That’s a new one

Post on August 10, 2009 by Adam Linker 26 Comments »

You know those people shutting down the democratic process by screaming, instead of debating, at town hall meetings?

You might think that such behavior would turn people off and create a backlash against the tea-baggers. That’s exactly why Democrats are planting the screamers to shout down lawmakers. It’s all an elaborate ruse to demonize the DC-based, industry front groups like Americans for Prosperity.

At least that’s what AFP Director Dallas Woodhouse is now claiming. He told the Greenville Daily Reflector:

The outbursts against Democratic legislators at town hall meetings are being coordinated by the White House through the Democratic National Committee and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, so they can demonize those who speak out against the proposed insurance reforms, Woodhouse said.

Sounds like Woodhouse is even embarrassed by the way his supporters are acting. That’s at least a start.

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Comments (Closed):24

James
August 10, 2009 at 3:33 pm
The Busdriver embarrassed? Are you kidding … he’s soaking the media for every penny of coverage Art Pope’s willing to buy … having long since traded in his intellect for a short leash.

Both sad and amusing … but embarrassed he’s not.
AdamL
August 10, 2009 at 5:11 pm
I guess I’m ever hopeful.
Dallas Woodhouse
August 10, 2009 at 6:00 pm
James….the leash comment is out of link you prick
Dallas Woodhouse
August 10, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Sorry

James the leash comment is out of line and you are a prick or jerk or both
Dallas Woodhouse
August 10, 2009 at 6:18 pm
For the record here is the entire article. As you can see I did not use the phrase

—–The outbursts against Democratic legislators at town hall meetings are being coordinated by the White House through the Democratic National Committee and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, so they can demonize those who speak out against the proposed insurance reforms, —–

because it is not a direct quote. I said”highlighted” or something similar…I do not believe I said coordinated

Article below

Hands off my healthcare’: 200 turn out to protest reform

By Michael Abramowitz
The Daily Reflector

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Signs reading “Rationing equals euthanasia” and a coffin symbolizing the hoped-for destination of pending federal health care reform marked a privately sponsored protest attended by 200 area residents Saturday outside the WTIB Radio studios on Arlington Boulevard.

The “Hands Off My Healthcare” bus tour was sponsored by the private industry-founded Americans for Prosperity Foundation, also known for its organization of April’s Tax Day Tea Party.

The rally was hosted at the station by Henry Hinton, host of the “Talk of the Town” radio show, who set up microphones outside the station and sat down with Dallas Woodhouse, state director of AFP.

As the two men talked about the proposed health insurance and health care reforms, well-behaved but vocal anti-reform supporters gathered around them, shouting affirmations of their positions and condemnations of the legislative bill.

“This is something people are concerned about, so I’m glad people turned out to have their voices heard,” Hinton said after the event.

Woodhouse assured those who stood under the hot sun that thousands of others he met during the week’s tour also reject the proposed health insurance reforms supported by President Barack Obama and many Democratic legislators, but equally rejected by Republican lawmakers.

“President Obama is losing this debate on health care because people are informed about this bill and understand what it will do, and they reject it on its merits,” Woodhouse said.

The bill is not about health care, but rather about health control, Woodhouse said, characterizing the bill as “health care rationing.”

“At the end of the day, government controls health care costs by denying sick and old people treatment,” he said.

“A lot of people are angry and frustrated with the health care industry and health care costs, but they don’t realize how much we’re getting out of the health care industry and how much better our treatments are,” Woodhouse said, in comparison to other countries.

Nearly all the people who came to the event were against the proposed health care and insurance reforms, but not all.

Claudia James, health chairwoman for the Pitt County chapter of the NAACP, came to urge people to review the facts, she said.

“All Americans need to take the time to look at all the aspects of this legislation, who it will and won’t affect,” James said.

Regarding the heated nationwide confrontations surrounding the bill, James called for a time-out for reflection.

“America is supposed to be a country of love and unity. Where’s the love here?” she asked.

Greenville resident Donna Pinckney Martin said she cares, to a point.

“I came today because it’s important for everyone to get involved and have our voices heard,” Martin said. “I am for reform, but not blanket reform. I care about people in need, but I don’t believe in handouts. After we handle this health care reform, let’s move to welfare reform.”

The confrontations and angry outbursts that have become common viewing at televised town hall meetings across the country this week did not occur at Saturday’s event because there were no politicians there, Hinton said.

