A message from Lanny Davis to The Mob

By Michelle Malkin  •  August 6, 2009 08:20 AM

Yesterday, I pointed to a piece by Lanny Davis at Politico’s Arena falsely accusing Obamacare protesters of being “organized by the Republican right” — and calling on the media to investigate and photograph grass-roots activists who forcefully express their views.

Mr. Davis sent me an e-mail last night seeking to “clear up any misunderstanding about my position and beliefs.”

I am reprinting his message in full and will leave it to you to compare what he wrote at Politico with what he’s saying now:

From: Davis, Lanny J.
Sent: Wed Aug 05 22:21:11 2009

To readers of Michelle Malkin’s blog who responded to my post on Politico earlier in the morning:

I received a number of thoughtful emails and wanted to express my appreciation to those who communicated their sincere concerns. There was a misimpression that I was in favor of suppression or discouragement of dissent concerning Democratic positions on national health care issues at congressional town hall meetings. This was not my intent. I do not wish in any way investigate, photo, or suppress the opinions of people who show up to these meetings regarding concerns about Democratic health care proposals. Indeed, I welcome that because we need more debate on this important issue.

My post specifically criticized only those who shout down and prevent others from speaking. Indeed, I specifically expressed my respect in that post for those who are genuinely concerned about the health care proposals.

Finally, some sincere people who communicated with me asked whether I had or would condemn those on the left who disrupted meetings or shouted down speakers on the conservative side of the spectrum. The answer is: Yes I would and I have. Publicly.

I believe that thoughtful and civil people on the left and the right share a desire for debate and have respect for other people’s opinions. This is fundamental to a civil society and our great democracy. In my post, I only wished to protest strongly those who believe it is acceptable to attend a meeting for the purpose of disrupting and preventing honest and vigorous debate.

I take the same position if it is people on the left side of the spectrum who use such tactics as those on the right side.

Sincerely,

Lanny Davis

***

Related must-read: Doctor Zero explains to the smear merchants “Who We Are.”

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Comments


  1. #101
    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Other reportable behaviors. Neighbors or family members

    who burn wood, trash, …anything
    with space heaters
    who have thermostats too high or too low
    who refuse to buy Chrysler or GM cars

  2. #102
    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:31 pm, blues said:

    Beck-pedal,back-pedal,back-pedal.
    Reminds me of an old t.v.ad:
    “How you getting to work today?”
    “Backstroke.”

  3. #103
    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:36 pm, Misscheryl said:

    DesertLover said: We can’t let them go for so much as another hour unchallenged … every minute waiting is a minute wasted that cannot be recovered in this battle for the survival of the United States of America …

    hear hear

  4. #104
    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:37 pm, spaceycakes said:

    People who smoke tobacco products

    Thanks, JonB.

  5. #105
    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:38 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    Okay, Lanny. Please give us the name(s) of those liberals you have condemned publicly who have shouted down speakers, say like Ann Coulter…still waiting. We have a right to speak, publicly, and loudly, since member of our so-called Congress are not longer listening. I do not believe a thing you wrote, Lanny, in this letter.

  6. #106
    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:38 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:11 pm, Regulus said: Just like Hope-a-Dope with his “Clinging to their Bibles and guns” crack about ordinary Americans, or Murtha’s assessment of his own constituents as “rednecks & racists” or Eric Holder’s wholesale tarring of the American People as “A nation of cowards” while he winks at Black Panther thugs intimidating voters on election day, from a liberal point of view the greatest faux pas that Davis committed was to let the mask slip where the Rubes could see it.

    I have become so thoroughly disgusted with the congenital dishonesty of the Cognoscenti, their deep contempt for the American People when they think no one is listening and their utterly unearned and patently false sense of moral and intellectual superiority that nothing they do or say surprises me anymore.

    I expect the lowest and the worst from them, and they never fail to deliver.

    …what you said! Bears repeating.

  7. #107
    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm, love2rumba said:

    He (Lanny Davis) got caught with his pants down. Always remember this IS how the left thinks of you if you are conservative (the first letter). If they had the power to persecute you tommorrow they would do so with glee.

  8. #108
    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:52 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm, love2rumba said:
    He (Lanny Davis) got caught with his pants down. Always remember this IS how the left thinks of you if you are conservative (the first letter). If they had the power to persecute you tommorrow they would do so with glee.

    And if I had Lanny Davis in front of me right now, I would throw a pie in his face.

  9. #109
    On August 6th, 2009 at 12:54 pm, happyscrapper said:

    Chicago thug politicians, Unions, Black Panthers, ACORN…and they call US mobs? Hahahahahahahahaha!!

  10. #110
    On August 6th, 2009 at 1:21 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    I take the same position if it is people on the left side of the spectrum who use such tactics as those on the right side.

    Maybe, but if so, you’re a lot quieter about it…

  11. #111
    On August 6th, 2009 at 1:56 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    Aloha Guy #110: Quieter? I challenge Lanny to name ONE person on the left he has publicly reprimanded, just ONE. And, did he refer to these libtards screaming at Coulter and Tancredo “mobs”???

  12. #112
    On August 6th, 2009 at 2:07 pm, shooter said:

    classic definition of “fascist” tactics–defined as using shouting and disruption to deprive the civil and respectful debate of ideas.

    If that doesn’t describe obama/alinsky tactics, I don’t know what does.

    Hey Lanny and obamabots…lets have a little comparison evening.
    We have proof, tons of it and miles of video proof.
    And you?

  13. #113
    On August 6th, 2009 at 2:54 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    FirstSkirt said:

    Like I said, he’s a lot quieter…

  14. #114
    On August 6th, 2009 at 3:14 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    There was a misimpression You all clearly understood that I was in favor of suppression or discouragement of dissent concerning Democratic positions on national health care issues at congressional town hall meetings. This was not my intent.

    Fixed it for you Lanny.

  15. #115
    On August 6th, 2009 at 3:53 pm, cheapseat said:

    what do you think will be the msm message over this debacle and the mob rule update? if you show up to question your elected officials, you’re a mob, so what will you be after daring to confront prez allah (blessings be upon him) and his minnions like lanny for creating a white house enemies list?

  16. #116
    On August 6th, 2009 at 4:43 pm, shimauma2 said:

    so what will you be after daring to confront prez allah (blessings be upon him) and his minnions like lanny for creating a white house enemies list?

    This situation reminds me of a scene from the TV series “SHOGUN”. The government is considering us rebels at this point, but not if we win. The election was only one battle; there’s still a war to be won.

  17. #117
    On August 6th, 2009 at 5:02 pm, ScottyDog said:

    Me thinks Lanny Davis has finally developed a conscience.
    He probably remembers the Presidential Debates when the Democrats packed the so called townhall audiences at CNN and ABC with Democratic operatives and then denied it when the bloggers investigated the credentials of the so called “Normal Americans” asking candidate Obama questions.

    Lanny thou protest too much.

    Not all Americans are as devious and corrupt as the DNC and it spokesholes.
    Some American actually love this country and do not want it turned into a communist utopia.

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