MSNBC host and Rhodes Scholar Rachel Maddow has been blowing the lid off the attempts by rightwing lobbying groups and think tanks to shut down townhall meetings hosted by Democratic members of Congress with some hard-hitting shows the last couple of days.
Right-wingers have been attending townhall meetings to shout down Democratic members of Congress so they cannot answer legitimate questions from constituents, and it has been organized and scripted to look like a grassroots effort, just like the fake Astroturf “tea parties.” In fact, it's the same players. These are professional, highly paid lobbyists stirring up the supporters with false rhetoric, and it includes instructions and scripts on how to hijack the meetings and stop the truth from getting out.
The primary focus of the thugs is health care where the insurance lobby is spending $1.4 million a day to stop real reform as 50 million Americans go without access to quality health care.
On Wednesday night, Maddow reported on a web site called “Recess Rally.com” that is supposed to give you the info on all the townhalls around the country so they can be hijacked by thugs. I have been unable to get on the web site, so hopefully, the publicity sent the snakes back under their rocks.
The false claim is that these "spontaneous” protests are grassroots efforts by regular Americans, and they are non-partisan. It’s true they may be regular Americans, but it is extremely partisan and highly organized by rightwing lobbyists. Maddow listed the supporters of “Recess Rally” on Wednesday, and they include the Republican movers and shakers in Washington and former Bush operatives; even the person behind the anti-troop smear boat veterans.
The right-wingers are pulling out all the stops to combat needed health care reform, and Maddow talks about one in the show. She explains how both Democrats and Republicans supported living wills and end of life decisions for more than 20 without controversy, but now it’s somehow government assisted suicide.
The Right wing PAC “Club for Growth” – you will remember them from when they flooded extremist right-winger Tim Walberg with money in the U.S. Congressional race in 2006 – is running adds pushing that false and ridiculous claim that the health care plan will kill grandma and grandpa.
There are already plans to disrupt and hijack townhall meetings in Michigan, including tonight’s townhall hosted by U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, at 6 p.m. at the Romulus Athletic Center, 35765 Northline Road in Romulus.
Get there early.
26 comments:
Why are you worried about those pesky Republicans? You have control of the House. You have a filibuster proof Senate and you have the White House.
So why are you so worried whether or not these questioners are Republican or Democrat?
You socialist democrats can continue to lie, and attempt to take over 1/5 of the economy and there is nothing that can stop it. Not even angry Americans that don't favor these plans.
Thank you Rachel Maddow!
She has a thoughtful and very informative show.
Once again, I will call out Republicans when they put out lies and false information and on their behavior. There is no doubt the people asking the questions are Republics because that is who is organized these Astroturf mobs.
One again, there is no such thing as a “socialist” democrat in this country, and that is just a false, fascist Republican talking point. The only lies are coming from the people trying to stop health care reform.
I do see a new talking point, though.
Se tells it like it is, and backs it up with proof.
I am only left to believe, they do not want to hear what the elected offical has to say, they wish to disrupt. I call them THUGS.
Those who wish to keep others who want to hear about Health care are FORCED to hear from the THUGS. I am here to do wat I can to stop them. I want everyone to have a chance to hear from their elected official.
This is where you are wrong. I've watched the youtube videos of these meetings that have gotten loud. On all but one, you hear the question from a constituent and you hear the answer from the congressman. People are laughing at these Democrats when they spew their lines and they disagree with them and tell them why. The one exception was Doggett. They were chanting at him as he walked by. He wasn't trying to speak, he was just heading into his meeting.
You heard Kathleen Sebelius (who even admitted she's never been elected to Congress). You heard Specters answer, to which the people replied no, loudly.
You heard the two in Arkansas before you heard the crowd disagree.
To claim that these so called representatives of the people are not being heard is just flat out untrue.
Remove your blinders and watch the videos and listen to them.
But now you have another option. Obama is telling the socialist democrats to go out and shout people down. The Democrat party has declared war on the American people. It's the socialist democrats that don't want to hear from the people. They want to lecture, they want to justify, and they want to tell the people what they'll get and that they'll like it.
