The Republicans’ strategy for killing health-care reform is simple. First, create fear and confusion by lying about the contents of the proposals to their gullible, feeble-minded base — a simple task since these low-information types only get their “news” from GOP propaganda outlets like hate radio and Fox News.

Second, astroturf Democratic town halls with these ranting paranoid crazies — the Birthers, Tea-Baggers and now Deathers — knowing with assurance that the dumbass corporate media will show the clips over and over on cable news — which will give the impression to casual viewers that outrage over the reforms is pervasive and real.

This campaign has two objectives: 1) Protect the enormous profits of the Republicans’ corporate sponsors in the medical industry. 2) Flip the votes of right-leaning independents in marginal districts that voted Blue Dog Dems into the House last year from blue to red in 2010.

Not surprisingly, a new Gallup poll finds that this strategy is working like a charm:

n a survey of 1,000 adults taken Tuesday, 34 percent say demonstrations at the hometown sessions have made them more sympathetic to the protesters’ views; 21 percent say they are less sympathetic.

Independents by 2-to-1, 35 percent-16 percent, say they are more sympathetic to the protesters now. [Emphasis added.]

And:

A study by the non-partisan Pew Research Center concluded that 59 percent of the airtime last week on 13 cable TV and radio talk shows were devoted to the health care debate.

A 57 percent majority of those surveyed, including six in 10 independents, say a major factor behind the protests are concerns that average citizens had well before the meetings took place; 48 percent say efforts by activists to create organized opposition to the health care bills are a major factor.

There’s some tolerance for loud voices: 51 percent say individuals making “angry attacks” on a health care bill are an example of “democracy in action” rather than “abuse of democracy.”

Some actions are seen as going too far. Six in 10 say shouting down supporters of a bill is an abuse of democracy. On that question, unlike most others, there isn’t much of a partisan divide: 69 percent of Democrats and 58 percent of Republicans agree.

It appears the Democrats have been caught flat-footed again. Who could have guessed the Republicans would tell big, ominous and easily disprovable lies about reforms — and that it would work so well?