White House Creates "Enemies List"

[Dr. Shane]

Sen. Accuses White House of Creating "Enemies List"

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) sent a letter to President Obama on Wednesday to express his concern about "a new White House program to monitor American citizens' speech opposing your health care policies."

Cornyn's letter was prompted by a White House blog post written by White House Director of New Media Macon Phillips.

"Scary chain emails and videos are starting to percolate on the internet, breathlessly claiming, for example, to 'uncover' the truth about the President’s health insurance reform positions," Phillips wrote. "Since we can't keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov."

Cornyn wrote that he could think of no other incident of a president asking American citizens to report on their fellow citizens' political speech. He said that "citizen engagement must not be chilled by fear of government monitoring the exercise of free speech rights."

[text from link]

[bonnie]

Sen. Accuses White House of Creating "Enemies List"

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) sent a letter to President Obama on Wednesday to express his concern about "a new White House program to monitor American citizens' speech opposing your health care policies."

Cornyn's letter was prompted by a White House blog post written by White House Director of New Media Macon Phillips.

"Scary chain emails and videos are starting to percolate on the internet, breathlessly claiming, for example, to 'uncover' the truth about the President’s health insurance reform positions," Phillips wrote. "Since we can't keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov."

Cornyn wrote that he could think of no other incident of a president asking American citizens to report on their fellow citizens' political speech. He said that "citizen engagement must not be chilled by fear of government monitoring the exercise of free speech rights."

[text from link]

How does this work? Didn't Obama give marching orders to his "foilower's" in the campaign to get "Into the face of their neighbors,argue with them?

Can someone explain to me what his problem is with the conservatives doing as he said.

Barbara Boxer is an embarrassment. One nice thing is she is making people more than mad. Insult them and demean them should work real well

[CyberGuy]

Diane Feinstein office the senator from California aids called the police on protesters who were protesting the health care plan at her office. Calling the police on retired protestors like she did is a sure fire way to get yourself UNELECTED in 2012 when she runs for re election. I am voting against her next time around.

[Dr. Shane]

Well some protesters need the police to be called on them. Of course when conservative politicians call the police on protesters they are normally characterized as suppressing freedom of speech.

[bonnie]

Well some protesters need the police to be called on them. Of course when conservative politicians call the police on protesters they are normally characterized as suppressing freedom of speech.

It could be taken care of quite easily. Have the transparency Obama promised and this bill in it's entirety on the website for five days.

Wailing and hand wringing over the way they demonized the mortgage industry and now the insurance compaines should be focused on what the president of the US wants to pass.

Now it is necessary to demonize those that do not want this. Demeaning and dismissive remarks are fast and furious about those that dare to disagree with putting their health care in the hands of the government

Bet insurance and mortgage companies can't compare to the monstrosity of this bill.

[Woody]

This is sadly interesting. Reminds me of the Nixon days. Surely we have learned better. But then this is a drop in the bucket compared to what we are in for with Obama.

[bonnie]

This is sadly interesting. Reminds me of the Nixon days. Surely we have learned better. But then this is a drop in the bucket compared to what we are in for with Obama.

It is almost funny tho. A community organizer whining about communities organizing.

[Woody]

Good One Bonnie.

[Tom Wetmore]

It is almost funny tho. A community organizer whining about communities organizing.

Except it is more like community disorganizing. The organized astroturf campaign (fake grassroots) has nothing to do with community. The various town hall meetings are being disrupted by non-community outsiders being bused in from outside the congressional district.

Most of the "protesters" at the town hall meetings are being instructed and coordinated by the organizers and much the disinformation they share is circulated in the right-wing blogasphere and originates from the health-care industry lobbyists and right-wing PACS funded by them.

[bonnie]

Originally Posted By: bonnie

It is almost funny tho. A community organizer whining about communities organizing.

Except it is more like community disorganizing. The organized astroturf campaign (fake grassroots) has nothing to do with community. The various town hall meetings are being disrupted by non-community outsiders being bused in from outside the congressional district.

Most of the "protesters" at the town hall meetings are being instructed and coordinated by the organizers and much the disinformation they share is circulated in the right-wing blogasphere and originates from the health-care industry lobbyists and right-wing PACS funded by them.

This would mean to me that you have read the bill and know the disinformation that is in there.

As for disorganization maybe you mean as the dems pulled off here in MN.

You cannot say "most' from personal knowledge.

As for protesters being instructed,do you mean like the democrat politicans? Nanacy Pelosi provided them with cards and talking points.

Maybe you mean like the AIG protesters that were bused in by Acorn to harrass the AIG bonus recipient?

I bet you also mean the union "thugs" being sent out to these town hall meetings now.

They can get pretty strident. Ever been shot at by one that wants to correct your thinking

[bonnie]

To say it is manufactured doesn't even make sense. All that is ,is a need to shift the blame.

All the polls,conservative,liberal,independent are saying exatly the same thing.

Trust in Obama is falling,the dems are falling and the republicans are leading in more and more polls.

Maybe you think that all is controlled by the RNC but that is foolish as to independent polls.

The more that dems demean and dismiss the voters the more the above will be true.

They are dismissing some of those who voted for Obama and have now read the health care bill. Something that many politicans and Obama have not done.

Nothing that anyone has done excuses this little dictator wanna be to ask his supporters to "snitch" on others.

A simple,transparent posting of the bill should be all that is necessary.

[Dr. Shane]

The various town hall meetings are being disrupted by non-community outsiders being bused in from outside the congressional district.

