Teabaggers get Downright Ugly and Vicious

[deception]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35965961/ns/politics-capitol_hill

WASHINGTON - House Democrats heard it all Saturday — words of inspiration from President Barack Obama and raucous chants of protests from demonstrators. And at times it was flat-out ugly, including some racial epithets aimed at black members of Congress.

Most of the day's important work leading up to Sunday's historic vote on health care was being done behind closed doors. Democratic leaders cajoled, bargained and did what they needed to nail down the votes they will need to finally push Obama's health care overhaul bill through the House.

But much else about the day was noisy, emotional and right out in the open. After more than a year debating the capstone of Obama's domestic agenda and just hours to go before the showdown vote, there was little holding back.

The tone was set outside the Capitol. Clogging the sidewalks and streets of Capitol Hill were at least hundreds — no official estimate was yet available — of loud, furious protesters, many of them tea party opponents of the health care overhaul.

Rallies outside the Capitol are typically orderly, with speeches and well-behaved crowds. Saturday's was different, with anger-fueled demonstrators surrounding members of Congress who walked by, yelling at them.

"Kill the bill," the largely middle-aged crowd shouted, surging toward lawmakers who crossed the street between their office buildings and the Capitol.

The motorcade that carried Obama to Capitol Hill to whip up support for the bill drove past crowds waving signs that read "Stop the spending" and "Get your hands out of my pocketbook and health care." Many booed and thrust their thumbs down as Obama rode by.

As police held demonstrators back to clear areas for lawmakers outside the Capitol Obama's speech, some protesters jeered and chanted at the officers, "You work for us."

Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., told a reporter that as he left the Cannon House Office Building with Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a leader of the civil rights era, some among the crowd chanted "the N-word, the N-word, 15 times." Both Carson and Lewis are black, and Lewis spokeswoman Brenda Jones also said that it occurred.

"It was like going into the time machine with John Lewis," said Carson, a large former police officer who said he wasn't frightened but worried about the 70-year-old Lewis, who is twice his age. "He said it reminded him of another time."

Kristie Greco, spokeswoman for Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said a protester spit on Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., who is black and said police escorted the lawmakers into the Capitol. Cleaver's office said he would decline to press charges, but Sgt. Kimberly Schneider of the U.S. Capitol Police said in an e-mail later: "We did not make any arrests today."

Clyburn, who led fellow black students in integrating South Carolina's public facilities a half century ago, called the behavior "absolutely shocking."

"I heard people saying things today that I have not heard since March 15, 1960, when I was marching to try to get off the back of the bus," Clyburn told reporters.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who is gay, said protesters shouted "abusive things" to him as he walked from the Longworth building to the Rayburn building. "It's a mob mentality that doesn't work politically," he said.

Step toward communism?
Inside House office buildings, protesters made their views known by visiting lawmakers' offices and chanting at legislators walking by.

Among the demonstrators was Delane Stewart, 65, of Cookeville, Tenn., who had come with her husband, Jesse.

"You know what's coming next if this happens?" she said, referring to the health bill's passage. "They're going to come after gun control."

Retired businessman Randy Simpson, 67, of Seneca, S.C., also said the health bill was just a first step.

"My concerns are about the health care bill, and the direction it takes us is toward communism, quite frankly," he said.

At a daylong meeting of the House Rules Committee, members of both parties squeezed into a tiny hearing room traded accusations in a session that was often a shouting match.

"You all in the minority know what the American people think," Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., said loudly and mockingly at Republicans repeatedly saying the public overwhelmingly opposes Obama's health care bill.

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said a tricky voting procedure Democrats had been contemplating "corrupts and prostitutes the system" and would "unleash a cultural war in this country."

Obama's Capitol Hill visit was the day's emotional peak for House Democrats as he sought to energize them to finally approve the legislation.

He conceded that it could be tough for some to vote for the bill, but predicted it would end up being politically smart because once it becomes law people will realize they like its provisions like curbs on insurance companies.

"It is in your hands," the president said in what Clyburn later called the best speech he'd ever heard Obama make. "It is time to pass health care reform for America, and I am confident that you are going to do it tomorrow."

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I can't believe we live in a country where protesting is still legal. Damn Republocrats!

 

[deception]

I can't believe we live in a country where protesting is still legal. Damn Republocrats!

maybe the more appropriate response would be that u cant believe u live in a country where ppl retreat back to bigotry when times get tough.

 

[Denny Crane]

Your article says "many were tea party members" and some of the crowd used the N word. There's no correlation here, other than people that like to use that word showed up as well.

