CNN

[...] CNN: Durbin on town hall chaos — ‘This is clearly being orchestrated’ The Senate’s second-ranking Democrat slammed recent town hall protests Sunday as organized disruptions of the democratic process. [...]

[...] Durbin reading from same play book as Pelosi, Hoyer and Reid [...]

The problem is, with only courteous debate in Town Hall meetings, the health care reform bill will be passed shortly as is, government socialism shoved right down our throats. Half of America or more does not want this bill but has no other way to show it.

Well Durbin must know..he is repeating from the democrats
play-book , perhaps he is right that some is orchstrated after all the
GOP is taking the lesson from the other side and so the game is going on and on and that is how nothing ever gets done.......As far as
health-care reform goes the American People must be part of the debate ....don't let the politicians decide for you....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go for this blog CNN>>>>>>>>

Well Durbin must know..he is repeating from the democrats
play-book , perhaps he is right that some is orchstrated after all the
GOP is taking the lesson from the other side and so the game is going on and on and that is how nothing ever gets done.......As far as
health-care reform goes the American People must be part of the debate ....don't let the politicians decide for you....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. Durbin how can you stand behind Uniouns who are going to these town halls a beating up people. A Afro american gentlemen was only selling some merchandise at one of these town halls. And men from the SEIU start a fight with him, and using profanity. Mr. Durbin most of these people who go to these things go under their own free will. But almost all of the Unioun thugs that go to the town halls have been called out by the DNC.

CNN is competing with Fox to see who will win the gutter of lies and misrepresentations ratings. With Lou Dobbs and John King, they are giving Fox some competition.

Don't expect Dobbs and King to challenge GOP mouthpieces. They will only interrupt or "run out of time" when truth tellers begin to speak.

just like the throngs that went to obama rally's?

Look at the faces of these "spontaneous" demonstrators against National Health Care. They are the Hate Brigade. Do you think they REALLY hate the idea other people may get Health Care ? They don't hate Health Care, or even the poor. They hate President Obama and the Democrats. These organized Republican thugs are being sponsored by the Party that has come to the conclusion that their long time ability to scare Americans into voting for them, through Racist ranting, threats of Terrorist attacks and the drum beat about "killing babies" through Abortion, is over. They are a disappearing Party, and they hate it. Just look into their eyes. Libertarians, step up. Come out of the closet. This is your time. The Republicans are dead. All we need now is the funeral.

It seems that the protestors are afraid that the truth might get out about the health care reforms at these meetings. As soon as the Democrats start to explain their plan and tell the truth, they shout them down and make it impossible for anyone to hear. Why don't they let both sides CLEARLY, CALMLY AND SANELY explain their positions and then ask legitimate questions? Are they afraid that it will become obvious that they have ulterior motives for obstructing the meetings? So much for democracy.

This misinformation and intimidation is undemocratic and those spreading lies, like Palin and Beck, ought to be ashamed. We pay about twice as much per capita for health care as other industrialized countries, and have far from the best results. The government runs Medicare and the VA and no one argues that they are not successful models compared to the rest of the health care industry. Insurance companies have every incentive not to cover sick people and not to provide service. Almost everyone, even those that are afraid of health care reform, have problems with their insurance company. The only people that like their health insurance are people who are never sick or government employees that have a great plan. Republicans want to "reform" the system by requiring people to buy insurance from a private company, and then subsidizing the premiums for people who cannot afford them. This is basically a tax on the middle class to subsidize insurance company profits. Ask people on Medicare if they want to trade it for private insurance.

I don't agree with this. Democrats are in denial if they think this rage isn't real. People are fed up. Millions of Americans have lost their life savings, their homes, their jobs – why wouldn't there be genuine rage and this health care reform just happens to be the focual point. People don't trust Congress and they shouldn't. Obama and his grandiose plans will have far reaching consequences and hopefully all this rage will puncture a hole in the collective congressional ego.

Most of this discussion is not really about health care. I've been reading these blogs since early in the election and nothing much has changed about them. I saw the same names repeatedly planting Republican talking points over a year ago.

And the same type of poorly written, misspelled attacks on Obama making outrageous claims that no sane person would believe. Last year it was that he was a muslim. Or the anti-christ. This year it's that's he's going to kill old people.

This is not about healthcare. This is about a group of Americans lashing out wildly because they see their reign of power coming to an end. Some of them fear minorities becoming equals in power, and some of them fear having to share the big pie they've been gobbling up all by themselves.

You only have to look at the history in these blogs to see what this is really all about.

What is so sad about this Town Hall protests is that

There is "NO HEALTH CARE BILL" there are only a "PROPOSAL" that is still be work out.

Both Democrats and Republicans know that US need to reform health care before it went bankrupt the country.

People should come to the meeting with their questions and concerns. They can voice out their concerns in a civilize manner and give others a chance to ask any questions they may have.

Those protesters came in and all they said was "JUST SAY NO"!
Say NO TO WHAT? There is no Health Care Bill, just many different version of proposal that is still be working out, no valid bill, nothing.

These protesters are at the Town Hall for one purpose ..to interrupt a democratic process where both Democrats and Republican and independent can come together.

It would not surprise me at all if the person who organized these protesters are on some private insurance payroll.

Mr. Durbin needs to some how be more in contact with the people who voted for him. We are the people ,and we have the right to be heard no matter if we agree or disagree with obama. I have meet lots of people who have gone to protest ,and their not organized by anyone. They are just concered people worried that their goverment no longer hears them speak. I hope congress reflects on WE THE PEOPLE

Rethuglicans shooting themselves in the foot again ... Free for the watching.

All of these loud right wing Children having tantrums ... Great entertainment.

When RepubliBrats misbehave ... Priceless.

You conservatives are so naive to think that this current bill is government run health care. Its reform, so that everyone has access to affordable heath care. You can keep the current plan you have, or choose to switch, If you don't have health care, you can get it if you wish. If you actually had an independent mind instead of acting like cattle, you would read the bill yourself and then go to a community meeting with questions, not the pitch forks and torches you carry now. Go to factcheck.org. I just find it funny that this is supposed to be the best country on earth, yet we are the 37th ranked on the WHO's ranking of health systems. And you people that claim that is socialism and that socialism and communism are bad... Next time you go to Walmart buy something that wasn't made in communist China. Also, these people disrupting the town halls, what gives them the right to stamp out another person right to free speech?

We've already lost – so I hope all you pathetic selfish conservatives are happy. Without a public health option we have nothing except a way for the for-profit insurers to continue their obscene fees while they continue to deny and ration care. What an absolute disgrace that this "greatest country in the world" can't manage to deliver to its citizens what every other industrialized nation can – peace of mind that they will have access to medical care if an illness strikes and that it won't destroy them financially.

The irony is that some of these people showing up to protest don't even understand they are manipulated by the very people they should be standing against – people like Rick Scott, whose former for-profit hospital chain was fined 1.7 billions for submitting fraudulent Medicare claims!

