Pelosi, Hoyer call disruptions 'un-American' (mock lynching)

[denem]

Source: LA Times

Reporting from Washington — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, insisting at the start of a long and politically heated summer congressional recess that healthcare reform can be achieved this fall, today are calling the disruption of "town-hall'' meetings by vocal protesters "simply un-American.''

"We believe it is healthy for such a historic effort to be subject to so much scrutiny and debate,'' Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Hoyer (D-Md.) write in an Op-ed essay published by USA Today.

"However, it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue,'' the two leaders write. "These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views -- but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American.''

They point to a series of protests at congressional district hearings held by members of Congress this summer, including one where the likeness of a congressman in Maryland was hanged in effigy, one displaying the tombstone of a congressman in Texas and meetings where protesters have shouted down opponents with "Just say no.''

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-naw-pelosi-hoyer-health11-2009aug11,0,4079175.story

---

SHOUT OUT: Dan Thompson, 51, of Canton, Mich., center, speaks out against the healthcare overhaul last week at Rep. John D. Dingell's town hall meeting in Romulus.
Caption? 'A little too much Meth this morning'.

USA Today OpEd
'Un-American' attacks can't derail health care debate.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/08/unamerican-attacks-cant-derail-health-care-debate-.html

[denem]

1. An UnRec?

Feel Free(as) Per usual.

[graywarrior]

12. There is someone here who unrec's every thread.

[d_b]

66. this is true.

[NYC_SKP]

82. I'm working on it.

I'm gonna find them and kick their ass (metaphorically).

:fistbump:

[DesertDiamond]

34. LOL! Nicely done! :-)

[RedCloud]

55. I cancelled out the unrec!

I really need to get started with the the recommends, so this was a fine place to start.

[George II]

84. This post is pro-Democratic, earning an unequivocal RECOMMENDATION from me but...

....please don't use the tactic by some (usually anti-Democratic) posters here by "predicting" unrecs....

Thanks!!!

[Christa]

2. K & Highly Rec'd

It's time we take back our country.

[MessiahRp]

3. Actually I think it is quite American

We are a country filled with ingnorant, stupid sheep who will do corporations' bidding and are too stupid to understand the real personal impact to them. Bill Maher had a pretty solid New Rules comment on this on Friday.

Undereducated, Ignorant and frankly dangerous.

Much of why other countries are getting a leg up on us economic wise, development wise, etc is that their population are better educated and very few people there would do something as stupid as so many people are doing at these town halls.

Rp

[Iowa]

41. Yep. Calling them un-American misses the point. Calling them dumb would be more accurate. n/t

[customerserviceguy]

57. And calling them impolite would have prevented

the read-meat headline that the wingnuts are going to use against us.

In politics, you're supposed to learn how to not hand your enemies what they need to defeat you.

[paulsby]

99. impolite dissent is most definitely not "un american"

are code pink unamerican?

now, if the dissent gets violent or breaks other laws, then it is either outright lawlessness (see: the WTO riots) or civil disobedience (iow peaceful but unlawful protest such as passive trespassing at the entrance ot a military facility to protest policy).

i've engaged in peaceful protest. y'know the ole college sit-in thang.

personally, i think shouting people down is WRONG. it's wrong when wingnuts do it. it's wrong when lefties do it (like happens so often to coulter. heck, she even has pies thrown at her).

the best cure for bad speech is good speech, it is not shouting other people down and monopolizing a town hall meeting.

town meetings have rules and people don't have a right to monopolize them by shouting others down, or refusing to cede the floor and let other people have opportunity to speak.

i have attended many a town meeting (i used to live in small town new england), and while sometimes loud dissent was heard, it never got beyond that, and democracy worked (as it works so well in small new england towns).

[Beartracks]

80. More like intellectual laziness, a willful dumbness.

El Rushbo (et al) has taught them he does the thinking so they don't have to.

[JohnWxy]

72. these people aren't even interested in getting answers to their questions -

which probably were put in their heads by Beck and his 'like'. they are preventing people from getting real questions asked and answers given. - The same tactic used by the German Nazis in the 1930's.

