Oh my: New Gallup poll shows town hall protests winning over independents?
posted at 6:49 pm on August 12, 2009 by Allahpundit
Either indies have suddenly developed a taste for Nazi mobs of political terrorists or the Democrats’ message war on ObamaCare opponents is a rather epic fail.
Given the left’s monopoly on wisdom and virtue, I must reluctantly conclude it’s the former. When did independents start hating America?
In a survey of 1,000 adults taken Tuesday, 34% say the sometimes heated protests at sessions held by members of Congress have made them more sympathetic to the protesters’ views; 21% say they are less sympathetic.
Independents by 2-1, 35%-16%, say they are more sympathetic to the protesters now.
The findings are bad news for President Obama and Democratic congressional leaders, who have scrambled to respond to town halls marked by aggressive questions and noisy demonstrations by those opposed to plans to overhaul the health care system…
There’s some tolerance for noisy disputes at town hall meetings. By 51%-41%, those surveyed say individuals making “angry attacks” on a health care bill reflected “democracy in action” rather than “abuse of democracy.” However, by 59%-33% they say “shouting down supporters” of a health care bill was an abuse of democracy.
Karl wrote a post about this earlier, before the poll came out, flagging Dick Armey’s assessment that the protesters themselves might be better understood as Perot-style populists than traditional Republican conservatives. If that’s true, then it’s no surprise that they’re appealing to indies: They’re sort of indie themselves. Or, more likely, maybe it has less to do with the protesters than who it is they’re protesting. The more people hear about Congress rushing the bill through without having read it, the more satisfaction they’ll naturally take from Joe Public standing up to get in Arlen Specter’s face. Speaking of which, here’s a video sent by one of our readers from a town hall last month purporting to show James Clyburn asleep — literally — at the wheel. I honestly can’t tell. He sure seems tired and disinterested, but is there evidence of actual slumber while his constituents are questioning him? I report, you decide.
Blowback
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Argh! It’s “uninterested”, not “disinterested”.
KGB on August 12, 2009 at 6:51 PM
When the DNC, MSM (but I repeat myself), and the vichy republicans start complaining how the town halls were causing independents to turn away, you know you over target.
jukin on August 12, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Gallop is obviously part of the fishy, disinformation machine…I’m reporting them to flag at once.
AUINSC on August 12, 2009 at 6:52 PM
This President needs to buy a clue, his house of cards is on fire, thinking about Reid and Pelosi under the bus might be a good start.
Speakup on August 12, 2009 at 6:52 PM
I’m liking this kind of change
:-)
cmsinaz on August 12, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Well of course we are winning over independents. This is who we are.
I am a conservative who is utterly PRO HEALTH CARE REFORM. I am so convinced that the left has hijacked this debate by their choice of words. They use “reform” as a proxy for “single payer” or “public option” and paint the rest of us who are against “single payer” as against “reform.” Not true.
We are PRO HEALTH REFORM Conservatives. We are PRO tort reform, We are PRO free market solutions reform, We are PRO research reform, We are PRO patients rights reform, We are PRO lots of things, but we are certainly not PRO single payer option.
A PRO HEALTH CARE REFORM CONSERVATIVE
Hijack this debate right back.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 6:53 PM
I didn’t know that there were Independent Nazis?
TexasJew on August 12, 2009 at 6:54 PM
OT kinda:
I saw this picture on another website that made me laugh. It says “Organizing For Health Care: The Final Solution.”
http://www.jeffhead.com/obama/OrgHealthCare.jpg
El_Terrible on August 12, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Of course he fell asleep. It’s a bunch of white people talking.
Mark1971 on August 12, 2009 at 6:55 PM
ohh you so racist
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 6:56 PM
A PRO HEALTH CARE REFORM CONSERVATIVE
Hijack this debate right back.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Ditto
fourdeucer on August 12, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Maybe — just maybe — most people are smarter than the Democrats think.
Jim Treacher on August 12, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Palin: “I won”
faraway on August 12, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Swastika production facilities are going to triple shifts to keep up with demand.
Cicero43 on August 12, 2009 at 6:57 PM
we need to start using this, signs, headlines and columns
taking it back.
it’ll create confusion in the left backfield.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 6:57 PM
To sleep, perchance to dream of the Appalachian Trail.
