Fists Pounding on Glass, Right-Wing Violence Stops Tampa Town Hall
With fists pounding on exterior windows like a street mob out of a 1930s newsreel, a crowd of right-wing agitators against health insurance reform descended on a town hall meeting in Tampa, Florida, "banging on windows" until police and organizers were forced to end the event. The result? A violent mob silenced the voices of each and every American desperate to find a way out of the endless cycle of fear, shame and family bankruptcy brought on by an inhumane, profit-driven health insurance market. Moreover, by using violence to shut down civic discussion between neighbors, this right-wing horde trampled underfoot one of the most sacred and historic symbols of American democracy.
Town halls in America are much more than information meetings. They are emblematic of a unique aspect of face-to-face American democracy. A tradition that reaches back to the founding generation of the Republic, Thomas Jefferson himself imagined the nucleus of American democracy not in the vaunted halls of government palaces, but in farm sheds and village meeting rooms. In these regular meetings in town halls, neighbors would gather to learn what they needed to know in order to solve the core problems of the day. It is a tradition that has served this country well for well over two-hundred years.
Today in Tampa, that bright American town hall tradition came crashing down at the hands of another, ignominious trend in political life: the politics of intimidation, threat, and violence. This is the brand of politics that wields the toxic force of fists and the sound of breaking glass to cut off healthy civic exchange. This is the brand of politics that fills the public square first with talk of violence, then promises of violence, and then violence itself.
This is also the brand of politics that media coverage is quick to gloss over -- quick to conceal behind some false notion that violence is on both sides. Do not believe it.
Americans trying earnestly to gather with their neighbors and engage in discussions about health insurance reform should beware of every account they read that depicts town hall disruptions as generic, two-sided violence. Beware, because these descriptions are false.
The health insurance reform debate in this country is not a fight between two violent sides. It is a peaceful discussion that right-wing mobs are trying to stop and prevent. Tonight they used violence in Tampa to successfully stop that peaceful discussion from happening.
To find a way to fix our broken health insurance system, the American people did what we have done for centuries: we organized town hall meetings throughout the states so neighbor could meet with neighbor to learn the facts and figure out together what could be done to improve our own lot, the lot of our children, our parents, and our neighbors.
Those peaceful town hall meetings were not invaded by protesters from every political stripe. They were invaded and attacked by one specific kind of group: mobs of organized, right-wing agitators wielding a strategy of disruptive escalation: shouting, then fist waving, then pounding on glass.
Meanwhile, these mobs are not only encouraged, but are egged on by industry, elected officials, and broadcast media personalities.
This is not two-sided violence. This is a one-sided attack on Americans trying to engage in the most basic act of our democracy: civic conversation with an eye towards problem solving.
When American citizens cannot come together to discuss a problem for fear of being attacked by a violent mob, the foundation on which our civic tradition rests has been cracked. And if that crack is not repaired, the foundation will break.
Members of Congress and Senators who wrap themselves in this mob in the name of scoring political points for an upcoming election risk trampling not only on millions of Americans suffering in the current health insurance system, but also on the American system of government itself.
In America, violent intimidation is not the brand of politics we embrace. It is the politics we brand immoral.
Tampa is a warning. If the use of violent street mob tactics persists -- if more and more right-wing mobs pound on windows and create a threatening environment to shut down town hall discussions, a line will have been crossed that may have dire consequences for this country.
How disgraceful it would be if a few right-wing mobs -- egged on by a few corrupt politicians and a handful of egotistical broadcast media figures -- pushed this country across that line separating Democracy from political violence in the name of derailing a reform effort intended to help tens of millions of American families.
Disgraceful indeed.
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As Liz Cheney´s absurd remarks clearly show, the right wing is prepared to go ALL THE WAY to gain its nefarious anti American agenda. Lies and misinformation are their most successful strategyñ it got W a 2nd term, produced a war, insituted torture etc. Many moderates in our nation do not understand that we are dealing with an extrememist movement hell bent on the preservation and expansion of the corporate state even at the cost of the destruction of our civil rights - this explains the 'birthers' and the brown shirts at town meetings.
The Democratic party and the moderate elements of the Republican party ignore these people at their peril. These folks would love to see Guantanamo not only open, but also full of fellow Americans who do not accept the agenda of the extreme right. It is time for those of us who want to save our nation and uphold our constitution to speak clearly and make ourselves felt.
This is the same tactic - bus in "outside agitators" to shout, pound on windows and intimidate participants - that the RNC used to stop at least one of the Florida recounts in 2000. When other recounts continued to add votes for Gore, Bush sought "a higher power" and petitioned Daddy's Supreme Court to stop all recounts and annoint him President.