 

[deception]

Your article says "many were tea party members" and some of the crowd used the N word. There's no correlation here, other than people that like to use that word showed up as well.

that was the saddest reasoning ive ever encountered from u.

anyways, representative cleaver's office released this about the incident:

For many of the members of the CBC, like John Lewis and Emanuel Cleaver who worked in the civil rights movement, and for Mr. Frank who has struggled in the cause of equality, this is not the first time they have been spit on during turbulent times.


This afternoon, the Congressman was walking into the Capitol to vote, when one protester spat on him. The Congressman would like to thank the US Capitol Police officer who quickly escorted the others Members and him into the Capitol, and defused the tense situation with professionalism and care. After all the Members were safe, a full report was taken and the matter was handled by the US Capitol Police. The man who spat on the Congressman was arrested, but the Congressman has chosen not to press charges. He has left the matter with the Capitol Police.

This is not the first time the Congressman has been called the "n" word and certainly not the worst assault he has endured in his years fighting for equal rights for all Americans. That being said, he is disappointed that in the 21st century our national discourse has devolved to the point of name calling and spitting. He looks forward to taking a historic vote on health care reform legislation tomorrow, for the residents of the Fifth District of Missouri and for all Americans. He believes deeply that tomorrow's vote is, in fact, a vote for equality and to secure health care as a right for all. Our nation has a history of struggling each time we expand rights. Today's protests are no different, but the Congressman believes this is worth fighting for.

 

[Denny Crane]

I don't approve of the assaults on the congressmen using the N word. Unless there's video or audio of it, I'm dubious that it really happened. Especially considering your MSNBC source.

I can see how people suffering terrible economic circumstances might spit on congressmen. That's an actual liberal thing to do - vietnam war protesters did much worse.

Here's Obama's latest polls:

Rasmussen:
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 23% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-four percent (44%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21. That matches the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President

Overall, 43% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. That also matches the lowest level yet recorded for this President. Fifty-six percent (56%) disapprove.

And Gallup:

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I don't approve of the assaults on the congressmen using the N word. Unless there's video or audio of it, I'm dubious that it really happened. Especially considering your MSNBC source.

I can see how people suffering terrible economic circumstances might spit on congressmen. That's an actual liberal thing to do - vietnam war protesters did much worse.

WTF?!?

There was video of it on the ABC News tonight. It happened. They found the person, no charges.

Protesting isn't a liberal thing to do, it's an American right.

It's easy to see how there are people are so upset. From what they're being told this is the end. The end of the USA, freedom, everything. Once this bill past we're going to be communists and fascists. They're are some really scared people out there.

 

[Denny Crane]

WTF?!?

There was video of it on the ABC News tonight. It happened. They found the person, no charges.

Protesting isn't a liberal thing to do, it's an American right.

It's easy to see how there are people are so upset. From what they're being told this is the end. The end of the USA, freedom, everything. Once this bill past we're going to be communists and fascists. They're are some really scared people out there.

The spitting or the N word was on TV?

 

[Denny Crane]

Aha. Found it on this video.

[video=youtube;PYtkdxr4p98]

 

[Denny Crane]

And this one from last summer.

Check out the 1:15 mark.

[video=youtube;4ldCZdJ3lPo]

 

[chris_in_pdx]

It's easy to see how there are people are so upset. From what they're being told this is the end. The end of the USA, freedom, everything. Once this bill past we're going to be communists and fascists. They're are some really scared people out there.

24 Hours a day news cycle + programming designed to ratchet up ratings by spewing progressively more frentic "sky is falling and the other side is to blame" propaganda on BOTH sides + the growing gullibility, ignorance, and laziness of the American people = Orson Wells' "War Of The Worlds" x 1,000,000 every day.

 

[julius]

I want my America back!

 

[jlprk]

The polls of Obama disapproval don't distinguish between those disappointed in his being too far to the right (he hasn't reversed any of Bush's radicalism), and those who think he's too far to the left. So those polls are irrelevant to the health care issue.

...And George Gallup is a born-again Christian. His polling company is one of the furthest to the right.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

24 Hours a day news cycle + programming designed to ratchet up ratings by spewing progressively more frentic "sky is falling and the other side is to blame" propaganda on BOTH sides + the growing gullibility, ignorance, and laziness of the American people = Orson Wells' "War Of The Worlds" x 1,000,000 every day.

I fully understand and agree with what you're saying, I'm just pointing out that the bill from the fear and damage being caused by the "spewing propaganda" is just now coming due. We know the cause but we've yet to see the effect.

