Republicans fear for their safety as Obamacare protests grow

[flamingdem]

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/republicans-obamacare-protests-safety-234733?utm_campaign=crowdfire&utm_content=crowdfire&utm_medium=social&utm_source=social#243927769-tw#1486508092661

House Republicans during a closed-door meeting Tuesday discussed how to protect themselves and their staffs from protesters storming town halls and offices in opposition to repealing Obamacare, sources in the room told Politico.

House GOP Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers invited Rep. David Reichert, a former county sheriff, to present lawmakers with protective measures they should have in place. Among the suggestions: having a physical exit strategy at town halls, or a backdoor in congressional offices to slip out of, in case demonstrations turn violent; having local police monitor town halls; replacing any glass office-door entrances with heavy doors and deadbolts; and setting up intercoms to ensure those entering congressional offices are there for appointments, not to cause chaos.

“The message was: One, be careful for security purposes. Watch your back. And two, be receptive. Honor the First Amendment, engage, be friendly, be nice,” said Republican Study Committee Chairman Mark Walker (R-N.C.). “Because it is toxic out there right now. Even some of the guys who have been around here a lot longer than I have, have never seen it to this level.”

He later added: “For those of us who have children in grade school and that kind of thing, there’s a factor in all of this, saying: How far will the progressive movement go to try to intimidate us?”

The conference discussion comes as Democratic activists around the nation ramp up protests against Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare. Protesters have disrupted town halls and other public events, jeering and yelling at Republicans just as conservatives did to Democrats when they were writing the law eight years ago. Conservative protesters in 2009 and 2010 were accused of spitting on and hurling racial epithets at Democratic lawmakers ahead of their votes to pass Obamacare. Republicans denied the accusations at the time.

[muntrv]

1. Payback for the teabagging in 2009.

[flamingdem]

4. I just got email from couragecampaign.org

and they're organizing around ACA / Obamacare protests.

I'll attend, for me losing it would be yuuge.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

2. No

They don't want to answer any questions that are contrary to their POV.

[Cha]

3. Scared little lying weasels.. they're just spewing shit so the Protests

will be illegal and go away.

Then they can take away everyone's healthy care but their own.

[flamingdem]

5. I'm going to attend in LA but the action will be

in Orange county and other Republican areas.. hmmm maybe I'll get down there too!

[Cha]

16. Didn't Hillary win in Orange county?

Be safe.. HOpe there are no more violent ones like @ Berkeley

[still_one]

6. They should, they are threatening people's lives

[tblue37]

7. Or maybe they couild, oh, I don't know, try *serving the interests of

their constituents for a change*!

[Guilded Lilly]

8. You reap what you sow. Cowardly punks...

Live with the consequences of your anti-humanity convictions.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

9. Fuck 'em! Let them fear for their priveleged, entitled, worthless, hypocritical lives!

Let those pieces of shit know how it feels to be at someone else's mercy for a change!

[alterfurz]

10. just torches & pitchforks for now...

...but House Republicans will be lucky if it doesn't escalate to tar, feathers, and then maybe tumbrils before too long.

[SammyWinstonJack]

30. Just wait until they go after Medicare and Social Security. The motorized scooter brigades

will be out in full force.

[coco22]

33. And their children.

[Warpy]

11. GOOD. Those corrupt SOBs need to fear us more than they fear insurance lobbyists

The ACA wasn't much of a health care plan but it did extend coverage to some and close profiteering loopholes for many more. People are going to fight like hell to keep it, even Republicans once they figure out what's at stake.

[PA Democrat]

12. Their constituents have REAL fear: fear for their very lives.

Losing health insurance is a life and death situation for many people. Poor babies fear being intimidated? Let me find my violin.

[flamingdem]

14. Great point, much like how Bernie is countering on the CNN debate right now

We just cannot let them control this narrative

[blue neen]

15. Amen to that.

These fools have been barking about repealing Obamacare for 8 years. Ran their election campaigns on it. Voted on repealing it, what over 60 times? The Popular Vote Loser and Groper in Chief bleated since June 2015 that he was going to get rid of Obamacare. What do they expect us to think?

Meanwhile, we the TAXPAYERS are paying for the Health Care for all of these elected officials and for their families....but, they would seek to deny US. And they can't figure out why we're angry. We're fearing for our health and our lives and for our loved ones. Yet, Congress can't understand why we're afraid.

They're so disgusting.

[xor]

25. That part made me furious.

These people are something else.

[drm604]

13. Maybe they should think about why people are so angry.

Perhaps if they weren't so intent on dismantling our safety nets and protections they wouldn't have to worry about angry crowds.

