The Democratic National Committee released a notably aggressive web ad on Tuesday evening, accusing the Republican Party of being taken over by an angry mob of "birther" conspiracy theorists and disgruntled partisans.And here's the ad:
From Huffingtonpost:
[W]ith boisterous protests routinely interrupting Democratic town hall events and dominating news coverage, one DNC official put it succinctly: "We aren't going to back down from this shit."It's about frickin time.
How ironic is it that the Democrat National Committee hates it when people exercise their democratic right to speak their minds?
ReplyDeleteI guess the leftists have forgotten about this...
ReplyDelete0bama telling his drones "I want you to argue with them and get in their face..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCMDur9CDZ4
Or, this....
"I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say, 'We are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration!' " (Secretary of State Hillary Clinton April 28, 2003 at the annual Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson-Bailey Day fund raising dinner in Connecticut)
There's a huge difference between respectful debating and being giant douchenozzles.
ReplyDeleteIs someone loudly shouting down speakers at town hall meetings "exercising the democratic right to speak their minds?"
ReplyDeleteIsn't that, rather, depriving someone else of the right to speak theirs?
If we’re being honest, then we have to say that almost all Congresspersons, Democrat and Republican, are not educated or up-to-speed on current or classic economic and public policy theory enough to have a serious discussion about these issues. Neither are their constituents. Never mind that almost all Congresspersons would not want to have a serious discussion about issues like health care or the environment. Congresspersons want to posture and frame issues, particularly to the party faithful (of their particular party). I do not believe Republicans seek out audiences of inner city Democrats so they can win them over, anymore than Democrats seek out audiences of suburban Republicans, unless either Democrat or Republican Congressperson has something they can give to that hostile audience.
ReplyDeleteI understand that (some) Republicans (and Democrats) believe their ideology is superior to their rivals, and that if members of the (for example) Democrat party listened (sincerely) to Republicans, that the Democrats would see the error of their ways. Personally I am not going to say that Democratic party views are superior, morally or intellectually, to Republican views, and of course vice versa. I think that political views involve a series of personal intellectual and moral ideas and choices, and I think that, to a degree, we should show respect for each others viewpoints. That said, if you can’t back your viewpoints with any sort of coherent set of ideas, or if you show contempt for my point of view without asking me why I think the way I do, then all bets are off.
Within all that context, and understanding that most of what we hear from both parties is posturing designed to include the lowest common denominators (so to speak), I can understand the Democrats lack of patience with people coming to Democrat’s town halls and just yelling about health care. If you want to make a statement that you disagree with a Democrat’s position at a town hall, I think you should be able to. Maybe you will get some applause and the Democrat will get worried. But leave it at that. No Congressperson is going to say, at that moment, “You’re right! How could I have been so foolish?” Being loud and rude does not change minds. So despite Hillary Clinton wanting, as a Senator in 2003, wanting Congress and the Democrats to have more input in government, I don’t think it is hypocritical for the Democrats to want to have some control over their own events.
It’s funny, the video shows a Republican town hall meeting as an example of angry Republican mobs. And yeah, the video is a bit over the top. Posturing to the faithful.
Leave it to conservatives to define debate and dissent as harass and disrupt.
ReplyDeleteYou're so funny - every time GOP goons get accused for something their automatic response is "Uh, uh, well the Dems do it to!"
Talk about moral relativists. Such moral fortitude!
Are you guys five? From the videos we're seeing, sure does seem like it.
You're not showing up at these town halls to debate or "excercise" first amendment rights. I mean, if you were doing that, I guess you'd actually let a debate take place, huh?
But the goal is to just shout and be loud because at the end of the day that's all these conservative loons have.
There's a big difference between showing up and voicing your dissent in a reasonable, calm manner and the organized effort led by extreme, angry rightwing groups that we are seeing which has no purpose but to make debate impossible.
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ReplyDeleteI'm willing to accept a certain amount of this GOP over-the-top posturing. As a card-carrying liberal since the 60's, I can't very well say that they don't have a right to "get in the face" of people and make a strong, impassioned statement. That's what a lot of those student protests and college takeovers were all about. Makes no difference whose side you're on...
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think that most of this will find its own level. It is, more of less, "sound and fury, signifying nothing," and I think the majority of Americans know that.
It's the reason Obama is President and McCain isn't....