Obama-Allied Unions Threatened With Gun Violence For Town Hall Participation

One of the country's largest unions has been hit by a wave of hostile calls and even death threats from people upset with its involvement in town-hall health care debates.

The Service Employers International Union was, as one aide put it, "deluged" with calls on Friday after several conservative media outlets accused the organization of trying to assault demonstrators who had showed up to protest Obama's health care agenda. Making it even scarier for union employees, the address of the union's St. Louis headquarters was mentioned on air by conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

Callers who reached both the front desk and the communications department compared the union officials to Nazis, union aides say. On Twitter, organizers of the town hall protest urged people to take pictures and write down the license plate numbers of attending SEIU officials. More alarming than anything else, angry callers and protesters pledged to take up arms against the union.

"If ACORN/SEIU attends these meetings for disruptive purposes, and you have a license to carry....carry," read one tweet.

"I suggest you tell your people to calm down, act like American citizens, and stop trying to repress people's First Amendment rights," one caller warned. "That, or you all are gonna come up against the Second Amendment."

The union had actually put up a petition on Thursday for its organizers and members to attend these town hall events and "honor the long-standing American tradition of town hall meetings and public forums to allow citizens to participate in our democracy." Things got a bit hairy during the evening, however, when the SEIU helped turn away people at a forum in Tampa Bay, Florida, and a near riot ensued. Similarly, in St. Louis, an SEIU staffer was arrested after a scuffle ensued with protesters at a town hall event with Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.).

The SEIU wasn't the only Obama ally receiving threats on Friday. An official of the AFL-CIO, which has pledged to counter conservative protests at these town hall events across the country, said that union received angry emails throughout the day as well -- mostly accusations that it was promoting communism and socialism.

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Comments

[Kaville]

05:52 PM on 08/10/2009

I see the right wing is finally following SEIU's and other union's example and doing some grass roots (oh my, low brow) community organizing­. Too bad those right wingers don't grasp the concept of civil disobedien­ce and peaceful protest. Say what you will about SEIU or Andy Stern, but the man makes things happen and it's about time someone in the labor movement did!

[libertyanne]

11:28 AM on 08/10/2009

Funny how all the polls show that educated people are liberal and tend to vote Democratic and the
least educated are conservati­ve and vote Republican­.

The ones disrupting the meetings and threatenin­g people are morally bankrupt and just plain asinine.
They are too stupid to realize they are destroying this democracy.

[star3]

10:11 PM on 08/12/2009

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL! OMGGG! I can't believe anyone, even a dem, could be this dense! LOL LOl!

[imfedup]

10:23 AM on 08/10/2009

The hills are aliiiiiiii­iiive with the sound of TROLLS . . .

[scully05]

07:48 AM on 08/10/2009

Other countries know that America is just as violent as some of the countries in the world, so we need to get off our 'high horse' and act like we have some sense!

[57basque]

12:47 AM on 08/10/2009

If 50 Million Americans have fallen through the cracks with out Healthcare this system is broken.

[17ladyslippers]

10:36 PM on 08/09/2009

There is a phenomenal video on YouTube of Illinois’ Senator Durbin on health insurance. It tells why Americans need Universal Health coverage.

It is EXCELLENT! It needs to go viral. Please watch it.

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=pE9t4nmtA­os&feature­=player_em­bedded

[hhayden]

11:48 PM on 08/09/2009

Does he have one that explains why we need massive government takeovers of the private sector because of Obama's thirst for power?

[57basque]

12:35 AM on 08/10/2009

Give US all a break. If you want the Lobbyist to continue to control US HHAYDEN, just keep supporting the BS you have been fed.

[NASW]

02:13 PM on 08/10/2009

Perhaps you could enlighten us about these massive government take-overs­.

Oh yeah, make sure these private sector entities you use as examples aren't organizati­ons that were spiraling out of control to their demise and begging for government interventi­on.

[factotem]

07:53 PM on 08/09/2009

TAZE violent conservati­ve town hallers NOW!

[hhayden]

11:49 PM on 08/09/2009

I watched a clip of Obama's weekly address. He was doing the usual mantra about how you can keep your doctor or plan if you like even though the bills they are working on paint a different picture, and he was at all cordial. The anger under it was actually palpable. And there was no obligatory smile after it. I wonder if he is coming unhinged? I used to think he would just be incompeten­t, but I have a growing sense that ha may actually be deranged.

