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Death threats have forced the cancellation of town hall health care meetings in Vancouver, Washington. Vancouver Congressman Brian Baird, Democrat, received death threats and heard from numerous constituents fearing for their safety in connection with attending the scheduled town hall discussions. In light of the possible danger, Baird will conduct meetings in a controlled environment over the phone.
Republican protesters have been disrupting health care town hall meetings across the country. Because of Republican threats and intimidation, citizens in Vancouver won't get to discuss health care reform in traditional town hall settings.
Town hall meetings were originally scheduled to provide a forum for discussing health care reform. But in public meetings across the country, those forums have degenerated into shouting matches. Republican extremists, in concert with the health insurance lobby, have been conducting a campaign of dirty tricks and misinformation. “It's not about showing up and having a real dialogue or discussing point A or B about the health care proposal," said Congressman Baird. "It’s 'shout them down, disrupt them and then post your video of that disruption on YouTube'.”
Baird is deploying an interesting strategy, telephone town halls, to overcome Republican plans to disrupt and sabotage town hall meetings. Random voters will receive automated phone messages asking if they have a question for their Congressman. If they do, they will be asked their location and the subject of their question. Sitting at his own telephone, Baird then will choose a name based on its location and the topic. After the call is over, the recording will be posted on his Web site.
While Congressman Baird may have come up with a creative response to an ugly problem, the problem remains. Organized efforts to demonize health care reform have gone far beyond politics as usual. Republican operatives are threatening free speech: Political threats of violence, political acts of violence, threaten the fabric of our society. The fact that any Republican would encourage or condone such activity is appalling.
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Comments
These people are no more "dispatched" by republican operatives than the left wing congressman really care about healthcare. Most of these folks are seniors who have legitimate concerns about the direction those in favor of HR 3200 want to take our system of healthcare. HR 3200 is bad and does nothing to improve healthcare for Americans.
I wish I knew who was giving away our secret plans and stategies. We are all under orders to never divulge anything yet we always get discovered and foiled. Congressman Baird is just plain too clever, he must have been tipped off.
Hey, when there is so much that is not finalized on every bill passed lately by this congress, there is room for individuals to be distrustful and angry with them. The 400 to 1000 pages that are repeatedly added to legislation shows that we cannot just trust these people that are supposed to be working for us to do the right thing. They rush to vote and do not even read all of what they are voting on. They leave it to staff to read the bills and they were not hired by us to do the job in place of the Congressman, but to assist him or her. So, if this is so serious, should not the one hired to do the job be the one doing the job? If this were the public sector, they could be fired for not doing their job. But working for the government, they can reward themselves and staff with a raise. So, to say these angry people are right wing representatives, and it is artificial anger...astroturf...is just bunk!
I oppose gov't takeover of healthcare. I believe it will lead to rationing wherein government bureaucrats determine who will live and who will die presumably based upon the perceived productivity of people within various groups.
I believe every human being is of infinite worth and entitled to LIFE. As the founding fathers said, "... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are LIFE, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, ..."
I'm hopeful Americans will not consent to relinquishing a citizen's life and death healthcare decisions to federal gov't bureaucrats. I see healtcare reform as a federal grab for power to which the people ought not consent.
Do I detect bias here. You specifically say "Republican threats and intimidation. . ." and "Republican protestors. . ." "Republican operatives are threatening free speech. . ."
PROVE IT. I want to see the documentation and not just some propaganda statement from Democrat spin doctors Check out your Constitution buddy, there is something called free speech and the right to protest. Gestapo thugs beating up a conserative African American in St. Louis is not a hate crime? Gestapo union thugs shoving people out of meeting rooms is not terrorist tactics. Congressmen screaming at the people they alleged work for is not intimidation. The White House calling upon citizens to support a "snitch list" is not the actions of a police state mentality?
SHOW THE PROOF THAT THIS IS REPUBLICAN ORGANIZED. You can't. This is called Vox Populi (better translate that for you, "Voice of the People") and we will be heard.
And while you're at it, go out and read Common Sense.
Stone you're an IDIOT, let's see some proof of your allegations, instead of fabricated pot-stirring rhetoric.
No, unjustified PARANOIA among leftist progressives has canceled the meetings.
I want to know where the Federal Government has received the power to deny me the right to PRIVACY and contract with who I please to manage my families health.
If women can "choose" under THEIR "right to privacy" to end a human life "in the privacy of their doctors office", then I retain the "right" to "choose", "in the privacy of my home and doctors office", the right to contract with any company I may want.
Anywone should be able to see what Congressman Baird is up to. Using his little system, he can pre-screen the questions and only has to answer the ones he wants to answer. He has a list of talking points and is not going to risk deviating from them.
When I was on active duty, we would occasionally get big shot generals or politicians to show up and talk to us. We were provided questions to ask and certain guys were selected to ask those questions. Everyone else would just sit there politely or applaud as directed to. Mr. Baird is working under that same handshake.
You know, I'd ask whether some of you people are mentally retarded, but the comments speak for themselves.