The point that is missing among these jarhead congressmen is that is that more than ever the general American public has no say and are ignored. This will pass in some fashion and we will have to deal with it. End of story. The most powerful option that US citizens have is with that little lever at the voting booth (or do we even have those anymore). I believe that many US citizens are about to show these worthless crooks just how they feel about what is going on. Bush was horrible, Obama is horrible, hopefully by the grace of God some others that are running will really help us.

Good job Mike A...Ive seen those very same passages as you posted, out there on the net. Oddly enough, I don't think you've read the bill either and think copy n paste will make it look like you have. I'm wading through the bill, and because of the way it's written, sure, it's confusing, but don't use that as an excuse to interpret the bill to fit your ideology. This is one of 4 or 5 proposals coming out of the house, and there isn't a bill yet from the Senate. Sen Durbin is correct..Freedomworks and conservatives for patient rights are behind this as well as the 60+ association..Go to their websites..Its all there, including who is on the boards of these groups. This is a concerted effort not to fix healthcare, but to destroy Obama, kill healthcare reform and make it his waterloo. Shame this is what America has become.

Sweeney, the head of AFL-CIO are asking all union members to go every Town Hall Meetings and silence anyone against Obambi socialized medicine; SEIU did just that during Russ Carnahan Town Hall Meeting. They've attacked people against socialized medicine of Obambi.

You combine the worst of Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon, you'll have Barack Hussein Obama.

Since this "movement" is being orchestrated and led by disgruntled Evangelistic, Conservative Republicans, - WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY????? Jesus said we MUST take care of widows and orphans, and feed and shelter the "poor"!! Being the RICH people the Evangelistic Right is, they certainly aren't practicing what the Bible preaches!!! An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth - AND WE ALL WILL BE BLIND AND TOOTHLESS!!!!!

Here, READ THIS DURBIN YOU LYING CHEAT.

Democrats in the House order eight G5 Gulfstream jets for $550 million that will be used by the Pentagon to ferry around VIPs in Congress - even though the Pentagon says it does not need or want the planes. The response from the White House is silence. Democrats in the House make a down payment on 12 F-22s for the Air Force at a cost of $369 million and the White House threatens to veto the defense authorization bill and successfully defeats the funding. Just in case you had any doubt about this administration's spending priorities, as far as Obama is concerned the Congress can spend trillions on anything it wants. But he draws a line in the sand when it comes to providing our troops with the best equipment money can buy.

I was witness to senator Durbins Nazi style democracy as I watched a video of obamas SEIU thugs, one of them walking around with a baton. They beat a young man and sent him to the hospital for distributing flags outside a meeting. obama uses nazi tactics while Pelosi calls Republicans nazis, Joe McCarthy where are you now when we need you.
I'm ready for the return of David Duke.

Rather than stopping town halls or doing "phone" town halls why can't they just implement simple rules of etiquette. You only speak when you have the microphone or you have to leave.

The democrats think the American people (or the peasants, as they like to think of them) are so stupid and simple-minded that they are totally incapable of independent thought. Therefore, anytime they offer any resistance to or even question their left-wing socialist plans, the democrats automatically assume there must be an organization behind it telling them what to say and what to think. What a bunch of brain-dead idiots the democrats think we are. I can't wait until November 2010.

I just love the way some of you on here and the media will try and tell people that this isn't orchestrated by the GOP and the insurance companies when there's a memo out here that clearly tells the people on the right what to do at these town halls. You see it all around the country, this play book in action. SHOUT, SCREAM, do what ever you can to stop the meeting from going ahead. These people out here that are doing it, I think it's a crying SHAME, that they do not realize that the insurance companies and the GOP are using them. If there is no reform, it will be business as usual for the insurance company. Denying people heath care, rising perm., most of their pay going to heath care, people losing their homes b/c of a health problem, and the insurance companies raking in hugh profits. So just keep doing what you're doing and when the day comes when they need that health care insurance, they'll be denied coverage from that some insurance company that their out here fighting for.

So we're supposed to believe an unnamed lobbyist in Washington from Texas is behind all the protests of HR 3200..... and selling $100,000 of stock a day after a closed door meeting with Bernanke and Paulson is completely innocent. Dick, you're credibility gap widens by the day.

Some of these people are "plants" obviously and others are naive enough to be worked up by their comments. That is why some don't believe the "orchestration" claims. There were times when people would be bused to Washington to lobby Congress and they didn't even know what the issues were. They were promised free lunches. There is no reason to think this practice doesn't still exist and even operates in the states. The public needs to really read the issues and don't have knee jerk responses.

These idiots interrupted local town halls here in the St. Louis area as well. Screaming, yelling and blocking community dialog is not free speech. It is an intrusion on free speech.

Republicans need to wake up and realize the voices of all citizens need to be heard. Rush, Sean and other commentators are just that: COMMENTATORS. They routinely break well known rules of respectful debate on their programs. They are a mockery of the word communication. Rather, they spew whatever garbage they want.

Paid commentators is all they are. Collectively ignoring them is the right thing to do.

Patients First is a project of Americans for Prosperity–one of the key conservative interests groups helping to organize the town hall protests we've been covering. The speaker repeats the debunked conservative canard that Democratic health care reform will mandate physician assisted suicide. "Adolf Hitler issued six million end of life orders–he called his program the final solution. I kind of wonder what we're going to call ours."

If they are creating chaos, then the Republicans are finally starting to do the same things the Democrats have perfected and bragged about for years.
Hint: Politicians, putting down people about their very real fears while not providing any undeniable proof tends to make people not trust you. Simple talk will not set aside these feelings in their "gut" and hearts.

I don't care whether it's orchestrated or not. There's nothing wrong with one side or another urging their people to show up. Is that being orchestrated? I don't know, but we've been doing that for the entire history of this country.

HOWEVER, when these people, no matter their position, start screaming in order to prevent others from speaking and listening, that's wrong. You have the right to free speech, but you don't have the right to scream your opinions into my ear. That is beyond rude.

Health care reform is a complicated issue, and there are many different opinions. I've learned a lot and gained a different perspective just listening to my wife, who is a medical student. I don't know exactly what kind of reform I think is best, but I'm trying to work through this, but I'll tell you one thing: The people screaming their slogans haven't given me one bit of insight I didn't already have. If you think you're going to convince me of anything by acting like two-year-olds, then you're wrong. When you can grow up and behave like adults, then maybe I'll listen to what you have to say.

Why is being Republican equated with being ignorant and racist to so many of the respondents? Having a different opinion doesn't mean mine is right and yours is wrong or vice versa; it's just different. It would be nice to read a civil discourse on the topics without slamming one another. I have not read(entirely) the proposed bill, so I do have to rely on others for some of the specifics. Because this bill will affect me, my family, and so many others, we need to get it right.

Maybe people scream and shout because the people in congress who are suppose to be working for us totally ignore us!!! Maybe these so-called politicians should start wearing hearing aids! So let me see if I understand this – it is wrong for REAL AMERICAN TAXPAYERS to questioned an obama proposal BUT it is okay for obama to organize and send out (to these townhall meetings) acorn and seiu (which is how you call hogs) or it is okay for him to send Black Panthers to polling places but 'we the people' are basically told to shutup?