[video=youtube;Bmxyj6iInMc]

 

[SlyPokerDog]

...And George Gallup is a born-again Christian. His polling company is one of the furthest to the right.

Not everything is a right wing conspiracy, the left have them too.

 

[jlprk]

Does the left have the right infiltrated as the right has the left infiltrated? Of course not, which is why leftist conspiracies are small potatoes compared to rightist conspiracies (like the Iraq War).

 

[deception]

I don't approve of the assaults on the congressmen using the N word. Unless there's video or audio of it, I'm dubious that it really happened. Especially considering your MSNBC source.

I can see how people suffering terrible economic circumstances might spit on congressmen. That's an actual liberal thing to do - vietnam war protesters did much worse.

Here's Obama's latest polls:

Rasmussen:
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 23% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-four percent (44%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21. That matches the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President

Overall, 43% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. That also matches the lowest level yet recorded for this President. Fifty-six percent (56%) disapprove.

And Gallup:

if u dont disavow yourself of these ppl, u are no better. btw, it was the AP reporting this and it was republished on msnbc. and to dispute these civil rights heroes is shameful on your part. what shocked me is the manner in which the black representatives were targeted which to me reveals the bigoted underpinning of this so called organic movement. here's a followup from cnn- where cnn personnel have confirmed the homophobic slurs hurled at congressmen frank:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co...nd-spit-at-democrats/?hpt=T1&fbid=mRJaiTCtqxQ

A CNN producer overheard the word "***got" yelled at Frank several times in the lobby of the Longworth building. Frank said he heard someone yell "homo" at him.

"I'm disappointed," Frank said. "There's an unwillingness to be civil."

Frank, who said he rarely hears such slurs anymore, said the health care issue has become "the proxy for a lot of other sentiments. A lot of which are perfectly reasonable but some of which are kind of ugly."

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

That's what happens when a democratic process gets stepped on with creative new ways to pass laws. Its bullshit. This is not the will of the people, its the will of a few people in power who are manipulating it all to their own way of doing things.

 

[MARIS61]

Your article says "many were tea party members" and some of the crowd used the N word. There's no correlation here, other than people that like to use that word showed up as well.

You could be right.

They could be 2 completely different groups of ignorant, inbred Conservatives.

 

[maxiep]

WTF?!?

There was video of it on the ABC News tonight. It happened. They found the person, no charges.

Protesting isn't a liberal thing to do, it's an American right.

It's easy to see how there are people are so upset. From what they're being told this is the end. The end of the USA, freedom, everything. Once this bill past we're going to be communists and fascists. They're are some really scared people out there.

Sly, did it ever occur to you that people are upset because they thought for themselves and not because they were told to be scared? I'm a fairly rational guy with the means to pay for my health care regardless what kind of legislation passes and I'm scared to death. My question is if the government taking de-facto control of the banks, the largest car company in the US and now 1/6th of the economy doesn't scare you, then what will it take?

 

[maxiep]

if u dont disavow yourself of these ppl, u are no better. btw, it was the AP reporting this and it was republished on msnbc. and to dispute these civil rights heroes is shameful on your part. what shocked me is the manner in which the black representatives were targeted which to me reveals the bigoted underpinning of this so called organic movement. here's a followup from cnn- where cnn personnel have confirmed the homophobic slurs hurled at congressmen frank:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co...nd-spit-at-democrats/?hpt=T1&fbid=mRJaiTCtqxQ

I just want to be clear: ANYONE who makes a racist or homophobic comment should be "disavowed"?

 

[jlprk]

My question is if the government taking de-facto control of the banks, the largest car company in the US and now 1/6th of the economy doesn't scare you, then what will it take?

Yet it doesn't scare you that the government is free to torture.

 

[Denny Crane]

I have a lot of respect for Lewis, though I don't agree with his politics.

ABC News showed video of the incident, and I couldn't hear any racial epithets. A large number of people were chanting "kill the bill, kill the bill." Period.

They also interviewed a few of the protesters and they all said it was reprehensible, if true, and that the acts of a very few shouldn't detract from their agenda.

 

[deception]

I have a lot of respect for Lewis, though I don't agree with his politics.

ABC News showed video of the incident, and I couldn't hear any racial epithets. A large number of people were chanting "kill the bill, kill the bill." Period.

