Monday 10 August 2009

Insurance Industry Funded Fascism

That's the description given by Francis (Frank?) Schaeffer, a former leading Republican Pro-Lifer on the increasingly violent tactics being employed in the protests about Obama's helath-care reform.

And Schaeffer should know - he wrote the script and developed the tactics, which he now rejects as "fascist". Schaeffer claims the only thing missing from this fascism is the blackshirted uniforms.
Right-Wing Turncoat Gives the Inside Scoop on Why Conservatives Are Rampaging Town Halls

by Francis Schaeffer

The Republican Old Guard are in the fix an atheist would be in if Jesus showed up and raised his mother from the dead: Their world view has just been shattered. Obama's election has driven them over the edge. Consider Former Congressman Dick Armey. Several far right foundations and the multitrillion dollar health-insurance industry have teamed up with him to organize the far right foot soldiers of the Republican Party to intimidate people speaking on behalf of health-care reform. They are using my old shock troops -- given many of these folks were first energized by the Evangelical pro-life movement that my late father and I started in the 1970s. What we did to clinics they are now doing to congressmen and others speaking out for health care reform.

Having failed at the ballot box, having watched their Fox News-organized "tea parties" fizzle the intimidation tactics which the Republicans have embraced are being used in a well-financed, top-down orchestrated fake grass roots campaign by corporate interests to try and protect the profits of the insurance business. Armey's FreedomWorks is organizing against health care reform. Armey's lobbying firm represents pharmaceutical companies including Bristol-Myers Squibb. Armey's lobbying firm also represents the trade group for the life insurance industry. FreedomWorks is supporting the status quo at all costs. (They are also fans of fossil fuels. Armey's lobbying firm represents Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE, on energy related issues.)

Last year, the Wall Street Journal exposed FreedomWorks for building "amateur-looking" websites to promote far right interests of Armey. FreedomWorks represents a top-down, corporate-friendly approach that's been the norm for conservative organizations for years. How do I know this is the norm? Because I used to have strategy meetings with the late Jack Kemp and Dick Army and the rest of the Republican gang about using their business ties to help finance the pro-life movement to defeat Democrats. I know this script. I helped write it.

Democratic members of Congress are being harassed by angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior at local town halls. It's the tactic we used to follow abortion providers around their neighborhoods. "Protesters" surrounded Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) and forced police officers to have to escort him to his car for safety. We used to do the same to Dr. Tiller... until someone killed him.

How Can The Right Stoop So Low?

I used to know Dick Armey quite well. One of my sons even worked for him as an intern. I knew Armey in the context of his being a fan of my late Evangelical Religious Right leader father Francis Schaeffer. (Back in the day when I was a right wing "pro-life" organizer who has long since quit the Republicans in disgust at their -- our -- descent into extremism and hate.) Armey was once a decent guy, whatever his political views. How could he stoop so low as to be organizing what amounts to America's Brown Shirts today?

I think I know what happened to him, Gingrich and the rest: They can't compute that their white man-led conservative revolution is dead. They can't reconcile their idea of themselves with the fact that white men like them don't run the country any more -- and never will again. To them the black president is leading a column of the "other" into their promised land. Gays, immigrants, blacks, progressives, even a female Hispanic appointed to the Supreme Court... for them this is the Apocalypse.

The last presidential election (to paraphrase Bart Simpson) "broke their brains." What else could explain their embrace of intimidation -- rather than discourse -- over the health care debate and such unsavory moments of madness as the Republicans accusing Obama and Judge Sonia Sotomayor of racism, knowing full well that they'd just destroyed their chances with the Hispanic community forever?

The "Scorched Earth Policy"

Dick Army and company have been driven mad by their reversal, not just of political fortunes but of seeing that they've wasted their lives. They now know they were wrong: about the country, the free market, war for fun and profit, and what the American people really want. They made their best case and were rejected by the American people -- and by history. Bush was their man and he turned out to be a fool. So now all the the Republican gurus have left is what the defeated Germans of World War Two had: a scorched earth policy. If they can't win then everyone must go down. Obama must fail! The country must fail!