I really think the goal of the right-wing white mob is to get someone seriously hurt or killed with their child-like ignorant behaviour

When the press does not go beyond the flash of the angry mob to find out what is behind it they are part of the PROBLEM. SHAME on CNN for making it look like mob rule is the way to go. True all points of view must be expressed and LISTENED TOO, but MOB SHOUT DOWNS is not productinve and does not allow otheres a chance to ask questions and get answers. JUST BECAUSE the answeer given is not what YOU WANT TO HEAR does not make it a LIE. It is an ANSWER you can either folloow up or do more research but to say the people are lieing because it is not in line with your pooint of view is NOT THE WAY TO CONDUCT TOWN HAL MEETINGS

it comes down to one thing "he doesnt look like them" why whould the right wing keep saying he wasnt born here, and people saying they will "break him" doesnt that sound like what the slave master said to the slaves. please get over it the man is trying to help. i have good health care right now and still dont go to the doc because i know they will send to to half ass place to get more care, but a white man with the some health care as me will get better care , this is a fact (as shown on CNN) this is what they need to refrom frist so it will be totaly eqaul. My mother went to the doc to get her tonsil removed on a monday by wednesday she was very sick my grand mother call to say something was wrong the doc say she was "babeing her" and the insurance company didnt think she needed the meds she died on that friday, SO TO ALL YOU RIGHT WING PEOPLE OUT THERE UNTIL YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO YOU, YOU WANT UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW!!!!!

I can think about all the protests from the liberals over the years....yelling and screaming about wars, nuclear energy, gas, trees...the list goes on and on....I guess their yelling during speeches and other events is ok...I guess we should have gotten their permission before we actually did something that they do regularly.

I think we have a right to know 'what' is in the Health Care package...clearly there are vast resources in America so that everyone can have good health care....but when it trumps someone's value system that is where the conflict comes in. I personally don't want a clause for payment for abortions...does that take away from the right to an abortion...no... it just drops the taxpaper from being fianancer. I have a chronic illness that is managed proactive...but when that day does comes and I'm ready to leave this beautfiul earth..I want it to be my choice through my Maker..and not the Goverments...those are very personal and sensitive issues. So what is holding up the agenda from honestly addressing them.

People such as Palin, Rush, Sean, Lou Dobbs and the right-wing mob will not be happy until someone is seriously hurt or killed....

They are being orchestrated and they are dangerous. I saw one security guard trying to handle a mob situation. he was lucky that the woman who was screaming in his face didn't grab his gun and kill him or worse someone sneak up behind him grab his gun and kill him.

It clearly is not being orchestrated. People are passionate about this issue and are simply voicing their outrage at their democratic congressmen.

There is evidence of these fringe groups being orchestrated by insurance lobbyists and their puppets in the GOP.

Right wingers are free to follow their uncivilized nonsense, as it only turns more people away from the example they are setting for the GOP.

America knows it. Only ones showing their butts are republicans plants. And they are enable by the republican informerical channels, rush, drudge, malkin and most of all the king of misconception FOX NEWS.

fear is what you get caused by outright LIES perpetuated by far right. democrats need to take their control and use it or once again we the people will lose it!! I sick of these thugs lies and fear mongering. all for what the people!!! hah. they will dance on your grave without a second thought. you are but fodder for the political machine. reform now. better education. health care. environment. we can't afford to wait another thirty years. next time it will be a revolution against the rich by the poor and forgotten.

public health care will DOOM us all... Obama has already freely expressed his desire to get rid of private insurance ultimately, this will eventually lead to the same rationing system found in every other public health care system that results in euthanasia of those who could have otherwise had private coverage to go on living with medical assistance. You communist need to get a clue.

So what if it was organized, as I recall our President was a community organizer, he supposedly help to "organize" ACORN, have you ever heard them yell and scream. They are experts at screaming and yelling and most of what they are saying is not very nice. I do not believe the meeting are organized, the Dems just don't want to believe that real people do not like their plan.

Usually when the Right protests, it's just a couple of people and a little kid with an American flag. This was probably because we have real jobs. So now we're doing a little "community organizing" and the Left wants us arrested. The irony...

There is no option other than the public option. Taxpayers pay for every uninsured citizen that goes to an emergency room, period! More who are insured are retiring and using their insurance than is being paid in. The only, the only profit in health care insurance is denial of ones claim. So this begs the question; "What is insurance?". Unless American's decide right now to refuse the uninsured and not allow uninsured emergency care (which typical visits to the emergency room could be treated in a primary care setting) this country will be more than broke finanancially. Compounding the problem is pharmacy companies unwilling to sell medications at a moral cost/profit. It is a simple fact that the majority of those currently insured will be uninsured because of the inflated costs driven by what one is willing to pay, than what it is really worth.

The only thing more insulting to one's intelligence than Republican thuggery is the Democrats trying to sell a healthcare plan when they don't know from day to day what the plan is. They sound like used car salesmen trying to sell you a car, any car, as long as you buy it.
Don't buy it. There is no healthcare plan. Baucus and Obama want desperately to deliver to private insurers a captive market, another 20-40 million subscribers, so they can reap the payoffs. They don't care about the uninsured or ripoffs or anything other than lining their own pockets. It's turned into an Al Capone style protection racket. Or Prosperity Gospel.
Reform just for the sake of reform is not real. Republicans may be thugs but Democrats are thieves.
Any plan other than single-payer keeps the protection racket going and empowers both the thugs and the thieves.

Republicans just yell and whine and scream and provide no answers or solutions.

This is typical behavior, and the reason Democrats won resoundingly last year.

Do any of you nay sayers for a government lead health care program realize that our "valued" military service members have what is essentially a single payer system. Can you imagine turning these heroes over to the hands of private insurance companies and those that care only for their bottom line? The difference is between corporate run government and a republic government is we can vote those we don't agree with out of office. Try doing that with your healthcare coverage...

....also, next time your house is on fire be thankful you don't have to pay the firefighters for their service.

Has anybody thought if our health care keeps going the way it is all our hospitals will be bankrupt.
Hospitals and doctors have to get paid to keep going. With all the uninsured people using the facility IT WILL RUN OUT OF MONEY.

Republicans are getting their pockets padded with insurance companies money.
I am a small business owner and I supply health insurance for my employees, however I don't know for how long. I can not afford the rates going up every year. I hate to loose good employees but I can go bankrupt if this continues.
The new health insurance choice would help us a lot. I would love to pay for same care that my father gets on medicare.

Mr. Durbin we elected you just give us a chance to ask our questions.

This town hall disruptions are more fake than a pro wrestling match. I wonder how these idiots would react if they got their wish, and all goverment healthcare went away. No Medicare, no medicaid, no mandatory treatment for emergencies in the ER room and no Veteran hospitals. Nothing, no help at all. We will leave you to your own means. Private healthcare too expensive? To bad. You are to old to afford 400 to 700 dollars a month for insurance? To bad. Your insurance dropped you because you got cancer and they dont want to pay for it? To bad. Lets see if these same idiots dont come running begging for the goverment to help them now.