They also interviewed a few of the protesters and they all said it was reprehensible, if true, and that the acts of a very few shouldn't detract from their agenda.

i believe 3 different black congressmen have told their stories. and the homophobic comments hurled at frank were independently verified by cnn and politico correspondents- i dont know how u can question the validity of these comments anymore.

and this wasnt a mass demonstration- "few hundred" according to some publications like the AP piece and a thousand or so according to some other sources. so... the bigots might be a minority but they appear to be a vociferous and well represented bunch even in a crowd of a thousand. and why didnt these anti-racists challenge their bigoted teabagger brethren when these racial/ homophobic pejoratives were hurled? and why were the black congressmen targeted? why would these idiots connect black congressmen to the health care bill? maybe it speaks to some of the deep seated bigotry of some of these teabaggers; something that only manifested itself after the president's victory and they realized they became "irrelevant"

 

[Denny Crane]

i believe 3 different black congressmen have told their stories. and the homophobic comments hurled at frank were independently verified by cnn and politico correspondents- i dont know how u can question the validity of these comments anymore.

and this wasnt a mass demonstration- "few hundred" according to some publications like the AP piece and a thousand or so according to some other sources. so... the bigots might be a minority but they appear to be a vociferous and well represented bunch even in a crowd of a thousand. and why didnt these anti-racists challenge their bigoted teabagger brethren when these racial/ homophobic pejoratives were hurled? and why were the black congressmen targeted? why would these idiots connect black congressmen to the health care bill? maybe it speaks to some of the deep seated bigotry of some of these teabaggers; something that only manifested itself after the president's victory and they realized they became "irrelevant"

There weren't hundreds of people using racial epithets. If there were any, it was one person.

If there wasn't one person, it's a nice way for these guys to explain their resolve to vote for the Bill and get a flashback to the wrongs of the civil rights era into the news.

The latter fits far more than your bogus claims. Even the way the democrats locked arms in their march to the House was a deliberate photo op to remind people of the civil rights era, and Clyborn's speech after the vote called the legislation the civil rights bill of the 21st century.

Clearly a PR strategy to misdirect peoples' attention from the process, the bribes, and the awful legislation they intended to pass against the majority's will. Passing civil rights legislation against the majority's will was necessary, so they're trying to make it out that the majority's will in this case isn't meaningful. But this is not some civil rights legislation, it's a mandate that everyone buy a service from the insurance companies and drug companies.

The Bill also was to save Obama's presidency (not for the best interest of the people) and to give the democrats a better chance of holding the house and senate come november.

 

[deception]

There weren't hundreds of people using racial epithets. If there were any, it was one person.

If there wasn't one person, it's a nice way for these guys to explain their resolve to vote for the Bill and get a flashback to the wrongs of the civil rights era into the news.

The latter fits far more than your bogus claims. Even the way the democrats locked arms in their march to the House was a deliberate photo op to remind people of the civil rights era, and Clyborn's speech after the vote called the legislation the civil rights bill of the 21st century.

Clearly a PR strategy to misdirect peoples' attention from the process, the bribes, and the awful legislation they intended to pass against the majority's will. Passing civil rights legislation against the majority's will was necessary, so they're trying to make it out that the majority's will in this case isn't meaningful. But this is not some civil rights legislation, it's a mandate that everyone buy a service from the insurance companies and drug companies.

The Bill also was to save Obama's presidency (not for the best interest of the people) and to give the democrats a better chance of holding the house and senate come november.

this one person is one active dude because he managed to harass three black congressmen and a gay one as well. your thinking is bogus, i make no claims.

and in the continuum of american politics- this piece of legislation is certainly monumental considering how many presidents have tried and failed in passing healthcare reform. in fact, many ppl believe this bill resembles nixon's

 

[boatsandstars]

Haha @ Teabaggers. Fail.

 

[Minstrel]

The Bill also was to save Obama's presidency

Absolutely. He ran on it and won in a landslide. Had he not represented the people (who spoke by electing him) by doing all he could to get it passed, it would have been a strike against his presidency.

and to give the democrats a better chance of holding the house and senate come november.

Oh? So this will be a positive for Democrats come mid-term elections? Flies in the face of your prior belief that passing this bill will doom the congressional Democrats, but it's reasonable to change what one thinks.

 

[maxiep]

Yet it doesn't scare you that the government is free to torture.

The government is torturing me right now.

BTW, please define torture for me. I think our definitions would differ.

 

[Denny Crane]

Absolutely. He ran on it and won in a landslide. Had he not represented the people (who spoke by electing him) by doing all he could to get it passed, it would have been a strike against his presidency.



Oh? So this will be a positive for Democrats come mid-term elections? Flies in the face of your prior belief that passing this bill will doom the congressional Democrats, but it's reasonable to change what one thinks.

He ran on ending the Iraq war.

Strike two.