Rioting For the GOP

7Aug2009 Author: Mother Jones, RN

A scene from a classic movie popped into my head this morning when I was reading the Drudge Report. I remembered what happened when one of Dr. Frankenstein’s neighbors started telling lies about what was going on at the Frankenstein castle. He really knew how to incite a riot. One thing lead to another, and before you knew it the neighbors were storming the castle. Sound familiar? Thanks to the GOP, we have neighbors turning on each other and storming town hall meetings.

I was shocked when I saw a video today that was shot at a town hall meeting. Things really got out of control. The video showed people that are normally law abiding citizens engaging in disorderly conduct. A congresswoman was trying to speak about healthcare reform. Then an unruly crowd came charging through a set of doors and started banging on windows. There was yelling and cursing. I got upset watching the video. I can only imagine what it was like to have been in the room. The GOP and their conservative surrogates are on a campaign to defeat healthcare reform in this country. They are doing this by spreading lies in order to get the fear monger ball rolling. The insurance industry is spending over a million dollars a day to defeat healthcare reform in our country. They are doing this through the media (I’m talking to you, Fox News), and through public relation campaigns. People are being urged to “storm the streets.” It’s sad to watch people being manipulated into doing things that can have legal consequences. It’s even sadder that these people don’t understand that they would benefit from a public option plan.

It’s only a matter before someone really gets hurt. I hope that person isn’t one of the 44 million people in our country who doesn’t have health insurance.

8 Responses to “Rioting For the GOP”

Adrienne Zurub
August 7th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
OMG! I love the picture. How apropos for those GOP a-holes. It is almost as if we are back in the time of the Salem witch trials or the middle ages.
Great insight and points Terri!
That picture is sums up the GOP campaign truthfully.
enrico
August 7th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I’m not 100% in agreement with the administration’s proposed plan (mainly on *timing* not direction), and would welcome ANY respectful debate of substance from people who are 100% opposed to my views. Therein lies the problem: there is no “debate” or “town hall” where views are intended to be aired, even if not done in the best way, oh no…it’s simply sabotage. The attack right cares nothing execept to point out what’s wrong. I have YET to see a plan from the GOP or conservatives that even comes close to addressing what they say are shortcomings in the administrations proposal.

You remember the McCain/Palin rallies during the campaign? The wingnut crusaders who insist he’s not even a citizen, still imply he’s a terrorist/Muslim, etc. — these crackpots have had an extra 8-10 months to pick up steam. They’ve had to suck the bitter fruit of defeat seeing one of the “THEM” leading our country, and they’re even MORE pissed.
enrico
August 7th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Oh and definitely don’t see this if you don’t want your BP to go up. Not because of mere Medicare “fraud” fines (we all know that Medicare “fraud” isn’t always fraud at all, mis-coding, etc. are definitely things that should NOT be called “fraud” but when you have the highest amount EVER in the HISTORY of healthcare on your shoulders, robotic, bean-counting automatons like this who just shrug it off as an actuarial “cost of doing business” being who’s *REALLY* in charge of life-death policy scares the livin’ shit outta me)
Braden
August 7th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
“It is almost as if we are back in the time of the Salem witch trials or the middle ages.”
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

The amount of inappropriate historical parallels that are bandied about any more are hysterical! Some nuts storm a town hall meeting and now they are burning witches? Excuse me while I laugh!

And from the point of view of one of those right wing nuts you are talking about, I don’t think many people deny that there is a need for some reform in our healthcare industry, but when we have the left bounding forward with outrageously expensive and untried plans that would detrimentally change the face of medicine, yes it is quite scary.

I remember when Obama looked into the camera and promised me that he would be my president, too. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and wanted to believe those big words. But those big words from our newly elected leader have turned out to be big, empty words as he has gone forth with his agenda with no sacrifice or compromise or indication of any provisions for those who sincerely believe differently from him.

That’s why we are scared.
Kim
August 8th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Hey, from your right-wing nut job online BFF here on the west coast – Happy Saturday! : D

I have come to the conclusion there are nut jobs on both ends of the spectrum with mis-information and dis-information flying hard and fast depending on who is behind it.

And so I look at CNN with a cocked eyebrow, Fox News with a furrowed brow and anything that doesn’t come from a doctor or a nurse (aka: politician or insurance company) as tainted by an agenda that doesn’t necessarily have my best interests at heart.

But man, do I understand the frustration you are feeling. This whole health reform conversation is singlehandedly keeping me on Lisinopril. I swear it!
tammy swofford
August 10th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I don’t mind being a voice of dissent. I am all for healthcare reform. But not at the expense of a bill with multiple flaws. I am against the proposed changes as currently presented.

I will tel you that most of the surgeons and anesthesiologists with whom I work are against these proposals. I consider them very decent men and women whose opinion I value.

Tammy
Pattie, RN
August 14th, 2009 at 9:51 am
..and for the love of PETE can we stop with the “43 million” number? I know that Stalin was famous for saying that a lie repeated enough becomes truth, but come ON! Factor out the illegal aliens and those who choose not to participate in employer plans and/or are already eligible for Medicare or Medicaid and haven’t bothered to sign up, the REAL number is closer to 12 million.

Twelve million is still a problem, but until tort reform is part of this package it is going nowhere and costing trillions of OUR money. And for the record, there are several other ideas out there, including Sen. McCain’s ideas for private purchase of insurance. This president does not want health care coverage for all, he wants more people to dependent on the government….and vote the liberal agenda and increase his power. After all, HE knows best.
nurse mouse
September 17th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
I am redminded of a bumpersticker I saw, ” I am an NPR person in a FOX News world”….. All the hype and hysteria; the insinuations and intentional reporting of selective news insults the viewers, who (whom?) actually want unbiased information and pertinent news.