DNC hammers Republican-backed 'mob rule'
WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Democratic National Committee released a sharply-worded statement Tuesday accusing Republicans of colluding with "K Street Lobbyists" to incite "angry mobs" of extremists to disrupt health care town halls in congressional districts around the country.
Full statement as released by DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse:
Statement from DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse on the Republican Party and Allied Groups’ Mob Rule:The Republicans and their allied groups – desperate after losing two consecutive elections and every major policy fight on Capitol Hill – are inciting angry mobs of a small number of rabid right wing extremists funded by K Street Lobbyists to disrupt thoughtful discussions about the future of health care in America taking place in Congressional Districts across the country.
However, much like we saw at the McCain-Palin rallies last year where crowds were baited with cries of 'socialist,' 'communist,' and where the birthers movement was born – these mobs of extremists are not interested in having a thoughtful discussion about the issues – but like some Republican leaders have said – they are interested in ‘breaking’ the President and destroying his Presidency.
These mobs are bussed in by well funded, highly organized groups run by Republican operatives and funded by the special interests who are desperately trying to stop the agenda for change the President was elected to bring to Washington. Despite the headline grabbing nature of these angry mobs and their disruptions of events, they are not reflective of where the American people are on the issues – or the hundreds of thousands of thoughtful discussions taking place around kitchen tables, water coolers and in homes.
The right wing extremists’ use of things like devil horns on pictures of our elected officials, hanging members of Congress in effigy, breathlessly questioning the President's citizenship and the use of Nazi SS symbols and the like just shows how outside of the mainstream the Republican Party and their allies are. This type of anger and discord did not serve Republicans well in 2008 – and it is bound to backfire again.
UPDATE: Republican reaction to the DNC statement after the jump
Comment by National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain on Offensive DNC 'Mob Rule' Statement:What Democrats call ‘mob rule’ the average American calls ‘democracy.' Is this the strategy Democrats had in mind when they promised to galvanize public opinion regarding their unpopular massive government-takeover of health care?
This hyper-defensive reaction from the Democrat Party speaks volumes about the precarious position their members find themselves in. Speaker Pelosi and other party leaders dubbed this recess a healthcare ‘offensive,’ but little did we know the ‘offensiveness’ would be aimed at their own constituents. These kinds of despicable characterizations of middle class Americans, who oppose trillions in mounting government debt, as elements of the partisan ‘fringe’ smacks of elitism.
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This is an insult to those of us who have a real issue with the out of control spending in Washington.
I have attended a "Tea Party", and Town Hall meeting, but never by bus, or paid for by anyone but myself. Nor did any others who attended.
Again, the Democrat Party has no clue, and can only respond to the anger against this out of control spending by trashing anyone who agrees with them.
Sounds like the DNC is doing exactly what they are accusing the GOP of doing ....
Don't know how wise it is for the DNC to take this tack. Unless they can come up with reasonably unassailable, documentary proof of this connection between the GOP and its allies, on the one hand, and these nutjobs, on the other hand, the DNC risks opening itself up to vicious and damaging counterattack. If, in turn, the GOP is able to make the case that these are just average, upright "real" Americans, this will BADLY backfire on the DNC and the cause of health care reform. It would be a bad credibility hit.
Of course, if they have such proof, bring it out NOW.
Heard a report about this on the radio yesterday. I'm convinced that regardless how well badly this health care overhaul might end up, the Republican alternative would be infinitely worse.
What about the freedom of speech of the Congress people involved as well as the people who attended to hear what they had to say and to ask honest questions?
What right does anyone to scream amd yell and disrupt a meertng and then claim it is their "freedom of speech"? It does not matter which side you are on...it is a matter of civil discourse and the Republicans would have been just as outraged if it happened to them.
the press, who are supposed to be the beacoms of freedom of speech should grow spines and call these people out.
