Politician’s Nightmare, People Fight Back

Yesterday, I was in a waiting room prior to an appointment and CNN was on the television. Since I don’t ever watch CNN this was an opportunity for me to see, again, firsthand how the mainstream press manipulates the news we see. The story was called: “Politics of Chaos: Healthcare Reform Events Disrupted” and the focus was on several recent town hall meetings held by various members of Congress all over the U.S. The set-up, the story title, and the way that the “news” was presented was completely distorted by CNN and verified by no less than Texas grown liberal loon Lloyd Doggett.

The stern-faced, but obviously concerned, CNN anchor man with his well sprayed hair began with an almost ominous opening about the “strange” occurrences happening to Democratic members of Congress as they return to their home districts to hold town hall meetings regarding “Healthcare Reform”. CNN then rolled the tape of a Wisconsin member of Congress being booed at his own town hall meeting. From there CNN ran tape of Congressman Bishop of New York, who the concerned anchor man pointed out, “is a medical doctor”. Bishop was shouted down by his constituents during his town hall meeting. The look on Bishop’s face was like a Mastercard Ad; “Priceless”.

Last came the stunning video of Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett (Texas 25th) and the town hall meeting where Doggett was “chased through the parking lot by protestors” according to the CNN News Dude. The video is below and you really can see it for yourself. If this constitutes a chase, it’s the slowest chase since O.J. pulled that White Bronco onto the freeways of L.A.  If it is truly a “chase”, it begs the question; “Why do constituents have to chase their Congressman just to get his attention?” 

After the “shocking” video Lloyd Doggett himself appeared via satellite on the program for an interview that was fluffier than the Cotton Candy at the Texas State Fair. 

I have several issues with all of this. CNN chose NOT to cover the real story. Which is the fact that Americans are for the first time since the Vietnam war protests of the 60’s standing up and demanding accountability from their leaders. The American people, in droves, are demanding that their representatives actually represent.

No, that’s not the story CNN covered. Look at the headline of the story: “Politics of Chaos”! Huh? Since when is it chaos for an elected official to listen to his constituents?  Now look at the following tag line from the story: “Healthcare Reform Events Disrupted”. How can a town hall meeting, wherein an elected official is supposed to listen to his constituents be disrupted by those same constituents expressing their opinions and concerns, regardless of how vigorously?”

At this point some of you may be thinking that the headline of this story “Congressional Constituents Dog Dogget” and our opening line, “Policitican’s Nightmare, People Fight Back” is decidedly slanted.  You’re right, it is.  The difference is that unlike CNN, we fully admit bias.  This is a conservative newspaper.  CNN still holds onto a facade of “objective journalism”.  There is no such thing.

Next, and this is where CNN popped out the chilled pitcher and poured a nice tall glass of refreshing Kool-Aid, the anchor actually suggested to Lloyd Doggett that there seemed to be some mysterious parallel pattern to each of these town hall meetings.

Rep. Doggett swallowed his doggie treat and wagged his tail on cue, “There is a pattern. This is a coordinated campaign by the Republicans and the insurance industry,” Doggett said.
Really?

That’s the Democratic response to the mounting opposition to healthcare reform?  The Republicans are behind it all? Are these the same Republicans that the Democrats accuse of being in disarray as a party? I’ve been hearing (from Democrats and their official spokespeople in the mainstream media like ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN) that the Republican party had fallen apart, that the party was left a mess, with no cohesion or direction following the election of Obama. Yet now when people are gathering by the thousands, tens of thousands, millions all over the country to express their hate of the current proposed Healthcare Reform (in all of its current forms) it all turns out to be some grand conspiracy orchestrated by the GOP?

Doggett, with a healthy assist from Mr. News Dude took it further.  Mr. CNN said basically that it seems strange that these people from Wisconsin, to New York, to Texas are all saying the same thing.

Doggett knocked the softball lob out of the park saying, “the protesters have a script disseminated by the GOP, insurance companies, and others.” Others?  Excuse me Congressman could be you be more vague?  Who are these others?  Where are Scully and Mulder when you need them?

The absolute inference from Doggett was that the American people are way too stupid to be out here protesting on their own, therefore they must be organized by someone else. There is no other way to logically interpret what he said. 

Never in that interview was even the slightest consideration given to the notion that these people were out there in a genuine effort to be heard. Never did CNN or Captain Perfect-Hair, the CNN anchor say, “Well, Congressman Doggett you do know that ALL of the major polls now indicate that Americans are turning away from Healthcare Reform in large numbers.”  Instead, the CNN anchor took it the opposite direction saying “millions” of people support Healthcare Reform, “Where were they?” 

Going, going, gone!  Doggett smacked another slow lob over the fence saying, “They were there, but they were drowned out.  They (the vocal protestors) go over the line by denying their neighbors the right to be heard.” 

Again, I have to ask, really? Really? I ask because I saw the video, I’ve seen tons of the videos.  They’re all over YouTube and I don’t see anyone, anywhere, in any of those videos with signs supporting Healthcare Reform. Find one please and send it to me.  “Their neighbors” were the guys next to them holding up signs and yelling at you, too. 

In this liberal charade produced and directed by CNN, Doggett went on to say that these people are not part of any grass roots organization, and that these people want to “do away with Medicare and repeal Social Security”. WOW!

Doggett had to dig really deep to find that old “Conservatives will end Social Security” nugget. The Dems haven’t hit that one hard since Gore/Bush in 2000. Anyone remember Gore’s “Lockbox”.

Here’s the deal, I’m a right-wing, evangelical Christian conservative and I have yet to receive the “official script”.  Did you get one? Can someone please send me a copy of one?

I have seen notice after notice after notice on Facebook and in conservative social networks all over the web urging conservatives to unite and to protest. No instructions, no pre-made slogans or signage, only dates and times to show up. That, Mr. Doggett, is the epitome of “grass roots”, but to be certain it is a “grass roots” movement propelled and fueled by the power of the internet.  Real people, young and old, from all walks of life, are uniting to express their concerns, their desires, their fears and their anger. Yes, don’t forget the anger. They are angry. People like Doggett, should listen.   So should the GOP.

Lest the Republicans get too smug, they should be aware that the majority of people in these new passionate conservative grass roots movements are not Republicans.  They are independents, and ex-Republicans, and conservative Democrats and ex-Democrats who are fed up with both the Dems and GOP and their party-first mentality. 

Doggett may feel safe in sitting there on CNN trashing his own constituents and their beliefs because he sits atop the most liberal high spot in Texas, that little Hill Country version of San Francisco known as Austin.  However, Mr. Doggett should also remember that he represents the people of La Grange, Weimer, Columbus, Schulenburg, Gonzales and more.

Mr. Doggett, the Dems and the GOP, would also do well to know that this is only the beginning, the tip of the iceberg, people are not going to let this go.  Come election day in 2010 the people are not going to forget.  If “Obamacare” becomes law, people will be reminded of that awful fact every time they stand in line for rationed healthcare.  When that happens people won’t just be chasing congressmen through parking lots, they’ll be chasing them out of Washington for good.

Watch Dogget’s Run From The People –