Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer: Town Hall Attacks 'Un-American'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer have written an op-ed in today's USA Today detailing violent protests at Congressional town hall meetings and calling them "un-American."

"It is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialog," they write. "These tactics have included hanging in effigy one Democratic member of Congress in Maryland and protesters holding a sign displaying a tombstone with the name of another congressman in Texas, where protesters also shouted 'Just say no!' drowning out those who wanted to hold a substantive discussion."

They then write, "These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views -- but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades."

The op-ed also gives details of the House version of the health care reform bill, which Pelosi and Hoyer say will reduce costs for Americans, including adding a public option for health care insurance, closing the "donut hole" for coverage of prescription costs to seniors, and covering preventative care.

You can read the full column from Pelosi and Hoyer at USA Today.