I saw one clip on tv where a woman kept shouting at a Michigan congressman: "I wanna know is it coming out of my pay!?. I wanna know is it coming out of my pay!?." ..Of course, since she just kept shouting at him, he could hardly answer her. Now, this is not really coming to the townhall to get questions aswered. It's just disrupting the meeting so nobody can find anything out about the reform packages being considered.

[wordpix]

95. well said, Messiah

[mbperrin]

4. Amazing how when congress critters feel threatened, there's a crisis.

Actual lynchings of black men and women for a couple of hundred years? Working on it. maybe next session. don't have the votes. only affects a small number. 1870-1954 for the Supremes to act on education. Still nothing as of today for the solution to driving while black and a million other official acts of oppression.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I feel that likelihood of getting real healthcare from the current folks is zero.

Single payer is the only viable option, and it's been tombstoned already.

[denem]

5. When Brownshirts turn up in Germany, they don't muse about 'our dark past'

they take action.

[Hekate]

32. Thank you for that. This is the crisis that presents itself to us NOW & they better deal with it. nt

[Demeter]

6. How About That Table, Nancy?

This is what comes of your allowing BFEE free rein to call a coup on the Constitution.

This is what comes of not investigating War Crimes.

This is what comes of breaking your oath to uphold and defend the Constitution.
If not you, whom? If not now, When? If not Congress, why should the average person think it matters how one conducts oneself in public.

Fix your own ethical problems, Nancy, and you'll find these morons are undercut and cowed into behaving like law-abiding, rational citizens. Or at least minding their own business.

[mbperrin]

9. Very well said.

Thank you.

[Demeter]

11. Decisions Have Consequences

and sins of omission are even worse than those of commission.

You are quite welcome!

[denem]

15. Brownshirts on parade, and you say 'fix your own ethical problems, Nancy?'

The 'sins of omission' are letting this stuff ramp up on the streets and doing nothing. They do not make these mistakes in Europe. Kohl is corrupt, he let the STASI off the hook, so might as well let the Brownshirts have their fun> NOT!

[JDPriestly]

26. That the STASI got off the hook was as much a crime as what the STASI

did. Those crimes have yet to be fully investigated and publicly revealed. The full extent of the STASI's crimes is not known.

[abq e streeter]

19. +1

[denem]

20. 'Morons are undercut and cowed' by direct oppostion, not reason.

Just because the teabaggers are not calling themselves 'The National Front', doesn't alter the character of their 'movement'.

[abq e streeter]

24. Absolutely agree--just also agree with how much we("our "leadership") has brought this on ourselves

with a spinelessness that is like an advertisement for all the brownshirts to "come on out, we've already proven that we don't stand up to people like you."

[gratefultobelib]

7. Good. I'm glad Pelosi and Hoyer are speaking out.

[Spouting Horn]

52. Damn straight.

And remember to report any "fishy" comments about health care made by your fellow citizens to [e-mail].

[AlphaCentauri]

8. The dormant bacteria is waking up to destroy its habitat

[GreenEyedLefty]

10. It's American but it's extremely rude.

On another note, I feel sorry for the kid sitting on that nutter's lap.

[gbate]

13. How do you know he's a nutter?

Was it OK to protest (loudly) the war?

Seems it's only acceptable in certain circles to protest when it's a cause you believe in, but not for others.

Edited to add that I believe in peaceful demonstrations and not hanging effigies.

[freddie mertz]

21. "Peaceful" anti-war protesters tend to end up in jail

While these much more aggressive and disruptive characters manage to get away scot free.

Wonder why that is?

[Critters2]

23. True that! nt

[paulsby]

101. rubbish

i attended numerous peaceful and law abiding anti-war protests. i didn't see one person arrested who did not (usually blatantly and with ample warnign to desist) deserve it - iow break the law.

i am referring to WTO, N30, and several other seattle area protests. maybe we are "better" but i call bull

[Critters2]

22. I've been in a good many anti-war protests.

We were always trained, and functioned under clear rules. We were not to peaceful, not disrupt discussions or events. I've always demonstrated with groups that stay on public property, and get out of the way when people need to get by on the street or sidewalk. We've always gotten permits, kept police apprised of our plans, and asked people to leave who didn't attend trainings. First and foremost, we were PEACEFUL. And for all the years of protesting I've done, I have never hung anyone in effigy.

