkit for the teabaggers to use to disrupt health care town halls.
Thers at Whiskey Fire explains:
Which brings us to today, where by the miracle of wingnut headcase engineering, the Moral Wall Switch for coordinated attempts to disrupt other people's public events has been hastily and incompetently flipped from Evil to Good. To wit, here's the Tea Party-associated Freedom Works offering advice to Tea-Baggers about how best to disrupt town-hall meetings held by elected Democratic officials who want to discuss healthcare with their constituents:– Be Disruptive Early And Often: “You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep’s presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep’s statements early.” – Try To “Rattle Him,” Not Have An Intelligent Debate: The goal is to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before he even takes questions.”
Unsurprisingly, this is precisely what the Tea-Baggers have been doing. (Check out the video especially.)
And what has been the reaction from those who invented imaginary liberal behavior and are watching as their side actually does precisely the stuff they only pretended liberals were doing and which they denounced as Wicked, Deranged, and Perfidious?
Cheering it on, of course. Duh.
How long will it take the traditional media to expose the corporations that are running this con and even mention the word "astrotufing" in a serious way? I know, don't hold your breath.
UPDATE: It's taking Robert Gibbs to try and wake up the media from their slumber over these events:
We have Robert Gibbs openly calling this the Brooks Brothers Brigade. That's a start.
Q: Are you concerned at what appears to be well-orchestrated protesting of health care reform at town halls as derailing your message?
GIBBS: NO, I get asked every day about the myriad of things that could be derailing our message. I would point out that I don't know what all those guys were doing, what were they called, the Brooks Brothers Brigade in Florida in 2000, appear to have rented a similar bus and are appearing together at town hall meetings throughout the country
Q: They seem to be pretty widespread.
GIBBS: I seem to see some commonality in who pops up in some of these things.
Q: Like individuals?
GIBBS: Yeah.
Q: Really?
GIBBS: Yeah.
Q: Can you discuss names or ....
GIBBS: I don't have names but I think you can see quite a bit of similarity between who shows up where.
He's clearly trying to lead the horses of the press corps to water, not that they'll drink.
I heard some Villager on TV say that Gibbs is making a mistake because he is only making Matt Drudge's website bigger. Really, I thought he already ruled their world.
[H/t Atrios]
Fear hate Mongers racist and Liars yes I am writing about the brain dead Ignorant and Incompetent MORONS CLOWNS IDIOTS White Trailer Trash repukulans the little brain weasels that like the capacity to think for themselves or use critical thinking.
Scum Trash and Garbage must be repukulans I can smell it over here Anti American Scum and Trash.
Wasn't this procedure established in a Peyton Manning commercial?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwDAfdmNMVw
Funny ......... the rest of the world actually gets taught history and from another source other than hollywood..........
And in 1930's you had the same kind of bind hate speech in Europe, Germany I think it was ......... and I wonder how that turned out.
How long will it take the traditional media to expose the corporations that are running this con and even mention the word "astrotufing" in a serious way?
About a week after hell freezes over and meaningful healthcare reform is buried a mile deep at the bottom Marianas Trench.
Conservatives have historically fought against any decision which made the Nation better for everyone. Except for servitude, they hate the middle class and poor. This party has been whores for the rich since the Radical Republicans of the 1860's.
They're kinda like leaches then.
They seduce the middle class then suck their juices.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Preemptively speaking: Give it up. You are protesting against people that you never voted for in the past and never, ever will vote for in the future. Do not try to justify your disruptive behavior by screeching, "Free speech!" Whether it was the Presidential election, or the election of Democratic Representatives and Senators, you had your chance in November at the polls and YOU LOST!
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
It runs around in diminishing circles, flapping and spewing blood from its stump.
Meanwhile the lumpy rash cat is chewing on its head in the corner.
a headless Vulture? Claws & beak still sharp, but its pecking at the wrong corpse.
The conservatives are protesting against everything we hold dear on the left- They hate liberty, diversity, and personal freedom.
