Anti-Obama Protesters Outside Town Hall Event; Irresponsible Protesting

Good job of laying out your point of view. Glad TH featured this article.

I share your frustration when folks do things that put the rest of us in a bad light. However, I would also point out that nut jobs on the left do this all the time and they are not taken to task by anyone in the mainstream media.

IMHO, those of us who take our liberty and freedom seriously have been put on the defensive for far too long. We need to find additional ways to get control of the offense -- that's who usually scores the touchdowns.

(If you get the time, please stop by my blog.)

...AR wasn't a plant just for that purpose.

The MSM are going to paint us as kooks no matter what we do. We were painted as kooks long before a few people showed up with guns.
I am not sure I would carry my AR to the protest. I don't see a problem with this guy doing it.
They only reason this seems odd is because we have allowed ourselves to be browbeat by the left into leaving our guns home.
Is there any doubt there were many armed citizens in attendance at Jefferson's inauguration?

We have already ceded so much to the left and their PC bullying if we don't start taking it back the game is over.

WE ARE IN A WAR. One thing I learned during Vietnam is that you can't win a war by being nice and worrying about what the enemy thinks about you or your tactics. There should have been more guys there with ARs. I could care less what the left and their allies in the media thinks. We were not nice in WWI and in WWII and I don't intend to make nice in this war.

BLACKHAWKE

First, I'd like to sincerely thank you for your service in Vietnam. My father also served in that war.

However, I need to point out that while some of us may consider this to be a "war", it is so in the figurative sense, not literal. Fighting over your right to manage your own health care is a lot different than having to actually kill somone.

This article isn't about being nice to the enemy, or even caring what they think about us; it's about not providing them with the tools they need to use against us.

If we're going to win this, we need to play smarter than the other side. They're providing plenty of their own rope. Let them hang themselves with it.

The person "Chris" was a plant by local Libertarian wingnut and Ron Paul supporter, Earnest Hancock.
Hancock set up the "interview" as part of his web-based "radio" show.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/18/obama.protest.rifle/

Thank you for providing that link, I wasn't aware of the staged interview.

Just one more reason why I could never be a true Libertarian.

Those of us who oppose the policies of Obama must avoid giving the left ammunition to denigrate our credentials.
Hancock cares little about perception. His interest is promoting Earnest Hancock. He is merely the reverse to Obama's obverse on the political coin. Hancock and Obama only take opposite sides of the extreme, but in truth, their underlying drive is self-aggrandizement. The story has to be about them, or it is inconsequential.

These stunts just give them the chance to hype the 'oh those conservatives are dangerous' rant they have going. I wish people would think more before doing these things, it only helps the real crazies to blur the lines and distract the short sighted media from the real stories. Yes, we have the 2nd amendment that we need to fight for but no, the universal healthcare is not a second amendment issue. Our founding fathers never intended for the federal government to interfere and attempt to control our lives this way. The federal government has no business getting involved in mandates on our personal freedom to chose how we receive our healthcare. Their role, if any, is to assist where necessary with limited programs for segments of our population who are in need of temporary housing, healthcare and other necessities during economic hardship or federal disaster.
Check out this great read from a doctor:
http://deepakmehta.blogtownhall.com/2009/08/19/obama_care_d isaster_in_the_making.thtml

has anyone checked these men out to see who they are? Are they really conservatives, gun enthusiasts? Or are they plants?

Just curious.

Most hunters and those who lobby for them are careful men. They know the dangers of stupidy.

David, that you did a good job of conveying your take. That said, I disagree with your take.

And I'm glad that the featured gut was black. Based on a shorter clip and one not showing the gun toter's head or face, a dimbulb on MSNBC said that the guy was obviously a racist.

Mr. Edema:

I have 2 points.

1. I understand your point but some of this is just taking counsel of your fears. The news media is going to do anything to attempt to intimidate or destroy the reputations of Obama's opponents. If we play the"don't give them any ammunition " strategy this monstrosity would have already been passed into law

2. How do we know these guys aren't agents provacateur's there to portray conservatives in exactly the terms you fear or have their own agenda and are just using this one as a cover?. It wouldn't be the first time-not even with this issue. Remember that congressman who was complaining about some of the signs then we find out that the person with the sign was actually working the event for him?