[freddie mertz]

49. Exactly!

I have been at these kind of sessions too.

And yet, more than once I have seen the misbehavior of a few nuts (or plants) to provoke police action against whole groups, even of thousands of people.

Meanwhile these wingnuts carry on like thugs and no one gets arrested.

[LanternWaste]

40. Those who protested the war were forced into...

Those who protested the war were both sincere and contrite, and were forced into free speech pens and arrested without just cause.

Can we say the same thing about the artificially made "protests" going on in the here and now? Are are these "protests" being allowed much more latitude in both content and location than we were allowed...? Are the protesters being asked to sign a Loyalty Oath to enter? Are they forcibly being escorted out by members of organizing political party due to opposition t-shirts?



If one want to equate the two, one would be a little more than disingenuous when omitting relevant differences also.

[AlbertCat]

45. YEAH!

Protesting illegal wars is JUST LIKE disrupting town hall meeting with Big Pharma's help!

:eyes:

[paulsby]

102. protest is protest

just because you don;'t agree with the cause, is irrelevant.

would it be ok for you if those who disrupted town meetings based on anti-war sentiment were arrested and called nazis.

and of course it depends on what you mean by disrupting. if the person disrupts a meeting, and is given clear orders to desist and sit down, and they don;'t do it, then there are protocols for when an arrest can be made.

i've attended numerous protests, both as a protestor and as a cop (protecting the right to protest).

[noiretextatique]

51. why would any sane person oppose healthcare reform?

healthcare reform that would benefit them? there were plenty of reasons to oppose an illegal ware started because the bush administration lied. finally...they are not "peaceful" by any stretch of the imagination.

[teknomanzer]

59. You are comparing apples and oranges.

Did Bush have any town halls on the war? No. People protested the war because there was no discourse. These people are not really protesting. They shout, "Hear our voice," at a forum where they can speak and ask questions. But they are not interested in discussion or debate. They are deliberately disrupting the debate at the behest of their corporate masters, whether they know it or not. This shit is as staged as the protests in Florida nine years ago; the aim then to disrupt the vote count. And it worked so well that the right wing has decided to pull it out of the playbook and adjust it to a larger scale. We cannot allow this to work this time around.

[GreenEyedLefty]

86. I don't know...

take a look, you be the judge.

http://www.michiganliberal.com/diary/15142/rep-dingell-town-hall-a-teabagger-extravaganza-photos

[paulsby]

100. yes, it was. the double standard is getting tiring

just pretend the person doing the (loud, obnoxious ranting ) protesting at a town hall meeting was protesting FOR a cause that you believe in. i suggest many people here who are comparing protesters to NAZI's (which is frigging stupid and insulting to victims of nazis) would have a very different standard for what is and isn't "unamerican"

one thing is clear. dissent is patriotic. it was true when bush was doing awful things and i dissented. it is true when (imo wrongheaded people) dissent now about proposed healthcare.

dissent isn't only patriotic when you AGREE with the protestor. you are correct.

[GinaMaria]

14. when did this start?

the health insurance reform legislation
I don't recall her or others refering to this as Health Insurance Reform.... It has been called Health Care Reform........ Sounds like reform the Health Insurance companies will sign off on.

[kevsters]

16. People Demonstrating is not unAmerican, But Their Tactics Are.

Here is a link that explains my title a bit better.

http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2468

[denem]

17. Intimidation by threats of violence?

Threats of Tombstones, Lynching? If one abhors the past, why excuse it now? How long till someone pulls a pistol, to save America from 'Death Panels' by a little direct action of their own?

[humbled_opinion]

28. It is outrageous that this kind of hate is allowed to be

displayed. Police protection of our representatives should be mandatory and disruptors should be shut out of the debate. Peaceful discussion is what is needed no one wants to shut anyone up we just want to stop the misinformation and be very clear on the issues. America wants this plan, America wants single payer its the FEAR from the right that causes all the misinformaion.

I usually just say hey look lets just give it a shot if you don't like it in 10 years or so then change it.

