Sen. Jeff Merkley apparently got teabagged – uh, sandbagged – by right-wingers at his town hall meeting in Madras Sunday, as reported by Carla Axtman of Blue Oregon.
“I spoke on Monday with Melissa Shapiro, a resident of Madras who attended the town hall,” Axtman writes. “Melissa said that the turnout to the event was huge, much larger than anything she’d seen in previous Madras political meetings. Melissa said at first the questions were run of the mill, but quickly descended into right wing fringe land: ‘Why aren’t we closing our borders?’ ‘Why does Obama have so many “czars” and do we have to pay them?’ ‘And why are the czars making policy?’ Melissa said the same guy who asked about the ‘czars’ also asked Merkley questions about Obama’s citizenship. …
“Shapiro told me that neither she nor her friend recognized more than 10 of the attendees. I’d heard this same report from other sources, which indicates that these teabagging folks were bused in from elsewhere.”
Apparently the teabaggers – in alliance with the “birthers” (those who insist President Obama isn’t really a native-born American citizen) and the “deathers” (those who believe Obama’s health care plan is really a socialist plot to kill off old folks) – have been organizing to disrupt public meetings by Democratic senators and congressmen elsewhere in the country while they’re home during the August recess. Among other places, they’ve shown up at meetings by Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Rep. Steve Driehaus of Ohio.
The liberal blog Think Progress reported earlier this week that “the lobbyist-run groups Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, which orchestrated the anti-Obama tea parties earlier this year, are now pursuing an aggressive strategy to create an image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform” by packing and disrupting Democrats’ meetings. Think Progress claims to have obtained a copy of an internal memo that advises participants to “Artificially Inflate Your Numbers,” “Be Disruptive Early And Often,” and “Try To Rattle” the representative.
Axtman says her friend Melissa Shapiro wanted to ask questions, but was intimidated by the teabaggers: “Melissa said that she was concerned that if she’d spoken up she’d have been booed or shouted down. ‘If I’d have challenged one of the people who were there to disrupt, I felt it could have turned violent,’ she said. ‘I felt cheated because I couldn’t ask my questions.'”
Goodness gracious, she might have been booed or shouted at – what a terrifying prospect!
C’mon, liberals – you gotta show more huevos than this! Fear and intimidation have always been the tactics that worked best for the brownshirt brigades, and if progressives don’t want them to work this time they’d better grow a pair … fast.
This article appears in Jul 30 โ Aug 5, 2009.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
The script was written before these townhall disruptions even began. A leaked memo from a รข Tea Baggersรข ย volunteer detailed how are infiltrating town halls and harassing members of Congress:
“You need to rock-the-boat early in the Repรข โขs presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Repรข โขs statements early. If he blames Bush for something or offers other excuses รข ” call him on it, yell back and have someone else tallow-up with a shout-out. The goal is to rattle him.
When the formal Q&A session begins get all your hands up and keep them upรข ยฆ. The balance of the group should applaud when the question is asked, further putting the Rep on the defensive.”
รข ” Artificially Inflate Your Numbers: รข Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up. The Rep should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington.รข ย
รข ” Be Disruptive Early And Often: รข You need to rock-the-boat early in the Repรข โขs presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Repรข โขs statements early.รข ย
รข ” Try To รข Rattle Him,รข ย Not Have An Intelligent Debate: รข The goal is to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before he even takes questions.รข ย
BTW if anyone thinks the only source for the information about the teabaggers’ campaign of distraction and disruption is liberal blogs like Think Progress and Blue Oregon, the NY Times has a long story on the topic today. (If course if you’re one of those who are convinced Faux News is the only “fair and balanced” information source, that won’t carry any weight with you either.)