The only thing orchestrated here are the Democrat talking points about how to discredit grassroots opposition to socialism. The opposition is real, growing, and it’s not going away.

Kick out the bums in 2010!

The Republicans will get poor Americans to give up what little they already have.

it's a con job, just like the Iraq War and TARP.

The accusation it's orchestrated, is orchestrated by a DC orchastrater. As are the comments claiming the same. This article is orchestrated to solicit further orchestrations by O- orchastraters.

Well it's about time the republicans started using the democrat tactics. The dems for years and years have been busing college kids around, union members and rent-a-mobs..

Mr. Scott L. It is being orchestrated sir. Yes your brother may not have been asked, but the sources that he seeks or gathered his information; FOX, Rush, Hannity, Beck, et all are orchestrating the entire process. They are stirring the pot and you and your bro is eating every piece of distorted lie that they are feedign you. They scare you to believe that the only option will be just government, they scare the seniors into believeing that the living will is a death sentence. I wonder if you and your bro will be just as fired up when this health reform is defeated and the insurance company celebrate their victory by reaping back all that they have spent on this campaign to defeat the health reform by raising all our premiums. The insurance com and drug companies will be so excited to know that you will have given them a free pass to do whateve they want to, bc you have bought thier act hook line and sinker. You will be opening up your paycheck to have a higher deduction to pay for an insurance coverage while what they will cover will decrease and the cost of you being on their program will INcrease. You are being suckered by the health insurance industry bc they are playing to your hatred of this current administration.

Typical dimocrat response:
Focus and create lies about who sent the messengers all the while COMPLETELY IGNORING THE MESSAGE!

CNN should focus on who "organized' Union Thugs at the Tampa Town Hall meeting. The same thugs that beat-up those who had every right to voice their dissenting opinion... But, since CNN is state run... this is highly unlikely.

one more note..
Fascists, do not put up with dissent... so these comment from Dick are very telling.

To Big Papa:

Clearly you need professional help.

I guess you are not allowed to disagree with lord uhbumble.

I used to be a Republican-I voted for Nixon, Reagan, Bush 41-Yes, I am white, way over 50 and wealthy, and I own a small business -but I an ashamed and appalled at the selfishness, lying, disruptive behavior of Republican congressman and their neo-con followers today-they do not care about freedom, etc-all they care about is getting and keeping as much money as possible...they say the hell with the rest of the country. That is why I am an Independent today..As one of the big mouths said at a Town all meeting-"I'm happy with my health care, why change it?"(It would not be changed under the current bill) What about the 43 million Americans who are not so fortunate,?This selfish, anti-social attitude is what is driving the opposition to the bill -not freedom.As Warren Buffett said last week-the rich only pay 17% of their income in taxes (they paid 51% 30 years ago, before Reagan) , whereas most in the middle class pay 25 to 30% of their income in Federal, state and local taxes (including Social security and Medicare). We have become a country for the rich, by the rich (including upper middle class executives on large corporate salaries)who are only looking after their own skins-I expect the Republicans will want to bring back child labor and slavery next...to better line their fat pockets,

People have been worrying about threats from outside the country, but it appears that the barbarians are already within and we have much more to fear from dogmatic savages within than we have from dogmatic Islamists from without.

BS, Durbin, BS

@Drew.Best post of the day.

Sorry, but I've just been exposed to the Social Security registration process, and I'm having trouble thinking that more help from the government is the best answer. I don't have any town hall meetings to go to, but I would side with the upset old folks. I don't believe it's as orchestrated as you people think. I'm not happy with the "party of the people".

Can someone account for his stating on tape MANY times that he is a PROPONENT for a "gubment" single payer plan???

His lie squad came out and said it wasn't true, but after a few million hits, they had to shut up about it because there were more than one VERBATIM (word for word for you Obama voters).

He DID state to that woman that her Mom should have been given pain meds instead of the surgey that prolonged her life???

There are provisions in the bill that would grant access to OUR bank accounts whether we like it or not to pay for insurance, you happy with that?

There is a provision in the bill that will outlaw PRIVATE insurance in the near future for anyone that loses a job or their current insurance????

There however is NO provision BANNING any company from dumping you from their plan if they choose too and you will then be FORCED to go to the Public one, the minimal fine that the LIAR in chief has in there will GLADLY be payed by companies as it will cost far, far, far less than keeping you on, so his LIE about nobody losing insurance is a FN LIE.

Are those 50-65 year old people in the town halls thugs or mobs or just people who are concerned that this lying fraud is shoving this down their throats?

So the gutless coward sent out "hard working" ACORN members and union thugs to silence them.

If it is so great, why not have Ted the Swimmer Kennedy and Kerry and the rest of the cabal of liars all use the same insurance that they are proposing for us?

You know why and I know why, but I have the fortitude ro see beyond party and think about Country first and by the way unlike Obambi who "thought about joining", I did and proudly served 8 years.

Feel free to send this to flag@whitehouse.gov, these FACTS seem "fishy".

Pre-existing conditions?
OFTEN those who are shut out of health insurance, due to pre-existing conditions, are people who REFUSED to BUY health insurance, before they got a serious health problem.
Why should we REWARD irresponsible behavior?
Also, EVERY State already has a "high risk pool" - or another way to handle pre-existing conditions. Yes, it IS expensive, but do you want the right to buy, for instance, LIFE INSURANCE, post mortem?
That is ridiculous!
The government denies claims all the time. Go to the Medicare website, you can clearly find "coordination of benefits" - if an auto, workmans comp, homeowners or group policy might cover a claim?
Medicare will make you PROVE that they are responsible, and deny the claim until you do offer proof, which many Seniors don't know how to do.
Another thing, Liar Obama presented a person with Kidney disease, as a reason for Socialized Medicine.
EVERYONE with "End State Renal" qualifies for Medicare, automatically, regardless of age! So Obama is an idiot and a LIAR!

And the democrates have never lied, organized protests, marched against past administrations. Boy, is it not ironic that the party who was the most vocal for equal rights for all. Tthe biggest proponets of the first admendment are the first to want silence those who do not agree with them with rhetoric and fear mongering. I guess its different when the shoe is on the other foot. I do not believe spending money and putting this country in debt is the answer. The new deal did not work it left the following generation in debt. We should be looking at history and see what really worked. Lets go back to the early 1920s when we lowered taxes and actually balanced budgets and believe it or not had surpluses. Stop giving the government blank checks and and endless supply of tax paid balance protection.

Use the web site http://www.factcheck.org They are a great source for the truth...Oh wait...This is America...We can't handle the truth...we just listen to Fox News and Rush...They really tell it like it is.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, "Why to tell such lies?" The DC lobbyist prepared "instruction" documents have been published in the media. O'yea, you were interviewed on FOX Commentary Network. Their viewers love the spoon feeding of misinformation and stiring up of partisan feelings. You oath for the Congress sanction the truth, honesty and integrity; time for you to resign having failed the threesome.

