rssNervous Tea Partiers See Possible Democratic Win on Health Care
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 6:00 am
- 67 Comments
Demonstrators at Tuesday's rally on Capitol Hill (Photo by David Weigel)
“Might as well not even be here,” grumbled Georgia Holliday. “I can’t believe that Dick Armey screwed up like this!”
Holliday was not alone. Having traveled into the city from the suburbs for the 10 a.m. “Code Red” rally on the Capitol grounds, she got more and more annoyed that she couldn’t hear any of the speakers. (She was also annoyed at the wrong Tea Party activist — the Code Red rally was sponsored by a coalition of Tea Party groups, while a different, 9 a.m. rally had been organized by Armey’s FreedomWorks.) As Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) waved a copy the massive Senate version health care bill — “I brought an abortion to show you!” — Holliday winced and chanted her disapproval.
[GOP1] “Kill the bill!” she said. “Kill the bill! And get us a PA system!”
The Code Red rally was small, drawing around 300 people into a noisy circle. So was the FreedomWorks “People’s Surge,” which sent Tea Party activists onto Capitol Hall to seek out one-on-one meetings with members of Congress whose votes could decide the fate of health care reform. Both events were mocked for their size, by Democrats and liberal groups that had grown used to explosive media coverage of the conservative movement. “I’ve been to birthday parties that drew more people,” sneered DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan in an email to Politico’s Ben Smith.
If the relative fizzle fazed Tea Party organizers — FreedomWorks had hoped for closer to 2,500 activists — they didn’t show it. Rob Jordan of FreedomWorks told smug Democrats to wait for election day: “You can count on people showing up.” Libertarian and conservative blogs reported on larger Tea Party protests happening in Michigan and San Diego.
But the smallish numbers of the March 16 Tea Party push amplified the new attitude coming from politicians and activists: pessimism. Slightly over a year since the start of the movement, Tea Party activists were, for the first time, contemplating a major legislative victory for President Barack Obama and the Democrats — the final passage of health care reform. While many held out hope that plans to pass the Senate’s version of reform in the House would stall out, others pondered their next steps. Some, like Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), took a dark view of what might come.
“Right now, they’re civil, because they think they have a chance of stopping this bill,” said King to reporters, waving his arm at a pack of “People’s Surge” activists forming a line to enter the Cannon House Office Building. “The reason we don’t have violence in this country like they do in dictatorships is because we have votes, and our leaders listen to their constituents. Now we’re in a situation where the leaders are defying the people!” Later, King would expand on those remarks and speculate on a possible anti-Washington revolt in which Tea Parties would “fill the streets” of the capital.
Few Tea Party activists were as pessimistic as King. All agreed that the determination of Democrats to pass a bill — post-Sept. 12, post-Massachusetts special election — was getting harder to overcome.
“Nothing they do surprises me!” said an exasperated Amy Kremer of Tea Party Express. “Nancy Pelosi has said, ‘If we can’t get through the fence, we’ll go over it; if we can’t go over the fence, we’ll catapult over it; if we can’t catapult over it, we’ll parachute over it.’ So, basically, they’ll do whatever it takes. Just a total disregard for what the American people want.”
Activists spent the day — they plan on spending most of this month — trying to convey just what it is they say Americans want. Those who arrived at the Hill on Tuesday morning were handed thick packets of advice on how to lobby members, and who needed their attention. Those who couldn’t make it there could pick up other guidelines at a small “war room” set up at a hotel a few blocks south of the Capitol. In all cases, activists were given advice on how to complement the phone calls and faxes that were coming to targeted representatives from, largely, Americans who didn’t live in their districts. A white sketchpad in the war room ran down a few possible responses to members who blanched at talking to the activists.
“If you are not a constituent and they don’t want to talk to you,” advised war room organizers, “ask — ‘If you won’t talk to someone from outside of your district are you ready or willing to pledge not to take money from donors outside of your district?’ Or — ‘If I gave you a donation, would you talk to me?’”
The lobbying had mixed results. A group of activists from Georgia told TWI that they were trying to lobby Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.), who has said he’d vote “no” on the Senate bill, after a difficult time lobbying Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), who has said he’d vote yes.
“We spent an hour with him,” grimaced Kathryn Jackson, a retired hospital worker from Fortson, Ga. She pointed to a lamppost. “It was about as useful as talking to that, right there.”
