Democrats and Republicans: Why Not Lighten Up On Healthcare Townhalls?

Oh wah wah wah, Joe.

Democrats have attempted to hijack, protest, disrupt, shout down, etc., those they disagree with at public forums for years now.

Now, they are in charge, and are getting tough questions about their policies from people who are not willing to accept the pablum lies being foisted upon them by Congress and the Administration.

These people are just demanding ACTUAL answers, and all of a sudden Democrats believe in quiet, formal debate, or rather, i talk, you listen and shut up? Righteous anger is now wrong? Speaking truth to power is disrespectful?

My BS meter is redlining on this one Joe.

Didn't my post say something about both sides lightening up?

I don't remember seeing any posts about both sides lightening up before. That was my point.

It is oh, so convenient to suddenly find this concern against protesters when it is YOUR side being protested. Hiding it under 'both sides need to play nice now' language is self-serving, to say the least.

For years, the left has argued that freedom of speech includes the freedom to shout down. There were massive, organized protests at both of President Bush's inaugurals. Pink Ladies stalked President Bush for years. College students shouted down anyone to the right of Noam Chomsky. But now that the left is in charge, protesting and shouting are to be forbidden and being organzied is a signed of being inauthentic.

I guess it makes sense that the people who love social engineering but send their own children to private school. I guess is makes sense for people who own multilple homes but want people to live in high rise apartments and ride the bus.

In the interest of lightening up, here's Iowahawk.

(I tried to post this a few minutes ago but it didn't show up- if it ends up double posted I apologize.)

A lighter mood might be better, but the democrats are kinda reaping what they sowed. Obama asked his supporters to "get in their face" now the opposition is getting into his. With few exceptions the outbursts look to be sporatic and do not prevent the meetings or people from asking questions and being answered. Only in one case of the many I've seen was this actually prevented, and it looked like senior citizens making up about 1/2 of the protesting "mob" or more. If America's "Greatest Generation" can work up the fire to be "disruptive" I can't exactly get too mad about it. I think they earned the right to be heard when they do.

I also love how the new DNC ad trues to link the protesters who are nervous about a healthcare bill with "birthers". Its also interesting that they try to portray the opposition as fringe.

Look at the recent Quinnipiac poll
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1296.xml?ReleaseID=1357
<snip>


American voters, by a 55 – 35 percent margin, are more worried that Congress will spend too much money and add to the deficit than it will not act to overhaul the health care system, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. By a similar 57 – 37 percent margin, voters say health care reform should be dropped if it adds “significantly” to the deficit.

By a 72 – 21 percent margin, voters do not believe that President Barack Obama will keep his promise to overhaul the health care system without adding to the deficit, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University national poll finds.

American voters disapprove 52 – 39 percent of the way President Obama is handling health care, down from 46 – 42 percent approval July 1, with 60 – 34 percent disapproval from independent voters. Voters say 59 – 36 percent that Congress should not pass health care reform if only Democratic members support it.

<snip>
Independent voters, perhaps the key voting group, are more worried about the deficit rising than congressional inaction, 54 - 37 percent. These voters say 59 - 36 percent that overhaul should not occur if it would "significantly" increase the deficit. Independents oppose 63 - 33 percent passing a bill with only Democratic votes.

Independent voters also don't think Obama can keep his promise to avoid increasing the deficit and pass health care by an overwhelming 77 - 17 percent.

"The key to this political battle over health care out in the country is independent voters. And that bloc is the key to most elections," Brown added. "These are the voters who broke strongly for the President last November and who were in his corner during the first months of his administration. But on these key health care questions they are siding with critics who question whether health care reform is worth the projected cost."

Support for Obama's handling of health care is down among key groups:
Women disapprove 49 - 41 percent, down from a 48 - 39 percent approval July 1;
Voters 18 to 34 years old disapprove 48 - 44 percent, down from a 54 - 35 percent approval;
Low income voters disapprove 47 - 43 percent, down from a 49 - 37 percent approval.
Since Quinnipiac University's July 1 survey, support for a government-run option has fallen from 69 - 26 percent to 62 - 32 percent and the number who would rather buy insurance from a private rather than public insurer has jumped from 53 - 28 percent to 61 - 25 percent.
<snip>

The DNC seems to be doing a fear mongering job here and failing to appreciate the true level of concern and disapproval of folks outside the right-wing extreme. They do a disservice to the nation when they do so. As for their atroturfing accusations, its kinda funny since Obama just last month got called out by the National Media for astroturfing his own townhall appearance calling on only folks from organizations that supported his healthcare ideas (one even connected with the DNC itself) and precreened call in questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou7SGNo5QHE

Great link, CS!

You can hardly go wrong with Iowahawk, AR.