This is typical repub tactics. When they run into the truth and disagree, they start yelling over their opponents- theydo this on interviews, campaigns, whatever. Like george (shrub) bush said- you start off rebub, then you get educated and become democrat. One of the few wise truths he ever said.

Republican are the cowards! They are so afraid that real ealth care reform will pass with the possibilty tat their buddies in the AMA and the ADA not to mention the fat-cat isurance exes might not get as rich as they want that they send in goones to disrupt the democratic process. Really, all of this posturing sounds a lot like the "weapons of mass destructio" lie which ramrodded the most godless legislation ever prduced by an American congress and was used to cndone torture as a legtimate mean to gain information. Does the GOP have any sense of shame?

I just want to know why these people that interrupt these meetings like this are not being arrested for either a) stamping out other peoples' first amendment rights or b) using speech that could instigate a riot. We all remember the "Don't tase me bro" video a few years back. He was more civil than these disgusting people. They yell and scream that the Reps haven't read the bill, yet they haven't read the bill them selves. Case in point, most of these people believe that this is a national health care bill. Sadly it is not. It is a reform bill aimed at lowering costs by making health care affordable by all. ... I'll save my other comment for the Sarah Palin article.

Watching these inbred, right wing conservative imbeciles infuriates me to no end!

They are an EMBARASSMENT to this nation...

EUTHANASIA
SOCIALISM
GOV'T CONTROL

These are ALL LIES and DISTORTIONS purposely introduced into this debate by shills for the politically DEAD Republican conservative movement, and their corporate masters...

...By and large, the people who are out there shouting and screaming are small-minded privilege monkeys and racists, who fear the (Black )President ,and the success of the Democratic Party, and Liberal Progressive agenda for social justice for ALL!

...They are acting like lynch mobs at these town halls because its in their nature, and history; their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were murderous, out of control right wing conservative racist mobs!

...But MOST importantly, they're exhibiting more passion and participation than those of us who support President Obama's agenda...

...and that needs to change...

...If we want Health Care Reform, SOCIAL justice, Economic RECOVERY/ prosperity, and CHANGE we can believe in then WE Liberal Progressives and TRUE Independents MUST FIGHT the RIGHT WING traitors who want to see our President and country fail...

I just love the folks who are yelling that they don't want government run health care and then say "don't touch my medicare." There are obviously a lot of confused people out there and I think it is clear that part of the reason is because of misinformation being put out there by these right-winged fringe groups. It is also interesting how they say that they don't want any government "rationing" in heath care but the private system is already rationalized by the health care industry. They tell us what they will and won't cover and good luck if you have pre-existing conditions. They are also charging more every year and giving you less care. Somehow the current system isn't seen as socialism but the public option is.

This behavior is truly REPUBLICANS! They will never learn . . . probably, because they are BRAINLESS!

All you folks that keep referring to Obama as a Nazi are clearly Limbaugh Lemmings. Had you studied your WWII history, you would find that the actions being taken by the right are in lockstep with what Hitler did back then. Hitler was able to tap into a nation's frustration by giving the people something to hate. He made Jews the scapegoats for his rightwing agenda.

Let's not forget fascism, another form of totalitarianism, is a rightwing political perspective. Did you rightwing haters forget Cheney's Unitarian Executive theory? Consolidation of power to one individual or the few against the many. Democracy by it's definition is leftist. Our country, indeed the Constitution, was created by progressives who wanted to make lives for themselves away from consolidated rule. THINK about what WE THE PEOPLE really means.

Bottom line: Older white, mostly southern, white folk are just twisted that a black man is in the White House. Look in the mirror next time you call Obama a Nazi. Better yet, don't believe everything you see on Faux News.

The space visitors must really get a kick out watching Earthlings destoy themselves.

DO YOU REALLY WANT THESE HEALTH CARE REFORMS?

In just the first 500 pages of the 1,018 page bill, here‘re some “reforms” you won’t like:

On Page 29, there’s an admission that health care will be rationed under this new plan. On Page 30, it says that a government committee will be established to decide what treatments and benefits we’ll get. However there will be no process to appeal their decisions, as is now the case with private insurance plans.

On Page 50, it states that all non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free health care services.

On Page 59, it states that the federal government will have access to all individual bank accounts for health-related electronic funds transfers.

On Page 124, it states that no one can sue the government for price-fixing. Furthermore, no “judicial review” is permitted against a government monopoly.

On Page 127, it says that the government will set wages for physicians.

On Page 149, couched in esoteric language, any employer with a payroll of $400,000 or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll as a penalty. This penalty would go a long way towards destroying the private system. It also violates Pres. Obama’s campaign promises.

On Page 203, there is a very strange sentence: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax imposed by this chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under this chapter.” Apparently calling a “tax” by some other name means it is no longer a tax. This seems to be a persistent theme in this bill.

Page 272 has some of the most esoteric language of the health care bill. But it looks like the government plans to ration health care for cancer patients.

On Page 280, it says that hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems to be “preventable re-admissions.” How is the government in a better position (than a health care professional) to determine what constitutes a “preventable re-admission“?

On Page 318 it says that hospitals can no longer expand without government approval.

On Page 429 it says that an advance care planning consultation will be used to dictate treatment as a patient’s health deteriorates. This can include an order for end-of-life plans – specifically, an order from the government.

Again Match the democrats stifle Democracy by:
1. Not answering the questions because our ELECTED representatives have not read the bill and have not a clue what is in it.
2. When the constituents cannot get a straight and honest answer and hear double speak they get angry, then the ELECTED can discount and dismiss them as a mob or extreme.

King O and your minions quit decieving the public to cram through this bill, READ IT, think it over, get input from the public that will have to live with it and work together for a solution.
DO NOT STEP ON OUR RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH AND DEBATE
Remember we can still choose not to ELECT you in 2010 and 12..

Why is it that when a speaker is heckled at a college campus by students who disagree with his or her positions, some call those students immature and disrespectful, but when adults behave similarly at a town hall meeting, they are referred to a "grassroots movement?" Truly, patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels.

Normal people don't come to these meetings and compare the U.S to Germany in the 30's. Normal people don't think that the bill says to kill people. Normal people don't come to a meeting to disrupt it. Normal people don't drag every other topic into a debate on one specific topic. What on Earth do you "Normal" people support?

Normal people do have questions. Normal people do want answers.

The problem with most Republicans nowadays (well, most of us, for that matter), is that they get ALL of their information from typically two sources, maybe three: Fox News, Rush and fellow lunatic fear/hate mongers sending mass emails full of bizarre propaganda from the first two sources. Notice how all of the above right-wingers posting comments here keep using the same couple of words over and over: "Socialist/Socialism," referring to Obama as some kind of "false Messiah" and talking about how Dems are "cowards" because they'd rather spend money on constructive things than pointless war. These are all things these people were taught to say by certain hate-filled "news" outlets.

