In a Tight Spot, Pelosi Calls Health Care Critics 'Un-American'

[Guest justme]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/10/tight-spot-pelosi-calls-health-care-critics-american/

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned the health care debate up a notch Monday, penning a column along with her top deputy that questioned the patriotism of those disrupting town hall meetings to air their complaints.

Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer claimed such behavior is "simply un-American."

It's hardly the first time Pelosi, who earlier this year accused the CIA of lying to Congress and repeatedly has called Republicans unpatriotic, has employed some serious name-calling to characterize her opponents' views.

The jab Monday drew swift scorn from Republicans and critics who say the health care demonstrations are as American as apple pie.

"I, like most Americans, would find that kind of characterization of citizens exercising their First Amendment rights to be offensive," Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., told FOX News. "There's nothing more American than letting your elected representatives know how you feel about important issues facing the nation." House Republican Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, released a statement calling the charge "outrageous and reprehensible."

Pelosi and Hoyer made the accusation as part of a lengthy column in USA Today stressing the need for action on health care reform. The piece was published as lawmakers return to their districts for summer recess, a period that could imperil the legislation if health care critics cause moderate Democrats to lose their stomachs for sweeping reform. Critics have confronted lawmakers about the bills, sometimes shouting at them, at a number of town halls in the past week alone.

On Monday, Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill tried a new tack in rebutting the protesters while also minimizing their complaints. She got several hands when she asked audience members at a town hall meeting to raise their hands if they're so scared about the federal government running health care that they "can't think straight."

For Pelosi and Hoyer, they charged that an "ugly campaign" is afoot to misrepresent the legislation, "disrupt" the public meetings and prevent members of Congress from "conducting a civil dialogue" on the topic.

"Let the facts be heard," they wrote. "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. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades."

The "un-American" dig was a sign the debate is heating up. In a tight spot, Pelosi is known for employing tough rhetoric and accusations to muscle her way out. Back in September 2008, Pelosi used similar language to complain about Republicans who weren't showing up to talks on a Wall Street bailout package.

"I thought it was very unpatriotic of them not to show up, not to show up, in some ways, boycott the meetings earlier in the week," she said.

She also reportedly called the GOP budget in 2006 "unpatriotic" because it drove up the national debt. This past May, she accused the CIA of lying to Congress, as she was facing questions about how much she knew early on about the Bush administration's interrogation policies.

Then last week, with the health care debate growing more heated, she invoked Nazi Germany, accusing protesters of "carrying swastikas and symbols like that" to meetings. A spokesman for Pelosi later said the speaker was referencing a photo taken at a town hall meeting hosted by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., which showed a protester holding a sign of a swastika crossed out over President Obama's name and a question mark.

Yet the language Pelosi is using for health care critics is nothing like the language she used to describe anti-war protesters criticized by war supporters as unpatriotic.

Pelosi, who led efforts to withdraw from Iraq before troops had finished the job, tolerated anti-war hecklers on several occasions.

"It's always exciting," she said of protesters who interrupted a meeting in January 2006, according to an account in the San Francisco Chronicle. "This is democracy in action. I'm energized by it, frankly."

At an event in June 2007, she told anti-war protesters "just go for it, I respect your enthusiasm," according to another account.

The claims of "un-American" behavior by critics is not something made by President Obama, who on Monday withheld criticism of his health care detractors.

"We are having a vigorous debate in the United States and I think that's a healthy thing," he said, speaking at a North American summit in Mexico.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said there's not really any "substantive difference" between the anti-war protests of MoveOn and Code Pink then and the health care reform criticism today -- other than the subject being addressed.

Cornyn told FOX News he thinks the latest charge of being "un-American" is a "pretty harsh statement" about Americans who have serious concerns about the health care legislation.

Edited August 10, 2009 by justme

[DavidCBaker]

It's always good to include citations when you're quoting something. Actually, it's illegal not to.

[Guest justme]

my oversight

[Guest TnDeerHunter]

They should be made to go on the health reform first then I bet they would get it right but that's not going to happen

[Smith]

No real story here. Same old thing from the leftist. I did find it interesting she wanted people to talk about "facts". Are these the "facts" in the talking points, which coincidentally are what are making people furious, or the "facts" of the bill. There is a world of difference.

[Mike.357]

I think the fact that congress as a whole will refuse to put their families on Obama care says all I need to know about it.

If this is shoved down our throats I hope it brings with it a revolution.

[TNTitan]

this sounds "fishy" - I think I'm going to have to report this post to the White House.

[Guest SUNTZU]

I can explain Pelosi's comments...see below.

[Guest justme]

this sounds "fishy" - I think I'm going to have to report this post to the White House.

should I email the Party and inform on myself for being anti-Obamacare comrade?

Edited August 11, 2009 by justme

[Guest kdpate]

I can explain Pelosi's comments...see below.

Her face looks like the North end of a South-bound donkey......

[Guest 70below]

I can explain Pelosi's comments...see below.

You're getting Veeeeeeeery Sleeeeeeeeeeepy...........tick tock tick tock......You will support obamacare........you wwwwwiiiiiillllllllllll....obamacare is goooood

[NuTcAsE]

Wasn't this bunch quoting Thomas Jefferson a few years ago that "dissension is the greatest form of patriotism..."?????

[USMCJG]

Wasn't this bunch quoting Thomas Jefferson a few years ago that "dissension is the greatest form of patriotism..."?????

Yep. Times change fast when you're full of .

[Guest gunslinger707]

Her face looks like the North end of a South-bound donkey......

Why would you disgrace a poor ole Donkey that way ????

[LagerHead]

Wasn't this bunch quoting Thomas Jefferson a few years ago that "dissension is the greatest form of patriotism..."?????

How dare you use their words against them? That's downright unAmerican, unpatriotic, unblahh blah blah.

I'm sorry, were you saying something? :screwy:

[Guest savvysteve]

Wasn't this bunch quoting Thomas Jefferson a few years ago that "dissension is the greatest form of patriotism..."?????

There is actually a lot of info that this was not Jefferson. See the link. Jefferson Library: A Guide to Thomas Jefferson Quotations: Spurious Quotes

This quote is along the same lines.

"Political dissension is doubtless a less evil than the lethargy of despotism: but still it is a great evil, and it would be as worthy the efforts of the patriot as of the philosopher, to exclude it's influence if possible, from social life. The good are rare enough at best. There is no reason to subdivide them by artificial lines. But whether we shall ever be able so far to perfect the principles of society as that political opinions shall, in it's intercourse, be as inoffensive as those of philosophy, mechanics, or any other, may well be doubted." TJ to Thomas Pinckney, 29 May 1797

I am a big fan of the things the founders say. Their forward thinking is what I believe has made this country last and made it into the greatest country on earth.

Viva la Revolution!!!

[Guest PapaB]

In a blog I posted on my site yesterday I wrote:

"She [Pelosi] also said that those voters speaking against Obamacare are down right un-American. Imagine what she would have said about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Sam Adams, John Adams, Patrick Henry, the Sons of Liberty and the many other patriots that fought to secure our individual freedoms."

and I ended with this:

"Speaker Pelosi, your home planet called. They need you to return so they can adjust your medication and run tests to check for brainwave activity. From here you don’t appear to have any."

It seems like a politically dangerous thing to insult the voters. I don't see how any Politician can do that unless they're out of touch with reality.

Edited August 11, 2009 by PapaB

[TNTitan]

should I email the Party and inform on myself for being anti-Obamacare comrade?

Not necessary. Just disregard the black sedan out front and the strange new wiring coming off your telephone pole.

[Guest Phantom6]