The Health Care Wars

As we noted yesterday, the manufactured "grass roots" movement that is seeking to derail health care reform is in full swing wherever Congressional Democrats are holding town meetings to answer their constituents' questions. It's good to see Democrats pushing back. Local papers are describing the astroturf protesters as "thugs" and "a mob," as they certainly are, shouting down the speakers and refusing to let a dialog happen. They're also acting on the instructions of the Rethuglican Party and the health insurance industry shills who are trying to keep the American health care system dysfunctional and profitable for them. What the thugs apparently don't understand is that they're the victims of the current system, which will boot them out if they lose their jobs, will deny them coverage if they have a preexisting condition, and which will jack up their premiums each year until they are bankrupted. Live and learn, or in this case, learn and die.

Astroturfers Bedazzle Credulous Media

Firedoglake has two interesting articles on the recent frother bum-rushing of Democratic congressmen's town hall meetings, and the unquestioning acceptance by some in the media that this is "grassroots America." Check them out here and here. Fortunately, the Obama White House, Democratic Party and allied groups are going to engage in a counteroffensive aimed at exposing the astroturfing frother rent-a-mobs. But how long will it take for the Villagers to realize they've been duped by the Rethug frothers and the insurance lobbyists funding them? Tick, tick, tick...

(Image: word to the sheeple)

Playbook for Wingnut Outrage Exposed

Think Progress has a memo from the astroturfers at Freedom Works and Americans for Prosperity on how they plan to get their frothing sheeple to "rattle" and otherwise disrupt townhall meetings of Democratic representatives during the August break. Check it out.

(Image: Onward Wingnut Sheeple!)