The Lobbyist-run Groups "Americans for Prosperity " and "FreedomWorks/ Dick Armey-Orchestrated Memo:

Here is a leaked excerpt from the folks organizing the intimidation campaign:

- Artificially Inflate Your Numbers: "Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up. The Rep should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington."

- Be Disruptive Early And Often: "You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep's presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep's statements early."

- Try To "Rattle Him," Not Have An Intelligent Debate: "The goal is to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before he even takes questions."

The Last Republican Tactic: Outright Lies

A barrage of outright lies, wherein the Democrats are being accused of wanting to launch a massive euthanasia program against the elderly, free abortions for everyone, and "a government takeover" of health-care is now being combined with physical intimidation that in several cases has required police escorts to protect pro health-care reform speakers surrounded by angry plants sent to disrupt public forums on the health-care issue. Demonstrators hung Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) in effigy outside of his office. (Missing from the reporting of these stories -- with the notable exception of Rachel Maddow -- is the fact that much of these protests are coordinated by public relations firms and lobbyists who have a stake in opposing President Obama's reforms.

There is no daylight between the Republican Party, the health-care insurance industry, far right leaders like Dick Armey, the legion of insurance lobbyists, and now, a small army of thugs. All we're missing is actual uniforms, otherwise we now have a full blown American version of the Nazi Brown Shirts.

No, I don't believe that these people are about to take over the country. No, the sky is not falling. But the Republican Party is. It is now profoundly anti-American.

The health-insurance industry is run by very smart and very greedy people who have sunk to a new low. So has the Republican Party's leadership that will not stand up and denounce the likes of Dick Armey for helping organize roving bands of thugs trying to strip the rest of us of the ability to be heard when it comes to the popular will on reforming health care.

Conclusion: the Fascist Formula

Here's the emerging American version of the fascist's formula: combine millions of dollars of lobbyists' money with embittered troublemakers who have a small army of not terribly bright white angry people (collected over decades through pro-life mass mailing networks) at their beck and call, ever ready to believe any myth or lie circulated by the semi literate and completely and routinely misinformed right wing -- Evangelical religious underground. Then put his little mob together with the insurance companies' big bucks. That's how it works -- American Brown Shirts at the ready.

What's the results of the fascist formula for the rest of us? Well, think how this "method" worked against Dr. Tiller's abortion clinic and how that story ended. In this case a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save our economy from going bankrupt because of spiraling health care costs may be lost, not because of a better argument, but because of lies backed up by anti-democratic embittered thuggery. The motive? Revenge on America by the Old White Guys of the far right, and greed by the insurance industry.

What Can Be Done?

It's time that this whole shabby (and insane) business be exposed, vilified in run out of town on a rail by whatever responsible Republicans -- if any -- that are still in the party and who want to see the fortunes of their party revived. Republican leaders taking insurance industry money via lobbying firms and using it to organize what amounts to roving bands of thugs not only need to be exposed but thrown out of the public debate forever. They should become absolute pariahs.

It's time to give this garbage a name: insurance industry funded fascism.
LINK
Here's an interview with Schaeffer on the topics raised above. Schaeffer gets it absolutely spot-on: the disinfo campaign is working on two levels- 1)the outright lies about the health-care reforms, and 2)accusations that a black democratically elected president who is moderately progressive is a Hitlerite demagogue (effectively putting a loaded gun on the table for use by the extremist, ill-educated, fanatical wing. Shooting Hitler would be "a good thing", right?



Clearly these same tactics have been operating in the 911 Truth and Patriot movements - whereby democrats, liberals, ecologists and socialists are portrayed as the extremists, whilst the genuine Nazis, fascists and racists operating in 911 Truth and Patriot movements are falsely described as "freedom-lovers", "friends of liberty", "libertarians" etc. and are falsely cast as portraying grass-movements.

Well done Schaeffer - thank you.

More on this story at gordspoetryfactory blog, here

12 comments:

Real Truth Online said...

How did FRANCIS Schaeffer say anything about the Obama protests when he's been DEAD for 25 years??? You mean his SON, FRANK Schaeffer??