Normally I wouldn’t stoop so low as to post at the source, as I know that no sort of right leaning dissent will be tolerated and must be dealt with by issuing ad hominem attacks, circular logic and unverifiable information all in name of preserving the ideological hegemony of your precious little site…
Why do you assume that people participating in the Tea Party protests are unthinking drones taking marching orders from Rush Limbaugh, Karl Rove and ghost of Adolf Hitler rather than concerned citizens exercising their constitutional rights? Maybe instead of running a headline decrying the ‘mugging’ of Jeff Merkley you should consider the ‘mugging’ of future generations of Americans of which he has been a willing co-conspirator.
I guess you are able to reconcile your liberal love of dissent and protest and your disparagement of the ‘Teabaggers’ (very clever) through your myopic worldview, arrogance and hatred of those who dare to question liberal orthodoxy. It really is a shame that the bomb throwers on the extremes of the political spectrum have come to dominate the political debate in this country. I have just as much dislike for the radical theocratic right as I have for you Mr. Miller; unfortunately you are too blind to see how much you have in common with them.
Sen. Merkley is a professional politician; if he cannot control a town hall meeting in Madras then he should find a new line of work.
Wasn’t it Hillary that screeched at us a few years back that we have a right and a duty to disagree with the administration.
It amazes me that these citizens who voice their opinions (loudly albeit) are attacked by those who consider protest and the questioning (or mocking) of authority to be a paramount virtue. Intellectual honesty is a foreign concept to these liberal hypocrites.
When Bush was in office, protesters were speaking “truth to power”. Now that their guy is in, it is suddenly un-American or somehow a conspiracy when there is a an uproar at the grassroot level.
It astounds me that you are amazed that a conservative crowd would turn out in Central Oregon. As for the strange faces at the event, these people may not have needed to travel from Bend/Redmond to Madras if Merkley had the courage to visit the population center of Central Oregon.
Yes, interesting that rather than addressing the substance of the questions asked you chose to suggest conspiracies. Seems like you’d rather try to discredit people than discuss the facts. Perhaps that’s your only recourse.
Well said Rowe.
Ya Come on liberals get some huevos! Oh but then you wouldn’t be liberals.
รข ~Why aren’t we closing our borders?รข โข รข ~Why does Obama have so many รข czarsรข ย ?
I’m left-leaning but I also want to know these things!!!
Bruce, more bad news..there is no Santa Claus. Merkley got what he deserved. Let me see why would people be concerned;
Congress votes on bill’s when it is obvious they do not read them..Can you say stimulus bill and bonus money to AIG ??? Let me guess your in an adjustable rate mortgage and your now a victim. Read Bruce read…
That they pick industries to bail out that do not deserve it in the first place. Hey GM leads the pack in clunkers replaced but not one GM car is on the list of new car purchases…Can you say duh?
Finally and I could go on for hours that they are trying to change an industry that represents 1/7 of our economy to placate 14% of the people who do not have or do not like there current health insurance at the expense of everyone else???
Bruce, get off the kool-aid man your simply parading your ignorance…
Having been born & raised in Madras (55 yrs ago) I recognized the majority of people at the town hall.
Why can’t you lefties understand that the average american has had enough of your crazy agenda and we are standing up for the rights given us by The United States Constitution. Free speech applies to all, not just the nut job left.
I voted for Obama, but I am concerned about the plan to destroy healthcare. I am glad someone is speaking up, but I wish they would drop ther birthers thing. By the way, does anyone know how I can get the obama sticker off my Volvo?
You fool. Those people have every right to voice discontent and they are by now means the right wing fringe – I personally know 4 lifetime Democrats that are fed up and attended that meeting and voiced concern about the rediculous health care proposal. These venues will only grow stronger as people realize that your “Messiah Obama” is a self serving traitor full of “hot air” and “socialistic ideas”. Everyone did want “change” I agree with that, however no one wants a socialist agenda forced down our throat without representation or time to debate. Wake up – Why does he want the bills passed so quickly, why is he endorsing 1000 page bills that take away health care options for seniors, why is he becoming desperate with his racial accusations of the police? We all wanted him to succeed – the reality is he does not have the tools, resources, agenda, experience or ability to do the job (smiles and personality can only get you so far) – the sooner this is realized, the quicker we can silence him and his ego…. How is that CHANGE working for you now??? Look out the window – unemployment in Bend, panhandelers on every corner… It will only get worse as small buisnesses get taxed and cut even more employees… it is simple math and logic – I do not expect you buised media types to understand that…..