Kathy Ropte — like Jackson, a member of the Harris County, Ga. Tea Party, had started to move beyond lobbying. As cameras snapped away, she stood in front of the Cannon Building and announced the termination, “to take effect in November,” of pro-health care reform members. One activist chided her for the display, which included a massive sign reading “Waterboard Congress.” Jackson didn’t care. She was in the fight, whether or not health care reform passed.
“One day I turned off American Idol,” Ropte told TWI, “and I turned on Fox News. Before this year I’d never voted in my life.”
Of the activists who spoke to TWI, none were ready to give up on opposing health care reform if the bill passed. Some, however, were looking to other potential fights. Jane, a Montgomery County, Md. activist who declined to give her last name (“my kids don’t want to see it show up in the paper!”) suggested that a health care win would free up President Obama to give amnesty to undocumented immigrants, possibly by an executive order. Susan Clark, whose sign compared the health care bill to the notorious Tuskegee Experiment, suggested that passage would bring Democrats a step closer to enforcing a new “slavery” over Americans. But most activists who pondered the aftermath of health care reform’s passage said they would fight on, looking for ways to roll it back. Susan Birch, a Chester County, Penn. activist, sported a button for insurgent Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Sam Rohrer because he was pledging to make the governor’s office “the front line” against government expansion.
“Whatever Congress does,” said Birch, “you’re going to see the 10th Amendment invoked to stop it.”
The thought of a post-vote backlash — electoral and legal — was the cheeriest thought of the day.
“I’ve got a standing bet with [Rep.] Jason Altmire [D-Pa.],” said Henry Hill, a retired police officer and member of the Pittsburgh Tea Party. “A case of Yuengling says that the mandate will not go through the Supreme Court.”
Follow David Weigel on Twitter
67 Comments
Pingback posted March 17, 2010 @ 10:27 am
[...] Nervous Tea Partiers See Possible Democratic Win on Health Care – Washington Post [...]
Trackback posted March 17, 2010 @ 11:50 am
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by TMCMemberFeed: Wash. Independent: Nervous Tea Partiers See Possible Democratic Win on Health Care: Rallies draw small crowds, and… http://bit.ly/aRYJeA...
Pingback posted March 17, 2010 @ 12:13 pm
[...] his intention to support the bill, and now, according to ace Washington Independent reporter David Weigel, even the tea partiers are feeling [...]
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 11:53 am
no matter what happens…this is about to get real ugly…God help us all
Pingback posted March 17, 2010 @ 12:57 pm
[...] his intention to support the bill, and now, according to ace Washington Independent reporter David Weigel, even the tea partiers are feeling [...]
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 12:32 pm
These have to be the most gullible human beings in the world…….
Pingback posted March 17, 2010 @ 2:06 pm
[...] woman interviewed yesterdayby Dave Weigel of Washington Independent, is a perfect example of how far the Tea Party will have to go before it might be a viable [...]
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 2:53 pm
It's no fun watching a John Bircher's head explode in anger and frustration, because there aren't any brains inside to splash around. It's kinda like an empty gourd.
Pingback posted March 17, 2010 @ 3:56 pm
[...] the Washington Independent, David Weigel notes that the size of the rally was not impressive: The Code Red rally was small, drawing around 300 [...]
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 3:13 pm
Steve King's remarks are beyond offensive. They're threatening. When a member of the House of Representatives suggests violence is the next step, he should be censured. Of course, this isn't the first time Mr. King has gone off the deep end.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 3:37 pm
King has ALWAYS been off the deep end, this is just the first time anyone noticed him.
This won't get ugly, cause bullies like the TEABAGGER/912ers are actually cowards, and will fold like a cheap tent.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 3:42 pm
Hey, tell them to look at the bright side. At least now they'll have plenty of time to teabag each other.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 3:56 pm
“One day I turned off American Idol,” Ropte told TWI, “and I turned on Fox News. Before this year I’d never voted in my life.”
That tells you all you need to know about these people.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 4:06 pm
Why is it you gay men always call anyone who is not a brainwashed progressive idoit like you a teabagger. It's you guys who teabag each other. Now go down to the “T” room in your local park or department store and get back doing what you do best, teabagging each other.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 4:37 pm
Perhaps if those tea baggers weren't so lazy they would find out what the Health Care Reform Bill was all about.
But they choose to listen to fnc a noted liar, and continue to think the health insurances will be replaced by the government. If that were true it would have been a SINGLE PAYER BILL.
They are really pathetic, but then they wear tea bags on their heads.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 4:40 pm
You should rename yourself to simplesoul as you have no idea what is in the bill.
