Who's Laying Astroturf? 
By Rob Roper

By Rob Roper

Of our three federal representatives, only independent/socialist Senator Bernie Sanders promoting any town meetings during the August break to meet with constituents about the controversial health care policy that has unleashed a firestorm  public opposition.

Sanders himself recently conducted an on-line poll in which opponents of government run health care outnumbered supporters by about 10-1 before the poll was pulled and replaced with one that asked a single, somewhat leading question: "Congress is considering health care reform legislation that would make it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. Do you agree or disagree with the proposal?" This is hardly what the overall healthcare debate is about, but guess what! As of this writing, even on this point Sanders and the government option is still losing: Strongly agree 178, Agree 78, Disagree 87, Strongly disagree 241, Unsure 33. (You can take the poll here)

In response to this and the national grassroots opposition to a government takeover of the healthcare system, Sanders is calling on his people to show up and counter the "right wing activists will show up to disrupt the public discussion," carrying signs that say "Single-Payer, the only way." Green Mountain Daily, the progressive/democrat blog, reports, "Of the 3 alerts I received on the meetings, two (VPIRG, VT Workers Center/Jobs With Justice,) raised the specter of possible confrontation and sounded the call for activists to show up en masse to counter potential unruly teabagging hordes..."

This, of course, begs the question which side is ginning up fake, "Astroturf" demonstrations to give a false impression of support for its position.  VPIRG is a gang of professional activist/lobbyists with an annual budget of about $1 million. Jobs With Justice (never heard of it before today) is a Washington DC based non-profit with about $1.6 million according to its latest 990 filing.

There is no reason for opponents of government run healthcare to shout anybody down at these events. It is much more important to actually get answers to critical questions. That said, Sanders nor any politician should be allowed to wiggle off the hook with evasive rhetoric. Sanders needs to answer why, for example, he voted against having congress and their staffs being forced by law to participate in the same government plan as the rest of us. If it's not good enough for him, why is it good enough for you and me?

Sanders Town Hall Meetings:

SATURDAY AUGUST 15 - 9:30AM Free Brunch - Meeting at 10:00am. Rutland Unitarian Universalist Church, 117 West Street, Rutland.

SATURDAY AUGUST 15  -  12:30pm Free BBQ Lunch  -  Meeting at 1:00pm, The Pavilion at the Arlington Recreation Park, 148 Rec Park Road, Arlington.

SUNDAY AUGUST 23 - 5:30pm - Free Dinner - Meeting at 6:pm, Peacham Congregational Church, 56 Church Street, Peacham.

Rob Roper is the Chairman of the Vermont Republican Party