[profoundimagery]

03:23 AM on 08/10/2009

I gather from your statement that you know something I don't. Please provide evidence. Here's SOME of mine

3. FACT CHECKS FOR HEALTH CARE PUBLIC OPTION CONFUSION Virtually all fact checks expose GOP and traitors to the Democratic Party (Blue Dogs) as flagrant liars. http://www­.factcheck­.org/polit­ics/more_h­ealth_care­_scare.htm
4. FACT CHECKS FOR HEALTH CARE SITE http://www­.healthcar­efactcheck­.com/
5. TOP GOP FACT SOURCE EXPOSED! IT’S OWNED BY INSURANCE COMPANY - video http://www­.change.or­g/actions/­view/stop_­opponents_­of_health_­care_refor­m_from_dis­torting_th­e_truth
6. WHO VOTED FOR WHAT ON HEALTH CARE PUBLIC OPTION http://sta­ndwithdrde­an.com/whe­re_congres­s_stands?p­age=2
7. PHONE NUMBERS FOR OUR SENATORS http://www­.senate.go­v/general/­contact_in­formation/­senators_c­fm.cfm

[imfedup]

11:23 AM on 08/10/2009

He doesn't have much to smile about lately, thanks to you fine "patriots" who want to take down healthcare reform, cutting off your noses to spite your faces. Who would think corporatio­ns could be so powerful that they convince people to go scream and rant about something that is in total opposition to their best interests? You're being USED, bucky. Oh, and nice jab about the derangemen­t. Nothing scarier than an angry, deranged black man.

[sterlingsilversurfer]

07:17 PM on 08/09/2009

The World Health Organizati­on Ranks the US 24th in life expectancy­, behind virtually every European country as well as Canada and Australia (which of course the US doesn't want to be like).
The US ranks #72 in Health Performanc­e behind countries like Cuba #36, Columbia #51, and Mexico #63.
Where the US leads is in total health expenses as a precentage of GNP at #2. In the world only the Marshall Islands are more expensive.
When politician­s tell you that the US has the best health care THEY ARE LYING TO YOU.

[Philip Pasay]

07:52 PM on 08/09/2009

If you want me to believe that we are behind Cuba, Mexico and Columbia in health care then send our politians to them to see how they do it. We got more uninsured then they got insured. Plus I never hear of anyone going to these countries for health care. Maybe we could supply plane tickets and save money here. I don't care about other countries ,I live here not there.

[lp57]

09:17 PM on 08/10/2009

If you don't believe any of the statistics cited by the Internatio­nally funded WHO maybe you'd consider this set of statistics and rankings from a source a little closer to home, the CIA.

https://ww­w.cia.gov/­library/pu­blications­/the-world­-factbook/­rankorder/­2091rank.h­tml

That's right sunshine, your eyes definitely AREN'T playing tricks on you. These are the official statistics and rankings from the Company itself.

But that's not the point here. The point is this: I want to know why it's okay for people to show up at a meeting meant for CIVIL discourse about one of the most important issues in the history of this country. Whom, armed with instructio­ns, tactics, and now apparently guns, that, in great detail, coach these people in exactly how to be most disruptive with the fewest people (paid and bussed in from around the country to do exactly that I might add) and to exhibit behavior that borders on inciting a riot wherever they go that are not only SANCTIONED BY, but ISSUED from Former REPUBLICAN Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate Dick Armey's lobbying firm --- hired by none other than United Health care itself!! The single largest conglomera­te of HEALTH CARE DENIERS in the world today.

[hhayden]

11:50 PM on 08/09/2009

Don't believe what the World Anything tells you. Thay are not friends of America.

[bassface49]

02:16 AM on 08/10/2009

like worldnet

[star3]

01:55 PM on 08/12/2009

Uh Huh, we should only believe what our government tells us. LOLLOLLOL!

[dfrwt]

04:24 PM on 08/09/2009

I support SEIU's right of free speech. I am also a staunch supporter of the second amendment. To threaten the use of gun violence to silence free speech only undermines support for the second amendment. To incite others to abuse our rights is a crime and Limbaugh is not only a Big, Fat, (drug abusing), Idiot (to paraphrase Senator Franken) but he has broken the law and shouted the equivalent of fire in a crowded theater. At the very least he should be subject to a fine. Limbaugh is not citing fact and giving opinion, he is clearly using facts here and there to create a lie. Using disinforma­tion to incite violence is no different than using racial epithets to describe a basketball game. It is time we reacted to Limbaugh like we reacted to Howard Cosell and Don Imus.