The Ugly American on August 12, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Help! Obama has fallen and he can’t get up!
whitetop on August 12, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Amen, ted c!
I am also happy to see a 2:1 break in favor of the “protestors” by Independents. It just might be indicative of the way the winds blow for 2009 Gubernatorial elections. :)
Greyledge Gal on August 12, 2009 at 6:59 PM
where they around during the bush years,as well?
cmsinaz on August 12, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Hey Dems, just keep on calling your constituents racists, Nazis, terrorists and un-American rent-a-mobs. It’s obviously paying off big dividends. ROTFLOL.
Gator Country on August 12, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Vee are all collaborators now!
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 6:59 PM
All of this assumes that Obama and the Democrats actually give a Rat’s A** what the American people think. I’m predicting passage of the abomination and resulting jubilation and self-justification by The One: See I knew Americans were
StupidSocialists.johnsteele on August 12, 2009 at 6:59 PM
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 6:57 PM
We are pro a lot of things but somehow we are painted as the party of no.
fourdeucer on August 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
The Administration cannot be bothered to comment on this. *Yawn.* By the way, I saw the President’s plan on a unicorn flying over hopeychange. Or was that SEIU-ACORN… flying over strawmen while MSM fell?
clorensen on August 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Is that covered under Obamacare?
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Clyburn…power-napping.
whitetop on August 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Greyledge Gal on August 12, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Hey girl. Start using that moniker “PRO HEALTH CARE REFORM CONSERVATIVE”
make a sign out of it. it’ll GET NOTICED…then describe what kind of reform….
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Well I lived in Clyburn’s district and he cares little or nothing about his constituents, at least if they are white, as it is a gerrymandered district. I don’t think I had even seen a campaign ad the entire time I lived there. He is a joke. Well actually is isn’t very funny come to think about it.
whbates on August 12, 2009 at 7:01 PM
I think I’d blame it more on the inability of the Dems to intelligently back their own bill, with the effective Nazi mobs and the ineffective Dem message war being the logical fallout of said inability.
misslizzi on August 12, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Wellllll.
This answers my question. The protests as long as they are confrontational but respectful appear to be drawing attention to the complete crapola that is in the plan
The Bootlick medias’ reporting of Palin’s “Death Panel” and “downright evil” sent a signal to Independents and other squishy Republicans and Conservative Dems in the South especially that this is something that is not good for America.
I hope BHO talks and pushes on this the entire of month of August so we can smoke out these pieces of trash in the Congress that purport to repesent us but actually show disdain for us “not representative of America” comments, taking cell phone calls during questions, falling asleep, slamming talk show hosts, and calling protestors (aka citizens)KKK members.
Keep it up Baracka. Grannys’ decided she doesn’t want you pulling the plug.
1-20-13, keep hope alive. :-)
PappyD61 on August 12, 2009 at 7:01 PM
“DEATH PANELS” won them over.
Ronnie on August 12, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Heh.
whitetop on August 12, 2009 at 7:02 PM
I am more concerned that a single-payer system may not be able to help that poor woman get a new wig.
CDR Salamander on August 12, 2009 at 7:02 PM
I think it’s more of the ill-communicator-in-chief who is getting too much air time.
StevefromMKE on August 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM
fourdeucer on August 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
They paint us as the party of NO by using the illogic of defining the debate on the genus (reform) when we are against the species (single payer, public option). If you’re against their species, then you’re against the genus. Well, that’s like saying you’re against ice cream when you really don’t like strawberry–it is simply illogical.
But, as the term PRO HEALTH REFORM Conservative shows, we can swing it back towards us.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM
You see, the whole reason the Democrats are screaming ‘nazi’ and ‘brown shirts’ and ‘political terrorists’ and why they’re berating their constituents for daring to ask questions and why they’re talking on cell phones and falling asleep during Q&A is simply because… they really just don’t give a damn about you.
Obamacare is going to be rammed down our throats whether we like it or not. To the Democrats, it is already a forgone conclusion. No amount of public discourse or public display is going to detract from Barackus Caesar’s goal. It is all just a road-show for appearances sake as if they’re giving us the benfit of their luxurious time while they try to feign interest, with an abysmal effort at that, and nothing more.