If they really want government to stay out of the health care business, then why do they want the government to intrude on a woman's right to have an abortion?
The right would have us obey their set of rules- They would have us fall to our knees and wortship their imaginary Jesus, and shove gays back in the closet, and turn back the clock to a time when black people were treated as less than human...
What ENRAGES the right wing rabble is the fact a black man is in the White House- they will do anything to destroy him..
The right has no idea what freedom means- i've met several right wingers who think freedom comes ONLY through the worship of Jesus.
They are out of touch with reality..
Plus remember- right wingers cannot debate-they are anti-intellectual simpltons who embrace bully tactics- they shout people down,and they threaten people with violence and/or death...
I think we will see more Obama supporters at these town hall meetings. I think these supporters will take it upon themselves to surround the disrupters and isolate them to get them to shut up. If I were at one of these events I would start demanding to know from these assholes how long have they been a racist and what the hell is American or patriotic about that? I would also demand to know where they hid their white sheets. We need to keep calling them racists over and over again, expose them for what they are!
Just be aware these right wingers have a mob mentality, and some of them can be violent and might take a swing at you, so be carefull...
Have some right winger take a swipe at me ?? One can only dream.
I anxiously await that day.
I don't like violence. But if I get hit first...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJqf5r78hk
NOBODY 2012
They should be wearing brown shirts. That's the image Americans really need to see because it is the truth. Half of those people probably have big red Nazi flags hanging up in their living rooms anyway. Maybe we can take up a collection to get the other half their own brown shirts.
Don Briggs diary at KOS about how one Representative & supporters stopped the Tea-Bagging-Brooks Bros.
http://www.dailykos.com/
Rachel Maddow discusses the Town Hall disrupters and the Brooks Brothers Brigade (in Florida in 2000) with Chris Hayes of The Nation:
Rachel Maddow - guest Chris Hayes on the Town Hall disrupters
Democracy is too important to be entrusted to politicians.
Rise Up!
Protest!
When Rachel showed those angry mobs at the Florida vote recount in 2000, she identified about 10 repuglican staffers who were first in line at the protests. That really pissed me off.
"Grass roots"... my aching ass.
Colbert is hilarious right now, talking about FreedomWorks and the "grass-roots" festivals they promote!!!!
Angry white conservative mob still bitter we had a free and fair election that couldn't be stolen and that there's a black man in the White House.
http://mcjoan.dailykos.com/
luckily the 'fair and balanced' MSM is rooting for their poor oppressed souls.
We are witnesses to some rather strange theater. With Faux attempting to sabotage the Clunker program by falsely claiming that spyware or whatever is downloaded to citizens PCs if they visit the gov website, thats almost a treasonable act by Faux. Will somebody please dismember Faux for what they are doing, its time for some draconian action by Congress against the liars.
Anybody who listens to that crap deserves not to get the rebate
They claim we stole it without being able to refer to a Florida or aOhio.
In 2012, expect new emphasis on voter ID's, ACORN, and illegal aliens coming to America to mess up our elections.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
were all liberals now?
I love Rachel. But I gotta say, Olberman kicks ass.
The corporate rats at MSNBC and Fox get together to try a truce so they can cover their asses, and what does Keith do? On his first day back from break he lambasts not only O'Reilly again, but adds Murdoch, and now Lou Dobbs to his list. I'm impressed.
The people of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage." J.K. Galbraith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJAd24HilCA
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
If people turn out to be dumb enough and pathetic enough to get scared by these tactics and not pass meaningful healthcare reform, I hope we never get it and the ignorant and arrogant are made to suffer alike.
What is the most effective response to these repubes and other right wingnuts? What can anyone do but either drag them out of the meetings or out shout them? I don't know what the average American can do when the crazies take over the room. But there must be an appropriate response. What the republicans used to do is screen the audience before the speakers arrived. And if the wrong person got in they were quickly grabbed and dragged from the room.
at KOS give a good example of how to deal with these cretins.
http://www.dailykos.com/
Conservatives don't get sarcasm. They will read the headline and take it literally. They believe Colbert is on their side, they are dumb as rocks. Too bad arrogance and rudeness go with that idiocy, a totally obnoxious package those rethuglitards.