“It could have been different if we had Congressman (G.K.) Butterfield here, as a lot of people suggested I do,” Hinton said. “People are angry at some of the folks supporting this in Washington, D.C., and most of the town hall meetings you’ve seen are the result of that mentality.”

The outbursts against Democratic legislators at town hall meetings are being coordinated by the White House through the Democratic National Committee and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, so they can demonize those who speak out against the proposed insurance reforms, Woodhouse said.

“It’s disgusting, thug-like politics, happening because President Obama is losing this debate on the merits,” he said.

Greenville was the 28th stop on the statewide bus tour. The tour stopped in Washington, N.C., earlier in the day and made one more stop in Wilson before heading back to Raleigh.

Contact Michael Abramowitz at mabramowitz@coxnc.com or (252) 329-9571.
James
August 10, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Mr. Woodhouse (who is apparrently not the bus driver) called this afternoon to swear at me and threaten me. He specifically demanded that I withdraw the comment about him being on a leash, saying that he is not a dog.

That is the purpose of this comment. This is not my blog, but if I could withdraw the comment, I would. I apologize for saying that Mr. Woodhouse traded in his intellect for a short leash. I did not mean to imply that he is a dog.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I would rather be called a dog than a prick. Jerk I can live with, though.)

_______________________

For the record, Mr. Woodhouse, my daughter overheard our entire conversation, including your threats and your swearing. You frightened her, as you did me. Congratulations. She also heard you say you didn’t want your children reading on the Internet that you are a dog. She said she thought that would be the least of your worries.
Dallas Woodhouse
August 10, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Mr. Protzman again has told lies again.

I never made a threat to Mr. Protzman. I am a public policy professional, not thug as Mr. Protzman suggested. I explained to him that it was not acceptable to put on the internet that I am dog on a leash. I did tell Mr. Protzman that should he continue to call me a dog on a leash I would take legal action against him.

I have never threatened a human in my life and so say so is a simple act of libel.

Please attack me on the debate of health…but do not call me a dog
thinkb4speak
August 10, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Wow, and Mr. Woodhouse seemed like a somewhat decent guy at the rallies. Even offered some counter-protesters pastries.
I guess the week long bus trip may have got to him. How would all those nice ladies and gentlemen from the rallies feel if they heard such language!!
He should be upset with the journalist who wrote the initial article, and take it up with him in a respectful manner…
Dave Burton
August 10, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I know Mr. Dallas Woodhouse to be a man of integrity, so I am confident that he is telling the truth. That means that I am also confident that James Protzman is not.
Dallas Woodhouse
August 10, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Bottom line, I do not think I should be refered to a dog on a leash
T. Hill
August 10, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Woof.

You’re probably the worst “public policy professional” I’ve ever seen Dallas, but no. Not a dog on a leash. They obey, and occasionally accomplish something for their masters.

Ask Art Pope what I mean next time you get a dish of water for your efforts.
James
August 10, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Dallas, you specifically said that if I did not remove the leash comment, that you would take legal action against me. I have done everything I can to comply with your threat. I am sorry this debate was hijacked by my comment and I have apologized for making it. There is plenty of misinformation in your official statements to fill many hours of discussion.
T. Hill
August 10, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Dallas Woodhouse is going to sue you for posting on the Internet?

I thought TORT REFORM of frivolous lawsuits was part of AFP’s platform to reform healthcare costs!

Ah ha ha.

Dallas is such an idiot.
T. Hill
August 10, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Mr. Woodhouse, I’m not so sure that drinking a few hours before your CNN debate with your more successful brother is such a good idea.

Think of the bus passengers.
hsr0601
August 10, 2009 at 10:31 pm
The runaway premium similar to the peak fuel price last year and left so many folks in despair insists on staying the course with the attitude ‘unchanged’, clearly this trend could bankrupt individual, business, and government. Now the government subsequently is tasked with these two main assignments, first, to address premium inflation, second, to expand coverage to all in urgent need.
In order to cover all and not to add to the deficit, the public option can not set the same rates of private market, rather, it needs to have the function to keep it in check in terms of inflation, too. Unfortunately, this ‘unavoidable’ direction is aggressively being accused by the runaway premium, citing government ‘take-over’ .
Under the circumstances the energy bill to determine human future and the other major issues is presently piled up, who wants to waste time making enemies ?, which also does not benefit the forthcoming election.
On the other hand, to make things worse, critics say the savings from the proposed public option is not enough to meet the revenue goal. Furthermore, on another hand, some say ‘hands off’ . Where do these No tax, No saving and the like intend to force this reform to go ? The conclusion by ‘just-say-no’ is no doubt. Ironically, the Deficit-sensitive groups have a distinctive common ground, they all have a Deficit-driven background out of question.