Democrats to everyone not lock-step with them: “Suck it.”
SilverStar830 on August 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM
This video is obviously fishy and raciest. It has been edited to make our beloved representative look unflattering.
All hail Octavia!
jharada on August 12, 2009 at 7:04 PM
We cannot be the “party of NO” if we are PRO HEALTH REFORM Conservatives… who’s against health reform? certainly not us…..
am i wrong?
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:04 PM
The 2010 elections are right around the corner.
Take back the House, pick up a few in the Senate, pick up a few more governorships…and we may be able to keep this moving into 2012 and along the way we, not the Dems, not the MSM, not the usual suspects, can choose our candidates never again falling for that Marxist version of bi-partisanship (what’s yours is mine, what’s mine is mine) and make a serious difference in America.
We can get a lot of “Yes!” from a lot of America when we are able to dismantle these Emperor Obama programs piece by piece and return common sense to Washington.
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Dems are supposed to vote the party line and get their checks. This having to stay awake and focus on people with problems is above his pay scale.
Hening on August 12, 2009 at 7:05 PM
nope, swing away!
cmsinaz on August 12, 2009 at 7:06 PM
” Down, down, down like a burning ring of fire”.
Johan Klaus on August 12, 2009 at 7:06 PM
I watched part of Arlen Specter’s townhall the other day, and I was struck by how well informed the questioners were. They asked intelligent questions, sometimes even citing the specific page and section number of the HC bill they were referencing. Some were clearly angry, but none of the people I saw appeared to be nuts or crazies. I was impressed by them and yes, proud of them as fellow Americans.
AZCoyote on August 12, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Folks, I just sent the below text to Michelle Malkin, Rush, Hannity, Hugh Hewitt and many others via email. Take this idea and run with it. It’ll help redefine us from the party of No, to being the PRO HEALTH CARE REFORM Party, the confusion over the change will last for days. Any help?
subject line: Pro Health Care Reform Conservative********************************************************
I am a conservative who is utterly PRO HEALTH CARE REFORM. I am so convinced that the left has hijacked this debate by their choice of words. They use “reform” as a proxy for “single payer” or “public option” and paint the rest of us who are against “single payer” as against “reform.” Not true.
We are PRO HEALTH REFORM Conservatives. We are PRO tort reform, We are PRO free market solutions reform, We are PRO research reform, We are PRO patients rights reform, We are PRO lots of things, but we are certainly not PRO single payer option.
A PRO HEALTH CARE REFORM CONSERVATIVE
Hijack this debate right back.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:07 PM
The more Jim “Build Me A Bridge Dammit” Clyburn sleeps the better SC (and the nation will be). That man is a racist to the core. Too bad his gerry-mandered district is, oh, about 75% black. 90% of black voters will vote for him every time.
SouthernGent on August 12, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Actually, it’s either.
pifactorial on August 12, 2009 at 7:08 PM
His “qualification” for the office is written all over his face (and body).
leftnomore on August 12, 2009 at 7:09 PM
We have no leadership, they are all hunkered down letting us do the heavy lifting waiting to see which way this goes. We need more like Sarah speaking out, not fewer.
califdreamnred on August 12, 2009 at 7:09 PM
We The People are finally awakening to the loss of our freedoms through big government. Both parties are guilty of violating the tenth amendment. Yes, the Democrat Party has been taken over by socialists, but the Republican Party was taken over by Religious Fanatics quite some time ago. Rather than being the party of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, it’s a party portrayed by the media as wanting to control what goes on in people’s bedrooms, praying in public schools like the Mohammedans, and telling women how to procreate. Social conservatism is not freedom, it’s an anchor around the neck of the Republican Party. Get back to fiscal responsibility, strong national defense,and being a constitutional party and you can beat the socialists back to Europe where they came from….I want government out of my life………..If the Republican Party became real Barry Goldwater conservatives I might even rejoin what became the Jerry Falwell Party……
adamsmith on August 12, 2009 at 7:11 PM
So even the mentally challenged “Independent” voters have woken up from their mid-day nap…
TexasJew on August 12, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Palin polls = MSM propaganda
Town hall polls = YAY US!
