The Browning Of Grassroots: Astroturf Taking Over Local Activism

Newsweek:

A few weeks ago, seemingly out of the blue, people suddenly began referring to President Obama's proposal to include end-of-life-care assistance into health-care legislation as the government formation of "death panels." The blogosphere lit up, and protesters at town-hall meetings began displaying signs expressing outrage over the impending forced death of the elderly. Though this seemed to be an expression of ground-up, grassroots activism, it was in fact a carefully constructed bit of astroturfing.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[rxvette]

You can't out number common sense when it comes to healthcare reform. Universal care is essential not only to our healthcare system but our nation's economy as a whole as we move forward.

As a healthcare professional myself I fully support President Obama's plan for a public option along with a few more things that I've outlined here - http://bit.ly/9QLV8

[rich misty]

Health care systems with universal coverage is the standard among developed countries. None of them is moving to implement a health care system anything like ours, not one. Ours is not the best, it is not even in the top 20.

And Republicans are fighting to keep it that way.

[rich misty]

Reposted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhoOkp0dfBM

Rachel Maddow ^ "Tea Party Patriots" and their associated groups.

Here is the problem and we see it on the streets in the health care protests. The health care industry has aligned with the "Tea Party Patriots" which represent a large number of organized white supremist militants.

http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/White_Supremacists_July_4_Tea_Parties.htm

The rise of these groups is the subject of a Special Report from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=392

[simplesense]

And the Southern Poverty Law Center is COMPLETELY unbiased. Ha!

[wonketteRAWKS]

Taking a page from ACORN?

[kcmookie]

Not needed, convincing you dimwitted assclowns into believing whatever is being spewed from the neocons is saldy as simple as floating it out there. Like lemmings that swallowed all things Bush whole, you now will just as quickly be against anything Prez O comes up with.

[marxmarv]

Speaking of lemmings, have you even LOOKED at wonketteRAWKS' posting history before slamming them for being a dimwitted assclown? Do you need to have EVERY winking smiley handed to you? Geez.

[SolarArray]

It would be nice if these people were asked a few questions after they settled down.

1. Do you have health insurance now?
2. How much do you pay?
3. How would you like to have that halved...or more..... and get better health care?

[marxmarv]

Does that answer to #2 include the employee contribution? It wouldn't surprise me if at least some sizable chunk of this opposition to health insurance reform comes from people not wanting to know how big their insurance tab really is, not wanting even the illusion of a "free lunch" to end. This strikes me as similar to how the withholding numbers on your pay stub have a much lower psychological impact than cutting the IRS a check.

[panda609]

Alot of posts here denigrating free markets because of the behavior of business. When wil people understand that business both loves and dis likes the free market. Business loves the free market whenever it wants to enter a market and dis likes the free market whenever another business wants to enter it. The solution is not to weaken the free market but to strengthen the aspects of it that business people dis like.

[ClevelandTom]

In my opinion, market economics simply do not apply to the health care business. It isn't a market when I buyer doesn't have the option to say no to a deal, when there is no publication of costs, when most employers do not give their workers more than one option on insurance carrier, just to name a few of the non-market conditions the healthcare industry creates.

[simplesense]

Rubbish. Market economics BROUGHT you most of the drugs you enjoy today, not to mention MRI's, CAT scans, and about a million other innovations.

Either you have no understanding of economic modalities, or you are being willfully ignorant.

[panda609]

Alot of posts here denigrating "free markets" because of the behavior of business. When will people understand that business minded people both love and hate the free market. Business people love it when they want to get in a market but hate it when someone else wants to get in. That's why businesses merge and collude and executives insulate themselves from their own stockholders. The solution is not to do away with a free market but rather to strengthen the aspect of the market that business people fear.

[Barbara2423]

The irony is President Obama is trying to help senior with health care and they are the ones who are fighting him. I thought you were suppose to get smarter as you got older.

[mergina]

Ooh, why are angry, overweight, old, pale white people so Scary?

[Reito Hikari]

because he WILL eat your children... oh and prolly has a gun strapped to his leg.

[DimBulb2]

because they are irrational
and have guns
and believe they have god on their side, telling what to do


a very scary combination

[rich misty]

Yup, we have seen this before at the executive level as well.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/oct/07/iraq.usa

http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=haught_29_5

[rich misty]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/anti-health-care-reform-protester-encourages-physical-violence-use-of-firearms.php

[Poltergeister]

What I don't understand is, where is the fighting back. As far as I can tell these people are basically Anarchists. They don't want government involved in anything and want to let the 'Free-Market' solve all our problems. Boy that worked well in the financial industry...