As one registered democrat constituent told Steny Hoyer in one meeting, Obama is ramming this down our throats in weeks and yet it took him six months to choose a dog for his kids.
No one is telling people to shout other people down. We need everyone to be able to hear and not be heard. Not a disruptive mob.
There will be help by those who want the elected officials to be heard and questions to be able to asked. I have watched the videos. I have seen them, I read the document asking people to disrupt townhall meetings. Your opinions are welcome, disruption will be checked.
Correction: We need everyone to be able to hear and be heard. Not disruption and shouting out.
You read asking people to disrupt the meetings? I'd like to see that. I wonder, can you give me the site where that can be located?
I'd like to see the group saying that, how organized that group is and how widespread they are read.
I have not seen any such document.
Give me a break. We have death threats, intimidation, mock lynching and verbal attacks. Haven’t you seen the script on how to shut down the democratic process? Yes, I heard Kathleen Sebelius, and she is right, she's never been elected to Congress.
This is an attempt to intimidate and shut down the process, and representatives of the people are not being heard.
There is no such thing as a “socialist” democrat in this country, and that is just a fascist Republican talking point. President Obama is not telling anyone to shout anyone down. It’s the Democratic Party, and they have not declared war on anyone.
We certainly want to hear from people. We are not trying to shut the process down, you are. See, it’s not about getting your views out or letting the lawmaker know that you disapprove of the bill; it’s about shutting the meeting down. Read the script.
I don’t believe this person was a registered democrat, but nothing is being rammed down anyone’s throat. John Dingell has introduced universal health care since 1955. Is that enough lead time for you?
See, I asked Bluizy for the documents and not you because well, frankly, you're incapable of telling the truth.
Your saying that there is a document means nothing to me. As I said, you're incapable of telling the truth. Even in your feeble attempt to answer for Bluizy, you didn't provide the document. You say it's out there, but fail to produce it.
There was no death threat, I do understand there was some Congressman hung in effigy, but I don't know who's responsible for that. It could have been a REpublican or it could have been a socialist democrat doing it so the blame would be placed on a Republican. As I understand it, that was done in New Jersey. Jersey is full of democrats, although that may change with the ousting of Governor Corzine coming in the election.
I don't consider telling a Congressman that he's voting for something that we don't want as being a verbal threat. I realize in your world, everyone agrees with you or they are an enemy.
But in the real world, we take offense to the white house asking for E-mails and websites that are against his plan. I seem to remember a database being collected of suspected terrorists and the socialist democrats went nuts and called it spying on Americans. But now the white house is gathering information on AMericans and it seems to be okay with the socialist democrats.
The country is against Obamascare. They were against Hillarycare and it was defeated by the people and led to the Republican takeover of congress in the election of 94. The same is beginning to happen now with Obamascare.
But the socialist democrats are upset that anyone dare to disagree with them and they call Republicans nazi's, mobs, and thugs all because they are exercising their right to free speech.
Again, I asked Bluizy for the url to the site she found the document that she supposedly read. I'm sorry if that confused you but you can rest assured that I'm rarely addressing you. I've learned that you're just not able to tell the truth.
I would hardly use PMSNBC as a reliable news source. They are very biased to the left.
Why would Nobama send a e-mail to ask for a biased crowd at Town hall meetings?
How many Americans(not counting the 17 million illegal included in the bogus 45 million number) actually are with out Health insurance?
Today, President Obama sent out a message to supporters asking them to get involved in the fight for health insurance reform this month:
This is the moment our movement was built for.
For one month, the fight for health insurance reform leaves the backrooms of Washington, D.C., and returns to communities across America. Throughout August, members of Congress are back home, where the hands they shake and the voices they hear will not belong to lobbyists, but to people like you.
Home is where we're strongest. We didn't win last year's election together at a committee hearing in D.C. We won it on the doorsteps and the phone lines, at the softball games and the town meetings, and in every part of this great country where people gather to talk about what matters most. And if you're willing to step up once again, that's exactly where we're going to win this historic campaign for the guaranteed, affordable health insurance that every American deserves.
