Birthers, Town Hall Hecklers And The Return Of Right Wing Rage

Washington Post:

So the birthers, the anti-tax tea-partiers, the town hall hecklers -- these are "either" the genuine grass roots or evil conspirators staging scenes for YouTube? The quiver on the lips of the man pushing the wheelchair, the crazed risk of carrying a pistol around a president -- too heartfelt to be an act. The lockstep strangeness of the mad lies on the protesters' signs -- too uniform to be spontaneous. They are both. If you don't understand that any moment of genuine political change always produces both, you can't understand America, where the crazy tree blooms in every moment of liberal ascendancy, and where elites exploit the crazy for their own narrow interests.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Scott1560]

12:03 PM on 08/16/2009

Plenty of rage to be spread around........

Take a look at this and be sure to follow the links. This is the sort of thing that helps to build rage, but really has no place in the debate. I'm surprised there's no story here? Why would that be, that is, if we are al looking for an honest debate that centers on the real issue?

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2009/08/16/wapo-writer-disgusted-town-hall-protesters-lack-fashion

[KarlfromMD]

11:21 AM on 08/16/2009

The birthers really need their own anthem. Here is a suggestion to the tune of "This Land is Your Land"

The Birther Song

I heard a rumor
About Obama
He came from space with
The Dali Lama
He’ll take your guns then
He’ll gas your mama
I’m going to join the GOP

He’s not an earthling
From Honolulu
He rode a space ship
Like Mr. Sulu
The Earth is finished
They’ve come to get you
I’m going to join the GOP

My friends love tea bags
My friends are birthers
They make up facts like
The old flat-earthers
They go to town halls
Armed with Big Bertha
I’m going to join the GOP

I love Rush Limbaugh
He hates reformers
And Sara Palin
Doubts global warmers
We won’t get caught by
Barack’s enforcers
I’m going to join the GOP

[Siara]

11:26 AM on 08/16/2009

This is a scream. Did you make these lyrics up? Thanks for posting!

[KarlfromMD]

11:28 AM on 08/16/2009

Yes, inspired by all these crazy people, I wrote this song this morning. Thanks

[smartenoughforthisforum]

11:38 AM on 08/16/2009

Permission to sing this aloud at work, please (a doctor's lounge!)?

[Siara]

11:45 AM on 08/16/2009

Er... I'm in a bluegrass band...

[Bude]

11:18 AM on 08/16/2009

I'll miss granny!

[Siara]

11:24 AM on 08/16/2009

Don't worry. You'll see her on the Hallelujah Shores after the Rapture. Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin will be playing harps in the background.

[smartenoughforthisforum]

11:42 AM on 08/16/2009

Newt and Sarah will be a different rapture. That would be the eejit rapture, as opposed to the regular one.

[DestinationsUnknown]

11:05 AM on 08/16/2009

'Conservatives portray the movement as largely organic, fueled by average citizens alarmed at the direction the country has taken since Obama moved into the White House. '

Really?

February 26, 2009-Before any of these individuals began bashing UNIONS- SEIU ACORN-

Where was Rick Scott?

The Wall Street Journal reported that Richard Scott, "the former chief executive of HCA Inc," had formed the non-profit organization Conservatives for Patients' Rights as part of a "lobbying campaign[] to derail or modify" President Obama's health care proposals, but failed to note that Scott was terminated from HCA in 1997 amid a federal investigation into the company's Medicare billing, physician recruiting, and home-care practices.

HCA eventually pleaded guilty to fraud charges and paid approximately $1.7 billion in fines and penalties.

The wrath of Richard Scott (aka Rick) and associates" fraud is still affecting main street America.

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2003; WWW.USDOJ.GOV;
HCA Inc. (formerly known as Columbia/HCA and HCA - The Healthcare Company)
LARGEST HEALTH CARE FRAUD CASE IN U.S. HISTORY SETTLED; HCA INVESTIGATION NETS RECORD TOTAL OF $1.7 BILLION

Why does this matter? They want their country back?

Bash the UNIONS- GO ON- Proclaim how you want RICK SCOTT Back.

They want BUSH/CHENEY back?

Country FIRST! Bash UNIONS- ?

How dare you !

Promote this thief- Rick Scott- and bash unions!

Rick Scott's influence -Apparently they condone MASSIVE FRAUD against the AMERICAN PEOPLE!

Oh yes- COUNTRY FIRST!

[Siara]

11:15 AM on 08/16/2009

'Conservatives portray the movement as largely organic, fueled by average citizens alarmed at the direction the country has taken since Obama moved into the White House. '

Yeah well, that's called "democracy". When you lose an election the country doesn't necessarily go in the direction you want. You campaign in a civilized manner and try to win the next election.

The movement is fueled by propaganda published by self interested financial concerns and by a public so abysmally educated that it can't/won't analyze data for itself.

[ppp1604]

10:31 AM on 08/16/2009

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/07/21/c_street/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxcvBzHLdo4

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

What has happened to the Party of Jesus?

Why has the Party of Jesus become so angry? Why does the Party of Jesus hate a neighbor? Where has love thy neighbor and enemy gone?

Many of the Party of Jesus at town meetings looked like they were possessed by demons!

I wonder if an exorcism is covered by their health insurance? Many should look into getting one if the angry faces I saw at town meeting is any indicator of need!