;)
Glad to hear it. Looks like the MSNBC political terrorist machine isn’t working as planned.
MadisonConservative on August 12, 2009 at 7:11 PM
I wonder if Clyburns narcolepsy is covered under Obamacare.
fourdeucer on August 12, 2009 at 7:11 PM
so go be an Army of one….
we need more like you speaking out and doing the right thing.
“there is no try, young Jedi, there is only DO.”…yoda
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Saw a post over at AOSHQ that Sestak is gaining on Specter. Sestak was 18 pts behind, now is 12.
Wethal on August 12, 2009 at 7:11 PM
He needs to be voted out so he can catch up on his sleep. Please send him packing!!
tigerclaw on August 12, 2009 at 7:12 PM
True independents don’t get ‘won’ over….they don’t squish and sway and then move over from side to side.
They have values and opinions and when they hear what they want to, they move that way…but moving from side to side, back and forth…..
well, they are just the deluded, not independents.
HornetSting on August 12, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Dems seem pretty hell bent on doing whatever they like, despite the townhalls that they disregard, the polls which are tipping out of their favor- not sure what they are waiting on either – my only question is, if conservatives take back congress in 2010, can the 112th undo all of the harm of the 111th?
BlueWaters on August 12, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Krauthammer is wrong na na na na…..
Terrye on August 12, 2009 at 7:12 PM
maybe he’s shovel ready. start throwing dirt on him
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:13 PM
WTH? John McCain cannot be happy about this. He assured us of the need to fight,fight, fight, with feather pillows and cotton candy for his good friends across the isle and that Pinnochio was a good family man and meant no harm to the Republic.
Now you tell me the Indies want to see some fight, someone with the guts and will to stand up and say no more! This is my country and I’m takin it back.
Well, I guess I know why John McCain lost and the RNC is a bunch of pathetic inside the beltway panderers and whimps! Hey John, Hey RNC, send me a donation request so I can happily tear it to shreds and mail it and a donation to SarahPac!
dhunter on August 12, 2009 at 7:13 PM
There are only one way people are swinging on this issue… and that’s away from it.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Sorry, but this just sounds rather whiny to me.
misslizzi on August 12, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Looks like the giant is not only awake but putting his boots on,
HoustonRight on August 12, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Barack Obama has become his own worst enemy. We, however, still retain the #2 spot.
sherry on August 12, 2009 at 7:17 PM
I’m on it. I hope to go to Sacramento on the 28th and maybe Washington in September. I also wish we could descend on the MSM after the congressional break and confront them with specific misinformation and malfeasance. I’m so afraid that this sham government will continue I’m starting to nod my head agree with Glenn Beck.
califdreamnred on August 12, 2009 at 7:17 PM
I find glee in that also. His remarks the other day were off-base entirely.
sherry on August 12, 2009 at 7:18 PM
I think a lot of a dissillusioned conservatives have swung more into an independant or libertarian mindset.
In simple terms: If you are trying to feed the public a turd, I don’t care if you have an R or a D in front of your name, just get the turd out of my face. Stop lying and pretending it’s candy.
BakerAllie on August 12, 2009 at 7:18 PM
Sorry, but this just sounds rather whiny to me.
misslizzi on August 12, 2009 at 7:14 PM
That isn’t whiny it is a truly felt post and on the money.
fourdeucer on August 12, 2009 at 7:18 PM
there’s a can o’ whoop ass just a fixin’ to be opened on someone.
I can’t wait to pass HEALTH CARE REFORM… I am so PRO that…
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:18 PM
Krauthammer is washed up.
faraway on August 12, 2009 at 7:19 PM
califdreamnred on August 12, 2009 at 7:17 PM
see you in DC and hit you w/ pep talk. :)
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:19 PM
Chuck Krauthammer is awesome. He may be wrong on some things some time. But that guy is intelligent and has excellent and penetrating analysis. He has got to be the top columnist I like to read.
Did you know he’s a psychiatrist?
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Maybe the independents have simply read the bill.