I'm just curious to know what the make-up of these so-called mobs are? Are they really right wing? Let me ask you this. Were the civil rights protests "mobs"? When any political party has a sit-in or other "organized" protest, are they "mobs"?
Both parties are hypocrites! DOWN WITH PARTY POLITICS! UP WITH AMERICA!!!!!!
Wow you guys talk like you are sure. but none of you have say read the legislation or examined the ramifications because that hasnt been aired, despite that were talking oh 1/5 of the economy. Whats the problem here that cant debate merits and must denigrate the opposition. A bad habit so c'mon lets be more civil and see if we can avoid civil war because thats where were going if not careful to drink other than kool aid some times ok?
When people bang on windows while a public meeting is going on, they are disturbing the peace. Why were they not arrested?
When thousands of peaceful protesters met in Minneapolis for the RNC convention, the police started arresting folks the week before. When violent mobs invade Town Hall meetings where healthcare reform is to be discussed, the meeting is adjourned. How utterly ridiculous is this country.
I'm calling for all Crips, Bloods, Nation of Isman, De Mau Mau, Mexican Mafia, and MS 13 to attend these town halls effective immediately. Just show up you don't have to do anything. And watch the narrative change overnight.
I guess the the right wingers like paying high insurance premiums while their benefits are rationed and reduced. I suppose they think their insurance carrier will never deny a claim or raise there premiums if they become ill. I'm sure they believe that doctors and hospitals will treat them free should they become unemployed or disabled. I'm sure they also believe that insurance companies will treat each and every disease or condition they have according to the most resent available medical technology and not to what is least expensive and on their formulary. To say one has control over their health care is naive because greedy insurance companies and hospitals have already decided what type of care you are going to receive for almost every injury or condition you develop.
I would speculate and say that their are probably thousands of people who are just one paycheck away from losing their health care and they are probably the very people who are against health care reform. It doesn't seem like people know when something is in their own best interest and when it is not. I'm totally frustrated when I hear people say they do not trust our government but they trust greedy for profit insurance companies, doctors, hospitals, and drug companies. It appears people have lost sight of any common sense.
Take the for profit out of health care and reduce the ridiculous fees and you will have a health care system that works.
I guess the the right wingers like paying high insurance premiums while their benefits are rationed and reduced. I suppose they think their insurance carrier will never deny a claim or raise there premiums if they become ill. I'm sure they believe that doctors and hospitals will treat them free should they become unemployed or disabled. I'm sure they also believe that insurance companies will treat each and every disease or condition they have according to the most resent available medical technology and not to what is least expensive and on their formulary. To say one has control over their health care is naive because greedy insurance companies and hospitals have already decided what type of care you are going to receive for almost every injury or condition you develop.
I would speculate and say that their are probably thousands of people who are just one paycheck away from losing their health care and they are probably the very people who are against health care reform. It doesn't seem like people know when something is in their own best interest and when it is not. I'm totally frustrated when I hear people say they do not trust our government but they trust greedy for profit insurance companies, doctors, hospitals, and drug companies. It appears people have lost sight of any common sense.
Take the for profit out of health care and reduce the ridiculous fees and you will have a health care system that works.
Like many people, I thought I had decent health insurance. I chose Blue Shield and half way through the year my health insurance provider decided that it cost them too much money to provide coverage in my county.
The only sad thing about this article, is that those so-called politicians who "should" read this , will not. This is a very very sad day in the political history of this country. I wonder what the iranians might be saying.
My thoughts exactly!
Wonder what the Iranians are saying? I would wager a bet,
that Ahmadinejad is LAUGHING HIS HEAD OFF RIGHT NOW,
AT THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK!
These VIOLENT DEMONSTRATORS are some of the very
same people who criticized Iran's President, for his acts
of violence against civilized demonstrators!
Can they really say that their actions are any different?
I stood back and watched as the people started this uproar. At first it was like deja-vu as I thought back to those days in SanFranscisco when I witnessed the anti war protesters arguing against the Viet Nam war. But this atmosphere soon became different. These were not people with the same frame of mind. The atmosphere was one of hate and I realized that with just a small spark, it could turn violent and get out of hand. These people were not protesting FOR something they were just a mob, venting anger, against what they perceived as a threat. As the news trucks panned the scene they increased the level of violence and added fuel to the already volatile mix of protestors on both sides of the issue. Many were as old as me, perhaps from Sun City, a large retirement community to the south. One had been told that they were all going to lose their medicare benefits and social security under this plan.It was obvious that they were scared. I tried to reassure him this wasn't he case but he wouldn't listen. I realized that these older people were here out of fear and ignorance and were defeating the one chance they might have had to learn the truth. I felt sad for them, sad for us as a country that had allowed ourselves to be so manulipulated by the lies of greedy, corrupt individuals, and embarrassed for my beautiful city and went home.
