Rachel Maddow took an in-depth look last night at the strategies opponents of reform (from health care to energy and beyond) are using to try to derail President Obama's agenda. Their tactics range from shouting down Congressional Democrats at their own town hall meetings to faking letters to Congress. It's a 13 minute segment, but it's well worth watching the whole thing:
Here's one question I'm left with after watching Congressional Democrats apparently shocked at the teabaggers and completely befuddled as to how to respond: Are their staff members asleep at the wheel?
Websites like ThinkProgress.org and TalkingPointsMemo.com have been reporting on the teabaggers' plans to disrupt the town halls with mob tactics for weeks now. Did Democratic Congressional staffers not see those reports? I mean, Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) clearly has no clue what's going on. Why didn't his staff warn him?
And it's not just a Congressional problem. Organizing for America is falling behind, too. At The Plum Line, Greg Sargeant asks, "Will Obama’s much-vaunted campaign operation be outworked by the Tea Baggers?"
It's time for Democrats across the country to step up our game.
Blue Virginia