I see your research skills on this small detail are on par with your 9-11 research! LOL

MORON

Bishops Homegrown said...

check this out dickface. If you don't live in this country then shut your fucking mouth. You don't know the half of what is going on in this country you limey English cunt.

the_last_name_left said...

LOL @ Bishops Homegrown

Doesn't take much to flush the fascists out, does it?

I love your style btw - real persuasive.

It doesn't do much for your argument though. (Not that you have one.)
-----------

@Larry aka RealTruthOnline - funny you're so familiar with the Schaeffers. What a coincidence, huh?

FYI, the story at alternet appears with Francis Schaeffer's name. Check the link? Top of the page says Frank, the story says Francis.

You'll have to excuse me, I'm obviously not so familiar as you are with your hero, Francis Schaeffer.

Larry said...

LOL, Im not familiar with the Schaeffer's. But I DO know that Frank is the son and Francis was the father and at one time, they both were religious nutballs, who I condemn on my blog. I even have a feature titled "Lifetstyles of the religious nutball"---so much for me being RIGHT wing huh? But it doesnt matter ho much I know or how little I know. What matters is, if youre going to post a story and PRAISE Frank for his appearance on Rachel Maddow, GET HIS NAME RIGHT----where does your research cut off at? Copying and pasting? So, your view is, I must completely support their view if I KNOW THEIR NAMES?? Youre a complete moron.

You called Frank FRANCIS. Im sure he would be offended by that, but you dont care. Even after you were TOLD their CORRECT names, you STILL didnt change it. Do a story on Kenneth Gladney, a protestor that was beaten up on August 6 in St. Louis by Obama union thugs. And the violence is from the RIGHT huh? So far there has not been ONE reported case of violence by the protestors. How dare you let those pesky FACTS get in the way! lol

the_last_name_left said...

I told you, check the link - it appears like that at the alternet page.

Just because you criticise religious nutballs there's no real implication for your political ideology.

For example, elsewhere here you claim anti-semitism can't be "that bad" as it is in the Bible.

Plus, you claim there is no left/right, but then keep referring in nothing but negative terms about "the left" whilst linking to americanfreepress and iamthewitness.com, christopher bollyn, alex jones, etc etc etc.

As I said before, you don't escape left/right divide because you decide "what is right or wrong", rather it is the basis of your decision which implies you are left/right.

Neiwert, for example writes excellently about fascism - and is entirely critical of it. He writes of fascism's core being "a palingenetic form of populist ultra-nationalism".

Why would you criticise him for that? Why not publicise it? Why not help people become more aware, rather than just trashing Neiwert as "a deluded leftist", or whatever?

If you genuinely opposed fascism (which I suspect you do not) you'd be on common ground with Neiwert there. Instead you play to peoples' ignorance by suggesting moderate progressives like Obama are "fascist".

L/TROL: So far there has not been ONE reported case of violence by the protestors.

oh come on - don't whitewash the entire thing.

You whitewashed Poplawski and Von Brunn - claiming their association with obviously extremist right groups had nothing to do with their actions.

So even when there is obvious violence - even homicide - you still deny it has any seeds within the extremist right movements. Why should we expect anything different from you now?

Larry said...

"For example, elsewhere here you claim anti-semitism can't be "that bad" as it is in the Bible."

Ohh brottttthhhheeeerrrrrrrrr!!

So I have to BELIEVE in the Bible to make that comment?????? So, I have to believe in EVERYTHING I make a reference to??? If the Bible ISNT TRUE, then who's to say anti-semitism is bad or good?? The Bible is PURPORTED to be the word of God-----doesnt mean it IS.

"Why would you criticise him for that? Why not publicise it? Why not help people become more aware, rather than just trashing Neiwert as "a deluded leftist", or whatever?"

Because he LIES many many times in his articles. He called Aaron Russo a 'crackpot' and linked to a story by David Cay Johnston, who on MANY occasions has RUN AWAY from answering questions about th tax law. Didnt you even read my story? Of course you didnt.

Neiwert has claimed that the DHS report was the work of Janet Napolitano, but it was actually created under Bush in January 2007. He's a LIAR.

"..you play to peoples' ignorance by suggesting moderate progressives like Obama are "fascist"."