I'm serious, the more this 'debate' goes on the more I am beginning to see these protesters as Anarchists, even if they don't know that's what they are. Their concept of 'Unfettered Free-Market' would be a modern form of Anarchy. There has to be some balance between the creative forces of a market economy and our society's expectations for notions of opportunity, equality and justice if the United States is to remain a vibrant, healthy nation

[simplesense]

Please see some of my posts on here for an alternative point of view. Granted, I am no Republican, so I can't speak for what their thought process is. However, I am a voice of dissent on the public option, but for reform. I thought you may be interested to know that there are some of us dissenters who are actually for regulation.

[panda609]

When the government is susbsidizing home purchases through organizations like Freddie and Fannie, and bailing out Wall Street and Detroit, it is intellectually dishonest to blame the financial crisis on the free market because the market was never free. On the otherhand, a totally free market would be like a game of Texas Hold 'Em. Eventually one player holds all the chips. Therefore, we do need sensible regulations.

[Reito Hikari]

Maybe... just maybe... the death panels should exist for these people who do believe them... that way... we can weed out the incompetents.

[MisterHands]

That's a lot of Republicans to dispose of-- mass g.rave? I don't want my children and their children paying for it ;)

[MisterHands]

That's a lot of Republicans to d.ispose of-- mass g.r.ave? I don't want my c.hildren and their c.hildren paying for it ;)

[MisterHands]

That's a lot of Republicans to d.ispose of-- m@ss g.r.ave? I don't want my c.hildren and their c.hildren paying for it ;)

[Arrecho]

They should pay for the bullets, Chinese style

[Reito Hikari]

Well, the money we save on welfare will cover that cost ;)

[DimBulb2]

hope u r back to full speed

[panda609]

If you guys are capable of digging a mass grave why don't you get a job operating a backhoe. Then the rest of us wouldn't have to pay for your health insurance, beer, and cigarettes.

[Policon]

Wow. Thank you for shining the light on what Progressives really think.

[marxmarv]

Lying to get your way is perfectly OK, though, IF you're a Republican.

[Arrecho]

Grassroots? HAH!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/32484876#32484876

[beckpod1]

FOX Noise underminds our political system by spreading false propaganda on a massive scale...as an American I find this very criminal....you can have voters voting with theirs hearts and minds...and vote against their own good will because of false facts.
Are there grounds for a law suit...or even a security issue?

[simplesense]

But I suppose you think everything printed here is absolute truth - no propaganda at all, right?

MSNBC...all truth, right?

[MisterHands]

Fox News Caught Repeatedly Cropping, Manipulating Video
http://www.huf-fingtonpost.com/2009/05/05/fox-news-assailed-for-vid_n_196719.html?page=22&show_comment_id=23912616#comment_23912616
----
"we only hire talent who have the ability to generate ratings" -Fox News spokesperson
http://www.mediaite.com/online/cnns-rick-sanchez-pokes-at-fox-news-fox-news-smacks-him-away/
----
Fox News producer facing child p orn charges after federal agents discovered photos and videos on his computer.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0210093foxnews1.html
----
On Fox News, Pastor Drake Prayed For Obama's D.eath on air.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUuT1HXcJ9M

[dillydawg]

Unless you are Warren Buffet, Oprah or Bill Gates etc., you have no skin in the game. Your winnut views can only be folley. Dream as you will, you have no seat at the Corporate Rich's table. You are there to serve.

[MisterHands]

Fox News Caught Repeatedly Cropping, Manipulating Video
http://www.huf-fingtonpost.com/2009/05/05/fox-news-assailed-for-vid_n_196719.html?page=22&show_comment_id=23912616#comment_23912616

[rchwel]

MSNBC is the true fair and balanced network , show us some proof that MSNBC lies and uses propaganda like Faux Noise does ! MSNBC could spend 3 hours a day PROVING that rushoxycontin, o'LIELY, sean insanity and beck are liars and 99.9% of the time MSNBC has video of them lying and denying .