ThinkProgress is a George Soros supported organization, so think about that.
Why are our borders open?
What’s the issue w/ showing the birth cert if it would end all the debate? Oh that’s right Barack sealed ALL his records as his 1st executive order, hmmmmmm.
OMG! It’s an honest to God birther on The Source site. I thought they were just some fabricated joke for late night comedy shows but we actually have one here in Central Oregon. Are there more of you birthers out there? Please share more of your “concerns” about our first “non-native” President.
Issues and substance as addressed by The Source Weekly:
รข ยข รข Teabaggedรข ย
รข ยข รข teabagged รข ” uh, sandbagged รข ” by right-wingersรข ย
รข ยข รข right wing fringe landรข ย
รข ยข รข teabagging folks were bused in from elsewhere.รข ย
รข ยข รข teabaggers รข ” in alliance with the รข birthersรข ย รข deathersรข ยรข ย
รข ยข รข anti-Obama tea parties รข
รข ยข รข kill off old folksรข ย
รข ยข รข packing and disrupting Democratsรข โข meetingsรข ย.
รข ยข รข intimidated by the teabaggersรข ย
รข ยข รข brownshirt brigadesรข ย
Lots of substance here in this article if youรข โขre a 4th grader. This is the kind of language and mutual respect weรข โขll see from the self proclaimed รข progressivesรข ย.
All throughout the 60’s the kids protested to “question authority.” Now that they’ve grown up and are in charge we can’t. If we do have the nerve to protest, it’s described as a “manufactured” event by a lunatic fringe. For once our elected representatives (public servants) are getting a well deserved and long overdue “performance review” from their districts.
Asking, no telling, our government to slow down and listen to the people is not extremist agenda. Nor is requiring our representatives to actually read and know what they are voting for.
Our representatives have all sworn to uphold the constitution. Our own President is a constitutional attorney. The people are starting to question this “no time for debate” stuff out of Washington DC.
The 60’s kids coined the phrase “power to the people” and now they can’t handle it. They respond to it with potty humor (teabagggers, teabagged, etc) and degradation of desent. Not a very mature attitude in my opinion. Maybe they don’t understand the most basic foundation of our system, or, maybe they do and think they are above it.
Weekly Reader – Good post but I would beg to differ with you on one fundamental point. In your dichotomy the boomer generation is the government and the protestors are “other.” Whereas, when I look at the “teabaggers” and meeting mobbers, I just see the same tired hippies throwing mud at the same Nixonian conservatives. It’s a culture war to the death. I would have more sympathy for the conservatives in this fight if, for instance, they were proposing some alternative health care proposal to that of the administration – but they’re not. They’re just sticking us with the same rotten healthcare system we currently have. Long live the Insurance companies eh?
Gadfly, people are saying no to a government take over of the health care system. The majority seems to be saying (to me anyway) they like the health care that they have, they don’t want it to change, and they don’t want the govt to eventually take it over. So maybe the govt should LISTEN and come up with a plan applicable ONLY to those who don’t have any healthcare.
I’m happy with my union negotiated healthcare and I don’t want to be subjected to a government takeover of healthcare either now or sometime down the road. Just like my politicians are happy with their healthcare. They get to keep theirs just the way it is no matter what.
The vast majority of Americans are saying stop, look and listen. Come up with something that helps those that dont have healthcare….period, and leave those that have it alone.
To be told by politicians that we elect that they know what is best for OUR healthcare but THEY remain exempt is insulting…..and they’re getting an earful from an insulted public.
