Reading The Pictures: Townhall Redux

As if August never ended.... While simultaneously reaching across the aisle and also challenged conservatives to act like grown-ups, Obama's health care speech before Congress brought still more troubling visuals.

In line with Rep. Joe Wilson shouting out "liar" when Obama made assurances about illegal aliens and access to services, Congressmen carried town hall teabagging resistance tactics into the chamber by waving the Republican Healthcare Reform Plan in attention-seeking unison and sporting aberrant looks and the crudely hostile home-scribbled sign.

It might be overstated to liken Wilson's action to domestic terrorism, but the U.S. Congress isn't the House of Parliament and his shocking breach of decorum created not only a disturbing moment, but even a fearful one. And that's what terrorism is about, isn't it -- instilling chaos and fear at an opportune moment against a high profile target?

You could see Pelosi's anxiety and worry until the moment clearly passed. I, too, felt a lingering anxiety until the end of the speech, wondering if some other rupture was going to occur. Ultimately, Wilson apologized to the White House saying his emotion got the better of him. It's that escalated right wing "emotion" (read: fanaticism), however, so nakedly showcased on a national stage, that's getting the best of democracy.

For more visual politics, visit BAGnewsNotes.com (and follow us on Twitter).

(image 1 & 3: BNN screengrab via MSNBC. image 2: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. U.S. Capitol September 9, 2009. Washington, D.C.)

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Comments

[ReedYoung]

And the following day, they whine that President Obama's speech wasn't specific enough. Well, boys, American voters know whose job it is to provide leadership in broad terms (the President's) and whose job it is to provide the details of legislation (the Congress'), and we know that no Republican has contributed one word of useful content to any of the health care bills in either chamber of Congress. But that is the role that the minority party is required to fulfill. You dot the i's, cross the t's, and scrounge for marginal improvements and cost savings by fine-tuning the form of the bill while the majority party, which is now the Democrats, tells you the substance of it, what it will do and how you will pay for it. Or the Republican Party is over.

[amamomofsons]

I was mad as hell for eight years watching as we were pulled into an illegal war and our rights were taken away systematically. I watched torture become commonplace and spying on Americans become the norm.I watched out national debt triple and was embarrassed over and over at the scandals and corruption cases ( I stopped counting them at 35) that the members of my government were involved in. I know what it felt like to be angry. This anger towards our President is just pay backs for the left taking power after they botched it so badly and the fact that they can not find a single thing on this guy. Therefore they have to question his birth, his religion his race, his home life, his marriage and his motives. They have nothing on him and they can not stand it! RACISM< RACISM

[newrand09]

Hummm...Fear??? Really?? And no offense to Ms Pelosi, but her face has had so much botox it's impossible to read anything on her face as it appears to be a tabula rasa of emotion.

When a Liberal says compromise, they just mean you have to agree with them. When a Liberal carries a sign calling GWB a liar and killer, that's honest dissent. When taxpaying Americans question their congress people, Liberals call them terrorists. When Liberals pay homeless people to carry signs, that's protest. When taxpayers show up with signs, they're astro-turf. When someone disagrees with this President, Liberals call them a liar. When someone disagreed with the last President, they were American's exercising their rights under the Constitution.

Normal, mainstream Americans can see through these liberal charades. In good faith they elected a man they thought was different, they thought he'd govern from the middle, they thought he'd reach out, they thought he'd compromise...they were wrong, and many (and many more each day) see how they were wrong and now regret giving control to an unrepentant leftist...who, straight out of the playbook, says one thing, while actively doing another.

[SWissouri]

The Baby Boomers are here and retiring...who is going to pay for their Health Care? Ayn Rand?
No, you are..and your children...and your grandchildren...and great grand children if WE don't do something about it. Regardless of what party is in power. So how about stop being an ideologue for a bit and actually stat working towards fixing the problem?

I'm as Center as you get, I have no problem with Obama. I do have a problem with Congress (both parties) who can't seem to pass anything that isn't a give away to the rich. Oh, that's right they gave the rest of us Cash for Clunkers. So we probably agree more than we disagree on most subjects. Except that you believe everything Fox News or your Church tells you and I don't believe anything anyone tells me. Ayn Rand...Jeez. [Shakes Head]

I'm ready to work...what about you?