Amazing when bush ran evil bills through the gop dominated legislative branch I bet you kept quiet.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 4:42 pm
Why is it you tea baggers who ran around in public with tea bags on your hats and heads insult progressives who are certainly more intelligent and know what's in the bill better than you do names?
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 4:44 pm
I'm hoping you're right, but let's not count the eggs, etc, etc, until the voting ends.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 4:46 pm
Call your elected officials and complain. If more people did this they would listen, that's if they want to be re-elected.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 5:49 pm
Funny you would be obsessed with gays; funny because, if you're a Tea Partier, you have a GOP/Corporate puppeteer's hand shoved way up your ass—I can tell because when your mouth moves, I hear their script verbatim. What a tool.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 6:04 pm
“One day I turned off American Idol,” Ropte told TWI, “and I turned on Fox News. Before this year I’d never voted in my life.”
This is disgusting, so now a person who is wholly disinterested in democracy is basing their opinion on not just a single source of information but an extremely biased source at that. This individual is irresponsible and does not deserve to vote, but then I imagine this fits many of those in the tea parties.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 6:28 pm
American Idol: gateway drug of choice for Teabaggerz
Pingback posted March 17, 2010 @ 7:35 pm
[...] at the Capitol are to be believed, my skepticism of putting Sanford Bishop back to undecided has been validated. But they also apparently got John Barrow to commit to a no vote. It’s difficult to tell from [...]
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
In taking up the Slaughter tactic, the House of Representatives has now basically declared fiat rule. What did you expect to happen? At a minimum, you can expect mass civil disobedience. You all are bringing this down on yourselves. We still have a representative republic and a constitution. I know you don't care for these things, but others do, and they outnumber you. If you want might-makes-right rule, then you should logically expect that the opposition will attempt to use force against you in return at some point. This cannot end well. I would urge you to advise your Democrat to back away from this mess.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
ooooohhhhhh that name calling “thing” is so __________ (fill in the blank)
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 8:10 pm
Soooooo…. how is that name calling thing is working (for you)?
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 8:26 pm
It appears your comments page contains these little nuggets:
'Whack Job & Leftist House Speaker Nancy Pelosi'
'and thus usher in a new dimocRAT free era in the house …'
'CrapWeasel … Sounds about right to me!'
Based on that, I assume either:
a) You are a performance artist who uses irony to point out the character flaws in the human condition.
or
b) You are an asshat who lacks self-awareness.
I vote for b). And before you ask – the name calling thing is working out fanfuckingtastic for me, and it is fucking delicious.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 8:28 pm
In taking up the Slaughter tactic, the House of Representatives has now basically declared fiat rule.
Nope. It's called the legislature. They pass legislation. That is not by fiat.
What did you expect to happen? At a minimum, you can expect mass civil disobedience.
Whiny, retired teabaggers screaming about shit? We already have that.
If you want might-makes-right rule, then you should logically expect that the opposition will attempt to use force against you in return at some point. This cannot end well.
Your threats of violence when bills you don't like pass is duly noted. We're not all that worried. You teabaggers don't have the teabags for it.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 8:31 pm
When Bush was ruling the roost, our simple soul — like the Idol lady — was, probably, only concerned with the TV box, not the ballot one.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 8:40 pm
?
Your attempt at snark is decidely lame
You should stick to the reliable EVERYTHING IN CAPS approach—I think you're up to that challenge
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 8:53 pm
SteveCan't is definitely from category b:
He is eliminated from category a by virtue of the fact that Stevie is, like all wingnuts, irony-challenged.
Pingback posted March 17, 2010 @ 10:41 pm
[...] the original: Nervous Tea Partiers See Possible Democratic Win on Health Care Related Posts Post a [...]
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 10:04 pm
Because you are afraid of us ramming our policy down your throat?
Comment posted March 18, 2010 @ 12:28 am
Well thankfully the teabagging men are exposing themselves here rather than in public where they might have access to innocent underage boys as I understand that's what they're always preying upon and praying for their Gawd to send them them more of.
Hopefully Swami_Binkinanda, chrisjay, lyris, and mantis find each other and can get down to some serious group t-bagging rather than foist incurable viral infections to the poor and innocent.
Their leader, The Speaktress of the House, Madame FacepulledtightbytoomuchplaticsurgeryPelosi is looking out for them by insuring that the man T-bagging men in her district will get their much needed medicinal “cocktails” paid for by the people in “fly over country”.
Comment posted March 18, 2010 @ 1:32 am
God bless the Tea Partiers.
This country will fold if they do.
There is no strength or power in those who have no courage.