Thanks for a thoughtful and understanding report on the day.
No one will allow true reform to be discussed in the health care debate and we are being rail roaded into an extortionists plot to use government mussel to force us to purchase questionable insurance to pay exorbitant prices to a system that is failing to serve so many of us.
We are being royally screwed by our financial, energy, and health care systems that appear to be colluding with the legislators and regulators who are supposed to protect us.
Enough is enough.
Delivering all government funded health care through government owned hospitals and clinics, operated by government employed doctors and care providers would save hundreds of billions of dollars annually.
A dual, public/private system, offering dual choices for everyone to select, either free public care, or unlimited choice private pay private care, could serve every need and interest.
Independent private health care should be unfettered by government mandates.
Going back and forth between free public care, paid for by a national sales tax, and user purchased private care, may suit some people, and it would provide unlimited choices, ultimate freedom, and always free public care would be available when it is needed or desired to everyone who asks for it, no restrictions period.
Businesses large and small choosing the public care option could also free themselves from all financial burdens, or any involvement in any way for the health services their employees receive.
Give us justice or there will be no peace.
WIth a government system as aggressive as you describe, no private insurance company would be able to compete, and would go bankrupt. Then all you have is the government system, where everything is controlled by bureaucrats, just like the Soviet Union!!!! YAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!
Hopefully you're detecting my sarcasm.
"Man who pound on glass window
should count fingers afterwards
--
Many years ago travelers were confronted at airports and on the street by what were called Moonies who'd launch into an endless rant intended to convince the intended victim to join the movement or make donation. It got so bad, the Moonies so intimidating and outright threatening, that legislation was passed barring "religious" groups from parading their precious little selves in airports. In the interim creative travelers discovered a way to short circuit the non-stop monologues; it was called a clacker. A simply kids' toy that when squeezed makes a clacking noise that disrupted the rant. For some reason, the sound interrupted the spiel and left the Moonies wandering around wondering what the hell had happened. It seems like a real good idea to start passing out clackers to citizens who don't want to be intimidated by the insurance company moonies at townhall meetings about health care reform.
Gramma Rose
Don't dismiss the protesters. this is not a right wing conspiracy. It is a genuine uprising by the the people of the U.S. I am one of the U.S. citizens who is fighting mad about Pres. Obama"s and Congree"s healthcare plan. If they ignore the citizens of the U.S., I believe that we are heading for another American Revolution. The U. S. citizen "WILL NOT IGNORED OR TOLD TO SHUT UP BY PRESDIENT OBAMA"
You shouting groups tell me to shut up. I was a productive citizen all my life, ending 5 yrs. ago when I got injured on the job, not by carelessness, but short staffing. The private sector does what it must to maximuze shareholders profits, but as a working person, who I will add always got excellent performance reviews, I got screwed. Should I shout you down because you may be fortunate enough to have the ability to get medical help? I have had to make a choice. Keep a roof over my head or get medical care. I am 58 and cannot find work, since in wonderful America very few hire people my age, and if they do, it's not for a living wage. But your shouting groups and fear mongerers like Limbaugh, Hannity, etc., all who make millions off hate and disruption, I might add, are taking any chance I have left for some kind of health care.
Recently I asked myself what kind of a country this is that lets poverty fester, veterans live under bridges, cares nothing about the working class or those who are not "monied", and that question answered my question. This country is about money, not people, not Christian values, nothing but money. Don't worry. Your insurance, pharma, etc. will keep raping those who can afford to pay, and your fellow citizens who can't pay the price will die.
Protest is one thing. Advocating and carrying out violence to stifle discussion is another. The only one's ignoring other citizens are the one's pounding on the windows.
No one is ignoring you if you express your disapproval in the right way. Shouting, pounding on windows, and other disruptions is NOT the right way. These protesters (and you apparently approve) are wanting the the OTHER side to be ignored. You can't have it both ways. Actually, the hooplah is counterproductive for YOUR side also. Some who are there legitimately and want to express an opinion in the right way are probably being kept from doing so by all the "just say no". This is not productive; it just serves to make people mad.
As far as your "American Revolution" idea: You are entitled to disapprove of the health care plan, but the bottom line is: Obama was elected, Congress was elected, if they pass it, you will have to live with it. This is America. Wwrite your Congressman, express your opinion, but you may not get your way. I know. I've lived it the last 8 years.
Those right-wing mobs could take a lesson from these students at Columbia, an institution of higher learning nonetheless, on how to have intellectual, informed and mature dialogue with those whom they disagree.
http://www
If the shoe fits...
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