[bertman]

18. This ugly crap got rolling over a week ago and we are only now hearing a whimper

from the Democratic "leadership". Where the fuck is Harry Reid??

Where is the outrage? Democratic elected representatives with few exceptions (Kucinich, Baldwin, Feingold come to mind) have become so encapsulated in their bubble world that they cannot get it up to express OUTRAGE at what is truly outrageous.

Carefully worded statements don't fit the occasion. I want to hear some kick-ass rhetoric in the Ed Schultz vein. This organized mob rule is dangerous to our democracy.

[The Stranger]

25. Aren't you glad Majority Piece of Shit Reid put off health care reform for this?

[ItNerd4life]

27. It's un-American to call these people un-American.

Mobs? The people are sitting down, that's not a mob!

It's pretty sad that our leaders have to insult the oposition (like Bush did) instead of explaining how this is better for America. Oh wait, they probably haven't read the whole bill so they can't explain it. We don't have any Democratic leadership and that is what is going to ruin our chances of getting better healthcare.

The tactics our leaders are using are no different than the tactics Bush used that all of DU despised. Yet, now people are supporting these same tactics? What happened to Democrats being educated?

[humbled_opinion]

30. Oh stop it please...

There is a huge difference of trying to do right by our own people regarding health care and sending our sons to die in a war of lies. If you can't distinguish the difference then maybe you don't belong here.

[ItNerd4life]

106. It's interesting how Hillary Clinton agrees with me, isn't it? nt

[humbled_opinion]

108. I'm sorry I dind't know that Hillary actually chimed in on the matter

Link Please.

[YOY]

42. Have you heard them? They don't let anyone get in discussion.

They just screm shit they heard on Glenn Beck. If you ask them about it they just scream more shit they heard on Glenn Beck.

Sure...that's American....it might even be Norweigan Blue as well.

[Hansel]

56. It would be if they called these people un-American

They did not. They said that disrupting town-hall meetings by vocal protesters is un-American.

If the people involved in this behavior feel insulted by someone calling out their childishness too bad. I would be more embarrassed than insulted if someone called me out for acting like they have. Unfortunately, these people are too ignorant to feel embarrassed. I think most people expect people to act like adults in public and allow others to speak.

This is a far cry from what the right did and still does to the left. They don't even recognize us as Americans. The SEIU and ACORN members are not Americans. Everyone dismisses and discounts them because they are liberals. They don't think we should be allowed to speak. We were called traitors when we protested the Iraq War, not un-American. Some called for us to be executed or hung. Some on the right wrote books saying so.

Many of the war protest groups were infiltrated by government agents and their phones were tapped and email tracked. Some were arrested before protests even started. We weren't allow to attend President Bush's town halls. We were caged like animals when we exercised our rights to free speech.

I just can't get that worked up over someone on the left calling a being disruptive un-American.

[Control-Z]

65. What the hell are you talking aboout?

These people aren't asking questions. They are not trying to be part of the conversation. They are screaming for the sole purpose of blocking information to anyone else present. Protesting a war and interfering with open discussion are two completely different things.

I don't ever remember dems organizing to intimidate and shut people up. We've organized to be heard - and actually had something to say. These people are sticking their fingers in their ears and going la la la la la. They have nothing to actually say. If they did, you can be sure, we would have heard it by now.

[SandWalker1984]

29. I didn't like when Republicans accused me of being un-American

for voicing my objections to the war in Iraq, and I don't like Democrats using the same tactics because ignorant Americans have been misinformed and frightened regarding health care reform by big corporations hiding behind right wing "news" stations.

Does anyone else feel like we are all just ping-pong balls on a table, being played by both sides????

It's time we get over the my side vs your side and direct our attention instead at trying to undue the damage done to our country because the huge, multinational corporations have taken over control of Congress.

[humbled_opinion]

31. Sentiments like that is what got us lost in the Bushes....

You seem to want to go backward.

