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I don't buy Politico's claim about a "Birther/health care conflation"

August 06, 2009 10:26 am ET by Eric Boehlert

Here's Jonathan Martin's* item in full, where he seems to suggest there's an unfair connection being made by Democrats between birthers and those forming the health care mini-mobs [emphasis added]:

Senate Whip Dick Durbin, leaving the White House on message, says it directly:

"These town hall meetings have been orchestrated by the tea baggers and the birthers to just be a free-for-alls, make a lot of noise, go on YouTube and show discord," said Durbin. "I mean that is what they are determined to do. But that is not going to accomplish what we need to accomplish: real health care reform."

I suppose the only question is, what's the meaning of "orchestrated"? Because as Media Matters has clearly documented, right-wing media voices who have been central in pushing the birther nonsense have also been central in promoting--in orchestrating--the town hall mini-mobs: Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage. They all ran to the head of the birther line and now they're all running to the head of the mini-mob line. 

In fact, on his radio show Wednesday, Savage and his delusional birther guest stressed how activists should use the town hall forms--how they should form mini-mobs--to drive the birther message. And let's not not forget that the current wave of birther mania was kick-started by a GOP mini-mob that hijacked a GOP town hall meeting in Delaware and turned it into a raucous birther rally.

*Politico's Martin wrote the "conflation" post at Ben Smith's blog and I originally attributed this item to Smith.

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    • Author by Bad News (August 06, 2009 10:32 am ET)
      1  
      The Birthers & The Helath Care Mob are of the same Ilk.
      It's there hatred of the 1st Black President that is Spoiling Their Milk.
      These People are trying to turn America into a Nation Divided.
      We should all take Each & Every opportunity to make sure these Mobsters are Chided.

      Speak truth to power.


      Mr. News
      Report Abuse
      • Author by seroquel (August 06, 2009 2:47 pm ET)
           
        Correct. I love how Faux is making it look like tons of people are just exercising their right to assemble. I think they forgot a key word: peaceably .
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Don S (August 08, 2009 10:18 pm ET)
             
          I think that if you want to see what a mob is really like,then go to any college campus when a Conservative is trying to speak.
          What you'll probably see is the Gestapo types (left wing radicals),probably storming the stage in anger.
          Your idea of the first amendment and mine are probably not even close.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by ayele17foli4121 (August 06, 2009 11:04 am ET)
         
      Politico Ben Smith always wants to play the big smart. Instead of looking at the critical facts, he speculates. For me, his blog is more gossip-like than news.
      Report Abuse

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  • County Fair is a media blog featuring links to progressive media criticism from around the Web as well as original commentary, breaking news and rapid response updates to major media events from Media Matters senior fellows and other staff.