Oh really asshole? I have been HIGHLY critical of Bush on my blog too, probably more than any other person. Do you even fucking READ my blog dipshit? I condemn Bill O Reilly the most. I condemn Glenn Beck. I condemn Hannity and Coulter and Limbaugh, McCain and every fake conservative in Washington. I believe Dick Cheney was actually behind 9-11------geeee, listen to how "RIGHT WING" I am!!!!!! MORON!

"So even when there is obvious violence - even homicide - you still deny it has any seeds within the extremist right movements. Why should we expect anything different from you now?"

Homicide huh??? Theres been a HOMICIDE at the Town Hall meetings? WHEN??? Name ONE example of violence from the protestors. Name ONE. You CANT, thats why you IGNORED my comment and responded with gobbily-gook. I noticed how you COMPLETELY IGNORED any comment on Kenneth Gladney, who was beat up by Obama's people. And you accuse ME of ignoring??? LOL

the_last_name_left said...

Oh boy! You don't get anything, do you, Larry?

Look at this exchange:

Larry, trying to prove he's not right-wing said:
"I even have a feature titled "Lifetstyles of the religious nutball"---so much for me being RIGHT wing huh?

My reply: Just because you criticise religious nutballs there's no real implication for your political ideology.

For example, elsewhere here you claim anti-semitism can't be "that bad" as it is in the Bible.


I was drawing attention to the justification of anti-semitism - not so much your ambivalence about any belief in the bible.

Larry replies: Ohh brottttthhhheeeerrrrrrrrr!!

So I have to BELIEVE in the Bible to make that comment??????


NO! Anti-semitism!!!!!

Larry: If the Bible ISNT TRUE, then who's to say anti-semitism is bad or good??

Errr. holy crap! If it isn't "true" then it certainly can't be used to justify anti-semitism! And even if it were "true" it would merely point out the anti-semitism of the christian god and holy book. It still wouldn't justify it. Why on earth you make that comment, I have no idea.

L:So, I have to believe in EVERYTHING I make a reference to???

Eh? What on earth are you doing trying to justify anti-semitism by stating "it's in the bible", when you don't even believe in the bible being "true"?

Holy macaroons!

The point is anti-semitism is a staple belief of extremist far-right. It hardly amounts to evidence you are 'not right wing'.

It certainly isn't a qualifier for being left-wing!

L : Because [Neiwert] LIES many many times in his articles. He called Aaron Russo a 'crackpot'

That's isn't a lie. It's true! [It's actually just an opinion Larry]

L: Neiwert has claimed that the DHS report was the work of Janet Napolitano, but it was actually created under Bush in January 2007. He's a LIAR.

Rubbish. Here's Neiwert, Friday Apr 17, 2009:
"...the bulletin was ordered by the Bush administration, well before Obama took office, and was conducted by Bush-hired intelligence specialists."

the_last_name_left said...

Notice you failed to show Neiwert had lied even once - let alone the many, many times you claim. Presumably those are your strongest examples.....and they fail.

Calling people liars when you have nothing to support it is a libel, Larry. You're being underhanded and unethical. You are entitled to disagree with his opinions, but not call him a liar. So far you are the liar, as you can't back up your claim.

: TLNL: "..you play to peoples' ignorance by suggesting moderate progressives like Obama are "fascist"."

Larry replied:
Oh really asshole? I have been HIGHLY critical of Bush on my blog too


I said OBAMA, not BUSH.

L:Do you even fucking READ my blog dipshit?

Do you even read my comments before "answering" them? And btw - that's the sort of thing that leads to you requiring moderation, Larry. It's tedious to read fucky fucky fuck fuck, all the the fucking time.

L: I condemn Bill O Reilly the most. I condemn Glenn Beck. I condemn Hannity and Coulter and Limbaugh, McCain and every fake conservative in Washington. I believe Dick Cheney was actually behind 9-11------geeee, listen to how "RIGHT WING" I am!!!!!! MORON!

Go to Stromfront (if you don't already) - you'll see those poeple criticised all over the place there. Poplawski and Von Brunn also criticised those people you mention. Big deal. Hardly makes you a raving communist does it?