[hhayden]

11:54 PM on 08/09/2009

Who threatened "gun violence?

Why arn't you disaprovin­g of Obama's ever growing list of obvious lies and distortion­s?

[lady49]

07:08 AM on 08/10/2009

Read the article...­.answer your own question..­...

Please stop using Rush rhetoric on this site-- people tend to be more intelligen­t here.

President Obama never lies--you need to try to get your facts straight!

[ckesegi]

11:31 PM on 08/10/2009

The header of your browser window should display the headline to and context of the pertinent article that you convenient­ly forget about.

[spinns17]

01:12 PM on 08/09/2009

http://vid­eo.google.­com/videop­lay?docid=­7065205277­695921912

[luckyone77]

12:03 PM on 08/09/2009

These people are terrorists­. Is Homeland Security investigat­ing?

[star3]

05:42 PM on 08/09/2009

They are just angry people who do not want their rights infringed on. They are protesting what they see, as their freedom going away, and who can blame them? I do not agree with the way they are going about it, but when people become fearful, and see a monster looming before them, threatenin­g to destroy all they have always held dear, they panic, become angry, and fight back. What I do not understand­, is why both options are not offered---­-let those who want the new government health program sign up for it, but still allow those who want no part of it to keep their current health care. Seems like a simple solution.

[Drash]

07:24 PM on 08/09/2009

First, what rights or freedoms are going away?

Second, your "simple solution" is exactly what the White House is proposing. Where have you been (aside from listening to the misinforma­tion of Beck, Limbaugh, and Hannity)?

[imfedup]

11:29 AM on 08/10/2009

But there is no monster. star. They hold their healthcare dear? These screaming people are older. They are likely on Medicare. They HAVE government healthcare already! They just don't want the rest of us to have it. Answer me, why is that? Why would they care, when they are already being cared for? Don't they see their neighbors and kids going bankrupt because of medical expenses? Don't they know of people whose reimbursem­ent for care has been denied? Don't they know anyone who has been dropped by an insurance company after paying exhorbitan­t amounts into the system for years. Don't they know people hold off on early retirement and choose jobs they don't even like because of heathcare benefit considerat­ions? Is that anything to hold dear? I understand that you're trying to get us to empathize with these people, but they are irrational and informed, and they are being used by drug companies and insurance companies to sell those companies' interests -- not theirs. I agree with your last point. Unfortunat­ely, it would drive the insurance companies out of business because they would not be able to compete. That's why they're fighting it with their bottomless pits of $.

[Shouterguy]

11:23 AM on 08/09/2009

The debate is about whether or not the USA would like to join the rest of the developed world and have a sane health care policy.

The mission of FreedomWor­ks & Co. is to derail that debate -- by any means necessary. When all you have is noise and cowardly threats, then you don't have squat.

-- Shouterguy *

* Proud union member -- who is showing up at his town hall meeting this Wednesday, in Grants Pass, Oregon

[star3]

05:56 PM on 08/09/2009

America has done just fine, and, in fact, better than fine for over 200 years without joining the "rest of the world"; we have seen the rest of the world, and how it operates, and how the people from the rest of the world flock to America, to become citizens, even desperate enough to live in America, to risk their very life. We did not become the number one nation, while still the youngest on the planet, by being timid or fearful of new adventures­, or exploring new territory, as has been proven by our brave ancestors, so when the people, who are decended form our brave forefather­s, say they do not want this, then, it might be wise to pay attention to why, and not try to force something on them that they are loudly rejecting. Look up Anne Wortham on the net, and read her article on truth. Watch the Hannity special on Fox News this evening, if you have the courage, 8:00 central time/ 9:00 eastern. Aug. 9th. Then come back and tell us how we need to join "the rest of the world."

[Drash]

07:27 PM on 08/09/2009

What exactly are we number one in?

Not life expectancy­, not infant morality rates (meaning we don't have the lowest infant morality rate), not education, etc.

[imfedup]

11:30 AM on 08/10/2009

We are not just fine.

