Posted by
Bob Siegel on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 5:20:37 PM
First they tried to vilify Talk Radio. That didn't work. Then they tried to vilify Fox News. That didn't work. Then they tried to ridicule the Conservative Blogosphere. That didn't work. Now, they are coming after any private citizen who opposes them.
Lately, Democratic Senators and Congressmen have been interupted and shouted down at town hall meetings by people who are waking up and attempting to avert the great train wreck ahead; a government with its tentacles in almost every corner of the private sector. Most specifically, this monster health care bill is being brought up alongside questions about why our trusted leaders are voting for a bill they have not even read.
The response is a series of accusations from the likes of Barbara Boxer, suggesting that such crowd anger is manufactured by Republican sharks and does not truly represent the real American people. The polls would indicate otherwise, Barbara dear. A USA Gallop Poll shows 50% of Americans oppose the President's health care plan, while 44% approve. As for the rallies, Democrats as well as Republicans are voicing their opposition. And just in case somebody feels like making this a race issue, African-Americans and Latinos along with whites are demanding that our government pay more attention to what the people truly want. But that doesn't click with the Democratic talking points. A recent Democrat sponsored ad reduces the entire phenomenon to a mob brought about by the "Extreme Right." Extreme Right, incidentally, is anyone who objects to big government, wants our borders protected, or believes children should have both a father and a mother. As people move farther and farther to the Left, those in the middle appear to be "Extreme Right."
And so, our Washington elite, instead of representing the people, are marginalizing the people. You are no longer allowed to raise your voice without being called "a mob."
Now look, to be fair, I don't believe in shouting people down. I hate it when that happens to Conservatives on college campuses and we owe the same respect to Democratic politicians. On the other hand, our in house royalty never expressed much concern about unruly mobs before. They certainly didn't mind the intimidation of the Black Panthers at last year's polls. Neither did they speak about the right to be heard when a student tried to throw a pie in Ann Coulter's face. Maybe they were not bothered before because they couldn't imagine ever being the recipients. Besides, their term "Right Wing Mob" is not reserved only for the rude. It is used even of people are are not interrupting and not shouting, people who are merely expressing themselves through Tea Parties that they organize, or a raised hand when they are listening to a senator speak.
It seems our current government needs a basic Civics 101 class. When people feel they are underrepresented, they call their Congressmen or challenge them in person at public meetings. What you call a mob, we used to call Democracy.
Incidentally. This blog was written by a registered Democrat.
This is Bob Siegel, making the obvious, obvious.
Also by Bob Siegel:
The Liberal Manifesto
By
Bob Siegel
at
9:13 PM
on
5/28/2009