Disgusting: Tea Party Protesters Heckle Man With Parkinsons

At an anti health reform rally in Columbus yesterday, Tea Partiers demonstrated why they should be taken seriously as a populist movement by heckling a man who carried a sign claiming he suffers from Parkinsons.

A video shows the man sitting down in front of a group of protesters. “If you’re looking for a handout, you’re in the wrong part of town! Nothing for free here, you have to work for everything you get!” says one guy. Then, some khaki-clad dick saunters over, flings some money at the protester and smarmily says “I’ll pay for this guy. Here you go. Start a pot.” He circles back around to scream, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” Someone yells something about communism. Someone else screams, “No more handouts!!!”

If only the health bill created  some sort of panels where experts could decide if diseased commie scum like this guy are deserving of care …

Here’s the video (it really is horrifying to watch):

Of course, things get heated at protests. And it may not be fair to judge everyone at the demonstration based on a handful of crazy idiots caught on video. What a nice illustration, though, of a mindset that brings someone out in the middle of the day to scream about (very imperfect) legislation that promises to extend insurance to millions and curb some of the most egregious abuses of the insurance industry.

Also, if you’re all heated up about the impending communist/nazi doom triggered by reform, maybe you’d also join an angry mob and abuse people suffering from terrible diseases. Here’s how the website of the Columbus tea party, which helped organize the protest, describes efforts to reform our terrible health care system:

Let’s face the facts…The Progressive are committed and smelling victory! We must beat back the collapse of our system against those enemies who are salivating at its ruin. Are we doing everything in our power to prove to future generations that we DID NOT FAIL them at this crucial hour in our nation’s history?

(The video was originally posted on the Columbus Dispatch. h/t to Ohio Progress and Daily Kos.)