Rockygold on August 12, 2009 at 7:22 PM
It’s amazing what a little “Death Panel” will do.
portlandon on August 12, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Michelle Malkin has a story on her site right now that says that the girl who asked about the mean signs is actually from Massachusetts and that the woman has a picture of her and Obama on her Facebook. No wonder Obama polls are going down, down, down, down, down, plop.
andy85719 on August 12, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Beck and Hannity should play the video of Clyburn (whether he was asleep or not, he was clearly disinterested) and the video of Sheila Jackson-Lee talking on her cell-phone. That would get a lot more people to realize how out of touch our politicians really are.
JohnInCA on August 12, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Perhaps you’re right. Being reactive, i.e. waiting for a leader to react under, is simply not taking up responsibility, and whininess is just a symptom of that.
I prefer ted c’s proactive approach:
misslizzi on August 12, 2009 at 7:23 PM
We need a 1000 Sarah Palins, Joe the Plumbers and 0 John McCains, Lindsay Grahams!
Take our country back from the pandering elites and carreer politicians, instill upon them term limits and the same pay/benefit package as the U.S. military, certainly not a dime more!
dhunter on August 12, 2009 at 7:23 PM
And a couple of “sit down and shut ups”. Not to mention one or two presidential blatant lies.
sherry on August 12, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Prescriptivist!
Shifting gears, rumor has it that after Obama’s idiocy in the past few weeks (“acting stupidly” and yesterday’s gaffes), Axelrod and Emmanuel have decided on a line-up change. For the next Potemkin Village-hall meeting, they’ll be replacing Obama with…Joe Biden!
BuckeyeSam on August 12, 2009 at 7:23 PM
How could they be we are so PRO HEALTH CARE REFORM…?
that just don’t make sense, yo!
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:23 PM
If you ever take an elementary biology class, you realize that the how of procreation isn’t something that’s dictated by a political party. Hint: it ain’t storks.
Fallen Sparrow on August 12, 2009 at 7:23 PM
I suspect that if they aren’t cool aid drinkers they are as confused and appalled as any rational human.It isn’t the reaction that is changing their minds is the hard fist of liberal democrats telling them horrible things while the joker obama is lying to them about the horrible things Pelosi and company are prepared to subject them. Do you know how I got these scars? The AARP is on board and they haven’t told you yet about my extortion. As are the drug companies and the hospitals. Oh and you get to keep your health care if you like it. It’s just so f**kin evil.
NOBOZONS on August 12, 2009 at 7:24 PM
I’m shaking my magic 8 ball and it says: Ask again later.
Gallup will get a visit from the Rahminator and by the end of the week, these numbers will look a little better.
athenadelphi on August 12, 2009 at 7:24 PM
why thank ya–I prefer the “mo’ bees wid honey” approach…
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:25 PM
The independents helped put Obama in office, they can make sure he is a one-termer. The independents could be seeing that their independence is threatened by the current administration, and taking a stance against the heavy-handiness of the libs.
ICBM on August 12, 2009 at 7:25 PM
I’d love to see a cartoon depicting obama shaking a magic 8 ball asking it, “Who can I demonize this week?” and it shows up…. “Your Wife”
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Rahm reminds me of a typical school yard bully that once punched good and hard in the face would run home to momma
HoustonRight on August 12, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Indeed. But you are being a little kind when you say one or two lies. Obama has lied atleast 15-20 times regarding his Obamacare fiasco.
portlandon on August 12, 2009 at 7:28 PM
That’s cuz you’re proactive!
misslizzi on August 12, 2009 at 7:28 PM
that is, if he ever got out from behind momma’s skirt…
he’s a little putz
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Oh yes, definitely. Back in the day, they lived near the border with Switzerland.
Red State State of Mind on August 12, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Hope meet Death Panel , Death Panel Hope.
the_nile on August 12, 2009 at 7:29 PM
You may be onto something.
BadgerHawk on August 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Nah, he was the bullies’ fun toy and now he’s payin’ them (and us) all back.
misslizzi on August 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
The Dems ignore the voters at their own peril!
Rndguy on August 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Like: “Have you read the Qur’an?”
Nonfactor on August 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
dude, spread the word. We need to get that out. It’ll create all kinds of confusion and gnashing of teeth in the enemy’s rear area.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
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