I saw this on the news last night and just about popped a cork:

Disgusting isn’t it?

As a point of comparison, consider this: the folks over at TheConservatives.com have put together a brilliant post illustrating the many varied differences between the Bush & Obama administrations’ reactions to dissent. Naturally, I’m no fan of President Bush, but the differences in approach are quite illuminating, if a bit disgusting. Click here to check it out.

I have to say, I’m absolutely disgusted with the way the White House, certain members of Congress, and the DNC have been handling the rather raucous reactions certain lawmakers have been getting at town hall meetings back in their districts, especially with regard to health care reform. Rather than react like adults and acknowledge the rights of free speech that make this country great – even if those who are exercising those rights disagree with you – they’re behaving more like spoiled children. Anyone who disagrees with them is met with dirty looks, accusations, and a fair bit of pouting. Obama certainly did bring change to the White House. Unfortunately it’s change in the wrong direction, toward an absolute contempt for dissent. I dare say, I doubt that’s the sort of change most voters were expecting.

But really, shouldn’t most people have known better? After all, Obama was the one who gave this edict to his supporters regarding how they should react should they ever meet someone who dares oppose the Dear Leader: “I want you to talk to ‘em whether they’re independent or they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face!”
Yeah, that’s how an adult calmly carries out a “thoughtful discussion”, the like Robert Gibbs said the orchestrated astroturf protesters were disrupting. But then again, I guess it takes one to know one when it comes to astroturfing. I suppose if you’re a Community Organizer who’s surrounded by fake, generated populist hysteria, you just don’t know how to react when someone’s actually genuine with their concerns about government overstepping its bounds. When everything you do is carefully orchestrated, when every person who asks questions at campaign stops is carefully pre-screened, perhaps you think everyone engages in the same sort of manipulation.

Surprise, surprise. Some of us out here in America actually do care enough about our country to stand up for our beliefs, even if someone isn’t paying us to do so. Myself included. I’m not getting paid a single cent to operate this blog. I don’t even accept ad revenue. And yet here I am, continuing to dedicate my time to voicing my opinions, and spending my own money to do so. And rest assured, if my health would permit me to attend a town hall or two, I’d be there giving a polite earful to my representatives as well.

In short, Mr. Obama, I’m an actual American who doesn’t need a Community Organizer to tell me what to do, what to say, and how to say it. Disagree with me all you like, but don’t you dare dismiss me, insult me, or devalue my right to voice my own opinions.

To the rest of you who are able to attend town halls with your representatives, please remember to be cordial, respectful, and polite, while of course being forceful, sincere, and honest. I realize these issues are important to us, I realize things are getting heated, but we don’t need to shout, we don’t need to scream, and we don’t need to behave like an angry mob. Leave those tactics to Acorn, because quite frankly, such tactics are beneath us. Let’s act like the adults that we are, not like the sniveling spoiled children in Washington.

I never once took a side on Proposition 8 in California, or the other similar amendments in other states. Why? Because I’m not a citizen of those states, and because of that, I don’t feel comfortable influencing their elections. I figure if I don’t like foreigners influencing US elections all the time, I shouldn’t influence Californians, Arizonans, Floridians, or any other state on any other issue they want to bring up for their citizens to vote on.
Now that the vote’s over, I’m still not going to take sides. Honestly, I don’t really know where I stand, simply because I don’t know enough about all the legal implications of either side to really make up my mind yet on the whole gay marriage thing. But, I do want to say something.

Guys, just stop with the threats and violence already!

The whole point of democracy is that people have the right to vote on issues that are important to them. Those issues are then decided on by the majority. Even if you don’t like the way the majority decides, that’s just tough beans, because hey, that’s democracy. Just look at the presidential election – I sure as hell didn’t like the outcome, but am I about to go burn down Obama supporters’ houses or places of worship? Am I about to threaten violence to anyone who dares have an Obama sign in their front yard? Hell no! Because that’s democracy – sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t. Deal with it! That’s called being an adult. That’s called being an American!
Of course, I’m well within my right to continue to disagree with the majority. As do all of you who are angry about the way your elections on the gay marriage amendments turned out. By all means, continue the discussion, try to prove your point. But do not try to prove your point through violence. We must rely on ideas, not threats! If you continue these violent outbursts and refuse to acknowledge the democratic results of this election, you’re only further damaging your cause. You say you’re fighting hatred & bigotry, yet you’re showing hatred, bigotry – and worse – violence? What sense does that make? Who, pray tell, are you going to win over with tactics such as these? You’re only alienating those you wish to convince, further damaging your cause, AND not to mention, damaging our democratic process.

So, I implore you, grow up! Deal with it! Move on! Keep fighting what you believe to be the good fight, but do it decently, within the law, and with respect for the democratic process and will of the people. Above all else, we must not lose respect for the will of the people, we must not lose respect for the democratic process. On more than one occasion now in California, the people have consistently voted against gay marriage, yet their votes are continually repudiated by a court wishing to legislate from the bench. Don’t you realize this is such a dangerous proposition?! This undermines our democracy! This undermines the people’s right to run their own government! This undermines everything we believe in; that whole “We the people” thing, that’s what you’re attacking right now. So stop it! Accept this vote, let the will of the people stand, even if you don’t like it. Then continue your right to exercise your freedom of speech, try to win people over to your side through words and example, not through violence and intimidation. Because that’s simply not the democratic way, and it sure as hell isn’t the American way.

Stop the violence! Stop the bigotry & hatred, or you’re never going to stop the bigotry & hatred that you claim to be fighting. Lead by example, then maybe you’ll get somewhere.

To those who are being targeted and had violence threatened against them for their votes, do not let them discourage you! Do not bend to their thuggery and intimidation. I know it must be hard, I know it must be terrible. In fact, I have several friends in California who are in the thick of it right now. One of my close friends lives near to the Mormon Temple in Los Angeles. He has witnessed the protests up close and personal, and has seen close friends attacked by the throngs of protesters. I know this can be terrifying and disheartening, but do not lose hope and do not lose heart. You had your right to vote however you chose. The minute you’re frightening out of what you believe in is the minute we lose our democracy. By all means, engage in discussions with those of differing opinions. Learn from them, learn about their point of view, think carefully about all sides of these important issues. But you cannot let such horrific tactics sway your resolve. That’s not America. Or at least, it shouldn’t be.
Stay strong and know that there are people out here in the rest of the country who are standing with you. Not necessarily because we agree with how you voted, but because we believe in your right to vote, your right to determine the direction of your government. You exercised that right and are being attacked for it. Shame on those who are attacking you, shame on their ignorance, hatred, and violent natures. Convictions must win out over intimidation; democracy must triumph over chaos. It absolutely must. If you bend to their threats, if you let fear sway your heart, we will surely be lost.