Is it the 21st century yet?
Will those senior citizens give up their Medicare?
According to a new CNN poll the support for Medical Reform is 50% to 45% against, but when parsed it's that those over 50 oppose reform, and those under 50 are for it, making something of a generational divide.
So it looks like people are afraid they'll lose something they're certain of, Medicare and Medicaid, even though they're going bankrupt, for a new program that might be more efficient and beneficial overall.
However, some portion of that group may believe that Obama wants to kill them through rationed care, making a case for effectiveness on the part of conservatives propaganda.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
show up at one of the events these tbaggers are going to disrupt, and, right when they are all getting hopped up on the hate, stand up and yell, "yeah and we're not gonna let some (insert racial slur of choice here) tell us what to do", and just see what the reaction is.
Oh, and video it as well.
NOT a good idea. These pre-sentients don't need any more riling up.
to rile them up to the point that they reveal their real reason for disruption- a Black Man is president. Then maybe MSM will start to see these tbagges for what they really are.
At least a "wheres the birth certificate?" sign would do
Maddow, as usual, is right on target with this one. Unfortunately, this 'hooliganism' is what passes for refined behavior in some parts of the country.
I'm sure there has to be a way to counter this rather dubious practice...while still preserving the cherished open access to officials.
The easy answer would be for the congressman to take questions in advance, on cards, for example. But that presents problems of its own.
Bill Maher had it right:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKL2AIYmZ4Y
These are self loathing white racist Christians...
These are the very same people who demanded any critics of Bush sit down and shut up.....
Notice the nut with the Bible? I guess they think Jesus will heal us all, better than any health plan....these right wingers are all scum..
I will admit one thing- I wish Dems were as vocal with Republicans 5 years ago...But with intelligent challenges, not this infantile bullying...In recent years too many Democrats were bullied into silence...
Bullied or anthraxed into silence.
another thing I noticed...they looked to be older white males.
limbaugh wannabees
Some of these right wingers are so hostile I wouldn't put it past them to show up at an event like this armed- i hope secret service treats such scum..accordingly
that should be our job , as in our duty . We talk about freedom yet so few are willing to defend it , dont forget the tree , sorry " Idol " is on gotta go .
a-mer-akins ( today ) have little backbone , i would rather stand with an old man shooting at a new age fighter , protecting his homeland for his right to live and to protect his family than deal with the cutthroats in our congress and then again maybe we should , stand with that old man / woman and deal the congress a NEW DEAL .
every time you throw a little mud , you lose a little ground .
What this amounts to is orchestrated riots. The CEOs, and Presidents of these lobbying firms should be charged and arrested.
Why didn't the representative stand up for his constituent's right to ask a question? Why did the representative stand there and watch, and not defend this man's right to ask him a question?
spinless !
every time you throw a little mud , you lose a little ground .
It's not like he will lose any votes. The teabagger most likely don't live in his district and can't against him anyway.
They really want to KILL this Health Care thing.
Why??
Because they know if it actually passes and people
REALLY DO GET THE INSURANCE THEY NEED...
Then it is ALL OVER FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY...
ALL OVER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS
ALL OVER
O-V-E-R
THE END!!
SO... they will do ANYTHING to trash this.
OBAMA needs to come out and make the speech of his life.
Lay out the history, the plan and OWN IT!!
Let seniors know where their Medicare comes from.
Let people know what's at stake.
Let the Republican party know you are through F*CKING around!!!!!
THEN OWN IT!!
and smash the troglodytes FOREVER!
That's the meta-philosophical theme of these brainless hordes who don't even have the consciousness left to comprehend that they are being manipulated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cYdH46HqpE
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
... pitchforks and torches anyone?
The breath and scope of the stupidity of a lot of Americans is amazing.
