Democrats fight back on healthcare, town halls

By GottaLaff

It's about time... Snap to it, Dems:

After a week on the defensive, Democrats on Monday stepped up their response to what they consider to be a contrived harassment campaign against their healthcare plan.

"What they consider to be contrived harassment"? Um, it's pretty much been documented. The misinformation continues...

Moving on:

The coordinated efforts came from the White House, House Democratic leaders and allied groups, and suggested Democrats see some political gain by going on the attack.

Gee, ya think? We sure aren't seeing political gain by hoping it will go away, cowering, and/or sitting up and begging for more.

Organizing for America, the successor to President Obama's grassroots campaign organization, sought to counter confrontations at town halls by asking members to visit their lawmaker’s offices to show support for the health legislation.

The White House set up a website to debunk opponents' claims, including one that the bill would lead to euthanasia.

House leaders, worried about attacks on their members in conservative districts, set up a “war room,” to answer lawmakers’ policy questions and help them prepare for disruptions at town hall meetings.

Outside groups that support the healthcare overhaul also revved up their efforts. A coalition of religious groups is airing a television advertisement supporting the overhaul, holding “in-district” prayer events in the districts of key lawmakers, and will host a national teleconference Aug. 19 that will feature Obama. [...]

The House Democrats’ “war room” is being run out of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s (D-Md.) office, and is manned around the clock by a rotation of leadership and key committee staff members.

The war room, or “healthcare hotline,” is primarily designed to give members the ability to get immediate health policy answers and updates from leadership offices. Top Democrats are also planning to use it to help their colleagues respond effectively to political and press attacks, if necessary.

The White House web site, dubbed the “health insurance reform reality check,” features six videos of different administration officials debunking claims about healthcare reform legislation backed by Obama.

OFA, now an arm of the Democratic Party, is urging members to show up at lawmaker offices in person to tell them they support the healthcare legislation. [...]

The effort has also been good for liberal fundraising. MoveOn.org said in an email to members that it “blew through” its $210,000 fundraising goal for the weekend, then said it will try to double that in coming days to double the size of its campaign.

That's better. Now grow some spines and speak loudly, clearly, and assertively. It's time to take charge and get a public option passed. Enough of this mob mentality taking over what should have been civil discourse and informative meetings.

Time to tell all those Tantruming TeaDeathers that they're grounded.

Nasty, vile little brats.