[droidamus2]

33. Okay

Expressing your objections to whatever is the epitome of American but doing everything you can from being loud and obnoxious to making not so veiled threats of violence is not. I have no problem with those that object to (at this point non-existent) the health care legislation as long as they are willing to have a civil debate and are at least reasonably informed. If their only action is to yell and disrupt then I think they should at a minimum be removed and if they continue they should be arrested for disturbing the peace. As somebody else asked why is that when liberals object and get a little loud the police pop them upside the head and arrest them but when conservatives do it the police feel they have to protect their constitutional rights. Why are these 'astroturfers' afraid of people hearing the arguments for health care reform?

[gbate]

37. Yep. Very true.

[Hansel]

58. They called us traitors, not un-American.

And they called US traitors, not our behavior. I think you are over-reacting.

[TankLV]

69. Just join up to lecture us - oh, and a COWARD to have your profile disabled, too...

"thanks" for your "concern"...

what - your teabagging shouting episode over for the day so you thought you'd post here?

At least you admit you're not a Democrat...

enjoy you pizza...

[shadowknows69]

35. I hate it when anyone uses that phrase or label. Just call them terrorists.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

36. But you know what's REALLY un-American?

What's REALLY un-American is bending over and taking it in the butt while rethuglicans:
...steal two presidential elections.
...mislead Congress and the general public in order to start an illegal war.
...violate terms of the Geneva Convention by torturing and raping prisoners of an illegal war.
...invade the privacy of U.S. citizens who disagree with rethuglicans.

This is precisely what the Democratic Party did collectively for 8 years, and seemingly celebrates by not prosecuting the rethuglican criminals who have brought our nation and other parts of the world to this sorry state. If we had done something about them yesterday; we would not be experiencing trouble with their pawns now.

[Hansel]

62. Don't forget the hand wringing.

I cannot believe that anyone on the left even gives a rats ass that Pelosi and Hoyer call acting like spoiled brat 2-year olds throwing temper tantrums un-American. It is un-American. Most adult Americans do not act like this in public.

This is why we always end up taking it in the butt. Because we buy the right talking points and grovel on our knees like idiots. We whine because the leadership doesn't hit back and when they do, we join the right in attacking them.

This is a thread full of over-reaction and complete misinterpretation of what they said.

[stevenleser]

38. I'm going to be on Fox at 4pm Eastern debating this issue with Neil Cavuto

This is going to be a tough one.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

43. Good luck!

Remember that the issue here isn't protest, it's the fact that they refuse to discuss the issue and present their points...if they actually have any...in order to discuss and debate. That defies the American way.

Knock 'em dead! :yourock:

[joecool65]

46. Good luck!

Medicare is always a good point to bring up when talking about "government-run health insurance." Medicare is the most popular government program. Medicare has done more to cut poverty among senior citizens than any other program, public or private. Most seniors could probably not afford private health insurance if Medicare was not in existence. Many of the disrupters at town hall meetings are senior citizens on Medicare, yet they are protesting "government-run health insurance." Should those people really be taken seriously if they are on Medicare, yet cannot understand the irony that they are protesting "government-run health insurance?" Also, if someone is protesting "government-run health insurance" as socialistic, are they going to pay for their own private health insurance if they are of Medicare age or when they become eligible for the program? It's time to call stupid what it is, stupid.
Good luck!

[Control-Z]

67. Excellent points

If we could keep it down to just this at a time, I don't see how anyone could argue it. Problem is, this gets touched on briefly and then the conversation moves quickly away because the wicked wackjobs can't come up with an answer. They start screaming accusations that have nothing to do with reality.

Welcome to DU, joecool65! It's good to have you in the discussion.

[Hansel]

63. Remember they called disruptive behavior un-American

Not the protesters.

And also remember, the right does not called us un-American. They call us traitors.

[BREMPRO]

39. He looks a lot like Joe the Plumber- another member of the American Ignorami

At least Joe was willing to debate, instead of this new chapter of the Ignorami: knowledge challenged angry bullies disrupting and yelling to get what they want.

[Beacool]

44. Un-American?

Wrong. These people have the same right to protest as others did during the Vietnam war, Bush era and many other times in US history.

Protesting is the essence of being American. We may not like nor agree with their message, but by hell, they have as much right to voice their opinion as we do.

:shrug:

[joecool65]

47. Yes, un-American

When did it become "American" to be an ill-informed, ignorant, belligerent asshole?

