Thread: Pelosi - Protests are 'Un-American'

Originally Posted by Swoop187

I know what it is but discussion among the public will do absolutely nothing to sway government.

You have to make your dissent loud and clear.

Which can be done more effectively than simply 'shouting louder than your opposition'. That isn't discussion, that is drowning out your opposition and preventing other voices from being heard. That is not what is expected in a town hall meeting.

Originally Posted by Swoop187

Dissenters are clearly and rationally stating their opposition in these meetings too.

No doubt, some certainly are. But we're not discussing the ones who are bringing valid complaints and presenting them in a rational manner. We're discussing the ones who's sole intention is to prevent those that disagree with them from voicing their opinions and creating general havoc in these town meetings. Those people need to leave their shit outside if they are unable to conduct themselves in a more mature manner.

This thread now just descended into stupid. Pelosi has her flaws but calling people who disagree with Obama Healthplan 'Un-American' is not one of them.

Stop the lieing now please.. This is just propaganda at this stage...

* But the most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly and with unflagging attention. It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over. Here, as so often in this world, persistence is the first and most important requirement for success.
o Actually from "War Propaganda", in volume 1, chapter 6 of Mein Kampf (1925), by Adolf Hitler

* (multiple alternatives) If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth. // If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. // If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it. // If you repeat a lie long enough, it becomes truth. // If you repeat a lie many times, people are bound to start believing it.
o no reliable source; probably misquotations of the Big Lie idea

Originally Posted by Speakeasy

Which can be done more effectively than simply 'shouting louder than your opposition'. That isn't discussion, that is drowning out your opposition and preventing other voices from being heard. That is not what is expected in a town hall meeting.

These "town hall meetings" were never designed to actually reach the people and communicate with them. These were propaganda tools. The democrats and some republicans were arrogant enough to believe that they could come in and sell the Obama-care plan and the mindless sheep would just follow along. These meetings make it very clear. They are NOT listening to us and haven't in a long time.

Surprise! Some people, regular constituents, are not buying it. Should they totally disrupt the meetings? Maybe not. But they are pissed.

If they continue to ignore the citizens (which they've done my whole life) it's eventually going to become violent.

Originally Posted by jviehe

Well, it didnt take them long to get there. Remember when liberals were protesting the Iraq war, some republicans were calling them anti-american, and the Dems were protesting calling people that, saying dissent was patriotic, we had to stand up and tell, blah blah? Hypocrasy. No surprise from this Representative.

Column: 'Un-American' attacks can't derail health care debate - Opinion - USATODAY.com

Turn about's fair play.

But if it was a stupid characterization in the first place, it's still a stupid way to characterize it now.

Our country was founded based partly on dissent against the English king... and we weren't exactly polite about the affair. Each side just cherishes dissent when it's directed at opponents and whines about it when it's directed at them.

What I take solace in is that not many people seemed to buy into the "unpatriotic" charges in these types of political contexts.... and the messengers are generally ignored/dismissed.

Originally Posted by wiggidy

If they continue to ignore the citizens (which they've done my whole life) it's eventually going to become violent.

That is one of the things I am starting to fear, violence. I can smell it coming if the parties (both of them) don't start paying attention to the real world around them.

The sad thing is whatever moron starts it, it will be remembered as having started with that side.

Originally Posted by Speakeasy

Which can be done more effectively than simply 'shouting louder than your opposition'. That isn't discussion, that is drowning out your opposition and preventing other voices from being heard. That is not what is expected in a town hall meeting.

No doubt, some certainly are. But we're not discussing the ones who are bringing valid complaints and presenting them in a rational manner. We're discussing the ones who's sole intention is to prevent those that disagree with them from voicing their opinions and creating general havoc in these town meetings. Those people need to leave their shit outside if they are unable to conduct themselves in a more mature manner.

And herein, perhaps, lies the problem. The left wing are much more experienced at keeping their protests outside. From Code Pink with their outrageous disrespect to people who risk their lives for the freedom of those who spit in their faces (that happened to a friend of mine). To the Weather Underground with their ability to plant blombs, And Acorn with their organized protests and the occasional riot....

But, what the hell, at least they didn't raise their voice in a meeting.

Yep, they're an example to us all.

Originally Posted by California Girl

And herein, perhaps, lies the problem. The left wing are much more experienced at keeping their protests outside. From Code Pink with their outrageous disrespect to people who risk their lives for the freedom of those who spit in their faces (that happened to a friend of mine). To the Weather Underground with their ability to plant blombs, And Acorn with their organized protests and the occasional riot....

But, what the hell, at least they didn't raise their voice in a meeting.

Yep, they're an example to us all.

Well, it's not a 'one of the other' type deal. Anyone who seeks to disruption over dialogue or attempts to force their view on others using intimidation or violence has no place in politics, as far as I'm concerned. That goes for both the left and right.

Originally Posted by CowboyTed

This thread now just descended into stupid. Pelosi has her flaws but calling people who disagree with Obama Healthplan 'Un-American' is not one of them.

Stop the lieing now please.. This is just propaganda at this stage...

It's irritating, isn't it, when a lie becomes the truth.

But, it happens regularly when the left get hold of some shit and blow it into a major issue.

In truth, the left brought it on themselves. They started this 'lie like crap and keep on repeating it and eventually the truth disappears and all anyone remembers is the lie.'

A recent example of this. Pelosi saying there were Nazi symbols at the town halls. In fact there were anti fascist symbols but what the hell, the lefties just pick it up and run with it.

Originally Posted by jviehe

Its not an article. Its an op-ed, with her name and Hoyer as the writers. She signed off on everything in it.

I stand cvorrected then. What ever that thing is, it is truly stupid.

Originally Posted by Speakeasy

Well, it's not a 'one of the other' type deal. Anyone who seeks to disruption over dialogue or attempts to force their view on others using intimidation or violence has no place in politics, as far as I'm concerned. That goes for both the left and right.

I am also in the two wrongs don't equal a right camp but....

You have to see that when the left keep on making these accusations, and it is ok for them to raise Bush every time anyone criticizes Obama, then you have to see sometimes it is the only way to make them see how completely stupid it is.

Look, When Bush tried town hall formats to sell his dismantling of Social Security, people showed up and asked hard questions, they didn't scream, they waited for answers. It only happened a few times, because after the first couple of Town Halls, the audience was restricted to pre-screened Bush supporters.
Because the Democrats hold open events this kind of thing can happen, but when people are disruptive, when they act in a manner that is aimed at stifling the debate rather than furthering the debate, that is un-American.
But what do you expect from a Party who's leader believes that there are "Pro-American" sections of the country.

The white house appears to be taking an opposing view to what was written by Pelosi and Hoyer.

White House Disputes Pelosi Contention that Town Hall Protests are "Un-American" - Political Punch