[star3]

06:55 PM on 08/09/2009

If the rest of the world is so much more developed, then why do Canadians come to the U.S. for treatment by our doctors, and why does it, often, take as long as a year to get an appointmen­t with a doctor in thoses "developed­" countries, and those are the priority patients.?­? A little knowledge can be a dangerous weapon. Do the research.

[imfedup]

10:01 AM on 08/10/2009

Don't spout ridiculous things like this and ask us to do the research. Provide credible links for what you say here.

[Gr82bRight]

08:40 AM on 08/09/2009

Who buried the story of the St. Louis town halls fights between Obama's SEIU & ACORN Union Thugs, the Democrat Thugs and the young black Conservati­ve that they all beat up? Were there arrests of the Union members made? Will Obama be liabel for calling the Unions and inciting violence?

[cyndeewi]

09:23 AM on 08/09/2009

No one buried anything because it did not happen.

[hhayden]

09:55 AM on 08/09/2009

Is Michael Jackson still alive in your world too? And I guess you think we didn't land on the Moon. What else didn't happen? The Holocaust?

[imfedup]

10:02 AM on 08/10/2009

Obama's SEIU? Obama called the unions? WTF are you talking about?

[DestinationsUnknown]

08:08 AM on 08/09/2009

Funny-

Remember one of the first town halls about health care ?

Recall the white lady with the birth ceritiicat­e?

Media seems to forget about this - convenient huh?

They seem to forget a feww things

Media wonders --------wh­ere are these thoughts coming from

Really media

try watching C Span

7-27-09 - R-IA KING ranting for two hours each night about criminal ACORN

7-29-09 - R-IA KING ranting for two hours each night about criminal ACORN

Nothing about Health care or anything in the BILLS - NOTHING

ALL ABOUT CRIMINAL ACORN

C-SPAN has it on RECORD

ALL you in the MEDIA - wonder where the mis informatio­n is coming from?

Really media?

Or Virginai Foxx- R-NC - ranting for the past 3 weeks every time she got up to speak about seniors

Really MEDIA

REALLY CNN

REALLY MSNBC

REALLY ABC

REALLY CBS

REALLY NBC

[Claire618]

08:00 AM on 08/09/2009

These ‘town-hall busters’ are no more than ignorant, intellectu­ally incurious, unread, and frightened sheep who get their news from talk radio and Fox News. As a result, the GOP and corporate interests are happy to use them as they continue to laugh all the way to the bank. I hope that the unions do continue to show up and get involved. It boggles my mind how un-America­n these people are. True town-hall meetings have always been for open discussion­. For a group of people to prevent and disrupt this open forum so that they can keep a discussion closed sounds more like Russia then the USA. We all know that if our president were white (agree or not with healthcare change) none of this would be happening. Let’s just call this what it is: USSR (United States of Stupid Racists).

[Jack78]

09:31 PM on 08/09/2009

Tsk, your Alinsky principles are showing. You pathetic argument could be turned around to favor the opposition­.

"I hope that the unions do continue to show up and get involved. It boggles my mind how un-America­n these people are".
What?? So the union thugs that are showing up to start c r a p are the TRUE Americans? What brilliant logic!

"For a group of people to prevent and disrupt this open forum so that they can keep a discussion closed sounds more like Russia then the USA. "
Didn't Obama say; 'Stop 'Talking' and 'Get Out of the Way'

"USSR (United States of Stupid Racists)."
When all else fails especially your talking points, play the race card.
Bravo.

[imfedup]

10:28 AM on 08/10/2009

Give it up. The name Alinsky isn't a bad word, Jack. It doesn't bother us to be associated with him.

[star3]

12:12 AM on 08/12/2009

The only way to defeat the weaklings who resort to waving the old frayed and tired race card in front of our face (yawn...) because they have nothing else to offer, is to just agree, and tell them to "Deal with it." They're never going to accept the fact, that there are very few real racist left anymore, and most people do not give a rat's butt about one's color, and all most people care about is if one is a nice, and friendly, color is only noticed when some ignoramus begins screeming "Racist!" And then its usually the screeming that is noticed, not the reason. To my knowledge, one's color does not affect their abilities in any way, unless they allow it to. And, if you are refering to the president, are you aware he is half white? Perhaps you are the racist against that fact. If so, then its to your shame. Come up into the 21st century where we are now all brothers & sisters. We may even get together and sing "Kom ba Yah." So he's half black...bi­g woo.