Grass Roots, Not Astroturf

We here at the DPNM, like many other New Mexicans, cannot help but get caught up in the frenzy of news reports which are seeking to highlight and cover the national debates surrounding proposed health care reform in America. We have been doing our best to bring you reliable information and updates related to the proposed reform.

We are also very lucky to say that at least one of our Congressmen, Rep. Martin Heinrich has scheduled a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the proposed reforms during the August recess. This is a great opportunity for New Mexicans to get straight answers from their elected officials.

However, as we have stated before in this blog, there are some citizens who would seek to disrupt, challenge and stall proposed legislation and reform. Furthermore, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has stated that many of the demonstrations have been less than grassroots in nature -- in fact she dubbed the protesters as Astroturf -- basically protesters who pretend to be grassroots oriented, but in reality are part of a larger organization.

At the time of Pelosi's comments, many Republicans (and the protesters themselves) claimed that such protests were completely organic in nature and that no one was working on behalf of a party or agenda which was not their own. As reports continue to come in from around the country, this so-called independence of actions is just not proving to be true.

In an article by Ryan Grim, members of Congress are reporting that many attendees of their Town Hall Meetings are not registered to the district that the member represents, suggesting that the protests are less than independent. The article notes that as many as 50-80% of attendees are from outside the district of the official or decline to state from where they originate. In another instance in Wisconsin, a vocal protester was later found to be affiliated with the Republican Party of Wisconsin and had worked for the Congressman's former Republican opponent.

Heinrich's Town Hall meeting presents a great opportunity for New Mexicans. However, do not think that we are immune to such antics which are occurring in other locations -- the DPNM believes that all New Mexicans should actively participate in such meetings, but be aware that other groups or people may not want you to do so. Already groups like the Tea Party Express are targeting our state in order to disrupt the free flow of information.

The DPNM urges all New Mexicans to reject the outside influence of such groups -- groups who simply do not understand New Mexican values, traditions and our way of life.