Weekly Column
In 1995, House Majority leader Dick Armey (R-Tex.) referred to Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) as “Barney Fag.” He quickly apologized calling his verbiage a “slip of the tongue”. Fifteen years later, the obstreperous Tea Party movement that Armey is behind showed no such restraint, with members boldly calling Frank a “faggot” during the healthcare debate, while the crowd stood by and laughed. They also used the N-word to taunt civil rights hero, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), as he entered the Capitol to vote.
Can the media please stop pretending that the Tea Party is an amalgam of small government conservatives and anxious Americans concerned about their families? What we just witnessed was not spontaneous, nor was it a genuine outpouring of anger towards Washington. It was privileged DC Republicans shilling for the insurance industry while posing as populists. To obscure their genuine goals, they mobilized racists and riff raff to throw tyrannical tantrums in an effort to intimidate lawmakers.
If you think I’m wrong, watch almost any interview with Tea Baggers on the healthcare bill. They display a shocking lack of understanding about what they were actually protesting. Many condemn “socialized” medicine while not realizing that Medicare is a government program. These “good folks” have consistently regurgitated stale and misleading GOP talking points about “death panels” that they heard on FOX News.
Sure, there are some Tea Baggers who don’t fit this unflattering description. But one would have to be intellectually dishonest to deny the role extremists are playing in this movement. It is also worth noting that those who are reportedly not fringe ideologues are nonetheless eerily comfortable protesting alongside the more fanatical goons.
The thuggish tactics — from the ugly August “town brawls” to the race-baiting rallies on Capitol Hill – were grotesque and anti-democratic. Many of these so-called “patriots” were not putting forth real arguments in the interest of America — but simply arguing loudly to bully opponents and drown out genuine debate.
It was disgusting to watch Republican members of Congress egg on this unruly behavior. Several grandstanding politicians encouraged the mob from a second story balcony on the Capitol, as the empowered crowd yelled slogans through bullhorns such as, “Nancy Pelosi, you will burn in hell for this.” These grossly irresponsible lawmakers even encouraged anarchy by cheering a protester who was ejected from the House chamber for a disruptive outburst.
In my view, Republicans have crossed a dangerous line that threatens the fabric and cohesion of this nation. They are courting and catering to crazies and now call them a core constituency. The GOP leadership is consistently communicating in illogical, apocalyptic terms to reach “Values Voters” who are excitedly awaiting Armageddon.
The very strategy of today’ conservative movement is an affront to this nation. They incite their most fervent and fanatic followers by questioning the legitimacy of America’ leaders and institutions. They engage in legislative obstruction. And, many of these zealots believe that God commands them to rule, while anyone else is a usurper of the natural political order.
Republicans are also fanning the flames of regionalism and trying to balkanize this nation for political gain. When asked if passing the bill would help democrats politically, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) replied, “Someone at Harvard or in San Francisco may think that, but not the rest of the country.” This rhetoric mirror’ that of Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) who spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month and derided liberals for supposedly hanging out at “Chablis-drinking, Brie-eating parties in San Francisco.”
At the anti-healthcare rally, cantankerous protesters yelled, “kill the bill.” But, there is a true concern that the overheated rhetoric will lead to the death of real people. Republicans and Tea Baggers can only shout “fire” in a crowded theatre for so long before an unbalanced individual moves decisively to extinguish the alleged conflagration.
The GOP and the Tea Bag crowd need to stop polarizing America and dial back the rhetoric before it is too late.
As far as the politics of healthcare, the GOP will suffer. Obama proved he can be tough and get things done in Washington – and everybody loves a winner. In the end, the public will appreciate their new benefits and the GOP is now in the position of trying to deny health insurance to people with preexisting conditions. Good luck on that.
Finally, the gloom and doom scenarios painted by overwrought phonies, such as House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), will not come to pass. This is no different than when social conservatives claimed that civil unions in Vermont and marriage equality in Massachusetts would destroy the world.
Obviously, this did not happen, the public saw legalizing LGBT relationships was no big deal and our opponents lost credibility. The same will happen with healthcare. The sooner the public sees the sky is not falling, the faster the polling numbers will plummet for Republicans who voted on wrong side of history.
The republican masses don’t do anything unless directed to by their overlords. They’ve been trained to be dumb, gullible and highly manipulable. Orwell would be proud of the work the Fox “News” talking heads and RRRW church leaders have done.
If radical conservative activists in the Republican Party want to make health care an issue, we need to immediately seize the moral high ground. Taking away health care from the sick and dying is immoral and a sin, period.
“‘For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:42-46)
Yes, Conservative Republicans are good at talking about being compassionate. However, what I saw on Sunday night going on at the rally was less than compassionate.It was down right pathetic! And they call themselves Christians? “By their fruits will you know them.” If this is how Christians represent their “God” I’m sure he would be totally enraged by his followers.
On another topic: I heard in the news today that the Republicans are now talking about suing the government for what it sees as an “unconstitutional” end game to get the bill passed into law. Oh, really? It’s so “unconstitutional” to allow 32 million Americans to have affordable health care insurance? Let me ask you Republicans this: Was it “unconstitutional” when Republicans wrote discrimination into the Constitution with the archaic DOMA Act.? How about when Republicans thought it was “Constitutional for people to discriminate against gays and lesbians in the work place, housing, employment? Do these same Republicans think that is “unconstitutional?”
Let’s not get fooled by this FALSE indignation they present. They are angry that a black man has accomplished what no white man has dared to take on. And they just want to show this uppity black man who is boss…that is all it amounts to.
Here is some footage from a Tea Party protest complete with interviews. It’s terrifying that these people are allowed to vote.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_s-lvpRj00
This weekend a huge “tea party”" event is planned for Sen. Reid’s tiny hometown of Searchlight, Nevada (about an hours drive south of Las Vegas)Speakers include; Sarah Palin, MANN Coulter, Joe the plumber and a bunch of right radio talkers.. they expect about 10,000 wack jobs too show up, mind you Searchlight only has about 600 residents and only one casino! The road too Searchlight is only two lanes! It’s gonna be a mess.. GOOD!
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