Rachel Maddow On FreedomWorks: Grassroots Or Astroturf? (HQ) Video

Rachel Maddow on FreedomWorks role with "Shout-Outs" at health care town hall meetings. MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show (aired: 08/06/09).

A message from DAP (08/11/09): This upload has been tagged by YouTube as "Matched third party content". "Content owner: MSNBC" which I had acknowledged in the comment section. This video has not been altered and reflects the original context of the news reported at the time of broadcast; it has been uploaded for the sole purpose to inform and promote public debate under "Fair Use'. I have disputed the claim of infringement of copyright law under fair use. I await MSNBC's decision as to the fate of my channel. Thank you for your time and support. - DAP.

Information on FreedomWorks:

According to sourcewatch.org (link below): FreedomWorks, founded in 1984 and described as a 501c4 "grassroots organization," is chaired by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX). The organization's President is Matt Kibbe. FreedomWorks was formed in 2004 when Citizens for a Sound Economy merged with Empower America. The cause for confusion is that FreedomWorks was founded in 1984 as Citizens for a Sound Economy. The name was changed as part of the merger deal in 2004. The organization has been continuously operating since 1984.

In 2008, FreedomWorks was behind the creation of a fake grassroots web site called Angryrenter.com which rallies opposition to "the Obama Housing Bailout." The site urges people to oppose bailing out mortgage companies. The site claims to represent "Renters and responsible homeowners against a government mortgage bailout."

FreedomWorks, which was one of the lobbying groups involved in orchestrated the anti-Obama "tea parties" on April 15, 2009, in summer of 2009 began pursuing an aggressive strategy to create the image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform at Congressmembers' town-hall meetings in their districts. A leaked memo from Bob MacGuffie, a volunteer with the FreedomWorks website "Tea Party Patriots," describes how members should infiltrate town hall meetings and harass and intimidate Democratic members of Congress: Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put tIle Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up ... 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. If he blames Bush for something or offers other excuses -- call him on it, yell back and have someone else follow-up with a shout-out ... The goal is to rattle him ..."

( http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=FreedomWorks )

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dawgnpony: CHEETAH69, I am in total agreement with you. Every evening I look forward to Rachel Maddow for her concise and thorough reports and the oodles of factual information she provides to her viewers. She is the best. Thank you for your comments and support.

integral: and you are such a dick

classicallady: accorguy...And you are an amazing, major dick.pls restrain to your channel where you adore daily Reagan

dawgnpony: CC, as with everything, someone will abuse the system, however, while the conservatives, libertarians and republicans want to throw the baby out with the bath water over the few, the democrats, progressives and liberals will tolerate the small amount of abuse for the greater good of the many that are in need. I'll choose tolerance and kindness over greed and bitterness every time.

Smartassawhip: The whitehouse has released the new realitycheck website which addresses many of the myths you have been hearing. If you have not gotten it in your email, I have a link to it on my profile in both the side bar and the comment section. Thanks.

phillipmarch22: Right on CHEETAH69!

phillipmarch22: The Republican's only care about you until you make it through the birth canel! Then you are on your own!

chanthavongsy88: I think you should work in a hospital just for a month or so to see what a large amount it actually is. I agree with you that people need help and the money should not stop for them but they should look into what's really going on more because a lot of times it's obvious. Like when you say you need food stamps and Medicaid but you drive a new car and own an iPhone. I'm also far from being greedy or bitter and most Americans are regardless of their political views.

chanthavongsy88: cheetah69, Yes you are right but if we would actually try to bill her after maybe having one child on Medicaid (because accidents do happen) she might not choose to have as many children. Also many Medicaid patients do misuse the ER and we can't send them away even if it's clear it's not an emergency for liability reasons.

chanthavongsy88: Well I wish you and your husband the best of luck with everything. And don't stop pushing for Healthcare reform, because we can at least both agree to that being needed, even though we may not agree on how it gets done.

art101tv: As always, a brilliant dawgnpony clip. Further, ever further.

3slimdog: Well, I wish you the best too. We can agree on that.

justinjade: The Debate on health care is getting ugly out there. I am on Minnesota-Care a State Run Health care system and I wouldn't change a thing! If I get sick I don't worry about getting dropped or going bankrupt I just go to the doctor and get treatment for my sickness! BTW For all ppl who say they don't want socialized medicine we already do Medicare, Medicaid, and the ER are ALL SOCIALIZED!!!!!!!!!

webovisionca: oh ya, that's an adams apple

CHEETAH69: She would be billed anyway. And since we can't stop folks from having children, she just might have another one. And guess what? We'd have to pay for that too. Bottom line, the er can no longer stand as the de facto healthcare for the uninsured. THAT IS WHAT'S KILLING THE ECONOMY. $2 trillion a year on healthcare is spent.

justinjade: looks like someone is looking a Ann Coulter again...

sugarpuddin88: America bankrupt: 102 trillion for SS & medicare 25 trillion for TARP & bailouts 53 trillion plundered from other trusts Every single American man, woman & child owes over $600K in FED Gov debt The US dollar will collapse within the next 1 to 2 years Check out Rockefeller & Senate Bills 773 & 778 attempting to end American access to the Internet Americans lost all but no. 3 of their Bill of Rights; Geithner has been wrong about everything for 15 straight years! 1 in 10 on US food stamps!

sugarpuddin88: The Government is a growing Tumor & the illegal privately owned FED Reserve is its blood supply! The 2008 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports show the combined unfunded liability of these two programs has reached $101.7 trillion in today's dollars! TARP plus debt to illegal privately owned FED Res is 25 trillion Amount plundered from other Federal Gov trusts: 53 trillion Every man, woman, child in USA owes $600K in FED Gov debt Americans have the Government they deserve!

Cassandra2946: dyke

angelcitynut: Liberals do this all the time.wheres the outrage at them?

ReanimatedReagan: Just call her a dyke, rather then provide info against her statements. If you're interested in name calling, I'm sure there's a playground in your area that can suit your behavior.

judedelux: Cassandra2946: based on your responses youre probably pushing 200 lbs, have greasy uncombed hair, finished the 8th grade, rushed to get a job at Walmart and drive some cheap foreign car. You believe people like Beck the Turd, Rush the Sleaze and Freedom Works are enlighten people that provide you with all the info you ever need to know. If youre not any of the above then you should stop sounding like you are.

rogerush: Yeah angelcitynut, liberals do this kind of thing all the time, but usually their interests are for creating programs that provide service for everyone. If you pay attention to the report it, is showing that these are high paid PR firms backed by large pharmaceutical companies employing these tactics now. Most people understand that the only interest for large corporations is keeping profit over actually providing services.

Purge187: "How To Be A Healthcare Whore, Volume I"

BootBazaar: ReanimatedReagan, They don't have anything other than name calling, so what can we expect? They don't have facts on their side so they have to invent newer and scarier names to call their opposition, such as Racist, Socialist, Muslim, Anti-American, Communist, Anti-Christ... who "pals around with terrorists". If they actually had something LEGIT to use in their arguments they would, instead they turn to this kind of BS because THEY HAVE NOTHING and they know it... and we know i too.

Author: dawgnpony; Uploaded: Aug 7, 2009; Duration: 2:29; Views: 902

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