That's how Josh Marshall characterized the hijacking of the healthcare debate by the corporate-led teabaggers. And he points out the real disconnect:
As an example of screamer Don Jeror's populism, he was screaming about corporate taxes, which he claimed had been raised even though they haven't.
It's kind of sad, isn't it? They think they're part of a real populist movement, but the freedom they're fighting for is the freedom of corporations to make even more money off of them. It's that cynicism of this astroturf campaign that's particularly disturbing, because it's not about the rights of citizens to freely express their dissent. It's not a free exchange of views, it's one side attempting to shut the other side down. It's what the Republican party has been about since the Reagan "revolution."
Lloyd Doggett, one of the targets of the far right "artists," released this statement today.
This mob, sent by the local Republican and Libertarian parties, did not come just to be heard, but to deny others the right to be heard. And this appears to be part of a coordinated, nationwide effort. What could be more appropriate for the "party of no" than having its stalwarts drowning out the voices of their neighbors by screaming "just say no!" Their fanatical insistence on repealing Social Security and Medicare is not just about halting health care reform but rolling back 75 years of progress. I am more committed than ever to win approval of legislation to offer more individual choice to access affordable health care. An effective public plan is essential to achieve that goal.
He talked about the issue at length today with CNN's Rick Sanchez.
[at approx 3:45] DOGGETT: Rick, there is a little pattern here that you just pointed out to your viewers. This is not grassroots, pitchfork waving folks. This is a coordinated campaign by the Republican Party and the insurance industry, and just to modify one thing you said, I visited with these people for an hour, listening to their questions, trying to explain the plan, having their taunts, boos and so forth, like my colleagues, and only after they began making so much noise that no one could be heard did I decide first to try to visit with people individually and then as the party of "No, never" they appropriately began chanting at the top of their lungs their no slogan....
I began this discussion saying that I was willing to show as much respect as I received, but I think you get a flavor not just from the yells, but when they show up with a sign "Lloyd Doggett, Traitor to Texas, Devil to all People," and a beautiful photograph of a marble tombstone with my name on it, that they didn't come to learn and talk. They came to demonize.
It's worth watching the whole thing, to see it slowly dawn on Sanchez that, yes, this is a coordinated effort, and yes, there is a script behind it that you see played out again and again at each of the town meetings featured. It's also worth watching to see Doggett take him through this and dissect the process. If Rick Sanchez could get the idea that this this is just performance art sponsored by the healthcare industry and Republican party, maybe the rest of the traditional media will pick up on the idea. Particularly since the anti-reform lobbying groups are taking credit for it.