[flamingdem]

19. We'll have to force them to get it

on an animal level.

Because if they do imagine getting beat up that's exactly what we feel - they're beating us over and over and ripping us off

[47of74]

17. Bed. Made. Lie.

Fornicate Republicans.

[haele]

18. They're scared? Progressives don't make death threats like 'baggers did

Well, most of them don't. Dem politicians were (and still are) getting threats and their kids harassed over policy since President Obama was elected - not to mention all those "pro-bith God Warriors" and militia types and their threats since Clinton was elected back in '92. I heard conservatives wish assassination on the Clintons before he took office (thanks Rushbo)...

GOP's gotta stop treating politics like Church Basketball league. Grow up and star governing instead of running cons and playing games.

Haele

[struggle4progress]

20. Eeek! Disagreement!

[tandem5]

21. They should really be concerned for the fate of their everlasting souls.

Oh yeah they don't have those anymore.

[SoCalDem]

22. Rightwingers are the ones who carry guns, and who kill praying people

and children in daycare centers and elementary schools......not progressives who just want to be heard


......"How far will the progressive movement go to try to intimidate us?” ...answer?

As far as we need to...

[coco22]

34. Rightwingers think they are the ones who carry guns..

I hope they keep thinking that.

[pfitz59]

23. Reichert's district contains a whole lot of IT Muslims

and they are not happy about the direction Trump is taking. He has an office about 5 miles from me. Maybe I'' join the protest queue

[xor]

24. "How far will the progressive movement go to try to intimidate us?

You mean, how long will the people you represent continue to tell you how they feel about your attempts to make it more difficult and in some cases impossible to get affordable and effective medical care?

[Merlot]

26. Citizens fear for their safety as their access to health care is denied

Protective measure to losing health insurance include protesting politicians who want to deny health care, being vocal about the inhumanity of taking health care away from people.

Citizens who have children worry about their ability to provide for children if they should become ill, and wonder how far will the republicans go to deny health insurance.

republicans have disrupted the lives of people with the threat of removing their health care, as well as disrupting the health care industry and health care professionals who's industry and jobs are now being sujected to turmoil for no good reason except political payback.

republicans deny the accusations.

[Buns_of_Fire]

27. Good. I've said it before and I'll say it again:

I want them made persona non grata in their own districts. I want them so afraid they'll hole up in their (taxpayer-supplied) offices in D.C. and be reduced to eating fish head soup, for all I care. I want their own mothers to spit on the ground whenever their name is mentioned (apologies to Paul Simon).

...and now, for a limited time, Pitchforks 'R' Us is now offering a line of genuine rails to run them out of town on. As always, all stores are fully stocked with large supplies of tar ($3.98/gallon) and feathers (also suitable for pillow-stuffing). Stop by today!

[KelleyKramer]

28. They just don't want to face thier constituents, pathetic cowards

So this is part of a Republican planning a town hall with constituents ...

"having a physical exit strategy at town halls, or a backdoor in congressional offices to slip out of"

Pathetic cowards

[dchill]

29. They try to erase us...

And THEY'RE afraid?

Good!

[raccoon]

31. Good. Finally the average Americans are getting the Republicans' attention. nt

[coco22]

32. Fuck their families..

Do they care about ours,if they think we will see family on the street or starving while they enjoy our tax dollars they have another thing coming. Hey republiCON Trolls. YOU WORK FOR US! They haven't seen nothing yet!

[KingCharlemagne]

35. After Communist revolution, they and their spouses (but not their children) should expect relocatio

to the gulags.

[coco22]

36. Do they have enough police?

Are the effecting police with budget cuts? Do police and their families become effected? Will they throw police families in the street? Will they become angry too and let the people kick their asses?

[milestogo]

37. No sane government fights against healthcare for all.

[fishwax]

38. there's a simple way to protect yourselves: stop trying to kill Americans

People are fearful and angry that you will take action against a program that's been keeping their friends, families, and selves alive.

Because it is toxic out there right now.

Funny. From my perspective it's toxic in there.

[flamingdem]

39. It sure is

Protests are a lot easier for them than truly getting what they deserve

[Solly Mack]

40. Cowards. Liars. Disgusting examples of human beings.

You harm the people and then run for protection when the people fight back, and then act as if it is the people who are the monsters.

You want people to march when you can leave town to avoid the demonstration; thereby ignoring them. You want people to write letters you never read. You want people to make calls to phone lines you've shut down. Emails get automated replies filled with polite nothings.

You cowards create laws that cause the death of thousands and you have the nerve to hide from your victims.

There will be a reckoning. There always is.