The Republicans KNOW what most Democrats don't seem to KNOW... the people CAN "shut down" the government by going to the streets. They have very affectively shut down town halls... against the very same free speech right they "embrace". This is the same tactic they used in Florida over the 2000 voting issue.
Fuck the insurance industry...
It's waaaay time they were put in their fuckin place.
How to deal with the tea baggers..
Please keep posting Ms. Maddow's clips. I thoroughly enjoy them. She makes me feel like I'm not the crazy one.
I realize that some of this may be organized, but you are making everyone who disagrees with how things are being done to be "crooks and liars". If an article like this existed about the left organizing to protest at right wing town hall meetings you would say it was fascist thinking. It's hypocritical and stupid.
I am a registered democrat but I didn't vote for Obama because I don't approve of his economic policies. I think health care reform is incredibly important and along with reforming our energy policies it is the most important thing on Obama's agenda. That being said, the plan that congress has come up with is crap, it's going to create a shitty single-payer system, and he continues to lie to the American people. Sure you can keep your doctor if you like, but when the government option runs private insurance out of business you'll be waiting in line for 9 months for shitty health care just like everyone else.
Please feel free to smear me for spouting "conservative" ideas on a liberal website, but it would be better to do yourselves a favor and consider that maybe Obama is wrong and these protesters are right.
THE TIME TO CHANGE HEALTH CARE IS NOW, BUT RUSHING THROUGH A POOR SOLUTION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!
That's why they have town hall meetings to hash out these points, but lobbyist and PR firms for the medical industry are sending out tips on how "protesters" can disrupt them.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Rushing through a poor solution?? Is that kind of like rushing through you right wing talking point after being registered for about 10 minutes before you spew lies. And by the way, your Republican friends had the White House and congress for 6 years and not once did they try to reform health care. Why? Because they like it the way it is. Health care reform has been talked about for 50 years. Is that rushing it through? As for single-payer being shitty, from what I understand the countries that have it do not seem to want to give it up. I don't think people will be waiting 9 months for for health care. Is there anywhere that you can point to some evidence of this? I do know it took me three months to get an MRI with the health care I have now. And it takes about the same amount of time to see a doctor as well.
As for the tea bagging disruptions of informational town hall meetings how in the hell do you expect the public to get information when your ilk won't let them speak? The reason your friends disrupt the town hall meetings is becasue they are trying to stifle real information so that people will not be able to make an informed choice. A choice that the polls show includes a single payer option or at least a public option. Why would you and your kind let yourselves be punked by people who do not give a shit about you?????
Also they've been trying off-and-on in some measure since 1993 to pass some kind of health care reform.
That's 16 years now.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Thanks for proving our point.
All you guys are good for is shouting and attempting to disrupt discussion.
Even your points are all over, at first I thought you were pro single-payer, and you end with sounding status-quo.
You don't even know what your own stance is.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I am very confused. I posted a comment earlier and it has been deleted for violation of terms of service. I used no profanity and said hardly anything. The truth hurts. [Deleted. Abusive, inaccurate]
[We are confused, too. Your earlier comment stands as posted. Your abusive comment aimed at your hosts in this post is removed, however-Sitemonitor]
try re-phrasing your idea...
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Town Hall Terrorism will eventually get people hurt. Bad idea.
Town Hall Terrorism teaches people that terrorism is OK. Bad idea.
Republicanz = bad ideas
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
It seems to me that the reaction by those on the right who oppose the public option has strengthened as a result of the condemnation on the left. Can/will liberals and conservatives ever reach a rational level of discourse again? Are we heading toward a schism in this country as deep as the one which divides Muslim's and Jews?
It is truly freighting to me as a social liberal/fiscal conservative to see the democratic party even hint at limiting free speech. The only voter intimidation I have ever seen evidence of were the New Black Panthers and the Obama administration doesn't want to prosecute them. Pelosi and other prominent democrats favor regulating the political speech content on AM radio. Now, people who are not in favor of the public health option are being attacked?
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