Comment posted March 18, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
“One day I turned off American Idol,” Ropte told TWI, “and I turned on Fox News. Before this year I’d never voted in my life.”
There's a money quote if I ever saw one;
Comment posted March 18, 2010 @ 5:21 pm
I find it quite amusing that you think calling us all gay is some sort of slam—so what if every one of us is? Your 'barb' is utterly toothless, as I imagine you yourself are. The aspersions do nothing to further your cause, they're really quite pathetic. Sad that that's the best you can come up with, but symptomatic of your ilk
Comment posted March 18, 2010 @ 5:24 pm
check above gay-bashing comment by your compatriot ElmerFudd, then get back to us on the 'name-calling' issue, k, Stevie?
Comment posted March 18, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
Ask your compatriot, ElmerFudd—maybe he will respond to a fellow Tea Partier—ya think?
Comment posted March 18, 2010 @ 5:30 pm
“There is no strength or power in those who have no courage”
Where did that profound gem come from: Palin? Michelle Bachmann?
Or was it Patrick the starfish from Sponge Bob Squarepants?
Comment posted March 18, 2010 @ 5:58 pm
I'm not gay, but it doesn't bother me in the least if someone calls me gay. I don't see that as an insult at all.
You teabaggers are the ones who want to police what others say, constantly whining about being referred to by a term you ignorantly chose for yourselves. Such whiny little perpetual outrage victims you all are.
Comment posted March 18, 2010 @ 5:59 pm
Your Hannity talking points are a few weeks/months out of date.
Pingback posted March 18, 2010 @ 7:54 pm
[...] Nervous Tea Partiers See Possible Democratic Win on Health Care … [...]
Pingback posted March 19, 2010 @ 1:14 am
[...] Nervous Tea Partiers See Possible Democratic Win on Health Care … [...]
Pingback posted March 19, 2010 @ 5:00 am
[...] Nervous Tea Partiers See Possible Democratic Win on Health Care … [...]
Comment posted March 20, 2010 @ 8:41 am
“One day I turned off American Idol,” Ropte told TWI, “and I turned on Fox News. Before this year I’d never voted in my life.”
Comment posted March 21, 2010 @ 3:21 pm
FREEDOM: Our freedoms are literally eroding in front of our eyes … what will we have to sacrifice before we, as law abiding citizens, say … ENOUGH! It's not necessarily about Democrat or Republician … it's about representing the consent of the people … unfortunately, with the passage of the Democratic health care bill, our consent was ignored and socialism is much closer to reality! What a very sad day for democracy and America!
Comment posted March 21, 2010 @ 11:44 pm
Your right Joe, the commies have completley taken over.
My pastor says the only thing we can do now is kill ourselves
Comment posted March 22, 2010 @ 7:28 pm
You're just arguing for the MonopolyCare status quo, who want to continuously raise rates faster than inflation. Adam Smith once said: “People of the same trade seldom meet together even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public or some contrivance to raise prices.” And your MonpolyCare friends have done just that.
What the Dem's did is a good thing. Providing for the common defence, promoting the general welfare… and making a more Perfect Union are not examples of Socialism.
Comment posted March 23, 2010 @ 7:38 am
Yeah Joe I agree, all the 'we the people' shit is fricking commyism. These idiots actually want to provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, establish justice, ensure domestic tanquility! The fucking nerve of them! … get this… and 'promote the general welfare' to boot! How fricken unamerican could these liberals possibly be? I agree with you! it is a sad day for feudalism! What on earth gave liberals a license to attempt to create a more perfect union????
Comment posted March 23, 2010 @ 10:14 pm
Oooooooooohhhh I like that name calling thingy you do chrisjay! Classy!
Comment posted March 23, 2010 @ 10:16 pm
The feeling is (of course) mutual my little crapweasel!
Pingback posted July 3, 2010 @ 4:36 pm
[...] account of growing pessimism among Tea Partiers that the passage of health care reform could be prevented. [...]
Comment posted August 1, 2010 @ 12:46 pm
get this… and 'promote the general welfare' to boot! How fricken unamerican could these liberals possibly be? I agree with you! it is a sad day for feudalism! What on earth gave liberals a license to attempt to create a more perfect union????
Comment posted September 4, 2010 @ 3:12 am
Thanks for the post. Oh and I had a question- where did you get your theme? I really like it- is it free?
Trackback posted November 8, 2010 @ 5:37 am
Thank you……
A very impressive article. Well prepared. Very motivating!! Go off on to facilitate way…
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
