Iowa Democrats Turn On Progressive Activists After Grassley Town Hall

WASHINGTON -- The Iowa Democratic Party is lashing out at one of the Hawkeye State's most politically active progressive groups, potentially alienating a strong ally.

Federal lawmakers across the country have been hounded by upset constituents and other protesters at their offices, town hall events and fundraisers, with much of the ire aimed at GOP lawmakers.

On Monday, members of the progressive group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement showed up at a town hall meeting for Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in a small town in the central part of the state and pressed him on preserving Social Security. Afterward, Iowa CCI members reportedly hurled insults and crowded around Grassley in a hallway, blocking his path to his car while they continued to hound him on issues.

On Monday night, the group put out statements proclaiming victory in their "confrontation" and "take over" of the town hall.

But the Iowa Democratic Party was less pleased.

"It's unfortunate that they continue to mistake screaming for persuasion and embarrass themselves in this manner," party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky said in a statement released Wednesday.

Matthew Covington, an organizer for Iowa CCI, said reports that group members were rowdy and blocked Grassley from moving were false. Covington did acknowledge, however, that some people followed Grassley afterward because they had more questions.

"They wanted to ask questions and he completely ignored them," Covington said, "but no, he had free access wherever he wanted to go."

It's not just the state Democratic Party that's disappointed with the group. Iowa progressive blogger John Deeth disowned the group, labeling them "hippies." Douglas Burns, a newspaper publisher from Carroll, Iowa -- where the town hall occurred -- ran a column criticizing the group for "taking over" the town hall, calling them "moon howlers" and an "angry mob."

"They need to focus on getting results and not on getting on TV," Sam Roecker, communications director for the state Democratic Party, told The Huffington Post. Roecker referred to sources who said it seemed like the group was "playing it up for the cameras."

Iowa CCI members had already made a splash in national politics this summer when they heckled presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the Iowa State Fair to the point that he responded, "Corporations are people, my friend."

It was also at the state fair that Roecker said they crowded around Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, and demanded a private meeting. Rocker said that incident weighed into the party's decision to issue a statement Wednesday.

Iowa CCI hasn't been shy about its activism. It proudly boasted about its "bird-dogging" of Republican candidates at the state fair in a Des Moines Register op-ed.

The group, which has been around for three decades, has been instrumental in a number of initiatives, including dozens of campaigns against factory farms and pollution. Most recently, while Iowa Republicans were pushing controversial legislation on such issues as voter ID requirements, abortion restrictions, same-sex marriage, collective bargaining restrictions and education cuts, Iowa CCI showed up in force at the statehouse to speak out against the GOP proposals. Many of these bills, which were similar to high-profile proposals in states like Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida, died after liberal opposition. And the group has continued to protest at appearances by Gov. Terry Branstad (R) around the state.

Roecker acknowledged that the group has been a partner in many initiatives Democrats have sought and has significantly helped them in the past. However, he said the group didn't need wild antics to get results.

"[Grassley] was one who has, in the past, talked about privatizing Social Security, so that was an example of an actual issue that came out of the town hall that came from a question that didn't require the over-the-top attacks and confrontations," Roecker said.

Covington said Iowa CCI wasn't worried about making the Democratic Party upset. "We stand for progressive policies that put people first, not a particular party," he said. "I think right now a lot of folks, not only across Iowa but across the country, feel let down by both parties -- that they are putting our lives on the chopping block while asking nothing of the people who can afford it."

Iowa CCI put out a statement Wednesday chastising Dvorsky, the state party chairwoman, for not even being at the town hall. The group's executive director also passed along emails to The Huffington Post from attendees at the Grassley town hall showing support for the group. But the Iowa Democrats said they based their conclusions on Iowa CCI's conduct on reports from other attendees who complained.

Comments

[madisonhack]

08:44 PM on 09/04/2011

People are scared and angry. Perhaps it's too late to contain it.

[rafaelbolero]

04:04 PM on 09/04/2011

What party affiliation had the men at Lexington and Concord? Who led them? Who gave a speech? How did they address the corporate issues in red presenting them? How was their presentation in return? Exactly. Shut up and fight. Time for confrontation. Stand your ground. We're neighbors. There're more coming.

[ocrmom59]

02:45 PM on 09/04/2011

It took the election of the last congress to wake people up to what is really going on. It is time we stop blaming the president for everything and put the blame right where it belongs, the american people and who they elect into congress.

We let pride take over and instead of telling those leaders who kept drilling and drilling that Obama was not the man for the job and not to help him at all, is the reason we are in deeper than when bush was in office.