I haven't seen any evidence of this. When I have attended town hall meetings, everyone wishing to speak had to say their name and address before they addressed the congressman. Those not living in the district were not allowed to speak.

[CyberGuy]

Originally Posted By: bonnie

It is almost funny tho. A community organizer whining about communities organizing.

Except it is more like community disorganizing. The organized astroturf campaign (fake grassroots) has nothing to do with community. The various town hall meetings are being disrupted by non-community outsiders being bused in from outside the congressional district.

Most of the "protesters" at the town hall meetings are being instructed and coordinated by the organizers and much the disinformation they share is circulated in the right-wing blogasphere and originates from the health-care industry lobbyists and right-wing PACS funded by them.

Where do you get your Facts Tom. Sounds like some liberal grasping for reasons to discredit the grass roots revote. I would attend any townhall meeting as well. Only thing my district has a republican representative who is voting against the health care bill anyway so I would be talking to a representative who agrees with me. Bussing in. Yeah right. Sounds like you get your info direct from Comrade Obama.

[Tom Wetmore]

Glad you at least acknowledge what I have stated are indeed "Facts"...

Actually there are a variety of sources, but if one is only inclined to pay attention to the Right Wing News Service, a/k/a Fox News and other right-wing blogs most of the "Facts" would be missed completely. You need to also check other sources.

Here one short report - http://www.laborradio.org/node/11669 and another http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/15783/ and http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/31/recess-harassment-memo/ . And a related story - http://www.grist.org/article/2009-08-03-forged-climate-bill-letters-spark-uproar-over-astroturfing/ .

MSNBC has been uncovering and sorting through all this stuff and giving in-depth coverage. And before you dismiss out of hand their unabashed liberalness, at least hear them out and visit Olbermann and Maddow's MSNBC website. Then carefully check their sources and you will find that they have substantial substance and credibility.

These Astroturf organizers are well funded from the health-care, insurance and pharmaceutical industry through layers of lobbyist formed organizations, such as Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks and front organizations with innocuous sounding names like People for Patients Rights Patients Unite, etc.

But you have to dig deep to get behind the superficial headline sound bite stuff you see on most news coverage. All you see is the end result of a whole lot of serious money and planning by those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Don't mess with the massive profits of this segment of corporate America.

[bonnie]

Glad you at least acknowledge what I have stated are indeed "Facts"...

Actually there are a variety of sources, but if one is only inclined to pay attention to the Right Wing News Service, a/k/a Fox News and other right-wing blogs most of the "Facts" would be missed completely. You need to also check other sources.

Here one short report - http://www.laborradio.org/node/11669 and another http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/15783/ and http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/31/recess-harassment-memo/ . And a related story - http://www.grist.org/article/2009-08-03-forged-climate-bill-letters-spark-uproar-over-astroturfing/ .

MSNBC has been uncovering and sorting through all this stuff and giving in-depth coverage. And before you dismiss out of hand their unabashed liberalness, at least hear them out and visit Olbermann and Maddow's MSNBC website. Then carefully check their sources and you will find that they have substantial substance and credibility.

These Astroturf organizers are well funded from the health-care, insurance and pharmaceutical industry through layers of lobbyist formed organizations, such as Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks and front organizations with innocuous sounding names like People for Patients Rights Patients Unite, etc.

But you have to dig deep to get behind the superficial headline sound bite stuff you see on most news coverage. All you see is the end result of a whole lot of serious money and planning by those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Don't mess with the massive profits of this segment of corporate America.

Have you also checked deep to find out how the republicans have jimmed all the polls?

The ones that show the american people have less and less faith in Obama and those that absolutely do not want this mess since they have read it. Something that neither congress or Obama has done? That is quite a feat if they could be taht god at organization that they could influence who the pollster's called

[Woody]

It's true. The polls show that the majority of American's do not support Obama and what he is doing to this country.

[bonnie]

It's true. The polls show that the majority of American's do not support Obama and what he is doing to this country.

What also is true is Obama groupie's are again willing to let Obama step over the law,slide under it or generally just pretend it is not there.

There is a law in place to prevent the president from doing this.

Only in very limited circumstance is it permitted for the President to have a list for those that oppose him.

If memory serves me right it was put into place either because of Nixon and his abuses or possibly Kennedy.

More likely Nixon

[CyberGuy]

Glad you at least acknowledge what I have stated are indeed "Facts"...

You have got to be joking. MSNBC? I do not take ANYTHING they have to say as newsworthy and factual. They twist the facts and take a few isolated points and attribute to the whole.

Look at the protests. They are mainly retired people. True they maybe be orgainized by the GOP in their areas but they are speaking to their representatives. These people are not fakes and bussed in people from other districts. True they are organized by the GOP but so what. The point is are they citizens of the congressmen district or NOT? That is the question. Not if they are orgainized by the GOP.

The telling points is the polls. Even CNN polls have the presidents popularity falling seven points in the last two weeks. If he falls another seven points he will have more that disapprove of him that approve of him. That would be bad when it goes to debates in the congress.

[CyberGuy]

Now Tom what about those Union Guys showing up at the town hall meetings. Are they legit or are they bussed in to shut up the protestors? It works both ways you know. I suspect those union guys are not residents of that townhall congressmen districts. Police are investigating the beatings. Interesting the union guys were given acess through back doors to the meetings but the protestors were denied access to the meetings.

Are these Union Guys members of the congressmens district? If not then the democrats are playing dirty using the same tactics you accuse the republicans of doing? What do you say to that Tom. Or what does the verated MSNBC have to say about it. I dare say nothing. They would not report on anything that would impeach the honor of Comrade Obama.