[newrand09]

We likely do agree on many things: 1) Congress is a joke. 2) The last President spent too much and this one is actually 3 times worse. Although, if we're being honest, you likely lean left so your 'centrist' description appears to be a ruse from the comments you've made.

I also agree that something needs to be done about reforming health care...but the answer can't be more regulation and more government. You can't honestly believe that a HC plan currently envisioned costing 1 trillion dollars ( at a minumum) will actually save money in the long run. The President's own CBO say the plans in Congress now will only add to our already massive debt load...a debt load that will cause significant heart ache shortly.

As for reforming health care; why not have insurance companies actually compete? Why not remove the many 'benefits' insurers are required to have on plans...benefits seldom used or required for health. Why not change Tort law so physicians stop practicing an expensive brand of defensive medicine. Why are physicians required to oversee RNs performing simple triage? All these things are currently required because the groups involved have powerful lobbying efforts. If your serious about reforming health care, get behind ideas that will work...not the same old bankrupt ideas that have driven us to this mess.

Lastly, this idea that I believe what Fox news or my church tells me is the very definition of an ad hominem fallacy...you meanie.

[Eyeheartfreedumb]

"Liberals" use tactics like signs and shouting because they are left out of the conversation and have n o other means of being heard. These Bozos have all the money and most of the power. If they wanted sympathy when they were in the minority, they should have acted a bit more responsibly when they were the majority (perhaps then they wouldn't have been voted out of power by such an overwhelming majority). No one wants to hear the ideas of these failures, so they shouldn't sit there and "just say no." If they want someone to pay attention to them, they should come up with a solution to the problem, not just wave their papers and say that there is no problem.
Watching the unified pouting faces was as pathetic as watching the class clown in middle school try to pull off the synchronized book drop on a new substitute teacher. The world is watching and all these children can muster is a "la, la, la... I'm not listening to you." Pathetic.
If they want to cry about being out of power, maybe they can go cry with the millions of families that have to make choices like, pay rent vs. take my sick kid to the hospital. The problem is that they believe the uninsured deserve to be uninsured. Clearly they are the losers of society.

[TremoluxMan]

Can you hear the jack-boots tromping? The boorish behavior reminds one of an infamous beer hall putsch.

[hopefulinpa]

A person came to my door recently campaigning for judge. The first question I asked was are you republican or democrat? I already knew but wanted to hear what he had to say. He was a democrat. He asked me why I asked him that question and I told him because I will never vote for a republican. Which he thought might be a little odd because he already knew that I am registered as an independent. He asked why and I told him the conservatives,GOP's childish, boorish, mean spirited actions have led me to this decision. There actions have shown me that they are not patriotic but in fact decidely unpatriotic, some of their actions bording on treason. He asked me if I thought there were any good republicans and I said sure but I would not vote for them either as they have not had the guts to stand up and put and end to the crap Conservatives have been spewing. They are not leaders. Thus I will always vote for a Democrat for any office.

[ncmom54]

It seemed like they all attended a series of workshops on "How to Intimidate the President"
correographing everybody to be on que and in unison.
The country would be better served if they formed a syncronized swim team.

These are supposed to be leaders and representatives... how pathetic.
They're more concerned with their sophmoric antics than how many lives were expended to enhance corporate profits.

[Rmath]

This wasn't a spontaneous, impassioned outburst by one republican member of Congress. Rather, this was organized, prepared hooliganism, orchestrated in advance by perhaps a dozen or so repugs who planned to turn a speech before Congress into a town hall food fight.

Impeach 'em all.

[ESerafina42]

Unfortunately, I don't believe that you can impeach members of Congress.

[ljkcan]

I said a week ago in a post that I was praying your country would find it's moral compass. I suppose I will just have to wait a bit longer and during that time the Limbaughs and Becks, and Hannity's and Palin's of this world will eat away at any progress your govt is trying to gain.

