Say Anything

But isn’t that, uh, astroturfing? At least how the Democrats have come to define it?
So when conservatives organize town hall and tea party protests they’re astroturfers and racists and Nazis and extremists. But when Democrats organize visit to Congressional offices, which is being done with this email posted below from Democrats to Obama’s campaign mailing list sent in by a reader, and the like why, that’s just democracy in action.
As pure as the driven snow.
By the way, this specific email is asking people to visit Rep. Earl Pomeroy’s office in Fargo. I’d note that earlier this week Pomeroy announced that he wouldn’t be holding any public town hall events. But liberals are organizing (astroturfing!) visits to his office.
Isn’t that convenient? Earl hides from his constituents, but he’ll take visits from his liberal friends.
I should note that I don’t actually have a problem with Democrats urging their supporters to organize, etc. It’s just a bit galling to watch the liberals do it even as they claim that similar efforts on the right are illegitimate.

From: Mitch Stewart, BarackObama.com
To: [Redacted]
Sent: Sun Aug 09 13:50:52 2009
Subject: Visit Rep. Pomeroy’s office in Fargo
Organizing for America
[Redacted] –
All throughout August, our members of Congress are back in town. Insurance companies and partisan attack groups are stirring up fear with false rumors about the President’s plan, and it’s extremely important that folks like you speak up now.
So we’ve cooked up an easy, powerful way for you to make a big impression: Office Visits for Health Reform.
All this week, OFA members like you will be stopping by local congressional offices to show our support for insurance reform. You can have a quick conversation with the local staff, tell your personal story, or even just drop off a customized flyer and say that reform matters to you.
We’ll provide everything you need: the address, phone number, and open hours for the office, information about how the health care crisis affects your state for you to drop off (with the option of adding your personal story), and a step-by-step guide for your visit.
According to our records, you live near Rep. Earl Pomeroy’s office in Fargo, ND.
Sign up now to visit Rep. Earl Pomeroy’s office in Fargo this week.
(Not your representative, or think there might be another office that’s easier for you to get to? Click here to find a different office.
As you’ve probably seen in the news, special interest attack groups are stirring up partisan mobs with lies about health reform, and it’s getting ugly. Across the country, members of Congress who support reform are being shouted down, physically assaulted, hung in effigy, and receiving death threats. We can’t let extremists hijack this debate, or confuse Congress about where the people stand.
Office Visits for Health Reform are our chance to show that the vast majority of American voters know that the cost of inaction is too high to bear, and strongly support passing health reform in 2009.
Don’t worry if you’ve never done anything like this before. The congressional staff is there to listen, and your opinion as a constituent matters a lot. And if you bring a friend, you’ll have more fun and make an even greater impact.
Click below to sign up for an Office Visit for Health Reform:
Wherever you live, these visits matter: Many representatives are pushing hard toward reform, and they are taking a lot of heat from special interests. They deserve our thanks and need our support to continue the fight. But those who are still putting insurance companies and partisan point-scoring ahead of their constituents must know that voters are watching — and that we expect better.
Earlier this week, the President wrote that “this is the moment our movement was built for” and asked us all to commit to join at least one event this month. This is the way to answer that call, and rise to the challenge of this moment together.
Thank you for going the extra mile when it matters the most,
Mitch
Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America
Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee — 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.