[mamaleah]

54. Ignorance or belligerence have nothing to do

with being American. What one side views as ignorant or belligerent (like how the right views anti-war protests) has nothing to do with whether or not it is "American".

One side does not get to define what is American and what is not.

Bitching about protests is un-American and sounds too much like what the right has been saying for years.

[emilyg]

48. Agree.

[freddie mertz]

50. Thuggery and violence is not democratic action.

It is a crime and those responsible should be asked to desist, and if they refuse, they should be removed or arrested.

[Hansel]

64. Their behavior of disruption is un-American not them.

[Beacool]

71. Then Code Pink must be un-American too.

They sure disrupted plenty of things.

We can't have one sided political arguments while calling people un-American simply because we don't agree with their viewpoint.

Who's Pelosi going to win over with that attitude?

[fascisthunter]

74. funny... because Code Pink gets thrown out and arrested

bad comparison...

[Hansel]

75. I don't like Code Pink's behavior either.

I think it is not the way adult American's typically behave in these settings. In fact, I think Code Pink is one of the most counter-productive groups out there and they should knock it off.

That said, I do not think Code Pink is un-American, but their behavior is sickening.

If the people being disruptive at town hall meetings can come and act like adults I don't give a rat's ass which side they are on. In fact, at Democratic town halls, I would prefer that these folks would ask more questions than our side so that they can get the facts. But I expect adults to act like adults and not scream like children, not interrupt formal meetings, and to wait for answers to their questions. I don't care what side they are on.

I actually attend my Republican congressman's town halls. Unfortunately, the new one is doing virtual town halls so I haven't been able to attend them because he calls during the day. At the meetings I have attended in the past, though, everyone is respectful and lets both sides speak. I have been to meetings where anti-war protesters got up and asked questions in very respectful ways. The congressman answered them in the same respectful way, although I didn't like his answers. Some of the people pissed and moaned, but none threw temper tantrum like 2 yr olds.

These disruptions are new, at least for me, and it is not the way I'm use to adult Americans acting in public. So from my experience, the behavior is a little un-American. They probably could have used a better term, but I think people are over-reacting. BIG TIME.

[Beacool]

92. Code Pink reminds me of PETA

They mean well, but tend to go overboard and turn off people. My point is that protesting is not un-American and in this case it can be counterproductive.

Today I put on talk radio, people calling in were furious. Telling people that they are part of some organized group or that they are un-American is angering these folks. The town hall in Tampa had union guys pushing people around while they shut the doors. They looked like bouncers at a club. This is not the way to qualm people's fears.

I do think though that all sides need to be more civil. If we go to these town halls and react like they do it's going to be a free for all and nothing good is going to come of it.

[Hansel]

105. I agree with a lot of what you've said here.

I use to worked at a humane society and we were not big fans of PETA. We were constantly battling the image that we were somehow connected with them and I'm sure we lost a lot of donations because of their activity in the Northwest where I lived at the time. Acting like idiots just seems counter-productive somehow. Imagine that! :)

I agree to some extent that Pelosi and Hoyer kind of screwed up by their choice of words. But I understood what they were saying. My belief is that no matter what anyone on the Democratic side says the right is going to distort it. So you might as well come out firing with both barrels. I would rather they speak out and make mistakes and learn from them than shell up like they have for the past 4 decades and be walked all over. It's going to take some practice, but hitting back and hitting back fast and hard is important when people act insane. I just wish they would direct it at the Republicans and not the people.

I couldn't agree more on your last paragraph. Not only in town meetings, but on cable "news" shows. They need to stop the rudest. I see more and more Democrats not tolerating it anymore and some pretty shock Republicans when they are chastised for rudeness. Now the host need to control the conversation to make sure it is kept at an adult level.

[yodermon]

97. Did Code Pink disrupt town hall meetings and prevent others from speaking?

such actions ARE un-American. It is stifling your opponents' right to be heard.
It is a disturbance of the peace and such disruptors should be removed from the premises by law enforcement.

[Control-Z]

68. What is their message?

They aren't trying to say anything. They are only trying to silence the voices of others.

