Town Hall Meeting Disruptions

This is a real hot-button issue right now.

In my opinion, no one should be surprised by any of this. I really mean NO ONE should be surprised by ANY of this. Republicans and Democrats are engaging each other in these sinister ways using the American people as their tools and their weapons. Partisan politics have been here for a long time and they’ll certainly remain despite the false promises of abolishing it by our current president. Democrats have conveniently forgotten the number of times GOP party members were disrupted when trying to speak at public events, sometimes even being manhandled by protesters. If Democrats are so appalled by what’s happening now, then maybe their own party’s goons shouldn’t have done the same thing. Fair is fair and both parties are equally guilty of this meeting disruption crime. See below.

The Town Hall Mob
“There’s a famous Norman Rockwell painting titled “Freedom of Speech,” depicting an idealized American town meeting. The painting, part of a series illustrating F.D.R.’s “Four Freedoms,” shows an ordinary citizen expressing an unpopular opinion. His neighbors obviously don’t like what he’s saying, but they’re letting him speak his mind.

That’s a far cry from what has been happening at recent town halls, where angry protesters — some of them, with no apparent sense of irony, shouting “This is America!” — have been drowning out, and in some cases threatening, members of Congress trying to talk about health reform.”

Lawmakers Rethink Town Halls

“But after a series of contentious town-hall meetings, some Democratic lawmakers are thinking twice about holding large public gatherings. Instead, they are opting for smaller sessions, holding meetings by phone or inviting constituents for one-on-one office hours.

Democrats have accused Republicans of manufacturing the opposition by organizing groups to attend the events and encouraging disruptive behavior. Republican organizers say the unrest reflects genuine anger about the proposed health-care changes.”

‘You Are Terrifying Us’
“In his first five months in office, Mr. Obama had racked up big wins—the stimulus, children’s health insurance, House approval of cap-and-trade. But he stayed too long at the hot table. All the Democrats in Washington did. They overinterpreted the meaning of the 2008 election, and didn’t fully take into account how the great recession changed the national mood and atmosphere.

The passions of the protesters, on the other hand, are not a surprise. They hired a man to represent them in Washington. They give him a big office, a huge staff and the power to tell people what to do. They give him a car and a driver, sometimes a security detail, and a special pin showing he’s a congressman. And all they ask in return is that he see to their interests and not terrify them too much. Really, that’s all people ask. Expectations are very low. What the protesters are saying is, “You are terrifying us.”

Karl Rove speech interrupted by ‘War Criminal’ banner
“Former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove, during a speech at George Washington University last night, was interrupted by a group holding up a sign reading “War Criminal.”

Amid booing and clapping in the crowd, members can be heard yelling “Tase ‘em!” as the protesters are escorted out.”

Attempted Citizen’s Arrest Of Karl Rove (YouTube video)

Donald Rumsfeld Loudly Harangued At White House Correspondents’ Dinner (VIDEO)

Think Progress, MSNBC ‘Manufacture’ a Story With Putative Smoking Gun ‘Mob’ Memo
“When the “manufactured” outrage the Left is trying to demonize lines up so inconveniently with public polling, it’s sometimes necessary to create evidence for the “manufactured” storyline.”