Healthcare Protestors Wield Pitchforks, Torches in CT
Written by Joe Tetreault   
Thursday, 18 February 2010 14:54

 

CT News Junkie, which is non partisan, has coverage of a rally outside of the CBIA - Connecticut Business and Industry Association.

Menacing marchers threaten civic organization that provides health insurance to small businesses. Surely this dastardly act must be the cause of evil-mongering rightwing radicals wielding pitchforks and torches to frighten responsible citizens who are trying to ensure that more people have access to healthcare. Heaven forbid.

The YouTube Video CTNJ posted includes a rebuttal from the CBIA's Eric George. Their story summarizes the video. Here's the lede:

Carrying pitchforks and torches a group of labor unions and health care groups marched down Church Street in Hartford Tuesday night to let the state’s largest business lobby know that they want health care reform. [Emphasis mine -JT]

But I thought all the violent political demonstrations were a product of the fiscal conservative tea party movement. You mean, labor unions and progressives strike a more menacing pose than the tea partiers? Who knew?

In comparison, here are some pictures from the New Haven Tea Party held rather peacefully in April of last year.

UPDATE: Welcome Instapundit readers, and thanks for the link, Prof-, errr, Glenn.  Feel free to poke around and see what else is on the shelf these days.

Comments (14)Add Comment
Huh?
written by Charles Collins, February 19, 2010
I just watched this, and have a feeling these folks have way too much time on their hands.
Keemo
written by Kim Skelton, February 19, 2010
I sat in my truck in the parking lot of a Home Depot and watched a group of about fifty union members protesting for ObamaCare. They had some really fancy signs and were very organized. However, something strange began to happen, which is why I was watching while holding my phone closely. Regular folks (shopping at HD) began to stop and engage these union members suddenly turned thugs. More and more people started to engage, and the union members chants became physical threats. People got on their phones and more and more people began to show up. It amazed me how quickly this all happened. Someone (not me) must have called the police, because the police showed up in large numbers and broke this thing up. The crowd of regular folks seemed to be on the verge of beating the crap out of these union thugs who were very vocal about how they were going to tear apart those who opposed ObamaCare.

Made my day! F*** Union wipes.
Union thiefs
written by lesminora, February 19, 2010
I hate anyone that makes more than I do or has better benefits. The gubment needs to cut union workers wages and benefits to be closer to mine to make it fair.
Not much of a crowd.
written by Beth Donovan, February 19, 2010
The unions can't get enough people to show up to make any kind of protest. The villagers union thugs are revolting!
...
written by Duke, February 19, 2010
Wow. I can think of no better way to stick CT Democrat officials with the anti-business job-killer label. How many D's will be kicked out of CT's Congressional delegation after this makes the rounds in the runup to November? I'm thinking 2. For only a single ill-considered gov't union march.
union thiefs is right
written by bob smetters, February 19, 2010
I agree,les. I work hard and do not get as much as union workers. Either unions should be outlawed or their pay and benies be lowered to a national average or something.
...
written by richard40, February 19, 2010
Union Thiefs is part right and part wrong.
Yes we should all be sick of the undeserved benefits unions get.
But we dont need the government to do anything to cut them. The market will take care of that, as it has for auto workers.
What is needed is to ban any special government subsidies in current law, and additional ones planned by Obama, like Card Check, and the special interest tax break in the health care bill.
Unions should also be prohibited for Public sector employees. This is needed because since the public sector is an uncompetitive monopoly, unreasonable union demands are not subject to the same market disclipline as they are in the private sector.
@Charles Collins
written by Joe Tetreault, February 19, 2010
Apparently not enough time to rehearse. smilies/smiley.gif
@Kim Skelton
written by Joe Tetreault, February 19, 2010
The behavior of thugs bussed in by the unions to intimidate people opposed to the out of control spending or potential remaking of one-sixth of the US economy is reprehensible. The use of intimidation seems exclusively on one side of the debate. The side whose arguments fail to convince or persuade. Imagine that!
@lesminora
written by Joe Tetreault, February 19, 2010
I can't tell if you're being disingenuous in calling for government to step in and in effect mandate compensation and benefits to workers. I'm absolutely not in favor of additional government encroachment on private contracts between corporations and their employees, whether collectively bargained or on an individual basis. It's up to businesses to reach reasonable deals with their employees.
@Beth Donovan
written by Joe Tetreault, February 19, 2010
No the crowd was fairly small. In fairness, it was snowing that night, which likely depressed turnout some. Still, it's a small crowd compared to the thousands on Long Wharf (in New Haven, for those unfamiliar with the neighborhoods and regions of the city) last April.
@Duke
written by Joe Tetreault, February 19, 2010
The situation here is rather dicey. The state is running massive deficits. Governor Rell, who is eschewing a re-election run, has little power besides the veto pen over the legislature because she is a lame duck. The legislature can't raise taxes without Rell's signature. They won't cut services. The situation is Hartford is one of partisan standoff. The problem for the Democrats is they have more seats to defend. In a wave election, that could seriously damage them. I would doubt Republican control of the state assembly, but gridlock for the balance of this year is assured and likely most of the next session, too.
@bob smetters
written by Joe Tetreault, February 19, 2010
Echoing my previous comment to lesminora, setting a bar universally is a tactic I am totally against. People should be compensated for their worth. A cap on salary or benefits whether it effects union members or those of us not in unions is a measure I would staunchly oppose.
@richard40
written by Joe Tetreault, February 19, 2010
Hear, Hear!

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