This is the "M.O." of Liberal Democrats, they believe ONE thing and it is this; the American public (you and I) are not intelligent enough to "think for ourselves" thus, we all NEED the elite, super intelligent, and enlightened ones of the Liberal Dems to think for us. We really don't know how to handle our own health care. So for anyone who will not LISTEN to them spew their venom, they "villify", they try to label all who disagree as ignorant , and say we act "stupidly"!
It was "Democracy in Action" when ACORN " is bussed to anything that opposes a Dem plan, but when genuine Americans voice their opposition to the stealing of our country, they are "mean spirited".
I personally do not think the lady in PA or the Veteran who I saw voicing their opposition were "sent" there by any one! But guess what, I think it is HIGH TIME WE ON THE RIGHT GIVE WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE BACK TO THE GANDER!
Republicans are furious that the people just might like what the Democrats are trying to do for the people. Of course you know they don't care at all about the middle or lower class people in this Country.
Statements like this will doom the DNC. These are just ordinary, mad as hell, common people standing up for themselves. By calling them some sort of Republican backed extremists mobs who are funded and bused in shows how out of touch the DNC is. And it insults all those who are angry about how Obama and the DNC wanted to cram their version of health care reform down our throats before we had a chance to know what is in it. If Obama had his way, it would be passed already and these town hall meetings would not even be taking place. People are angry, very angry.
The proof was on the news yesterday. I could not beleive what I was watching. Also did you realize how many Republicans have been bought by the insurance company's. OMG when I saw that yesterday as well I was surprised. It makes since why they would want Obama's health plan to fail. Please read everything for yourselves. Do not be fooled. There is one thing I have learned, the republicans care nothing for you or me it is all about themselves and their agenda. No one had to tell me that. I have seen it for myself. As much as people criticize Obama, you cannot say he is doing all of this form himself. Everyday people will benefit and I am all for that.
Every two weeks I feel it when the premiums are taken out for my medical coverage. I would love to use that money some place else. Every year it goes higher and higher. And even then the insurance companies decides what they will or won't pay for. There is nothing wrong with a public option. I fell it is a win win situation.
Big insurance companies have a strangle-hold on Republicans as they keep lining their pockets with your dollars and you get nothing in return. Wakeup people, enough is enough.
Nice how the DNC refers to informed citizens as an angry mob. Anyone who thinks the DNC (Pelosi, Obama, etc.) is looking out for anybody other than themselves clearly lives in a fantasy world.
And actually it won't backfire. Those who vote for this disaster will be out of a job in 2010. The Dems are getting just what they did not want, informed people.
Of course after seeing many of these posts here, you Obamaholics either don't care about the truth or are too dim to think for yourselves.
Oh no hard working people are worried about where there money is being spent and who will be in charge of there health. Its ok when a bunch of 40 drinking liberals do this all the time. Republicans are usually working so we cant do this, but times are changing hippys. Obama is the joke we all new he was, now the democrats are going to lose there seats and are in panic mode. love it
The best way to disguise that you have nothing to say is to shout it. The Republican know that their arguement against healthcare reform rings hollow so they have to shout to put the spotlight on the decible level instead of the substance. The current Republican party is turning into the laughingstock of American history.
"Angry Mobs"?, Maybe... 'Extremists", I don't think so.
Just because a person/s disagree or don't like something, doesn't make them "Extremist".
But if we must be "Extremists", then so be it. Let the Extremism begin.
This health care business is all a bunch of smoke in mirrors. Since when does the needs of the few, outweigh the needs of the many. I thought majority counted for something in a "Democracy". Or are we truly no longer a democracy. Especially after the dems comment saying they will pass health care with or without the repubs or american peoples consent.
Sue of Seattle thinks the GOP cannot survive if Obama is successful. Funny, but the GOP is gaining members while the Democrats are losing them as the radical left-wing agenda of the Obama/Pelosi/Reid triumvirate becomes clear.
