Pelosi, Boxer, other Dems denounce protesters as angry mobs with brown shirt tactics and swastikas

Nancy Pelosi in Colorado  8/6/09 (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D CA), Senator Barbara Boxer (D CA) and their Democrat colleagues are labeling health care refrom bill protestors as nothing but "angry mobs" and accusing them of swastika carrying "brown shirt tactics". 

While I expected to see some push back as they pushed their version of health care reform this month, the level of vitriol so early into the Congressional recess is troubling.

As voter anger and frustration with their plan for the nation's health care system boils over in town hall meetings across the country,  the Democratic leadership is not just resorting to the lowest of the low, they are sadly reviving a tactic from the Clinton years. 

Ignore the facts, just attack, attack, attack.

Rep. Brian Baird (D WA) is so desperate to avoid discussing the bill with his constituents face to face he has announced he will only hold meetings by telephone this summer.  (Baird, by the way is the congressman who compared protestors at other town halls across the country to Nazis with his "What we're seeing right now is close to Brown Shirt tactics," comment.)

The paper, The Columbian , is having none of it.  In an opinion piece today the paper writes that this was Baird's chance "to show leadership and courage".   That his:

 "decision not to hold regular town hall meetings during a time when his constituents need them most is baffling and misguided" and that "If Baird thinks this too shall blow over, well, he’s only kidding himself". 

Too bad Baird doesn't have the same fortitude of fellow Democrat, Tacoman Adam Smith:

"It comes with the job," he said in a story in The Olympian newspaper. "They aren’t protesters. They are constituents speaking their minds." Smith also told The Olympian that, even if the protests are organized, "what’s wrong with that?"
 

Rather than face the opposition and debate their point, the national Democratic leadership has unfortunately decided to follow a playbook that just calls for repeated personal attacks and systematic demonization of your opponents.  They've learned that with a willing national media repeating their quotes they can shut down meanigful debate and marginalize any o media impact. 

How fast "hope and change", devolves into "more of the same".  And just in case you doubt how low the Dems are willing to go, the three clips below provide a glimpse.

The DNC has released an ad painting protesters as nothing but angry mobs with their strings pulled by their rich, evil, Republican puppet masters.  (Now THAT's original.)

In the clip below Boxer points out that from what she's seen they (the protesters) can't be genuine because, well (wait for it), they're just dressed too well.  Yep, you read it right.  According to the great Barbara Boxer you can't be a legitimate protester unless you dress "poor".  (No comment from the Senator on high whether "real" protesters get extra points for unkempt hair and body odor.)

But Pelosi shows just how low a politician CAN go with her "astro turf", "swastika" comments:

A central Democratic talking point is to paint the protests as organized by outsiders and not a true depiction of voter attitudes.  (And I've got ocean view property in Arizona too.)

For crying out loud, this is the party that protects A.C.O.R.N., blankets communities with buses and volunteers to promote their agenda, and  just put their own "community organizer" into the White House with a coordination second to none.  (Now they're ticked the opposition is copying them?)

To now  vilify opponents for coordinating information on meeting times, talking points, etc goes beyond hypocrisy.  (And they wonder why so many are so angry?)  How in the world can you get elected to the Congress of the United States of America and be that stupid?  No, don't answer that.

In the minds of the protesters they are but moral activists exercising their Constitutional right to speak their grievances to their elected representatives.  To the Democratic leadership wanting to pass their own agenda, they are but an "angry mob" getting in the way of "progress". 

If members will actually listen to, and engage with, their constituents this August, there could be real possibility for compromise legislation come September.  If instead they just follow lockstep with Pelosi, Boxer, and the DNC we're in for negatives as yet unseen in Congressional politics.

Whichever side you're on in this debate, do not sit this one out on the sidelines.  What happens with health care reform this fall will impact each and every one of us for decades to come. 

Get the facts, gather some friends, and go have your voice heard.  (Who knows, you might be the one in a million they actually hear.)

As always, have a great weekend and I'll see ya round The Corner on Monday.