[Beacool]

93. I think that they are afraid.

They don't want the Canadian nor British system and they think we are heading that way.

[fascisthunter]

73. Yes Unamerican to Disrupt a Town Hall Meeting

where real constituents are actually concerned about real issues. There's nothing legit about these manufactured mobs.

[denem]

78. There us a huge difference between protesting, and silencing civil discourse

with corralled sheep. chanting hatred at public meetings- 'four legs good, two legs bad;.

[Fire1]

53. You tell em, Pelosi! That'll stop em for sure! n/t

[jakeXT]

60. what happend to this ?

"And if they were poor, and they were sleeping on my sidewalk, they'd be arrested for loitering, but because they have 'impeach Bush' across their chest, it's the First Amendment."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/10/protesters-building-large_n_67826.html

[Blasphemer]

61. They are uninformed bullies but not "Un-American"

Whatever that is supposed to mean (and given our history, I can't say that unruly mobs are really un-American). I think the bigger issue is the fact that members of GOP leadership are party to inciting these people and even planting their own people in an attempt to affect the political process through intimidation.

[TankLV]

70. Seems the TROLLS are out in force again today...

[fascisthunter]

76. AGAIN....

[Hansel]

77. And hand wringers. nt

[ItNerd4life]

107. You mean like Hillary Clinton? She agrees with some of us trolls

who think this is a horrible idea of calling these people Un-American.

[kevsters]

79. If you want to talk about un-American...

Tom Coburn thinks the United States cannot do anything well, including fighting wars.

If you are from Oklahoma, PLEASE watch this clip and read this post.

http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2480

[troubledamerican]

81. All of this was foreseeable.

First come the mobs, then comes the violence, then comes the "heavy-handed" response "justifying" the Christianist military coup.

[NYC_SKP]

83. Rec #100. And unreccers can go to hell. Seriously.

I hope the mods are keeping track.

:nuke:

[RBInMaine]

85. Fine to have an honest debate, but intentionally disrupting is BS and GOOD for them calling it out !

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

87. What's wrong with hanging or burning someone in effigy?

It was pretty standard fare with protests about Bush.

[Name removed]

89. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[liberal N proud]

88. Touche

Remember when we were all un-american for questioning bu$h and his illegal war?

[omega minimo]

90. 2 Minutes Hate

[stevenleser]

91. I debated Neil Cavuto on Fox News' Your World on this topic, here is a link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x351765

[Skittles]

94. Steve, looking as fine as ever!

awsome debate too :thumbsup:

[dschis]

96. They're stoking the fires. He as much said it.

That's a standard Republican tactic. Blame you for other group's actions. Code Pink was looked down on by guys for some of their gamier actions. Protests, hell ya, the 60's type riots and behavior. The way you stop that kind of behavior is discourse and the truth. The right wing has been stoking this kind of bunk for a while (since the election). I got banned from a site when I posted a link directly contradicting their point of view. They aren't interested in the truth about a lot of things.

Fact is, they don't like a black guy in the White House. They don't like anyone messing around with their profit machines. I look at them as (Star Trek) Ferringi. Sorry if I misspelled that. I don't think that we are talking against someone making an honest living, but being obscene about it. At the same time, they have no problem hurting other people in the process. Romans used to murder emporers for that.

[DeltaLitProf]

98. VERY BAD politics

These statements by Pelosi and Hoyer will be used against us in countless commercials in 2010. The better thing to say is, "We want to engage in conversations with our constituents. What has happened thus far hasn't been conversation. So at future town halls our Congressmen will be ensuring the right of everyONE to be heard."

Then let the Righties be escorted outside by sheriff's deputies and security if they refuse to yield the floor.

[Lagomorph]

103. They really shouldn't make an issue of burning effigies...

There's been plenty of that going around.

I haven't seen any big, disruptive TH's in my area, (Everett, WA) just a lot of older people who want to know what it's going to cost and what's covered.

I get the impression most people are looking for something they can agree to.

[gauguin57]

104. Where do Rush, the KKK and Big Pharma GET these people? They're like extras from "Deliverance"!

I expect them to start screaming, "Squeal like a pig!" any minute ... and I expect to start hearing banjos when they start shouting their nonsense.