Americans Continue To Deliver Progressive Messages At Republican Town Hall Meetings

Firedoglake:

Two years ago, a concerted effort by a corporate-funded Tea Party movement to get conservatives out to town hall meetings changed the dynamic in Washington on health care reform and paved the way for the eventual House GOP takeover in the 2010 elections. In two separate work periods this year, ordinary citizens, with absolutely no help or encouragement from an organized progressive movement, have made their voices heard at town hall meetings, in particular by harassing conservative lawmakers about their plans to end Medicare and put forward a balanced budget amendment, as well as their opposition to tax fairness.

Read the whole story: Firedoglake

Comments

[blknightowl]

06:44 AM on 08/21/2011

It seems that the GOP has decided that the "people" are not important enough to listen to. While Conservatives sit back and let the Mad Hatters assist in their own destruction, the rest of us are supposed to be quiet and let it happen.

Something needs to be done to teach these Nimrods a little history. Almost every single country, every empire, every despot in time has tried these particular tactics. Yes, their friends supported them. Yes, the had a block of followers. They were overthrown every single time. I'm sure those who went to the guillotine during France's people's uprising were totally confused as to what was wrong with these dirty, unimportant people. "But....we told them to eat cake...???"

[SOD]

07:44 AM on 08/18/2011

A balanced budget amendment and tax fairness?

The horror!!!

[florishes]

08:40 PM on 08/19/2011

A BBA in the middle of the great recession? Tax cuts for corporate "people" paid for on the backs of the working class? Yes..real horror

[SOD]

08:51 PM on 08/19/2011

"A BBA in the middle of the great recession?"

A balanced budget is never a bad thing.

"Tax cuts for corporate "people" paid for on the backs of the working class?"

You obviously know very little if anything about the Fair Tax.

1. The Fair Tax would entirely eliminate tax loopholes for corporations.

2. Any person or family at or below the poverty level would be 100% exempt from taxation by means of a prebate.

Can you name an actual feature of the Fair Tax that you don't like?

[intolleft]

07:38 AM on 08/18/2011

"....ordinary citizens, with absolutely no help or encouragement (insert "we promise" here) from an organized progressive movement..."

[SOD]

07:49 AM on 08/18/2011

Judging by their methods of "civil discourse", aka the angry group chant, this is all union based.

I would be happy to bet money on it.

I'm surprised there wasn't anyone chanting "hey hey, ho ho, union busters got to go!!!".

This is quite uncivil and bears no resemblance to the Tea Party town halls two years ago.

[buc]

07:10 AM on 08/18/2011

Can we get a PROGRESSIVE to run in the Democratic Primary? God that would be a blessing, compared to what we got.

[MichaelMcKLA]

12:33 AM on 08/18/2011

Payback is an itch.

Oops. Misspelled that.

[MLowwater]

08:59 PM on 08/17/2011

So why doesn't HuffPo make this front page news?!
It's weird that the news is: this is soooo important it should be front page news, but it's not. The story isn't the grass roots anger, it's the lack of news coverage, which is sooo important it is on the bottom of the political section, not even on the home page. Who's side is HuffPo really on?

[Stretchumall]

08:18 PM on 08/17/2011

"Mr. Brown, Scott, heres a dollar bill why dont you come out and talk to the regular people....."

Love it!

[cameron d]

06:22 PM on 08/17/2011

There's nothing that makes me happier than an angry crowd of people chanting messages at a rich white guy. Just brings a smile to my face.

[Booger Lewis]

10:25 PM on 08/19/2011

I know..., it is funny. Did you see that guy callout Barney Frank last year? Barney was so shocked that all he do was babble. Oh? You didn't mean last year? I'm sorry, I just didn't think your memory would be so selective.

[cameron d]

01:07 AM on 08/20/2011

Hey, I don't care which out of touch rich white person gets yelled at, as long as an out of touch rich white person gets yelled at.

[BCinVA]

06:09 PM on 08/17/2011

The problem is the progressives will never stoop to dressing up in funny costumes and hanging teabags off their hats. It seems the main stream media only covers the outrageous. If you are a normal looking middle class citizen who asks a thoughtful question in a calm way it is not news. Let one person dressed as Paul Revere show up anywhere holding a racist or violence inciting sign and it will be all over the news and reported as a mass protest.

[SOD]

07:57 AM on 08/18/2011

"If you are a normal looking middle class citizen who asks a thoughtful question in a calm way it is not news."

Which of these people asked "a thoughtful question in a calm way"?

Perhaps I missed it over the angry union chants.

[Booger Lewis]

10:28 PM on 08/19/2011

Yeah, I know. Did you see the G** Pr*** parade in New York? They were all dressed in pin stripes with ties. They looked so reputable. It made me feel down right patriotic. And their signs..., really professional.

[Miss Peaches]

05:16 PM on 08/17/2011

Well now we know that the "Mainstream Media" is really a myth.

[SOD]

07:58 AM on 08/18/2011

How so?

[Miss Peaches]

09:11 AM on 08/18/2011

I was being sarcastic. The media isn't covering this with the same fervor as they covered the Tea Party townhalls. Cons are always complaining that the Mainstream Media is biased in their reporting.

[Booger Lewis]

10:30 PM on 08/19/2011

A couple of lively meetings does not warrant the same coverage as an absolute onslot. This one was an event.., the other was a series of events that altered the outcome of several elections.

[IMOPINIONH8D]

04:53 PM on 08/17/2011

What part of the constitution says I have to pay to ask my representative a question??? It has to be in it because the repubs tell us that they are the party of the constitution. Strict constitutionalists cause their god told them to be. Pfffffft!

[OSCPJ]

04:31 PM on 08/17/2011

Help me out here. What is a Republican/Democrat Town Hall? The town hall is for the District and the rep that was voted. It is the people's town hall that elect a representative. I couldn't read past that.

[Swanndog]

03:31 PM on 08/17/2011

Call yourselves "The coffee party". (yawn)

[Booger Lewis]

10:33 PM on 08/19/2011

I actually like that..., the Tea Party vs the Starbucks Coffee Party. One represents the common man..., the second represents academic snobs who think everyone wants to hear what they have to say. Good one, Swanndog!

[eyelashviper]

02:37 PM on 08/17/2011

Of course the media ignores this, as opposed to the attention given to the teapers during health care legislation....and they dare to call the press left wing.
What is most outrageous, however, is the attempt to suppress any dissent, and limit access to meetings with Goper congressional members....the very idea of charging for any of these contacts is unconstiturional, a violation of the first amendment. But then, Gopers are now apparently above the law of the land.

[Jacquie Hamilton]

01:39 PM on 08/17/2011

This is a message about inequality, about fairness, about the need for a priority on job creation. We need to get this message to more of our elected officials. I don't want to hear any more bs about how they are doing what the American people want.