Instead we sit backand let our leaders disrespect the president on the very night he was elected and that gave them the go ahead to keep doing it. We wrote the check for them to continue their hatred and racism and now we are paying for it. This congress got elected on a lot of promises they knew they were not going to fulfill and had no intention of doing so. Now we want to take the check back but it is too late. The good as well as the bad has to suffer right up too election of the president again and hopeful then he will beable to undo some of the mess that has been created.

[unique]

03:45 PM on 09/03/2011

Actually I am tired of politicans that were voted in by the
people they are supposed to represent practically ignoring
the people.

VOTE THE BUMS OUT.......

[Kevin Shilling]

09:58 AM on 09/03/2011

The real story here should be how the Iowa Democratic Party leadership caves in to the Republicans, and demonstrates its' ability to do nothing for the people. This is the leadership that gave us our current Governor-how is that working out for us now?!!! Believe me that both parties cater to the status-quo, and have no intention of changing that!

[finabiscotti]

10:47 PM on 09/02/2011

US Senator Chuck Grassley is the Top Ranking member of The US Senate Committe on The Judiciary - that has oversight of the Department of Justice.

This disruptive protest by ICC - at the Townhall meeting of US Senator Grassley -
was regime-related.

[finabiscotti]

12:56 AM on 09/03/2011

Sen. Charles Grassley’s office revealed in a letter Thursday that 21 Fast and Furious guns have been found at violent crime scenes in Mexico, which is up 11 weapons since the ATF’s estimate last month. As roughly 1,000 (though some say 2,000 now) weapons were reportedly involved in the program, it appears highly likely that more weapons will be found at Mexican crime scenes going forward. And maybe even in the U.S.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) have claimed the Justice Department and the White House obfuscated their role and knowledge of the program in the past, and the congressmen refuse to back down. In light of evidence that the White House was at least nominally informed of the operation, and that there was some form of ATF cover up, the congressman are ratcheting up demands for answers from the Department of Justice.

[finabiscotti]

10:40 PM on 09/02/2011

"They need to focus on getting results and not on getting on TV," Sam Roecker, communications director for the state Democratic Party, told The Huffington Post. Roecker referred to sources who said it seemed like the group was "playing it up for the cameras."

**********

Even the Democratic Party is tired of these RADICAL PROGRESSIVES!!!!

[Kevin Shilling]

10:06 AM on 09/03/2011

Actually, the dems fear progressives as much as the R's do. The current leadership of the dems are the best opposition the R's could ever pray for.

[DaleB]

11:24 AM on 09/03/2011

@finabiscotti - "Even the Democratic Party is tired of these RADICAL PROGRESSIV­ES!!"

And vice versa!!

[blbsmurf]

08:32 PM on 09/02/2011

Each party, democrat and republican, have their extremists.

[Ozy]

06:33 PM on 09/02/2011

Democratic leadership have become anything but leaders. The p[progressives need to to over the party and start the new FDR style of leadership. These compromising pansies we have in the party now are less then worthless.

Progressives get in there and vote out these chairs and weak leadership positions. I have had it when are you going to stop this insanity?

[Leah Watts]

04:33 PM on 09/04/2011

It would probabl tax your integrity and demean your ego too much to actually read some history about Franklin Roosevelt and find how he had to compromise with various political facets, some in his own party, and water down his initiatives even to get half of what he wanted. You would also read how he fought the unions under John Lewis, in order to get WPA programs started, how he refused to do anything for civil rights, and how he authorised Japanese internment camps. Then there was the SCOTUS-packing incident.In point of fact, the US was in double-dip recession until FDR orchestrated involvement in a war he would have entered sooner if he could. Really.

[Ozy]

04:51 PM on 09/04/2011

Oh please what a load of bull. If you want to play the "Read the history game" Leah

Why don't we talk about Walter Ruther and the Steelworkers movement. Now if you want to talk about involvement in WW2 it was that very war the slowed down the recovery. We had no choice but I assure you that it did not help our recovery but IN FACT created more debt! In FACT John Lewis wanted to be vice president and got his nose out of joint at FDR and fought him with his out of control as an ego driven labor leader. Roosevelt got us the wagoner act. You know what that was Leah? Look it up

Sounds like you are drinking the kool-aid and do not what you are talking about but alas I expect that from those of you who attack me out of the gate with this "tax your integrity and demean your ego' CRAP.

I WOULD EAT YOU FOR BREAKFAST LUNCH AND DINNER. Peddal your propaganda to the tea-bagers.
Thank you have a nice day.