If these people don't want free or affordable health care, if they don't want a government who actually wants to help poor people out a little bit, then screw 'em. Most of these people are really just shooting themselves in the foot. These are undereducated parrots repeating whatever fearful, hateful propaganda they're eagerly fed. They're too lazy or stupid to do some research and maybe learn to think for themselves. It's easier to let some dogmatic blowhard do the thinking for you, after all.

I also love people trying to point out "Democratic Hypocrisy" as Dems are clearly all about grassroots orgranizing, etc. See, that's the rub: grassroots organizing, as some of these brilliant posters have put it, is a great thing regardless of political stances. But this so-called "grassroots organizing" is really just a front for ignorant bullying and disrupting the public discourse. And I love how they bring up ACORN and other types of groups. Has ANYONE who's posted a comment on this board actually had their own voice drowned out by such an evil leftist group at a town hall meeting? Probably not. I don't think ACORN was too active in some of these locations.

In closing, while these sickeningly ignorant fools want to destroy any potential live-saving or human-helping progress made on behalf of the working poor in this country, I, as someone who gladly accepted "socialist" government student loans in order to attempt to escape my blue-collar background won't let them ruin it for me, though I admit they're doing a fantastic job so far of ruining it for EVERYONE, including their own brainless selves.

Any working-class person stupid enough to align themselves with these idiots is, in reality, setting themselves up for placement on their own "death list:" taking any form of affordable health care away from themselves is going to come back to haunt them some day when they need basic medical treatment and cannot afford it. To them, I say, "you deserve it." But a of people in this country don't.

Of course it is being orchestrated!

Let's have these out of control thugs provide proof of residency at the entrance to these town hall meeting an publish their names and addresses – that would show where these thugs live who are being bussed in to add nothing to the dialog!

To CNN=Moveon.org

The difference between Obama organizing millions to support him and get him elected is that we didn't attend bipartisan townhall meetings and shout down McCain supporters in an effort to block productive dialogue. Instead, we used a grassroots campaign to knock, knock, knock, for Barack and call the bejesus out of our phone lists to talk to people and engage them in friendly, but honest and open conversation.

This is true of people's actions. When people are curious, they ask questions. When people are angry they scream. The problem with the anger that is surfacing at these events is that they are angry that their candidate is not in the White House and allow this to manifest itself into a shout down at an event that should be used to discuss something that could quite literally decide the fate of this country one day.

"Turban" Durbin strikes again. Hey Dick, how about sticking with trying to hurt the United States' national security, and stay out of health care. It's so funny that the leftists scream that these protests are orchestrated, but offer no evidence. This after publicly stating that the democrats were sending their labor union thugs to these same meetings. Aren't they too busy with their no-show jobs (well, that doesn't make sense)? Don't those guys have to go bury a body somewhere? Maybe they should go back to New York and stand next to that giant inflatable rat holding the sign that says, "this job site is not using union labor". How much do you get paid for that anyway?

The humorous thing ALWAYS is that the Democrats/Liberals are incapable of reasonable discussion, expressing ideas, governing and whenever they don't get their way all they can think to do is to name call.

Health Care Reform should be important enough to spend YEARS to craft, working hard to get it right and to get it to work but instead we have the usual congress/D.C. rush to meet the evening news, our elected Congress folk saying that they don't and won't have the time or inclination to read the bill, just as they refused to do with the Stimulus Pkg which stimulated nothing, offered nothing and has done nothing for the economy and provided jobs ONLY for manual laborers but ignored the vast majority of the unemployed. Our elected officials don't care enough to do the right thing. They are bribers (pork and favors) and acceptors of bribes – anything to stay in office.

After I left my old job to start my own business, my family was denied health insurance by every private insurer in the state of Wisconsin, even though we were all in great health, have money to pay, and have had health insurance all our lives.

Why? My wife was pregnant. That's our current system. In any other field, housing or jobs or public accomodations of any sort, discrimination against a pregnant woman would not be tolerated in the US. We let the health insurance companies get away with it though.

The Obama administration is trying to fix many broken things left behind by the Republicans, who managed to totally trash our country after 8 years of prosperity under the Clinton administration. This is like trying to fix an airplane while it is flying.

The vandals and self-righteous jerks who are disrupting good faith efforts to reform health care in this country are the enemies of the people suffering under the current system. They are hurting families like mine, and they should be ashamed of themselves.

My family had a happy ending. We were able to maintain our insurance via COBRA, and would have been able to obtain coverage of last resort via the High Risk Pool made available in Wisconsin by our state government. Yes, if not for these government programs, my little baby would not have been covered by health insurance.

Think about that the next time you disrupt a town hall meeting.

If the American people that don't want health reform are in the majority, why can't they wait and take it to the ballot box in 2010 and 2012? The answer, because those who oppose health reform are not in the majority. Those who oppose are turning out in hopes to create the illusion that they are in the majority. When all is said and done, the bill will pass with a public option and the opposition will lose again. They have been wrong about their principles on the constitution and freedom since Ronald Reagan was president. They will continue to be proven wrong no matter how loud and disruptive they get.

The senater speeks of 'democratic process". Maybe he should listen to the overwellming majority and say no to this bill.

Because they're southerners Seth. Southerners don't know any better. You see how low they rank in education.

gary davis Harbor Oregon

"people are typically selfish"

You, being a Democrat, fit this description perfectly. Again, you rant and rave, as well as protest loudly, over the last eight years against Bush, but now you can't take it when it happens to your guy. Another typical Democrat hypocrite! If you want people arrested, start with Code Pink, and the Moveon.org people. They do harm to this country everyday.

Dems keep on saying it is being ochestrated. Normal everyday people are coming to town halls to voice their opion, which they feel has been ingnored. I think they are just very angry and upset. If you have been feeling ingnored for the last 9 years, even with Bush, I think your starting to get upset.
Conservatives believe they have good ideas. We are not republicans or Dems. We are conservatives! We are not crazy, we just want to live our lives and go for the american dream. We are proud and we don't like it when the government or anyone else wastes our money and starts telling us what is right and wrong.
We don't want another Government program. We have to many and its a waste. Why does the Government have to do something that the State and private companies can do? Its cheap and as a private citizen we can choose where we want our money to go.

Let the people raise their concerns and ask their questions. That's the point of town hall meetings. The only way to combat ignorance and misinformation and calm people's fears is to listen to the voters and give them the explanations they desperately want.

So let the Representatives talk. You're missing the point and making a bad situation worse when all you do is yell.

Listen–then make up your minds–that's the way a democracy works!

The Republican HAVES are suddenly becoming the HAVE NOTS and they are getting nervous. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we will pass health care reform this year. Newt Gingrich today just ruined his 2012 Presidential hopes by agreeing with Palin.

