Durbin: Town hall disruptions orchestrated

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Disruptions at town hall meetings called by U.S. lawmakers to discuss healthcare reform are being orchestrated, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat says.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that town hall participants who last week engaged in screaming and threats at the meetings are being organized by lobbyists and special interests who want to derail the reform efforts.

Durbin said U.S. healthcare consumers have a right to voice their support or opposition to proposed legislation.

"That's part of America, part of our process," he said. "But this is clearly being orchestrated and these folks have instructions. They come down from a Texas lobbyist in Washington."

Asked what is wrong with a spirited debate, Durbin answered, "I'll tell you what's wrong with it: When there are a group of people honestly sitting in the middle trying to ask the important questions and get the right answers, and instead someone takes the microphone and screams and shouts to the point where the meeting comes to an end, that isn't dialogue, that isn't the democratic process."

"They do have a script," Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, told CNN. "I think this has disseminated through the Republican Party."