[theeplayer]

04:16 PM on 09/02/2011

Townhall Meetings: Remember Mitt Romney told the attendee at their townhall mtg that he came to talk and they had to listen to him, that was a sign of arrogrance our political leaders show everyday. His attendance at that townhall meeting was to answer questions that the people were waiting to ask, not talk and lecture. I bet when he meets with the Business Associations of America he listens, or with other major groups. That is why people need to come together to compel these wannabee leaders to do and work on our best interests.

[River Pirate]

03:39 PM on 09/02/2011

What do reps like Grassley expect when they "run" from the voters. Should we wait until the American Dream is completely dead? Or until the mob is looting McMansions? Iowa progressive blogger John Deeth disowned the group, labeling them "hippies." He writes "I get the difference and I’m not interested in the CCI brand of “issue organizing.” I’m interested in winning elections." That's what bothers me most, the issues and voters are forgotten right after the election is over.

[indamar]

02:36 PM on 09/02/2011

Screaming and yelling is how the tea party took over congress. Seems like the only way to get them out of there is to do the same thing. Class, dignity and taking the "high road" is why Democrats got their a_s es handed to them in the last elections. The left needs to be willing to get down and fight in the dirt, if they don't want all that their predecessors have fought for and won to be dismantled -- and the United States becomes a Dante's Inferno corporatocracy with only 2 classes -- rich and poor elderly who are left to die in the streets to serve as examples of those who lack "personal responsibility." We're in a different time.... the "high road" is a road to nowhere....

[bluecatb]

03:50 PM on 09/02/2011

The high road still has us in the ditch, so the gloves come off NOW!

BRING IT ON BAGGERS!!

[King Joffe Joffer]

07:13 PM on 09/02/2011

That is one of the silliest things I have ever read. Class,dignity, and taking the high road on the part of Democrats have nothing to do with why the GOP did so well in the 2010 elections. They won a lot of seats simply because people stayed home. Congress has a 12% approval rating and many of the 2010 freshmen will only be around for two years. The country has rejected the tea party experiment. In 2012 voters will be looking for class, dignity and people who know how to govern. All things the tea party doesnt feature. Why would you try to emulate such an asinine group when they have been so counterproductive to the progress of this country.

[Kevin Shilling]

10:15 AM on 09/03/2011

We are the opposite of the tea party, don't believe the snippets of what you read till you read all of the articles listed. We are for people, not run by any big-wigs, and I think you will see a difference.

[Monk2001]

02:34 PM on 09/02/2011

Grassley should be hounded everywhere he goes. He was instrumental in killing the HC public option. He's a fossil but now, when he's waht 10 yrs away from eternal sleep, wants to axe everyone under 55 and privatize it!?!?!?!? When Wall Street has another crash SSecurity goes down with it if privatized.

Good on the Iowa Progressives. The real grassroots movement of informed people. Not scared bigots like the Tea Party.

[conservativecrim]

02:11 PM on 09/02/2011

These people are not Democrats .... they are bag men for the corporations .... it's time for them to go run Republican .... what they really are .....

[Monk2001]

02:34 PM on 09/02/2011

Agree 100%. The D party needs to start clearing house.

[cay12]

01:31 PM on 09/02/2011

The following is a link to the Des Moines Register. At the bottom of the page is a video of the entire town hall meeting and immediately after the meeting. I heard one woman yelling as Grassley walked out of the meeting room and a group of people walked out with him asking for a minute of his time to answer a question. They were not yelling or disrespectful. They slowed his progress, but they did not stop him from entering the press room.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/08/31/democrats-denounce-liberal-groups-antics-against-republicans/

The following link is to a town hall meeting in Tampa, FL, regarding health care reform.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/06/tampa-town-hall-on-health_n_253478.html

[Fred Beggs]

02:38 PM on 09/02/2011

Thanks for the links. Unless something else went down at the meeting it wasn't that bad.

I am just amazed that the shoe is on the other foot, for once.

The one thing I want to explain is that there is a slight difference in the meetings. Grassley is just proposing an alternative to government run Social Security as opposed to Health Care being shoved down the throats of all Americans, as quickly as it could without even understanding the consequences.

[cay12]

03:05 PM on 09/02/2011

Thank you for your response. However, I disagree with your assessment of the meetings and the so-called justification of the behavior of attendees and protestors. I, for one, am much angrier with Grassley's so-called Social Security alternative than I was with the idea of health care reform. My frustration with the reform is that it did not go far enough. I wanted the House version, not the Senate version.

That being said, the behavior of those opposed to health care reform could be described as rude and mob-like. The behavior of the progressives at Grassley's town hall meeting, not so much.