Angry protesters screamed, yelled and banged on windows as officers hurried to guard the entrances to the facility, where U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor was trying to discuss the various health care reform proposals being debated in Congress. One photojournalist said that a fistfight broke out inside the building, reports WTSP.
[H]undreds of vocal critics turned out, many of them saying they had been spurred on through the Tampa 912 activist group promoted by conservative radio and television personality Glenn Beck. Others had received e-mails from the Hillsborough Republican party that urged people to speak out against the plan and offered talking points to challenge supporters.
Whichever Republican leader stands up first and condemns the violence and hatred arising from the right will win the hearts and minds of not only moderate Republicans but many Independents as well. What this situation needs is a calm, rational person from within that can settle everyone down and lead the country in a reasonable, intelligent debate.
I was wondering this morning why President Obama hasn’t stood up and asked everyone to take a breath and chill out, and then I realized that it wouldn’t matter. It’d be like the substitute teacher who has already lost control of the class asking the unruly kids to sit down and be quiet. More than likely, the teacher would be pelted with spitballs and paper airplanes. What we need is for one of the kids to speak up and say, “Hey, let’s relax, everyone. Let’s listen to what he has to say.”
So, who’s it going to be? Palin? No way. She’s as polarizing as it gets. She has built her career on whipping up crowds and using fear to motivate her supporters. Romney? Maybe. I haven’t heard much from him lately. Actually, now that I think about it, I haven’t heard anyone speaking out against the town hall takeovers. Especially not Republicans.
So now we wait. It will probably get worse unless someone in the GOP stands up against it. It’s only a matter of time before one of them realizes that this is a golden opportunity to be the voice of reason and a strong contender for the Presidency.
Does it not ever occur to those people protesting (most of whom I highly doubt have a decent health care plan they could afford via COBRA if they lost their jobs tomorrow) understand they aren’t being asked to give up ANYTHING?!?
Rachel Maddow’s show last night where she spoke with the founder (?) from Americans for Prosperity was very insightful…and scary. That dude looks like he’s two kissing cousins removed from David Duke.
AZ Mom you got that right he was hawking for donations thru out.
I don’t see any republican coming out and saying anything because the big rush will destroy them on radio don’t ya know.What I see happening is someone will tape two fighting and put the blame not on these bused in and fraudulent protester,leave my medicare alone,but on others.Do those people not realise medicare and the VA are both government run health care programs????Does Palin not realise she is on a government run health care program because Todd is part native American.Another person who will fight against what is good for Native Americans but uses that small percentage to get benefits
These jackasses are showing up to events where Dems aren’t even present and then complaining that they didn’t get a chance to throw down a justified nutty:
http://www.rumromanismrebellion.net/2009/08/07/tea-baggers-picket-sen-jefferson-smith/#comments
I don’t know why…but it makes me laugh a little. I mean. If the DEMS wanted to bankrupt this movement in a hurry, blast emails to everyone that there will be town halls where there won’t be town halls. All of Nurse Ratched’s ward goes out all over and find…no one there but park benches and pigeons.
It is sad that not one decent Republican will stand up & say enough is enough. I think that it is because their base is so cotton picking small that they are afraid to ruffle the fringe group that is left. If there were any normal republicans left they would realize that these fringers are either crazy, delusional, uneducated, scary, ready to start a civil war, and do I need to say more? For crying out loud what “normal” person would even want to be associated with them?
I am afraid it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. All the 9-12ers talk about it how many guns they now have and that they have an arsenal of bullets. They are piling up food and all sorts of stuff. They seem to be planning something. Hopefully, they really are as stupid as they sound. However, you take the money that Beck, Chuck Norris, and a lot of other powerful rich people you just never know.
I am glad that my sons have passports because I hate to say it they might be better off living outside the US for so many reasons.
[…] Yesterday, I wrote that whoever mans up first and stops the craziness wins. I even predicted that Sarah Palin would never in a million years be the one to do it. And today, she does it. […]