Progressives Successfully Alter The Town Hall Narrative

[Towntalk]

Health Debate Turns Hostile at Town Hall Meetings
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/us/politics/08townhall.html?hp

Tea Party Movement
http://912dc.org/

Think Progress Memo
http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/townhallactionmemo.pdf

Rush Limbaugh:

Thursday

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_080609/content/01125106.guest.html


Friday
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_080709/content/01125107.guest.html

What's behind Nancy Pelosi's despicable slur against Americans who oppose ObamaCare.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204908604574336462379328406.html


To Pelosi, healthcare protests are 'display of the democratic process'

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/


Do Americans agree with town hall protesters on healthcare?

http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/08/07/do-americans-agree-with-town-hall-protesters-on-healthcare/

[sfc_oliver]

The partisan divide is even wider when the motivations of the protesters are at issue. Seventy percent (70%) of Republicans and 58% of unaffiliated voters say the protesters reflect the concerns of their neighbors. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Democrats say the protests are phony.

Sixty-three percent (63%) of liberals say the protests are motivated by special interests, while 69% of conservatives say they're driven by local concerns.

Earlier this year, despite complaints from the White House and top Democrats, 51% of Americans had a positive opinion of the "tea parties" held nationwide on April 15. The Political Class had a much dimmer view of the protests, though.

Regardless of the motives behind the protests, however, voters overwhelmingly agree that the average congressman listens most to party leaders rather than the voters they represent – by a 73% to 14% margin. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided. These numbers remain virtually unchanged since April.

This is all from Rasmussen, the people who correctly predicted the last election. Seems to me the people do not want Obama care. What I really want to know is Dennis teed off because he won't get his single payer Health care or because the Conservatives are finally being heard?

[Rick Rowlands]

When ACORN gets people together to support liberal causes nobody sees a problem. But if some conservatives get together to promote their interests then thats just soooo horrible!

The REAL reason people are getting loud at town hall meetings is because the congresscritters are not listening to them. 

[irishbobcat]

Progressives Successfully Alter The Town Hall Narrative
By Bill Scher

August 7, 2009 - 10:26am ET


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Our own Roger Hickey was featured on MSNBC's The Ed Show yesterday, discussing the broad progressive response to the lobbyist-funded right-wing attempt to seize the congressional town halls.


Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
This is just one example of how the modern progressive movement was able to prevent the guerrilla right-wing attack from being easily portrayed as a grassroots response from the political center.

Within 24 hours of the first reports of right-wing shenanigans, progressive bloggers and organizations were detailing the protests ties to special interest lobbyists and highlighting extremist rhetoric that clearly distinguishes the protesters from the vast majority of Americans who want health care reform.

Sure, some early media reports inaccurately credited the protesters with reflecting broad anxiety of pending legislation. But I'd suggest that by the end of week, a better understanding of where these disruptions are coming from has been communicated.

Those of us outside of official Washington pushing for real reform are doing an infinitely better job than in 1994, thanks to the rise of an internet-based 21st century progressive movement.

The job is far from done, but we are as well positioned as ever.