Of all choices, the best thing would be savings through efficiency. Considering the wasteful structure, the highest premium in the world, and the most expensive part of medicare, with the prevention / wellness program in place, an American style innovation, an ‘outcome’-based payment founded upon IT system may be enough to save more than 50 billions per year (500 / decade), both ‘improving quality’ and removing the unnecessary procedures (as pay is dependent on patient’s outcome). Young folks and advocates need to explain the notion of a pay for outcome agreement to the elderly misled by the disinformation.

Unlike private market, this public option includes large-scale investments, these large investments still does not get the fair score, instead seem to become a source of acute conflict, even so, this common sense-based program needs to develop further as early detection goes beyond monetary value.

In short, with the heartbreaking tears in mind (Nearly 11 Million Cancer Patients Without Health Insurance), private market also needs change and should join together to complete this reform , as promised, if not, the runaway premium only has itself to blame. Job-based coverage (indirect payment), mandate code, and ample capital might be favorable to the private market. And It can be said that fair competition starts with fair market value.
Over time, supposedly, the public plan will concentrate more on basic, primary cares, and the private insurers will provide their clients with differentiated services.

Thank You !
hsr0601
August 10, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Part 1.

Problems :

1. No systematic, expansive Prevention & Wellness Program.

According to the scoring of CBO on the prevention & wellness program, all fitness centers around the world should close down immediately and all media have to end
reporting health tips about prevention. Rather, all of the excellent health systems seem to have one feature in common, a expansive, systematic preventative program
requiring immense investments.
I think a prevention system works as a ‘levee’ built against flood by the government, similarly, it also needs non-profit investments from the government ‘on a large scale’.
This might offer us one clue of why all of the free states have public insurance policy in place.

Surprisingly enough, the system today is designed around treating patients once they become sick. As far as I’m concerned, the congress affected by the special interests
has turned down the budget request for prevention program in Medicare & Medicaid, which are the most expensive parts of the health program. Let’s imagine the astronomical
costs and invaluable lives following the levee breach.

2. A pay for each service / volume compensation, & No E-Medical Record.

As much as 30 percent of all health-care spending in the U.S. -some $700 billion a year- may be wasted on tests and treatments that do not improve the health of the
recipients, and this 700 billion dollars a year can cover a lot of uninsured people, in return, it could lessen the tragic, prohibitive ER cares.
Medical errors ( No e-Medical Record ) & lawsuits, more profits motive, and indirect payments from employers etc would account for it.

Supposedly, ‘a pay for each service / volume’ compensation seems to leave the medical institutes unequipped with the essential IT system. To understand its importance, If
we imagine the cost difference between the previous and current system in financial institutes, the magnitude of cost-savings and the mess in health care system can
be easily explained.

3. Premium Inflation.

This last spring, due to the demand decrease, the peak fuel price came down below $40 per barrel, though, the
‘Similar’ insurance premiums keep on rising, accordingly the inaction could bankrupt family, business, and
government ‘BEYOND this recession’ , as all across the spectrum agree.

Insurance premiums have nothing to do with the law of demand & supply and the free / fair market concept.
Basically, as demand diminishes, the price tends to reflect it, nonetheless, the insurers that formed a cartel through
consolidation have replenished the loss by exercising inhumane malpractices involving denying, capping, cherry-picking, rationing, rapid
premium increase and the like. And this runaway premium ended up in the collapse of middle
class ranging ‘ from finance to mental health’ , alongside the peak fuel price and fast-growing mortgage rate, as all of
us know. Thereby they could be cited as an objective for anti-trust or anti-corruption. If the public plan sets the same rate of the insurers, it will be another headache.

Ironically, the Deficit-sensitive groups have a distinctive common ground, they all have a Deficit-driven background out of
question. Therefore, I’d say they have nothing to say about deficit unless they are free from the sponsors.
And the spoiled menu, ‘Takeover and Rationing Cliche’ is still marching for bankruptcy, as opposed to its motto.

