The National Republican Congressional Committee is now slamming the Democratic leadership’s response to the town hall disruptions with a new press release, saying that the Dems are now questioning the patriotism of their political opponents and calling them un-American — the same politics they used to denounce during the Bush years.
The target of this is the new USA Today column by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, which declares of the town-hall disruptions: “Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.” The NRCC also targets Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN), who told the Washington Post: “What I don’t want to do is create an opportunity for the people who are political terrorists to blow up the meeting and not try to answer thoughtful questions.”
“According to the Democratic leadership, if you oppose an increase in healthcare costs, massive deficits, and higher taxes, you are ‘un-American,'” said NRCC communciations director Ken Spain. “By calling town hall attendees ‘political terrorists’ or questioning the patriotism of their own constituents, Democrats have reduced themselves to the hateful and unproductive rhetoric they once excoriated.”
Check out the full release, after the jump.
Democrats Lash Out: Call Town Hall Attendees “Un-American” and “Political Terrorists”
Reeling from Widespread Voter Opposition to Healthcare Takeover, Desperate Democrats Resort to Name-Calling, Hateful Rhetoric
Washington– As Democrats continue to push their unpopular healthcare takeover on the American public, they are lashing out in anger over the widespread opposition they are facing across the country. In an act of complete desperation, key Democrats like Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Baron Hill and David Obey are pulling out all the stops in an attempt to prop up their ailing agenda. The healthcare PR ‘offensive’ they promised just before skipping town apparently included ridiculing, alienating, and attempting to censor their own constituents. Over the weekend, concerned citizens were attacked by Democrat leaders for being “Un-American,” and Indiana Rep. Baron Hill even went so far as to label his own constituents “Political Terrorists”.
“I’m trying to control the event,” Hill said, shortly before an informal discussion with a dozen business people at the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. “What I don’t want to do is create an opportunity for the people who are political terrorists to blow up the meeting and not try to answer thoughtful questions.” (Peter Slevin, Key Democrat Feels the Heat After Voting for House Plan, Washington Post, 8/10/2009)
“According to the Democratic leadership, if you oppose an increase in healthcare costs, massive deficits, and higher taxes, you are ‘un-American,’ said Ken Spain, NRCC Communications Director. “By calling town hall attendees ‘political terrorists’ or questioning the patriotism of their own constituents, Democrats have reduced themselves to the hateful and unproductive rhetoric they once excoriated. Democrats are realizing that their outrageous healthcare takeover agenda is putting them at odds with the very people who elected them. Apparently for Democrats it is easier to drown out dissenting voices with brazen insults rather than address the genuine concerns of their citizens. Do Democrats need to be reminded that their party has enough seats to pass this bill without resorting to desperate and offensive political attacks on their own constituents?”
Over the weekend, Democrat Leaders proved to be anything but leaders by waging a smear campaign against their own constituents, as Pelosi and Hoyer stated in their own words:
“However, it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue.
These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. (Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer, Op-Ed ‘Un-American’ attacks can’t derail health care debate, USA Today, 8/10/2009)David Obey resorted to calling his constituents thugs:
“[House Appropriations Chairman David] Obey also blamed Republican-affiliated groups for the loud protests that have greeted lawmakers at health-care forums. Obey says the groups are deliberately trying to shut down dialogue and debate, and he called their actions ‘thuggery’ and ‘disgraceful.'” (Glen Moberg, “Obey fires back at Republicans over national issues,” Wisconsin Public Radio, 08/07/09)
As Democrats continue their smear campaign, will constituents see through the massive hypocrisy surrounding their antics?
