The White House has dismissed the anger expressed about health-care legislation as “manufactured,” because conservative groups have helped organize opponents to go to these meetings.
I just received an email from Obama’s campaign with this plea:
That’s why Organizing for America is putting together thousands of events this month where you can reach out to neighbors, show your support, and make certain your members of Congress know that you’re counting on them to act.
But these canvasses, town halls, and gatherings only make a difference if you turn up to knock on doors, share your views, and show your support. So here’s what I need from you: Can you commit to join at least one event in your community this month?
So is Obama “manufacturing” support? Is BarackObama.com, by reaching into its supporter networks and mobilizing backers, guilty of “astro-turfing?”
No. Neither are the conservative groups who tell their members and backers to express their objection to health-care reform.
It seems to me there’s a spectrum of political speech ranging from “authentic” to “fake.”
At the far “authentic” end — what GOP operatives would like you think these townhall outbursts are — would be independent citizens, not dedicated to any party or ideology, spontaneously and earnestly expressing their opposition to a policy that, in their well-informed view, would harm their families.
At the far “fake” end — what some liberals suggest is really going on here — would be people being paid by corporate interests to make these objections at town halls.
What we’re seeing is in the middle: probably partisans, who would not be likely to back Obama in any event, and who are opposed on principle to added government intervention in the economy, are going, sometimes with the prodding of conservative activist groups, to make life uncomfortable for politicians. Is there some theater here? Sure? Does that make it illegitimate?
