Palin: Abstain from ‘intimidation’ or ‘harassment’ tactics at town halls.

In a message posted to her Facebook page yesterday evening, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin urged anti-health care reform protesters to show restraint at town hall meetings:

Also this week, Alaskans will join Senators Murkowski and Begich in town hall meetings to discuss the current health care legislation. There are many disturbing details in the current bill that Washington is trying to rush through Congress, but we must stick to a discussion of the issues and not get sidetracked by tactics that can be accused of leading to intimidation or harassment. Such tactics diminish our nation’s civil discourse which we need now more than ever because the fine print in this outrageous health care proposal must be understood clearly and not get lost in conscientious voters’ passion to want to make elected officials hear what we are saying. Let’s not give the proponents of nationalized health care any reason to criticize us.

Glenn Beck has issued a similar warning to his viewers, saying that “one lunatic like Timothy McVeigh could ruin everything that everyone has worked so hard for.” Yet at the same time, both Beck and Palin have issued rhetoric designed to play upon the fears of the American public, warning of “death panels” and the fascist/socialist plans of the Obama administration. (HT: Ben Smith)