A townhall meeting was shut down by terrorism and you idiots honestly want to blame the victims rather than pointing your fingers at the American-hating terrorists causing all the trouble. Because make no mistake, anyone who would stoop to DEATH THREATS in order to disrupt a political system and deny their countrymen the right to speak in terms of what they want from their government hates their fellow citizens and hates their country.
Toni (and yes Michael again)
We are terrorists? We are American hating? I've yet to see a single video or photo of four union thugs stomping an African American man because he SUPPORTED government take over. I've yet to see thugs shoving elderly out of meetings because they SUPPORTED government take over.
The play book of Fascists is well known Toni. Always blame the other side for what you are doing. I've witnessed forty years of protests,and every rotten tactic the Left can pull but now run scared and smear when ordinary citizens shout "no more." Our protest is a right! You better get use to it.
As for Congressman Baird using the excuse to dodge out of a town hall meeting. He is perhaps a liar and most definitely a coward. Claiming a single, alleged phone call is reason to hide behind a telephone is absurd. He is a coward afraid to meet those he allegedly represents, and this is now the excuse the Pelosi gang will use, even as they bring in more thugs to intimdate
Not surprised. Right wing nuts are famous for these shenanigans!
"deploying an interesting strategy" and what is that Mikey, running away??
A.) At Hotair.com:
Title: Why ObamaCare Goons Do Not Help ObamaCare
From the article at that site (Google it!) : 1.) Big Labor threatened to directly engage anti-ObamCare protestors (link from Huffpo) 2.) White House threatens to punch back twice as hard. 3.) In St Louis and Tampa ObamaCare suporters (SEIU drones) sneak into town halls through side doors and fill the front rows. 4.) This is all from the HCAN playbook, right after the left falsely accuses the right of astroturfing.
B.) Dems Sneak Union Thugs Into Carnahan Town Hall.
youtube.com/watch?v=--ZJhR3T4aw
C.) Obama's SEIU Thugs Attack A Black Conservative Outside Russ Carnahan Town Hall [Raw Video]
youtube.com/watch?v=dqpfU_AC7Ls
And what about that DNC e-mail to supporters to get to the town halls? Are Democrats and Obama causing violence? From what I have read and heard, there was no violence until the Union thugs showed up. Obama wanted them to hit back twice as hard? Real smooth. Not.
A.) From Small Government Times
Libertarians to Democrats: Call Off The Thugs
smallgovtimes.com/2009/08/libertarians-to-democrats-call-off-the-thugs/
B.) Google this at GatewayPundit (Video):
White House & DNC Release Labor Goons On Obamacare Town Halls
C.) SEIU Obama Supporter Smashes Woman Tea Party Supporter In Face
youtube.com/watch?v=CtLzJOfH9DE
Entire Video of C.) here:
youtube.com/watch?v=rwxf_2GFOBc
At that link, more info, too:
8/5/09: Democrats (via email) urge SEIU to counter twon hall protestors
8/6/09: Politico.com reports White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina to Democrats "We will hit back tice as hard."
For 8 years Democrats said that dissent was the highest form of patriotism, now conservatives find out what happens when they dissent. Democrats believe that it's ok for them to dissent, but not for you.
Thanx for actual FACTS, Ray!! Well Mikey were are your facts?? All I see is empty cowardly propoganda from you and your buddy Baird there.
Just the facts Stoner, drop the commie BS.
Thanks, Spin Doctor!
It is a well-worn tactic of the left to accuse the right of what they themselves are doing or are about to do.
"Brown Shirt tactics," Baird?
The only brown shirt tactics that I see are coming from Democrats.
Congressman Brian Baird did not cancel a town hall due to a death threat. No such thing happened.
I live in Representative Baird's District in Washington State, Vancouver. I was very interested in in facing him to inquire about the healthcare reform bill.
On Thursday, July 30, I called his local office to ask about any upcoming town halls and was told he had none scheduled, but they would inform me if any came up. I left my contact information, name, address, phone number and even email. I was never called but was able to get in on the tele-conference and was one of the 16 people selected to ask a question.
Representative Baird's claim of death threats was in regard to his claiming he received a fax of a photo of President Obama with a hammer and sickle on his forehead and the caption "Death to all Marxists, Foreign and Domestic" underneath. This same photo has been circulating in email for some time now and that I know of, no one considers it a "death threat."
We Republicans get free cell phones so we can organize old people to speak their mind.
All I can say is: FOLLOW THE MONEY. Who stands to lose from REAL health care reform? Big Medicine, Big Pharma, & Big Insurance. They have been using every tactic they can to scare Americans with vicious lies about "killing seniors". This is AMERICA. Do you REALLY think that would happen? The people who dreamed up this idea don't - but they want you to. They are counting on ignorance and paranoia. Do you enjoy being their pawns?
We have had Town Hall meetings on so many other topics - why are the ones on health care reform, of all things, degenerating into violence and threats? I would love to see the bank accounts of these so-called "grass roots" rabble-rousers.
I mean seriously - think for ONE MINUTE - Medicare and the VA hospital system are both government-run programs, and I don't see anyone complaining. And the public option is just that - AN OPTION!
