[Evidently the White House and the Democratic party cannot quite believe that conservative patriots are angry enough to protest for free! It seems they must employ ACORN, SEIU, and other organizations of American citizens to come out to protest on-demand, so perhaps that is why these “mobs of thugs” puzzle them. They have told us all for at least eight years, that dissent is the highest form of patriotism. And we are good patriots! Remember, the strategy is to discredit and ridicule you for disagreeing with them. Don’t let them get away with that! Stand up and make your voices heard. ]
Lanny Davis, Attorney and Democratic strategist:
The “shout downs” organized by the Republican right meet one of the classic definition of “fascist” tactics–defined as using shouting and disruption to deprive the civil and respectful debate of ideas. There is literally no defense to these tactics. I don’t criticize those who feel genuine anger or fear and show up to meetings to express those emotions. But I do call out the tactic of screaming and disrupting a meeting and the fact that this is a systematic tactic by thugs who want to prevent civil discourse, not promote it.
Let’s have the media name names, publish photographs, and do interviews of those responsible for approving, even organizing these techniues. And let’s find an investigative journalist – are there many left – to prove these so-called grassroots shouters are, or are not, being paid.
It took a year or more to prove that the so-called grassroots protesters shouting and pounding on the windows of the vote counters in Dade County — successfully stopping the vote — were really paid Republican congressional staffers, many then on the public payroll, and from the Republican National Committee and the Bush 2000 presidential campaign staff.
Will that story of paid people to disrupt and block discussion organized by the Republican Party or tacitly encouraged while Republican rightwing organizations organize them at least be investigated?