Thank you,
Dave M.

On your first point, I completely agree with you that the mainstream media is going to do whatever it takes to demonize us. That's a given. What I'm asking is that we don't make it *easy* for them. If they're going to demonize us, make them work for it. There's a difference between us being villified for giving a show of support for an event that we actually believe in, and making foolish decisions, such as bringing weapons to a town hall meeting that has absolutely nothing to do with gun rights or gun control. If the meeting had anything to do with gun rights, then yes, bring them. Otherwise, leave them at home, or at least just bring your legally concealed ones.

On your second point about plants... one of the good things about them is that they almost always backfire, as the plants are eventually exposed (like the "pediatrician" in the Shelia Jackson Lee town hall meeting). That's a good time to take the advantage to push forward and go on the attack. Now if only our side would take advantage of that more, other than just complaining about it.

Mr. Edema

I have been a bit concerned in the past with the apparent willingness of our own supporters to dismiss the very people who voted them into office in order to accomodate those who didn't and then turn around and ask for those very votes again. It was clear from your response that this wasn't what you are doing so I don't think we really disagree that much. Heck- as an NRA member I would never even consider taking a firearm to a Public Meeting. I would expect at the very least the local Gendarmes to take a professional interest in me.

I also saw that post this morning from Saltwater concerning the guy being a Libertarian with his own agenda. Assuming that turns out to be true it doesn't surprise me. Look at the public events that get disrupted. Its always the Liberals doing the disrupting. These Townhall meetings are not bring disrupted by conservatives. A lot of anger certainly but they are directed toward the issue at hand and generally the congressfool who has the colossal arrogance to think we have no clue how to care for ourselves or anyone else.

btw: Our local Congresswoman Lois Capps has not held a public meeting and to date I have not heard of any plans to do so.
We have also had a series of Republican candidates from Santa Barbara County who always campaign as moderates including one truly dumb woman who campaigned as the "The Right Wings Worst Enemy". Guess which candidates keep losing! NONE of them run on the assumption that their constituents are adults who are perfectly capable of running their own lives

Dave M
San Luis Obispo County,Ca

Perhaps these extremist gun enthusiasts want to discourage the left wing thugs from using more physical violence. To bad if Obama didn't show. At the rate he is going he will be chased right out of Washington with the rest of his lying cronies. America is to die for and Obama doesn't have the guts.

Screw the left. Screw leftists. Screw the leftist media. These were the people who have been calling the right Nazis and fascists for decades. They can take their narratives and they can all go straight to hell.

Incidentally, such painting of the right with a broad brush as the left constantly does is symptomatic of their inane pseudo-mystical collectivist worldview.

Dude...you do not have the market on strong feelings about my country.
Who's the friggin'Nazi?
How about fascist...packin' an assault rifle to an American town meeting to protest.
What's up bro...? feeling less than studly?

Has anyone checked to see if this guy is who he says he is? I've never seen a name or anything about him.

Most Dem bloggers and ragbaggers would try to find out. Why didn't they?

Socialism
Bring down socialism!
Say no to Obamacare!
Say no to medicare!
Say no to Social Security!
Say no to the Armed Forces!
Say no to the Municipal Water Authority!
Say no to Bridges! and Road! and Sanitation!!!!
Say no to Sidewalks!
Say no to the American Government saving my skin if I go on an expensive Mediteranian cruise and get taken hostage by Islamic Militants!
I hate when the government tries to help me! Screw them!

Hi Pat, What is a ragbagger?

George

it out but they can't take it. I would like to tell Joe Wilson that before he apologizes to Congress, to make sure Harry Reid tells Bush he is sorry for calling him a liar and other demeaning names! What nerve for the ugly, hateful talking Dem., Party to complain after how they persecuted Bush and lady Sarah!
Ex Democrat