Posted by
Catmman on Sunday, August 23, 2009 3:12:12 PM
Having spent most of the last three weeks at the Alamodome watching the Dallas Cowboys Training Camp, and having spent one of those days on the sidelines watching the practice, I understand what astroturf really is. I understand the political definition of "astroturf" - something false, fake, artificial. I get it. I don't think it fits into those particular parameters though in relation to the townhall protests across the country.
The Democrats and the Left would have you believe these protests are filled with "plants" (as if the President himself doesn't populate his own townhalls with that very thing). Those who are attending these townhalls, average citizens, are somehow following a script or are being driven by some higher "force", like Rush Limbaugh (which I find a bit amusing: the Left scoffs at the "messianicness" the right has bestowed upon Barack Obama, in no small part due to his sychophantic supporters, yet can't wait to bestow those same messianic qualities - upon a talk show host). This of course is the playbook of the Left: simply denigrate the opposition, don't address their concerns, move along. It has backfired predictably, but the "astroturf" label persists.
The label isn't appropos for many reasons. Have you ever been on a field of real astroturf? It is soft, yielding, kinda squishy and to a point, kinda pliable. Do those attending the townhall meetings across the country seem to fit any of those characteristics? Astroturf is "fake" in the fact it isn't real grass, but in many ways it is better than the real thing. It doesn't require water, fertilizer, and needs only minimal care It is durable, water and weatherproof and last a long time. Those attending the protests aren't fake. Their concerns aren't artificial. If anything, the protesters are indeed like true astroturf - resilient, durable and require little care. The exact polar opposite of the type of person who supports the Left and liberal Democrats in particular.
The only thing fake and artificial in all these discussions of townhalls and in all the denigration of those attending are the Democrats themselves and the health care "plan" they are attempting to foist on us all..