They will find another building to point to as hidden communist carvings, they will continue to tell you old people will be sent to their death, Limbaugh will be a bombastic voice to the masses of people who rely solely on him or fox for their daily news. Palin in her new role selected by the neocon's will start to give her daily take on Afghanistan, that is if she can find it on a map but hey who cares she is white and a republican it does not matter that she talks in an English that none of us can understand she is the next great white hope.

They are waiting out the clock they do not give a damn about people who are suffering all they know is a Black man is in the White house and 2012 cannot get here fast enough for them.

It makes me ill that in this day and age people look at a person's color instead of his intelligence.

[SWissouri]

"It's that escalated right wing "emotion" (read: fanaticism), however, so nakedly showcased on a national stage, that's getting the best of democracy."

It's just that kind of statement that bothers those of us in the center. What does that mean? Here's the deal, Free Speech...no matter how repugnant...is protected under our Constitution. Now certainly there are limitations but "You Lie!" falls no where near those limitations. In fact the whole far left diatribe about "shocking breach of Decorum" fails to take into account our 230+ years of History. Candidates have said far worse about and two each other in past elections, especially during the "civilized" 1700's. Not to mention a congressman beat another with a cane during the great Pre-Civil War debates. So this unabashed, righteous indignation stems from ignorance and a desire to control dissent.

I like the HuffPost and read it almost daily but, it would do a far better service to it's readers in not whining so much about what the right has said about whom and instead focus on what the left and center are accomplishing and are trying to accomplish. Let the fringes on both ends take care of themselves. They are going to be there no matter what happens.

[lokywoky]

The problem is not even what he said - but WHERE he said it and when. You speak of the 230 years of History - well, the US House of Representatives has had a rule that has been standing for just about that long - and among other things, it prohibits this exact language to be used against any sitting member of the House, or any other politician in the Administration. Under the terms of this rule, Wilson could be easily censured - a punishment that is called for under the standing rule.

The reason people here and on other liberal sites spend time on this crap is because the right has no one else to push back against their lies, misinformation and scaremongering. They repeat this stuff over and over - and then the gullible public starts to believe it. Way too many of them.

We HAVE to push back, debunk the lies, and get the truth out there whenever and however we can - otherwise we are truly lost.

[SWissouri]

I think you missed my point. No, you don't HAVE to push back at all. In fact the name calling on both sides just turns folks most off and makes them even more cynical about government. I have an Autistic kid (an adult now). Do you know what you do when your autistic kid goes nutz in a public place? Same thing you do when a normal kid goes off. You ignore them. You don't regard their behavior as it legitimizes it. Parenting Rule #1. Instead, you go about your business and the kid WILL come along. You can certainly call them out...that's what Obama did. In a mature adult manner. But for this Blogger to suggest that Wilson or any of the other Republican's are undemocratic, unpatriotic, or a terrorist. Is completely off base.

I've been saying for months that HuffPost and other progressive new sources need to stop fueling the bickering (and the cynicism) and instead start reporting or linking to reports about what's working and what we need to do to move forward. Right now the Politics page is full of link after link of He Said-He Said. If ya'll wan't to keep the center in this game then you need to stop the fringe fighting and accusations (both right and left) and start covering what this Administration is doing to help people.

[ObamacratInCA]

"In fact the whole far left diatribe about "shocking breach of Decorum" fails to take into account our 230+ years of History."

Sen. Joe Wilson breached the GOP's specific rules for a House member:

The precedents of the House allow a wide latitude in criticism of the President, other executive officials, and the government itself. However, it is not permissible to use language that is personally offensive to the President, such as referring to him as a “hypocrite” or a “liar.”

http://rules-republicans.house.gov/Educational/Read.aspx?ID=5

His disrespect for the President really is not a matter of it being a Left or Right issue anyway. It's a right or wrong issue. He was wrong.

[SWissouri]

You're right, he was wrong. But censuring him accomplishes what exactly? Let's see it'll make him even more of a hero to the Right. the Media will turn the censure into a political circus with Freedom of Speech ramifications, and it'll turn off more Centrists who are already getting irritated at the Bickering between the Left and the Right.So a lose-lose-lose situation for the Liberals.

I must say, I have to agree with Obama that both sides of the aisle need to unpucker a bit. What about "the time for bickering has come to an end" did ya'll not understand?

