It is hard to be too critical of the Left for the natural tendency to interpret events in the context of their own experience. Since the 1960’s in the United States, and even earlier elsewhere, the Left has made an fine art of organizing political protests. They have developed the organizations institutional and cultural frame works for protests and disruptions. Indeed, [1] disruptions of public events are an honored tradition on the Left.

The Left favors the current structure and direction of the proposed healthcare reform. Hence, when Democratic (and some Republican) politicians conducted town hall meetings on health care legislation, most expected them to be rather perfunctory. The Right does not do protests, at least not well.  Moreover, town hall meetings, conducted in the heat of summer during the Congressional hiatus, are not usually well attended, and rarely controversial. This summer, the meetings have become raucous and passionate as many, particularly elderly Americans, complained about various features of healthcare reform. This is a particularly grave achievement, since there is no definitive bill yet.

The instinctive reaction on the Left is to project angrily their own tactics on to the protesters,  and to assume that the crowds were “manufactured” by Republicans and others. The people who opposed the proposed healthcare plan were called [2] “un-American” by the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority leader Steny Hoyer. [3] Democratic Senator Dick Durban suggested that protesters at town halls are pawns of health insurance companies. There was even the ugly suggestion that opposition to the Obama health care plan in rooted in[4] racism against the president.

Democrats have argued that people at town hall meetings were inhibiting debate by shouting. It is always better to have calm discussions, but the purpose of town hall meetings is not only information exchange but also making clear to politicians the fervor of feeling. The argument of Democrats for deliberate informed debate would appear less disingenuous, if they had not try to rush through a complex, 1000-page bill. If Democratic plans had not unexpectedly crashed into a wave of popular discontent, a healthcare bill would have passed with little debate before the Congressional hiatus.

Almost certainly there were some activist Republicans  at these town hall meetings, but  Republicans only wish that they could organize well enough to fill town hall meetings with passionate partisans. Many Conservatives, particularly those of a Libertarian bent, are not the most hospitable to top-down organizations. No, the feelings at the meetings were generally authentic. Speaker Pelosi could not even acknowledge that the emotions at the meetings represented a “grass roots” movement and disparagingly referred to the movement as “astroturf.”

The tactic of the Left to impugn the intelligence or motives of Conservatives is sometimes effective. Ask former Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Some are hesitant to defend such politicians lest they too be considered uncool or stupid. However, with regard to the town hall meetings, Democrats and the Left were not insulting politicians. This time, they insulted regular Americans, people who looked much like family or neighbors. The public felt that those in power where not only not listening, but disputing motives and even the right to challenge their Congressional representatives. That is one reason why the chant “You work for us!” secured quick popularity. Indeed, average people are [5] more sympathetic with the protesters, since the protests began. Even more importantly support for Congressional healthcare plans has plummeted. If Democrats wish to revive the chances of passage of their healthcare proposals, the supposed party of the low and middle class must learn to respect their charges — at least in public.