Gadfly said:
Weekly Reader – Good post but I would beg to differ with you on one fundamental point. In your dichotomy the boomer generation is the government and the protestors are “other.” Whereas, when I look at the “teabaggers” and meeting mobbers, I just see the same tired hippies throwing mud at the same Nixonian conservatives. It’s a culture war to the death. I would have more sympathy for the conservatives in this fight if, for instance, they were proposing some alternative health care proposal to that of the administration – but they’re not. They’re just sticking us with the same rotten healthcare system we currently have. Long live the Insurance companies eh?”
Just out of curiousity, have you ever googled “Republican Healthcare Alternatives”, or do you just accept the liberal mantra as fact?
Have you ever read a bill called Healthy Americans Act introduced by Wyden (D), and Bennett (R), two years ago, and is being held up by liberals especially Max Baucus (D)?
Do some research before spouting off the liberal line of nonsense.
I object to Mr. Millers assertion that those at the Madras Merkley town hall were promoted by anyone or anything other than their own concerns and interest in how the Federal government is proceeding. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but I would have been there to ask the Senator why he believes that the government can manage my health care better that my doctors and I can. I am not an extremist. I am a concerned American citizen. I, and those with my views–as well as Mr. Millers–have a right, an obligation to let our politicians know our opinions. It’s obvious to me that most Americans do not agree with the direction our President and Congress are attempting to taking us.
Pretending that no-nothing legislators voting on unread legislation at the behest of their party chiefs or corporate sponsors is a new phenomenon is disingenuous at best. It has been going on for decades. The ‘concerned’ citizenry only gets upset and vocal when they don’t like the results–which have been interpreted and distributed by the very party heads that will be complaining when their turn comes along.
It’s not the speed that legislation is passed with or the reliance of the legislators on staff or someone else to tell them this is the bill to vote for. It is pure vitriolic, party politics that precludes and discourages dialogue and encourages mob action.
The victor is not the loudest. But there never seems to be much concern about victory–only exhibiting boorish, uncivil behavior.
I’d have more respect for the opinions of some posters if they knew what they were speaking of, and did more then repeat the liberal mantra put forth by the likes of Obama, and others. The idea that the Republicans do not have an alternative is just plain BS. I have often asked some to just google it, however, they seem to lack the inclination to do so. Or perhaps it is just fear of trhe known that prevents them from doing so.
In order to clarify what I am speaking of I offer this link:
http://www.gopleader.gov/UploadedFiles/06-17-09_House__GOP_Solutions__Group__Outline.pdf
Gadfly, what is there about the Constitution in regards to the REQUIREMENT that one be a NATURAL BORN citizen to be the President?
When John McCain ran for President back in 2000 the question of his legitimacy was brought up by the left. The same was true of Goldwater. In each instance the question had to be clarified. Why not with Obama?
The left demanded Bush release his college transcripts, his military records, and his medical records, which he did. Why are Obama’s records sealed at his request, and at a cost of over one million dollars by the DNC, and Obama.
Now, considering Obama’s past (his illegal drug use, his adoption by an Indonesian, etc.) would you not want to apply the same standard to him as was applied to McCain, Goldwater, and Bush?
I think that you have made a very partisan assessment of the event. I have sent a rebuttal to this post. because it is dishonest and onesided, and poorly addresses the issues.
“Just out of curiousity, have you ever googled “Republican Healthcare Alternatives”, or do you just accept the liberal mantra as fact?”
Haven’t Googled it yet but have a pretty fair idea of the Repugs’ idea of “reform” from what Charles Krauthammer wrote in The Bulletin today. He proposed a simple two-part “reform” package:
1. Enact tort “reform” (i.e. eliminate people’s right to sue for medical malpractice).
2. Make employer-provided health insurance benefits taxable.
Yeah, that’s gonna solve ALL our problems.
Charles Krauthammer is a columnist. Not an elected representative. Try again.
I’m aware of that, just as Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are “entertainers.” But they all spout the party line.
Repugs have been prescribing these same “reforms” for decades.
Evidently Miller could not read the link I provided. Typical for the left. Ignore reality, and just repeat the lies they are told by their leaders.
Dimorats have been using fear, and intimidation, for over 100 years, and relying on the ignorance of the people for their vote.