4. ‘Work or Break’ health system with no brake or safety system.

Just like marriage, economy also undergoes up and down, however, economic downturn is not reflected in the employment-based system.
The rising mental stress or illness & ‘keep eating habit’ , which are the epicenter of a number of different diseases,might be traced
to this insecure system and exorbitant premiums.

Part 2.

The Public Plan:

1. Thankfully, the health care reform bill currently before Congress makes several key investments including more primary care doctors in preventive care, and those pieces
of the public plan must be maintained .

2. The pay for ‘Outcome’ pack is most likely to expedite the introduction of Health Care IT SYSTEM, and it will help doctors focus on their patients.

3. The ‘innovative’ idea of a ‘pay for value / outcome’ pack will allow for Quality and affordability
. If you are a physician, and your pay is dependant upon your patient’s outcome, you will most likely strive to
prescribe the best medicine earlier in the process, let alone skipping the wasteful, unnecessary risk-carrying
procedures.
Young folks and advocates need to explain the notion of a pay for outcome agreement to the elderly misled by the
disinformation.

4. The synergy effect of the combined Health Care IT & a pay for ‘outcome’ system may allow the clinicians to
‘correctly’ diagnose and effectively treat a patient earlier in the process so that it can measurably decrease the
crushing lawsuits and deter the excuse for unnecessary cares to make fortunes.

5. The creative idea of ‘a pay for outcome’ will more likely prompt team approach and decision, as at Myo clinic.
Under the ‘pay for outcome’ pack, for good reason, best practices as ‘recommendations’ would simply help them
make a better decision, and the government won’t still have to meddle in the final, actual decision-making
process as a non-expert.

6. This New ‘Payment Reform’ could accelerate the progress in medical science, in return, it will save more cash.
And this idea will be able to bring ‘competition’ to the private market, as a result, it can contribute to mitigating premium inflation.

7. Supporters of the agreement say it could save the Medicare System more than $100 billion a year and ‘improve’
care, that means more than $1trillian over next decade, and virtually needs no other resources including tax on the
wealthiest. Supposedly even the ‘conservative’ number of such savings might be able to meet the objective of revenue-neutral.
(Please visit http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=820455&catid=391 for detailed infos).

8. Through clinic’s network, users of its health-care services can keep up with their health information and information for family members, and receive health guidance and recommendations from clinic that is optimized for each person.
The system also allows patients to upload information from home-health devices such as blood glucose monitors and digital scales. Patients can authorize whether they want to share their health information with doctors or other caregivers, and those caregivers can provide health-care and general wellness recommendations based on the information patients provide.

9. In case the health care reform provides the general public with peace of mind, the rising mental stress, obesity caused by the insecure system and
exorbitant premiums may bend the curve surprisingly.

10. Clearly, the positive impacts involving massive job creation, promising stem cell research, several times more economic effects of ‘from bed to work’ lie ahead, these will lead to economic recovery.

Part 3.

Conclusion ;

1. The last thing to expect is rallying for premium inflation, JUST SAYING NO.

2. Over time, supposedly, the public plan will concentrate more on basic, primary cares, and the private insurers will provide their clients with differentiated services.

3. With the Prevention & Wellness Program as a stable levee in place, the promising pay for value/ outcome reimbursement reform based on IT system could clear the way for revenue-neutral. Some say the installation of IT network will take time, but once this new outcome-based payment system is implemented, the hospitals reluctant to adopt it will most likely rush to introduce it.

4. The final hurdle looks like a scoring issue surrounding the savings on Prevention & Wellness Program, but I’d like to say
health clubs and media reports on prevention tips must be maintained.

5. People would be entitled to various services whether you are employed, unemployed or self-employed, homeless or housed, young or old, chronically ill or mentally ill, moving from job to job or from town to town or from state to state.

Thank You !
James
August 10, 2009 at 10:37 pm
The argument that something goes beyond “monetary value” is not likely to carry much weigh with free market extremists. There’s is an ideological battle … it’s not about having people suffer less or die early because they’re poor. It’s about survival of the fittest, where might and capital reign supreme.
Rob Schofield
August 10, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Wow — Walk away from your computer for a few hours and look at what happens!

