The Republican Disdain for Citizen Protests. So what was that recent tea party thing all about?

Great observation from Cognitive Dissedence over a small but extremely revealing view of democracy, through the eyes of our new crop of freshmen, in what could be described as Wisconsin's controlling Republican Authority:

The bigger picture is this; Wisconsinites should be concerned at how easy it is for any group or action to be vilified. The old line "first they came for..." has just as much relevance today as it did when Martin Niemöller said it back in 1946.

Fear of "the other."

Talk radio and party leaders have cast protesting citizens as outsiders, union thugs, vandals and 60's war reenactors. Liberalism is the new enemy. Who hasn't heard the slogan, "We're taking our country back" from liberals.

And the Republicans disruptions of town hall debates, with their mythical fears of death panels, massive spending and the dreaded socialist takeover?