And again - lay off the stupid "moron!!" insults etc. else I shan't post your comments.

I keep telling you, and you refuse to listen. I don't have to post such comments.

L: Homicide huh??? Theres been a HOMICIDE at the Town Hall meetings? WHEN???

No - I was referring to Poplawski and Von Brunn.

L: I noticed how you COMPLETELY IGNORED any comment on Kenneth Gladney, who was beat up by Obama's people.

Are you an architect Larry? (How many times have you ignored that question? 20?)

I'd never heard of Gladney - but he's a charlatan imo. Just as with Alex Jones' blackshirting of Malkin was a provocation, and if any violence had occurred Jones would have been screaming about "left-wing violence". Likewise Gladney - he's part of a rent-a-mob crowd - a brownshirt - but when something happens, he blames Obama. Fascist tactics, Larry. The healthcare reforms are popular - these rent-a-mobs are disrupting meetings. No wonder there is trouble - but apportion blame correctly? Why not condemn the rent-a-mob brownshirts at the meetings provoking disturbances? Why not condemn Jones' attack on Malkin?

Interesting how you crow about Gladney being beaten up, but all you do is apologise for the far-right when Poplawski and Von Brunn go postal. Hardly trying to defend a progressive social program from rent-a-mob fascists financed by insurance companies were they?

Amusingly Gladney went begging for money for his "medical expenses"......whilst protesting against health-care reform which would have meant he hadn't needed to beg. What an arse.

the_last_name_left said...

At your blog, larry, you claim

it’s not about left/right at all. It’s about individual people who hold some genuine left/right views [like how they feel about abortion or religion] who are angry about Constitutional violations of our government. Mix that anger in with a person’s mental instability and presto, you get your von Brunn’s.

Just like the DHS report said - extreme right-wingers, holding views about Constitution etc, right?

But what I wanted to draw attention to was your claim about abortion and religion being "genuine left/right issues".

What on earth do you mean? You are pro-life - so is that left/right?

It is actually a belief important and relevant to what Schaeffer was on about, isn't it? He was saying his father organised brownshirting of abortion clinics etc - and the same was being now against healthcare reform. Right?
Care to comment?

And religion? Atheism does not automatically mean one is left-wing.....

the_last_name_left said...

Oh - and Larry - I've still yet to see you denounce fascism, or even criticise it.

You have links to americanfreepress, iamthewitness, you write for prisonplanet, publish their articles etc etc.

No surprise to see the positions you take - and yet you claim to be neither left or right.

If you're such a moderate, why do you link to such extremist publications as AFP and Daryl Bradford Smith?

Let's have a clear opinion from you on fascism, huh, Mr Moderate?

But do we really need one when your website links to Willis Carto?

No - but it might be useful for you to actually give your opinion. So - want to give one?

Bishop homegrown Retard said...

hey bishop, you going calling people limey english cunts will do you no favours whatsoever on the eyes of public opinion , your no better than any other racist who calls people names..... and all the troubles in your country are down to people just like you ..... i have many freinds in your part of the world , and really enjoy talking to them, but you are doing nothing but arrogantly using disrespect of a whole nation, based soley on one person..... you need to sort your head out mate, before someone in your gun ho society takes care of you!

Bishop homegrown Retard said...

Bishop

Debates should not be arguments.

no country is perfect , but it will never get better untill people like you , who call other people from other nations limey cunts for example, wise up, At the end of the day were all human beings, English - american - asian wherever! if there a cunt then there a cunt , you dont have to add the national behind it do you ?

hard times are very stressfull.
but thats no justifacation for condemning a whole nationality as cunts
as you clearly stated English Cunt.

why does ones birthplace make the differance????

i could blame you for being the only people on this planet to drop nuclear bombs on other human beings but hey... thats not how it roles is it ? so less of the racism

heh not to point the finger but ..... we all know who to blame for that 1 dont we.

Does that mean in your mind that the new borns there,
the people of nagasaki and hiroshima - Degenerate mutants ??

i wonder what your oppinion is of china ? or iraq ? or for that matter any other place on earth that isnt connected to your Soil?