Obviously there is an attempt to stir up the population...why else would rational human beings act like this? We are acting like protesters in a third world country rather than viewing this opportunity to have an educated discourse about a broken system. While the 1st Amendment protects the freedom of speech and the right to advocate violence, it does NOT allow an individual to INCITE VIOLENCE. Some of the commentators and politicians and lobbyists and GOP representatives who are verbalizing on the airways and the net and attempting to incite followers to violent, disruptive behavior at town hall meetings may find themselves in a court of law when someone is hurt in an open forum designed to fix our healthcare problem.

This is definitely orchestrated. I can't understand how people can say it isn't when you can read the How-To documents from lobby groups (insurance companies paying them) yourself.
I think this mess is a shame. We need positive discourse at times like this and now BOTH sides are preventing that from happening.
Health Care needs reformed. I a majority of voters believe this. Find me one "insured" person that did not get misinformed or have a dispute with their health care carrier. If I walked around my neighborhood and asked, I will find more uninsured people than insured. Now we need to figure out how this reform should happen; what is the country's comfort zone. Screaming at town hall meetings certainly isn't the way to do this.
Its time to grow up America and work together to make a common goal.

all i can say is MOVEON.ORG, its ok for them, but not for others

Now I know why they call then ReTHUGlicans. Very fitting.

babs from Denver

You are getting a taste of your own medicine used by your side over the last eight years. Funny how now you don't think it is right, You are very hypocritical! Then again, you are a Democrat, so what else should I expect.

It's no secret where these 'protests' are being organised from. 'Hate Radio' is saturated with calls for the lunitic fringe to disrupt local Town Hall meetings, with Republican politicians egging them on. Naitonal Republican organisations always follow the money, and in this case the big money is the Insurance industry.

Corporate fascism is and should be a worry.
But we shouldn't substitute one dictatorship, or at least overall dominatorship for another.

Like good ol' Che was wholly willing to substitute evil colonialism with totalitarian dictatorships which were just fine with him because they were Socialist and Communist, even though they, and he, killed many more people and left all in misery.

We cannot substitute one evil force for another.

bullying is not free speech . and law inforcement should be used to stop this republican crap.everyone of these people should be arrested
then give them a pass if they tell who it was that hired them to disrupt the town hall meeting .
people are typically selfish and will turn on the onse that want to disrupt the town hall meetings .so I believe the law inforcement would find out who is behind all of this crap . or we would see how high up it goes ..in the republican party liers

Orchestrated or not, in a way I love watching the right-wing circus at these town hall meetings when they hit TV. The Republicans lost in November, and they're still throwing a collective hissy fit every chance they get. All they can do is continue to tarnish their party's image by carrying on like two-year-olds who lost their pacifier. Very entertaining! Keep it up, please!!!

Unless you don't have insurance, you need to let the one without have there say. Older people won't be around much but need this kind of help. Person with money, insurance don't know and don't have a clue need to stay out of it. Sorry

To Lois and Ray:

Your verbal attacks on Conservatism is comical! The American People are voicing their Freedom of Speech and Liberal zealots like you call it hate mongering. Why is it when anyone opposes King Obama, the Dems are first to call it Anti-American? Healthcare Reform CAN occur without a government take over. Insurance accessibility beyond Individual States, portability,tort reform are three changes that would save millions. I for one don't want liberal bureaucrats crats controling my life any more than they currently are. If you like socialism so much, move to Cuba!

I really don't care if it is organized or not, as long as people are speaking out. Obama "organized" his followers during the campaign, so I really don't see the difference here. Apparently it is okay for Obama to organize efforts to get something done, but not okay for conservatives to organize to get their agenda done. Obama likes to dish it out, but can't take it when it comes back at him, using the same techniques used by him. I encourage many more people to get organized against this President!

Will 18E, is that your age? Exactly who do YOU call when you need the police or fire department, Obama? This is not orchestrated, it is legitimate folks fed up with Congress knowing whats best for us. And if anyone noticed, they did not get violent until the union thugs ( bet they voted Democrat, oh wait, felons can't vote yet) came out

Tell obama to have a town meeting with the real people not the ones he hand picks.Keep the government out of my health care.It's not about partys any more it about the constitution and our freedom.

Finally, someone says what is fundamentally true: "We don't care who disrupts this meetings, both sides are doing it and it is counterproductive!" In the end, we don't even know if the people want or not the reform because there is too much noise, and the citizens don't get their answer.

People are so worried about Socialism when they should be worried about Corporate Fascism.Google it and see what I mean.They will stop at nothing to keep the billions they have,including poor shills and a standing Foreign Army,like Blackwater to protect their money.

Again, it has to be orchestrated. It can't be that people are clearly seeing what is happening in DC. It can't be that people honestly don't want what is being crammed down their throats. I say let the Democrats push through their bills, with their votes only. Then the country can speak in 2010 and 2012 as to whether they agree with the Democrats' policies. This way the political party will have to take responsibility for their actions. Elect an independent, if we have to, but enough is enough. These people get up there and forget who their bosses are. Maybe they are starting to remember, because some Dems are really leery of putting their names on these votes. Do a role call vote on any bills call to a vote regarding anything.

Oh and this just makes me angry, there are not 67 million people in Illinois so making a statement that 67 million people voted against Durbin is ridiculous.

As far as the fools using the term "Messiah" dream on. No one but no one, has had a more lock step Congress than George Bush. Had he handed out a Jim Jones cocktail they would have all gladly drank it.

The truth here is that it is UNAMERICAN to disrupt the democratic process. Every American, left-wing or right-wing, has the right to hear the discussion and debate that is going on and has a right to say what they want without fear. The fact that these town hall meetings have devolved into shouting matches of JUST SAY NO is UNAMERICAN.

Wasn't Obama a community organizer? What about ACORN and the war protesters? Are people like Jeremiah Wright and Cindy Sheehan the only ones allowed to be yell? I am looking for a Town Hall meeting near me-a decision I made without anyone's help, thank you. The reason why people are so angry is because these Town Hall meetings were not held BEFORE they started writing the bill. Obama, with his socialist, elitist attitude just ASSUMED Americans wanted the public option! And now he's sending Congressmen and women to Town Hall meetings to SELL his plan. Not a wise move, and now he's paying for it. The swastikas people see are for his covert propaganda, which is the same tool Hitler used to sway minds on his agenda.

I agree that there are some rumors, such as Palin's warning that the bill will kill her kid, but alot of the "misinformation" is Obama's fault. When he says "You can keep your insurance if you like" he is only telling a half-truth. He cannot promise/GUARANTEE that his bill will not eliminate the private insurance I now have. His problem, analysts point to, is the 83% of Americans who are happy with their insurance. While I am all for helping extend coverage to everybody, I won't do it if there is a possibility it will eliminate my insurance. There are other ways, but Obama is not even looking into them. Btw, we can also have INSURANCE POLICY REFORM without the public option! Think of vouchers, think of mandating coverage-explore other possibilities and take the time without ramming it down our throats or we will get angry. Frankly, reporting people who do not agree with his healtchare plan is also downright COMMUNISTIC.

The democrats are COWARDS. They are not orchestrated in the fashion of ACORN or CODE PINK, certainly.... and maybe there IS some organization. Burt what is wrong with that? The democrats have done this forever.

