ABC News: Republican Lawmakers Face Angry, Confused Constituents on Medicare, Budget Cuts

[RamboLiberal]

The backlash that some Republican members of Congress are facing in town hall meetings over their 2012 budget proposal rings a familiar bell.

In August 2009, Democrats across the country faced rowdy, YouTube-worthy protesters as they tried to sell the health care plan.

As Republican members take to the road during their two-week break from Congress to try and sell the budget proposal crafted by Rep. Paul Ryan, they are facing similar questions, though the outcry thus far has not yet escalated to the level that their Democratic counterparts faced.

Americans are particularly concerned, and somewhat confused, about the proposal to overhaul Medicare, a central feature of the Wisconsin congressman's proposal.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/paul-ryans-2012-budget-proposal-backlash-town-halls/story?id=13438774

Note how they spin it. Oh it's not the same - the meetings are not rowdy. Maybe we need to go to these meetings and get rowdy!

[Ian David]

1. And THEY encourage people to come armed to these things. n/t

[arbusto_baboso]

2. What the hell did these "angry, confused constituents" think they were voting for?

The Rethug record is clear to those who pay even the smallest amount of attention.

[patricia92243]

13. Mom, apple pie, and the American flag - what Repubs always vote for

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. May their anger only increase!

[KittyWampus]

12. Too bad there's no concerted effort on Democrats/Unions part to get people to these meetings

and raise hell.

[L0oniX]

4. Maybe they thought they were voting on American Idol.

[gratuitous]

5. The reporter says "confused" but doesn't offer any evidence

I wonder how that characterization got into the story, since there's no indication that the people who are angry about the Ryan proposal are anything but well informed about its fiscal shenanigans masquerading as responsibility. In fact, in direct opposition to the astroturf mobs hired by the Republicans last year, the angrier people are this year, the better informed they are likely to be.

Maybe if folks started packing heat to these events the poppular media could get its coverage straight?

[HereSince1628]

6. We need some swing to the left in that old GOP base

I'm not gonna get into blaming them for voting this mess into existance in 2010. If they now are wanting the same thing I want, then hallelujah!

"Hands off SS!" "Medicare for All!" is a simple meme to teach and remember, when they have it down my plan is to reward them with a 'Great to hear you say that!"

[onethatcares]

7. what they thought they were voting for was

getting that black guy out of the Whitehouse and ending all those programs that helped them colored folks.


Well, surprise, surprise, surprise. What they heard isn't what they got.

[opihimoimoi]

8. Basically, Its a BAD PLAN...any fool knows a bad plan sooner or later...

The numbers don't add up to Prosperity and Stability....more DRAMA instead

[pinto]

9. Agree about the spin. What ABC overlooks is the cast of characters in these scenarios.

On the one hand, teabaggers, with their loud one-liners about dismantling government and all the bizarre crap about Pres. Obama - easy 15 second TV fodder and You Tube bits.

On the other, the not quite extinct remnants of a rational segment of the Repub party. I'm old enough to remember some of our pre-Reagan opponents across the aisle. Disagreements were often based on sincere idealogical differences, not emotion based, nonsensical rants.

I blame Reagan - "government is the problem" - for the current conservative approach to political involvement. And the media for it's shallow pandering to a politics as entertainment mindset. :hi:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. The meeting aren't rowdy, nor are they sponsored and coached by Americans for Prosperity

and the Koch Bros.

[Andy823]

11. One big difference

The teabaggers were not all simply unhappy folks there were paid "thugs" involved who were trying to cause problems. Now that we have "real" people upset, but not violent the republicans don't know what to do. They can try and spin their budget plan all they want, the facts are going to prove otherwise, and when real people get upset and start coming to these meetings and complaining, it won't do well for them come the next election.

If they really think they can balance the budget not only in the states but at the national level, on the backs of seniors, teachers, firemen, police, nurses, public employees, and our children, they better think again because the vast majority of people in this country won't accept that! They say put everything on the table, but republicans won't touch oil subsides and tax breaks, or raising taxes on the rich an corporations, so how are we "all" sharing in solving this mess when the rich getting away with tax cuts while the rest of us pay for their screw ups that got us here in the first place!

[Snoutport]

14. we act civilized...they act like crazy people...yet they won elections bigtime...sigh

[RagAss]

15. These morons were born confused.