There are those who profit from the status quo, or see this debate as a political game, and they will stop at nothing to block reform. They are filling the airwaves and the internet with outrageous falsehoods to scare people into opposing change. And some people, not surprisingly, are getting pretty nervous. So we've got to get out there, fight lies with truth, and set the record straight.
That's why Organizing for America is putting together thousands of events this month where you can reach out to neighbors, show your support, and make certain your members of Congress know that you're counting on them to act.
But these canvasses, town halls, and gatherings only make a difference if you turn up to knock on doors, share your views, and show your support. So here's what I need from you:
Can you commit to join at least one event in your community this month?
In politics, there's a rule that says when you ask people to get involved, always tell them it'll be easy. Well, let's be honest here: Passing comprehensive health insurance reform will not be easy. Every President since Harry Truman has talked about it, and the most powerful and experienced lobbyists in Washington stand in the way.
But every day we don't act, Americans watch their premiums rise three times faster than wages, small businesses and families are pushed towards bankruptcy, and 14,000 people lose their coverage entirely. The cost of inaction is simply too much for the people of this nation to bear.
So yes, fixing this crisis will not be easy. Our opponents will attack us every day for daring to try. It will require time, and hard work, and there will be days when we don't know if we have anything more to give. But there comes a moment when we all have to choose between doing what's easy, and doing what's right.
This is one of those times. And moments like this are what this movement was built for. So, are you ready?
Please commit now to taking at least one action in your community this month to build support for health insurance reform:
http://my.barackobama.com/CommitAugust
Let's seize this moment and win this historic victory for our economy, our health and our families.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
I urge you all to go to michiganliberal.com
There is a very complete account of what happened last evening at Congressman John Dingell's Townhall Meeting.
If I were a Republican I would be so ashamed of my party, the total disregard for the American people's health and welfare. After watching the u-tube townhall meetings and reading this article I have lost all respect for those who wish to propagate lies and bully those who are working for real reform. Republicans who have talk show hosts lead their party with no real policy is disgusting. I don't think I have ever felt as I do today.
There is no sense having a discussion with people who have left reason and all dignity behind.
Bluzie,
I will check out the michiganliberal website that you point out, however, it's a very biased website, just as the name implies. You should ask yourself why you use a biased site as a source of your information.
I am not ashamed of my party. They've had virtually no part in this.
I asked you to point out the site where you read the document. You haven't provided it. That tells me that you're not being entirely truthful.
But don't worry about having a discussion. You haven't discussed. You've talked at me, but haven't discussed anything. To discuss, you must have an open mind.
First, her name is bluzie, and she has already provided you with a link to the script: like you didn’t already have it. Now, it appears the pawns of the insurance lobbyists are going to continue to act like thugs and idiots and hijack meetings, and when the people who support health care reform, the majority, finally start to fight back, Republicans are going to try and provoke them into a fight. It amazes me that they can heap vile names and abuse on someone and not expect a natural reaction.
Here’s the link again:
http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/townhallactionmemo.pdf
If I’m “incapable of telling the truth” then why haven’t you ever proved I lied?
You are wrong again, there was a death threat against Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC).
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6950802
Are you serious? You don’t know who was responsible for the Congressman hung in effigy? Your party that’s who.
First, there is no such things as a “socialist” Democrat in this country, and that is just a fascist Republican talking point. After seeing the way you idiots treated John Dingell, there is no way a Democrat did that or even needed to do that.
I don’t know anything about “collecting emails,” and I suspect you are making shit up again, or that’s a talking point from the lobbyists. You got something right though, it is “Obamascare.” Its insurance companies spending millions to scare people with lies so they can keep raking in huge amounts of cash as American families and employers keep spend more and more money just for basic health care. They will do anything and spend anything to kill competition, and they are doing it.
I don’t know how you can call what happened to John Dingell Thursday night anything but mobs and thugs, but it’s the right-wingers throwing around the Nazi BS. Exercising your “right of free speech” does not mean stopping other people from speaking, threatening or acting like a rude asshole.
I’m not worried about an election after the American people got a good look at the ugly behavior the tea baggers and Republicans have been displaying.