As one of the curators of this blog, I would like to add the following (and, hopefully, last words) on this post:

We aim to keep things civil here and they almost always are.

On the other hand, robust political debate will some times get heated and we’re certainly not going to police every word that appears here.

In my judgment, the only word that exceeds the bounds of decency on this post tonight is the “P” word introduced by Dallas. I have left it up only because I think it’s use illustrates my point.

The reference used by James Protzman — of someone being kept on “a short leash” is used in politics, business, sports and the news media everyday both with and without the word “dog,” which Protzman did NOT use.

It is regularly used to describe a relationship between a boss and en employee, two politicians, or a funder and someone he or she funds. It is not a personal attack of the kind that Dallas is attempting to turn it into. When I googled the phrase wirth some well known figures, it returned hundreds of hits in all sorts of responsible media.

If I had known that was what James had actually said, I would have told Dallas that when he called me at home tonight. As it was, I told him, I would look into it.

Well, I have looked into it now and I must say that for someone who has such an incredibly loud and energetic voice, Dallas has a remarkably and ridiculously thin skin.

All I can say is: Dude, just chill out. If that’s the worst thing that someone says about you in the profession you have chosen — professional political rabble-rousing — you will have led a charmed life.

Everyone go to bed.
IBXer
August 11, 2009 at 9:47 am
When leftists protest government, they are engaging in free speech.

When conservatives protest government, it’s thuggery.

You people are intellectually bankrupt.
James
August 11, 2009 at 1:18 pm
IBXer

I wonder if that’s because conservative protest tend toward threats and violence when they don’t get their way?
IBXer
August 11, 2009 at 2:56 pm
James, I guess you have never seen the leftist protesters at a G8 Summit. I guess you have never seen left-wingers at immigration rallies. I guess you have never seen union members hit people for not agreeing with them. Perhaps you have not seen the violence of Union members at the town hall meetings?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgPWg25R_Xc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_ScYY__oyk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Q3p6jClQM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5IInBP9D_s&feature=related

The protesters who are showing up at these townhall meetings are mostly moms and dads wanting their questions answered but are getting shut out. Getting angry at a government who doesn’t care what you have to say is, in fact, normal…
James
August 11, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Good point about union thuggery. Couldn’t agree more.

But my point still stands. Maybe the people who killed John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Dr. King, Matthew Shepard, and, most recently, George Tiller, were just moms and dads doing their civic duty to protest. Maybe Tim McVeigh was just misunderstood because he couldn’t get his questions answered.

I’m sure you’ll be able to come up with examples of conservative activists killed by liberal haters … take your time … I’ll be here.

In the interim, I feel your pain. You now know exactly how I felt during the eight years of the Bush administration, where town halls were stacked with fawning fans and friendly media, where a president stared America in the eyes and lied through his teeth while friends of mine were killed in a war that should never have been fought, all the while driving our economy into the black hole we’re suffering from today.
T. Hill
August 11, 2009 at 5:09 pm
IBXer and Dallas Woodhouse are right. James is a prick and Dallas’ daughter shouldn’t have to read that leash comment on a blog where daddy calls James a prick. It could be damaging.
Louie
August 12, 2009 at 4:41 am
Dallas, do you know Amy? Has she worked in the medical field, have you?

Amy Menefee is Director of Communications for Americans for Prosperity. Before joining AFP, she directed communications for the Galen Institute. She was previously managing editor for the Media Research Center’s Business & Media Institute. A journalist by training, she has been a frequent commentator on radio and television and written op-eds on economic issues.

Menefee’s media appearances include Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, and the Christian Broadcasting Network’s “Newswatch” program. She has done more than 200 radio interviews including the nationally syndicated “Michael Medved Show,” “The Lynne Breidenbach Show,” “Dateline Washington” and “The Martha Zoller Show.” Her op-eds have been published in The Washington Times, Detroit Free Press, Human Events Online, Townhall.com and other outlets.

Her background includes covering federal, state and local government. She has reported for Congressional Quarterly’s CQ Homeland Security, a daily Web-based publication, and The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph. She worked as a reporter and assistant editor in the state Capitol bureau of The Columbia Missourian.

She holds an M.A. in public policy journalism from the Missouri School of Journalism (Columbia, Mo.) and a B.A. in journalism/mass communication from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Menefee is originally from Macon, Ga., and resides in Alexandria, Va.