[BARRISTER]

All of a sudden, "Free Speech" is being waved about like a Lifesaver. Remember Scott Ritter? The Dixie Chicks? Ambassador Joseph Wilson? Well these good people were victimized, sleezed and called unpatriotic, treasonous and such similar vituperatives for exactly that (exercising their "Freedom of Speech" ) by Republicans and their supporters who, incidentally, would rant and rave at anyone who deared oppose their Supreme Court selected President "in time of War"!!

The time has come when they must be called to account for this outright dishonesty.

[TryToBeFlexible]

I believe that in legislative bodies, there are rules of order (Robert's Rules of Order) that says when each can speak, etc.
This is NOT a free speech issue. Joe Wilson can stand on any street corner, etc. and say whatever he wants, but in a legislative type situation, one person speaks at a time, and all get their chance, and one yields to the next, to the next, etc.
It actually is suppressing President Obama's free speech when he gets shouted down by other government officials when he is addressing the nation.

[jade7243]

Your sentence should have read:

"Ultimately, Wilson was ORDERED by Republican leadership -- down to and including the language he should use -- to call the White House to apologize to the President. Based on his own recounting of the incident, Wilson did as he was told. He did not voluntarily offer his apology."

[TheFirst]

I found the disrespect and mean-spirited attitude of the Republicans very disturbing. I've seen those images and experienced those frowns and distained looks many times in my life, and believe me those are expressions of vile bitterness towards an individual. The image and behavior of the Republicans during the Presidential speech suggested that not much has changed. There are still those who wish not to change their attitude, belief and behavior toward others that don’t resemble and or feel threatened by. Bottom line…standing before them was the President of the United States of America who happens to be a Black man – the most powerful and influential man in the world. Their nightmare came to fruition and they were angry and they exhibited that anger. Without them knowing (or perhaps they did), they continued to create a polarization that this country and the President of the United States had been striving to eliminate. Good work, GOP! You have once again torn at the fabric of what was thought to have been repaired last November.

[dessertsfirst]

The First: exactly. and not only that, their behavior over the past 3-4 months required the POTUS to reprimand them. Imagine! Being scolded by a Black man!!!! No wonder they are so angry... but they are deserving of the scolding. They should be ashamed of themselves. but as usual, the rethugs have no shame, because they accept no blame nor accountability for their actions.

I was so pleased that President Obama called them on the d3$picable behavior they have been exemplifying during the health care reform debates.

Also, one would think the rethugs and the Blue Dogs would feels some compunctions of conscience that they are undermining health care reform, while they are enjoying their health care plans (federally administered) because 'we the people' are paying for it (along w/ their salaries) complements of us taxpayers. Yet these politicians are denying that very right for their own constituents. Absolutely appalling!

[Matt Osborne - Huffpost Blogger]

I saw this last night and have a theory: the Republicans were hoping Obama would say something about their lack of interest in reform so they could wave their "proposal" in the air en masse. Fortunately, Obama's not that kind of speechwriter. Nevertheless, they waved their copies.

Maybe a good caption to the top picture would read: "Fresh out of ideas, Republicans wave flag of surrender."

[jan4insight]

Love it!

[illinois4O]

I am dying to know how my Congressman, one Mark Kirk, behaved last night. He is a Rethug running for President Obama's Senate seat here in Illinois. In the local paper he gave his analysis of the speech stating that he was "disappointed" by it. He failed to mention his disappoint in the immature antics of his fellow Republicans. This makes me wonder whether he was part of this spectacle. The children of this country are watching as members of one of our two major parties completely disrespect, en masse, the President of the United States.. What are they learning?? They see that grown-ups can be bullies, pouty babies, and all-around mean!! What a great example these people are giving!!!

[GirlOutWest]

Isn't the lady in the middle picture the Representative from Kansas who is looking for "the great white hope"? She certainly doesn't look happy does she? It's sad because she was there to here a great and hopeful President.

[GirlOutWest]

I meant "hear" a great and hopeful President.

[phathalo]

Nurses for Health care Reform

http://www.rnaction.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nstat_homepage

[ncmom54]

done... thanks for the link.