How many ordinary people who are complaining about reform REALLY like the system exactly the way it is now? Think about i
It is scary that people who believe in freedom, liberty, inalienable rights and the Constitution are considered "fringe", "radical" and "extremists". These principles are not radical, they are what our country was founded on. When the government begins violating these rights it is the duty of responsible citizens to make changes and protest. The only violence so far has been perpetrated by radical LEFT wing activists at the town hall meetings but Rachel Maddow will never report this. I encourage all Americans to vote in representatives who have the courage to uphold the Constitution
Hey everybody this goons articles are so far left they're near Pluto, don't take this writer's drivel serious, just sample some of his other posts and see what I mean.
anyone pointing out "leftist paranoia" is a NAZI themselves. they support the death threats.
Congressman Brian Baird and Oregon Congressman Bluemneauer never planned on having town hall meetings. Mr. Bluemenauer is doing the same phone thing. The democrats went to this telephone call- in gag so they could pick and choose the questions they want to answer. Then knew that if they had to answer real questions in front on real people they would look like idiots.
I don't believe for a second that what you are reporting is the truth. The media has been spinning this kind of stuff for quite some time. It is sad that a reporter no longer exists, as what exists now is someone giving what they believe or want others to believe. If they had to give reporters an oath like they do with doctors, none would sign as none can be object about giving news and letting the public decide for themself. How sad.
Rachel,
You are not a reporter nor a journalist you are nothing more than a mouthpiece for the radical left. Union people beat up Kenneth Gladney in St Louis and Mainstream Media says nothing. Utterly pathetic than your call yourself a journalist and hey--didnt everyone in MM like the code pink and anti-war protestors?
I wouldn't worry to much about Rachel Maddow she's taken about as seriously as good ole Mikey here, have you seen her ratings lately. Like Mikey, MSNBC is so far to the left that they have about zero credibility. When moderate democrats see how these uber leftist wackos are out to destroy our culture and traditions, it turns them off immediately. Good ole Mikey is actually probably a good recruiter for the conservative movement. Keep up the good work Stoner!!
It looks as if the same people who disrupted the town hall meetings are hell bent on spreading the same nonsense on this thread. This is a strategy to shut down legitimate discussions on badly needed health care reform. Thuggery isn't debate.
Toni, didn't you know that the term "mentally retarded" is offensive to the mentally ill? It is odd that you would stoop to that level in order to play along with this "death threat" gag. Who gives you your orders?
THE GOONS HAVE BEEN SENT BY OBAMA HIMSELF. IT IS HIS THUGS AT THE SEIU WHO ARE ASSAULTING PEOPLE AT THESE MEETINGS.
OBAMA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLENCE. WHAT ELSE DO WE EXPECT FROM A COMMUNITY AGITATOR? OBAMA IS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE POTUS AND IS ONLY QUALIFIED TO ORGANIZE UNION THUGS.
Sheila - the folks at freerepublic.com, who identify as conservative, are very vocal about their visits to town hall meetings and encourage other conservatives to protest, as they have.
I believe in freedom, liberty, unalienable rights and the Constitution, as Christopher a few posts down does. I believe health care is an unalienable right, not privilege, and I agree with Presidend Obama that it is a "moral imperative". I'm a 22-year-old student and come from a poor, working-class family: I don't have money for new eyeglasses, or to visit a dentist about my wisdom teeth, or get a check-up. We had no money to pay for my mother's cataract surgeries until a charity program called Volunteers in Medicine graciously hepled us - an exception to what happens to uninsured Americans.
We've done nothing wrong. We'rehard-working Americans. It is outrageous for a country to deny its citizens health. Why else do we have a government if not to better the quality of life for all? Have a heart.
NO WE WON'T. JUST SAY NO. NO WE WON'T. JUST SAY NO.
HEAR OUR VOICE! HEAR OUR VOICE! HEAR OUR VOICE!
Leave it to the left wing radicals to lie about who is showing up at the town hall meetings. Lefties are the true Nazi's.
@praying for compassion:
"I believe health care is an unalienable right."
Please show me where in the Constitution you found that!!
Health INSURANCE is a service that, in the case of an emergency, helps pay the cost of the bills rendered from receiving health care.
I am appalled at just how dumb people are in this country!
This debate is about what is CONSTITUTIONAL or NOT! It has nothing to do with emotion; it has nothing to do with your STATIST argument of what's for the "greater good."
America was founded on individual liberty -- something that you OBVIOUSLY do NOT understand. Liberty does not mean freedom. It means that the government is not an authority over you. Read the Constitution and the written works of the Founding Fathers, so you can understand their intentions.
Do you understand that this country is on the brink of revolution and it has ZERO to do with race? It has EVERYTHING to do with the FACT that BOTH major parties IGNORE the constitution and we'v
The Second American R3VOLUTION has begun!
What drivel. I love how the left claims this is "Republicans" and insurance company people who are against socialized medicine. They aren't and wouldn't recognize a freedom-loving American when they saw one. Big government leads to little freedom and we are heading towards total government, which is slavery.
If people want completely free health care and to have the government meet their every need, we already have that system--it's called PRISON. The government that can give you everything you need, is the government that can take away every thing you have (to give it to someone else.)
Too bad this 'journalist' hasn't done his homework.
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