It is being reported that many of the "shouters" are indeed Republicans and in many cases Republicans with strong party affiliations. Just like the "tea party" idiots, these people will do or say anything to prevent a discussion of real issues. This is the party of NO, NO to everything.

I am upset over some of what is contained in this proposed health care reform. I would love to go to a meeting and civilly asked what about this or that provision. Unfortunately, that is not possible when the party of NO shouts and screams so that the speakers cannot be heard.

Republicans are willing to see America destroyed just to make sure Obama does not succeed in anything.
The Republicans were against everything:
1. Against Cars for Clunkers
2. Against the Stimulus
3. Against the Middle Class tax cuts
4. Against the rise in minimum wages
5. Against helping the Car industry
6. Against health Care, keeping it even if you lose your job.
Remember these were the same people who were against:
1. social Security
2. Against Medicaid
3. Against Medicare
4. Against the GI bill (past and present)
Why are southerners still supportting the Republican Party?

Conservatives recruiting people who can barely make ends meet (a lot who appear to already be on that evil socialist program Medicare) to protest against their own best interests and on behalf of corporate greed. You can't make this stuff up. folks. It would be laughable if it wasn't so dangerous in this economic and hate filled climate.

Why doesn't anyone get that the insurance companies are making billions, and that's in jeopardy with health care reform that forces competition? It's not that hard to understand. It's full out war and they're using lies and fear to recruit the uninformed. And they have politicians in their clutches because of needed campaign funds. Wouldn't you like to be able to buy a lawmaker? Think, people, THINK, please! Our lives depend on it.

One of these shills will tell the truth soon in hopes of writing a book about how he or she was paid to disrupt the system for monotary gain.

I agree that the town hall disruptions are clearly orchestrated. Way back in 2000 I voted for McCain in the primaries. Ever since that time I have received calls from the RNC (or related groups) who think I'm a Republican. Far from it! Within the last two months (June-July 2009) I have received a questionnaire and a telephone call from Republican groups (whether one or more, I don't know) requesting my input. Clearly, the questionnaire was strongly biased against Democrats and meant to incite. I completed the questionnaire, answering the multiple-choice questions with my Democratic point of view. I became so disgusted with their rhetoric propaganda that I finally wrote all over it exactly how I felt about their questionnaire. More recently (mid-July) I received a telephone call in which someone asked me to listen to a tape-recorded message and then give my opinion. Again, this was clearly bigoted, biased verbiage specifically meant to incite hatred against Democrats. After the recording concluded, the man came back on the line and I let him know what I thought about his attempt to inflame me (since he apparently thought I was a Republican). He was a real jerk when he found out I was a Democrat! Yes, I believe that the questionnaire and the phone call I received were a direct prelude to the orchestrated town hall disruptions. Republican can dish it out, but they can't take it - hypocritical to say the least.

Of course this is all orchestrated. It is proof, once again, that the right wing, Republicans and neo cons do not know how to have civil discourse or debate. They only bully, lie and use fear tactics. Disgusting. Way to get back into office!

I am totally confused by the consternation shown by the Democrats.
I thought that they were all for community organizers and grassroots organization of people to support agendas.

Oh yeah there's a vast "Right Wing Conspiracy" . Who is paranoid now? The Democrats just can't believe that there are people who aren't buying what the "Messiah" is selling.

People are angry, people feel they are not being heard, that always leads to passionate and albeit sometimes violent arguments. There are people that are trying to stop these town halls and it is the only outlet for a lot of outraged Americans, its not orchestrated – its human nature. There is a class of people Mr. Obama is ignoring and they want to be heard. He is not listening to all of America.

Hey Scott, if that was your idiot brother hollering there and keeping everyone else from hearing about this and asking legitamate questions...ask him when he is going to come up with something for the good of all Americans...ask him (if he so smart) why hasn't he ran for an office so that he can put his opinion in??

Instead he wants to go to a tiny town hall meeting and beat on his chest and scream, rant and rave, just like any uneducated moron would do!!!

What a coincidence, all the big mouthed people disrupting the meetings are white and over 50. Sounds like Republicans to me.

It's not true what the republicans are saying, they are all fabrications and you should no longer bother making an ass out of yourself acting out. Well don't stop, because I find it very very entertaining and funny all this childish stammering you are doing. My kids are smarter than you!

There WILL BE a health care bill no matter if you like it or not. When that happens and you see nothing happened to you what will you complain about next??

FEAR MONGERS, that's all you have ever been and that's all you will ever be.

Republicans have only one direction = backwards and old ways.

Oh come on Durbin ; 67 million Americans voted against you and your Messiah and his socialist power grab! They are all plotters and bad Americans ? Stop the partisan crap!

I am suure there are many people like Scott's brother that have legitimate concrns about the Health Care Plan. However there is a polite, correct and democratic way of voicing those concerns. Screaming, yelling and insults are not among them"Me thinks he doth protest too much"

Hey Dick Durbin, you are supposed to be representing me and I for one am fed up and angry. You want to shove national health care down our throats, then post the plan in detail! Put it on a NATIONAL ballot for the country to decide. This is not something the president or congress should decide in their typical party method. This is serious business and can change the course of our nation. Yes people really are upset. Oh an I will no longer be voting for you come next election. You have shown that you cannot get past partisan politics and look at things objectively. You no longer represent the people of Illinois, you only represent the Democratic party. Sad but true. Shame on you.

Instead of coming back with reasonable answers to questions being brought up by the broad opposition to this plan, the administration has chosen to try and paint the opposition as a 'conspiracy'.

Real answers to their questions would be a much more effective way to get support. In fact, Americans will not like the answers to their questions and that is the real basis for this widespread opposition.

Look at the older folks in the pictures, these anti socialism, social security and medicare collectors conservatives. And if the they need a the police or fire department, there going to use 911. There hypocrites.

Watching the Opposition rant, and disrupt these Town Hall meetings,
reminds me of the Brownshirt activity in Pre Hitler Germany- Basically –They stereotype and demonize and propagandize their ignorant followers into Anti- Anything mobs. Its almost a joke hearing these people warning about the Socialist Takeover- When their Collecting Socialist welfare checks, food stamps, social security etc. and utilizing our present Socialized medicine programs of Medicaid and Medicare- You Couldn't do a better job of proving them dumber than rocks then they indeed prove themselves !!!

They are paid rightwing lunatic fringe people,working for the Corporate Fascists that want to keep their bonuses and golden parachutes.

Ha hey idiot wake up it is NOT BEING ORCHESTRATED!

My brother is fired up and he is going to the next town hall to protest.

Guess what? NOBODY ASKED HIM TO!

Pelsoi needs to wake up and realize those swastikas are being directed at her and this tyrannical regime that is in office.

Everyone so upset over the Obama Joke Socialism poster, but this was done a year earlier about Bush. Where were you same people complaining about it being disrespectful back then? HYPOCRITES!

Stop drinking the Jim Jones cocktail!