I have to admit something part of me do feel bad for these psychos for two reasons one they're getting played for saps by big health and big pharm and two they don't know what the hell they're talking about.
I've seen videos over at D.U. where these folks are screaming about they don't want a government run health care option but when people remind the older nuts that medicare is a government run program they almost look embarrassed for being there.
Fox News and the right media have once again convinced their sheep to go against their own best interest.
But it's more than Fox News. Sarah Palin's Facebook yesterday claimed that Obama's death panels would make life-or-death decisions about her Downs Syndrome son. That statement is amazing in its vile inaccuracies.
You rail against "Faux News" for being biased, and yet you expect us to look at Rachel Maddow and MSNBC as being a fair source of information?
Guru, you're a piece of work.
MSNBC is a reliable news source. It’s not run by a former Reagan media consultant, and it wasn’t created just to get the rightwing point of view out. But, don’t believe it: just check out the links.
First, brett, I have no idea who “Nobama” is, but if you mean President Obama you are correct. There is nothing wrong with supporters of real health care reform showing up at town halls to express their support. See, brett, the difference is no one is telling them or giving them a script about how to disrupt it.
How many Americans actually are with out health insurance? 50 million and counting.
If “President Obama sent out a message to supporters asking them to get involved in the fight for health insurance reform this month” good for him, and he is 100 percent right. That was one reason we elected him and gave Democrats huge majorities in the House and Senate.
That is correct, I did rail against "Faux News" for being biased because they are. MSNBC is a fair network. However, Rachel Maddow is a liberal, but she presented evidence to back up what she reported.
And thank you for the compliment.
MSNBC is not a fair network. They don't pretend to be. Their marketing strategy is to appeal to those who hate Fox. They clearly want to attract liberal viewers. That doesn't make them a bad network, but it makes you either a fool or liar for failing to recognize who they are.
I watched Maddow over the weekend. Good show. She made some valid points. But she stretches, as well, when she tries to prove that the anti-crowds at townhalls are all products of lobbyists. Surely that's a role, but showing one or 2 examples doesn't prove that. Her best example of fake protesters was the woman from Wisconsin (?) who said she was an average person not affiliated with any party...turns out until last year she was vice chair for the county Republicans and had worked for the candidate who lost to the local Democrat conducting the town hall meeting.
Worse example was the clip of a guy in the crowd wearing a shirt from a health insurance company. What? People from health companies don't have a right to show up to townhall meetings? Since these are allegedly information meetings and not propaganda meetings, shouldn't he show up to learn about laws that will directly affect his industry? He wasn't yelling or screaming or protesting. He was just there listening.
Still, she puts on a good show and provides balance for some of the hysteria.
MSNBC is a fair network: certainly more than Faux “news.”
Really? You watched the Rachel Maddow Show over the weekend, brett? How is that possible when it’s only on Monday through Friday? Oh, well, the truth has never been a hard and fast rule with you.
The anti-crowds at townhalls are all products of lobbyists, at least the overwhelming majority. Of course people from health companies have a right to show up to townhall meetings, but then don’t try and push the lie that this is a “grassroots effort.” It’s a grassroots effort just like the “tea parties” were.
How can you learn anything at a townhall meeting when the lawmaker is being shouted down?
Only in guru's world is a Friday night NOT on the weekend.
You are pathetic.
Thanks for the compliment, brett, but Friday is a weekday; and it always has been, you said, “I watched Maddow over the weekend.” In everybody else’s world “over the weekend” is Saturday and Sunday.
Only guru would think it is a compliment to be pathetic and stupid. But I guess it's a good thing to accept your shortcomings.
How stupid your arguments are. What if I watched it on, say, Thursday and mistakenly said over the weekend. I don't log my TV viewing. I have a life. The fact is I saw her show and liked what I saw and you challenge me because I said "over the weekend."
And it was a Friday night. That's the start of the weekend in the sane world.
It would bother me if someone sane called me pathetic and stupid, but coming from someone like you, brett, it’s a compliment.
Friday is a weekday in everyone’s world, and over the weekend is Saturday and Sunday; brought to you, by the way, by unions.
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