A pro-ObamaCare group, Health Care For America Now (HCAN), has sent out marching orders to its members on how to counter the scary anti-ObamaCare mobs, according to the Washington Times:
HCAN — whose members include ACORN, or the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now, the AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union, the National Education Association and the National Council of La Raza — issued some instructions of their own. The memo, e-mailed Tuesday to HCAN’s 120 field staffers in 44 states, encourages activists to contact elected officials before public events to plan ways to pre-empt the opposition.
Of course, it’s not “astroturfing”, or “manufactured” when the left does this, even if it’s only to provide “cover” for Dem congresscritters:
Another one of Ms. Jorge’s tips is to “Address the [member of Congress] directly with a positive message: Remember, these Members need cover and they are getting beaten up by right wing zealots in these meetings.”
Yesterday, in St. Louis, as Gateway Pundit reported, SEIU members were allowed entrance to a Russ Carnahan town hall meeting, while 1000 protesters were left outside:
Inside the gym they roped off two sections. One was for the tea party taxpayers and quickly filled up when they opened the doors at 6:00 PM.
The other section was marked “reserved” and this section was saved for the union members.
The rest of the crowd was locked out!
Same thing happened at in Tampa, at a townhall with Kathy Castor, as Erick Erickson at Redstate reports:
The event was conveniently held in a forum where only 250 people could fit. 1000 people showed up. SEIU members were given reserved seating that took up at least half of the 250 seats. As people came in who visibly oppose the Democrats healthcare plan, SEIU members barred access to the room.
The event turned ugly when the doors closed on the crowd outside:
Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said the department was told a couple hundred people would show up and sent a squad of 10 to 15 officers, two marked cars, two supervisors and some undercover officers.
As the crowd grew, more were brought in – mainly for traffic control, she said, but they also broke up some scuffles. She said no arrests were made.
One man who said he was injured and intended to file a police complaint, Randy Arthur of Oldsmar, was outside the meeting room with his wife, Kathy Arthur, when organizers tried to close the doors.
News Channel 8 photo by CHRIS COYNER
She said he was slammed against a wall. He later talked to police officers, his knit shirt ripped and a few scratches visible on his chest.
Among the crowd outside, opponents and a smaller number of proponents got into occasional shouting matches.
After trying to speak, Castor left at about 6:40 p.m., taking jeers as she left.
“They’re hiding from their constituents. She works for us and needs to listen,” said Karen Jaroch, a Tampa homemaker and organizer for the 9-12 Project.
I expect this scenario to play out again and again throughout the August recess, and now with the SEIU involved, the previously raucous, but non violent townhalls will be marked by physical aggression.
Hat tip: Hot Air
OMG, even more at AoSHQ:
“The Persuasion of Power:” Vid of SEIU Bullyboys Attacking Actual Grassroots Citizens
Obama: I Don’t Want Repubicans “to Do a Lot of Talking; I Just Want Them to Get Out of the Way”
See Ace for video of SEIU thugs beating on anti-ObamaCare protesters. 7 6 were arrested.
And this is breathtaking…The malignant narcissist on “the people who created the mess: (you and me):
Does he not yet understand that he’s the President of the United States, and is no longer on the campaign trail? That’s not how a President talks!
Also at Ace’s:
“Get in Their Faces:” Arrested Trouble-Maker at Carnahan Rally Says She Works for Carnahan
plus Obama sends out the Joker signal:
Obama tweet: Call your congressman to boost healthcare
It’s not astroturfing when it comes from the very top, I guess.
Did President Bush ever do anything that louche?
A little addendum (geoff): Nancy Pelosi was greeted by conservative protesters with homemade signs in Denver today. Look at what the stunningly attractive and classy Obama supporters brought==>
Who’s astroturfing?
(Deb): From the Denver Today link, (thanks, Geoff) more ObamaCare supporter thug tactics!
A supporter of health care reform, left, who did not want to give her name, pushes forward to rip a sign out of Kris McLay’s hands outside the Stout Street Clintic visited by Nancy Pelosi. (THE DENVER POST | RJ SANGOSTI)