[rich misty]

Fox is the worst of the worst and you knee jerk to point fingers at other media... As if you were defending Fox.

http://gawker.com/5332558/whats-bad-for-the-gop-is-good-for-fox-news

[MisterHands]

Fox News Caught Repeatedly Cropping, Manipulating Video
http://www.huf-fingtonpost.com/2009/05/05/fox-news-assailed-for-vid_n_196719.html?page=22&show_comment_id=23912616#comment_23912616
----
"we only hire talent who have the ability to generate ratings" -Fox News spokesperson
http://www.mediaite.com/online/cnns-rick-sanchez-pokes-at-fox-news-fox-news-smacks-him-away/

[MisterHands]

F.o.x News Caught Repeatedly C.ropping, M.anipulating Video
http://www.huf-fingtonpost.com/2009/05/05/fox-news-assailed-for-vid_n_196719.html?page=22&show_comment_id=23912616#comment_23912616
----
"we only hire talent who have the ability to generate ratings" -F.o.x News spokesperson
http://www.mediaite.com/online/cnns-rick-sanchez-pokes-at-fox-news-fox-news-smacks-him-away/
----
F.o.x News producer facing c.hild p orn charges after federal agents discovered photos and videos on his computer.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0210093foxnews1.html
----
On F.o.x News, Pastor Drake P.rayed For Obama's D.eath on air.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUuT1HXcJ9M

[simplesense]

Hey mister...no need to spam the thread 100 times with the same post. Calm yourself.

[debbielynnepaint]

Fox news is disgusting but I also worry about the demented minds who believe the stuff they are preaching.

[Giulia Gouge]

I just re-read the book Needful Things by Stephen King, and you know what I figured out. The right wing talkers and bloggers are the Leland Gaunt of the book. They want to wire as much hot button negative crap as possible so that its citizen against citizen, while they just laugh their way to the bank and say things like, oh our numbers are so much better blah blah blah. The Republican politicians of today are in that mix too. Their money making machine can only run on negativity and no. They run on the worse side of people's natures instead of the better side. The self-indulgence, the self righteousness, the selfish. And you hear things like what about me? And what about my parents, what about my kids? (which at least sound slightly less selfish) No change, no progress, nothing for you and more for them. On a side note, my husband said a very smart thing. He said why are they saying our children and grandchildren will be paying for today. Aren't we still paying for decisions made 50, 60 years ago with our taxes. We've never been paying forward. And now that we are trying to pay forward with health insurance so that everyone can get quality affordable care, the fear mongers are out en force.

[MisterHands]

The GOP operate under the Kristallnacht Strategy.

[Arrecho]

Deuschland, Deutschland= Pledge of allegiance

[panda609]

I don't suppose it has ever occurred to you that the first thing you can do to help someone else out is to take care of yourself, your parents, and your children so you and they do not become a burden on everyone else. Please practice what you preach and stop saying "NO" to sensible incremental reforms.

[Arrecho]

THE FACTS
Death Panels:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/profile.html
The puppeteers and brainwashing the elderly:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/32424387#32424387
Lies:
http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/deconstructing-rw-lies-hcbill.html
Good guy:
http://weiner.house.gov/tv.aspx?p=113
Good girl:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show
Grassroots? HAH!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/32484876#32484876
Is it Expensive? :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RADPnKE2Uak&feature=player_embedded

[marxmarv]

Insurers are more likely to bust a cap in someone important than to submit to _meaningful_ regulation.

[MisterHands]

Bush's New Loyalty Oath

"When George Bush first took office. If w or c.heney were going to speak in front of some audience, you could not get into the auditorium unless you took a loyalty oath. You were screened so that 'they' had the opportunity to discover if you were the kind of person 'they' wanted to witness the grandeur of their presence.. "

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/dikkday48yahoocom/2009/07/oaths.php
----
Bush Screen Townhallers-- with loyalty oath.

''They want to make sure people can hear the president and vice president's vision for the next four years," he said. ''There are thousands of volunteers who sacrifice and work hard on the campaign and who deserve to see and hear their president without being disrupted and disrespected."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/08/09/bush_backers_only_policy_riles_voters_at_rnc_rallies/
----
"In April 2005, Bush's security detail threw three people out of an event in Colorado, citing a bumper sticker on their car that read "No More Blood For Oil." White House spokesman Trent Duffy said that if there's any evidence people might "disrupt the president," they "have the right to exclude those people from those events."
----
"In early 2005, North Dakota residents were refused entry to a Bush event after their names appeared on a "blacklist" of people banned from the event."

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/dikkday48yahoocom/2009/07/oaths.php

[simplesense]

Those guys were some serious @sses.

[Peter007]

I don't see anything illegal about excluding certain people from a private event. The democrats do it too.
If that's the tactic you want to employ, you may get the same approval rating as Bush had. 29% ?
But, its a free choice........

[rich misty]

Excellent post, marked as favorite, long time fan.

[kcmookie]

While I agree with the sentiment because it fits with what needs to be done today, but do you really think the answer lies in following Bush's footstep? I