I think many should re-read their "good book." I think at a minimum most could use a "re-education" of the principles of their Jesus!

Granted, the principles of their Jesus is the difficult path to take, and I simply don't think most are capable of following that path!

[Brightlight]

10:34 AM on 08/16/2009

The party of Jesus also had the Spanish Inquisition!

[KidMohair]

12:04 PM on 08/16/2009

And you'll see plenty of them with nooses....like George Allen.

[Siara]

10:49 AM on 08/16/2009

I don;t see how ANY interpretation of the Gospels could suggest anything but a giant "yes" for universal health care. The amount of distortion it takes to come up with any other interpretation is mind boggling. Of course, since most Christian Reich people don;t actually read the Bible themselves, the only ones who have to distort things to bring the Bible in line with right wing politics are the preachers and tele-evangelists. So the conflict between what they say and what the Bible says doesn't bother the Reich.

[PrehensileOne]

11:12 AM on 08/16/2009

I don't see how any interpretation of the bible could suggest anything other than a poorly-written, badly-translated piece of bronze-age fiction which is completely useless and demonstrably harmful to a debate on public policy.

[John Mainstream]

10:27 AM on 08/16/2009

House Democrats propose a $500 Billion cut in Medicare in the health insurance reform bill. Remember how many of these same Democrats justifiably blasted Newt Gingrich’s “Contract on America” for proposing small cuts in the rate of growth of Medicare? Cutting Medicare is unfair to seniors who have paid into the system with guarantees from the Federal government. These protesters have a right to be upset. Just Say No to the House Democrat's cuts in their Medicare!

[ppp1604]

10:25 AM on 08/16/2009

One observation about the town hall meeting hecklers and loudmouths. They are not very original.

But, being Republicans, I would expect nothing less?

[KidMohair]

11:58 AM on 08/16/2009

Nor are they very bright. They are all given a two-sheet rant that they read from at these town halls...

beyond that, they know nothing.

[mdlw]

10:15 AM on 08/16/2009

Palin continues to get away with deception while using a baby with DS to promote the agenda of the GOP. Check the video and judge for yourself.

http://palingates.blogspot.com/2009/07/sarah-palins-pregnancy-is-hot-topic.html

[ppp1604]

10:27 AM on 08/16/2009

Palin gets away with the deceptions because there are so many Americans who simply don't have the intellect that would give rise to a critical analysis of what she says.

[KIVPossum]

10:13 AM on 08/16/2009

Everything the right wingers do is based on hate.

They hate the prospect of health care reform because someone poorer than them, or a different color, might get health care. They hate the adminstration more for a black man in the white house than what he's actually doing. They hate taxes because they want someone else to pay the bill for the government. They hate immigrants because they are a different color and speak with an accent. They hate gays because they aren't making babies to baptize They hate progressives because they want change, and change is something the right really hates.

It must be a pitiful existence to go around with that much hate all the time.

[KindMisica]

10:07 AM on 08/16/2009

Very good article. I didn't know what the right-winger's argument against the Civil Rights movement was at the time.."enslave the whites", heh....I'm learning new things...And the "socialistic" threat has been exploited ever since WW2...

[jimbobre]

10:00 AM on 08/16/2009

Liberals (nor progressives) never claimed Bush blew up the World trade Center. Radical kooks on the left that. Liberals claim (correctly) Bush ignored warnings about an imminent terrorist attack because the info came from the Clinton administration.

[thetruthmustbetold]

09:59 AM on 08/16/2009

The anger displayed at these town hall meetings is nothing compared to the anger that will show up at the ballot box next year, if the Democrat leadership continues to ignore or arrogantly ridicule the voice of the people.

[Mahi Joe]

10:07 AM on 08/16/2009

And if that be the case it does not necessarily mean those votes go to the necons. I couldn't see a better oppertunity for more progressive independents to run for public office than now. People should be looking in their communities for potential community leaders who truly have the people's best interests in mind and the intelligence and encourage them to seek public office.

[Brightlight]

10:31 AM on 08/16/2009

The voice of the people was already heard during the 2008 election. Thank Goodness the freak show ( McCant/Quitter) lost!

[goodnews7]

09:58 AM on 08/16/2009

Ignore these people, to much inbreeding.

[dharma41]

09:57 AM on 08/16/2009

Far righters lie, the uninsured die.

[exhale09]

09:51 AM on 08/16/2009

A handful of people are making the most noise and behaving badly.

The majority of the people in our country behaves with civility towards each other, even though we may differ in our political ideologically.

I believe the majority of the people in Town Hall Meetings taking place this month are attended by people who even though they are on opposite sides of the isle politically, they understand we are all Americans.
But those people do not much media "attention"

Just like in families, the disruptive child who misbehaves is the one who gets most of the attention.
In school classrooms, the class clown gets most of the attention.
On a school yard full of children, the one bully, through intimidation, receives most of the attention.

In a school of 3000 students, most are there to learn and join together in sporting activities, the school band, etc. Students who may be different religions, skin color, etc. but they are still friends working together for an education and having fun...
Still, the few bullies command the "attention" Everyone knows the bullies, who intentionally make everyone else's life unpleasant in order to GET the attention they crave.

"Some" celebrities would rather have negative publicity, then no publicity.

Some people, crave an "excess of attention"
Negative attention, for them serves a purpose... it's better then "less" of the attention they think they are entitled to.