All we need is a few more Dems like Congressman Bishop to tell a veteran who had to wait two months to see a doctor at a VA hospital that the VA medical system is an example of successful government run health-care.
It's about time that someone began to talk back to these ill-informed, Fox News groupies. The Republican party has been in charge of congress for 14 of the last 16 years, in charge of the overall administration for the last 8 and have not made any effort to address this issue. They frightened the public the last time that health care changes were suggested and they're doing so again. The incessant screaming of socialism is scaring people and, as far as I know, they have not presented any viable plan of their own. I might also add that our interstate, state and local highways, police, fire and safety forces and our entire educational system are all products of what the Republicans call socialism.
How soon we forget what they put before us the last 8 years: Mission Accomplished, Social Security will be better off if we put the funds into the stack market, Saddam Hussein and 9/11, "You're doin' a great job Brownie" etc., etc., etc... The people that are putting up roadblocks to real progress in this country had better be careful. You're putting all of us at risk and none of us are getting any younger!
72% of Americans WANT a public (government) health insurance option as a choice. The majority of US citizens very intentionally elected representatives and a president who could make a significant change like this happen.
There is strong evidence that these right wing people who don't want to listen and debate, but rather shout and mislead the general public were all given the talking points by Dick Army's right wing political lobbying group..The truth will always win out..Don't be fools people..Do your homework..Learn the truth..
Republicans are not protesting they are revolting. Unfortunatly for them they do not represent the majority of people in this country. Thank you God!
They should let me lead the DNC. They would become infinitely more effective and they would save money and paper by not paying attention to the RNC/GOP.
I don't know why we even bother with those people. They are ever increasingly irrelevant...IRRELEVANT I SAY!!!
They are in the midst of a self destruction. They have pushed a way the latino community with the Sotomayor pick and they aren't even trying to pick up moderates or independents. In fact, they are beligerently pushing those guys out of the party. Don't worry about conservatives or The Right
We have all seen the video evidence of the racist idiots at Palin and McCain rallies last fall. I have seen some of the town hall videos.
The president won by a large majority of the vote.
We, the people have voted for heath care reform.
We, the people, have won.
Roger from CA – there is proof that lobbyist are the ones behind these senseless rallies. They are hidden because, of course, the repugs don't want to show their hand, but Rachel Maddow (MSNBC) had plenty of proof last night on her show.
It's disgusting how log these repugs will go so that Obama (and the US) fails. They still can't get over being beaten last November.
The only thing missing is that witch inciting the crowds with chants of kill him and the C Street Family watching from the back.
We are all Americans. These people should purchase a one way ticket to China or North Korea!!!!
I love nothing more than to see folks on here make statements such as, "majority of Americans think this.....". You don't have a clue what you are talking about and you lose all credibility speaking for anyone but yourself. It's also ridiculous to quote any CNN Poll. These polls are conducted with less than a thousand people and those thousand don't represent the rest of the millions. I agree that this bill needs some rework, but to put it away altogether would be destructive to our Nation. I have employer provided Healthcare and I am fine. A friend of mine, single male 26yrs of age, has no Health Care. He recently needed some medical attention and the bill was 26K. He is unemployed and the hospital is not interested in waiting for payment. They refused a payment plan even. Oh, did I mention he is unemployed due to layoffs? Get a grip folks, this is a very serious issue that deserves responsible adults discussing the options. Sending in anyone to disrupt democracy does not equal democracy. It doesn't make it okay simply because you can compare it to something someone else did. It does not matter what side you are on, this is serious and will destroy this country if not fixed.
If in fact these people are truly just your average American voters, and not sent by lobby groups, is there a reason they can't have an honest debate? Listen to one side's view, then calmly express their own? Why do they have to shout over the speakers who are trying to discuss such an importnat issue?
Anybody who believes that these town hall meetings are scripted and set up also believes there wont be a middle class tax increase!! What a bunch of gullible fools.