Their impending defeat must be driving them desperate

Nothing like the open threat of armed insurrection to get lawmakers to keel over to your demands

I think teabaggers must be starting to realize that their rallies of simple-minded trolls and classless hicks aren’t working and that healthcare reform is going to pass anyway (and with a little luck, as soon as tomorrow), for they’ve apparently decided to take it up a notch and have begun attacking Democratic senators in person – both verbally and physically.

Abusive, derogatory and even racist behavior directed at House Democrats by Tea Party protesters on Saturday left several lawmakers in shock.

Preceding the president's speech to a gathering of House Democrats, thousands of protesters descended around the Capitol to protest the passage of health care reform. The gathering quickly turned into abusive heckling, as members of Congress passing through Longworth House office building were subjected to epithets and even mild physical abuse.

A staffer for Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told reporters that Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-M.D.) had been spit on by a protestor. Rep. John Lewis (D-G.A.), a hero of the civil rights movement, was called a 'ni--er.' And Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) was called a "faggot," as protestors shouted at him with deliberately lisp-y screams. Frank, approached in the halls after the president's speech, shrugged off the incident.

Amazing, the eloquence with which these people know how to get their message across is.

One of these senators, James Clyburn of South Carolina, confesses to being very unpleasantly reminded of bygone days where such conduct was practically par for the course:

"It was absolutely shocking to me," Clyburn told the Huffington Post. "Last Monday, this past Monday, I stayed home to meet on the campus of Claflin University where fifty years ago as of last Monday... I led the first demonstrations in South Carolina, the sit ins... And quite frankly I heard some things today I have not heard since that day. I heard people saying things that I have not heard since March 15, 1960 when I was marching to try and get off the back of the bus."

Well, congratulations there, Tea Party hicks and trolls. You’ve successfully dragged America back fifty years. (Or your small parcel of it, anyway.)

(via @VeritasKnight)