Health Care Rally in Hicksville today

Motivation (0.00 / 0)

I remember on election night finding it most remarkable that this country actually elected a black person as our President.  As the rampant racism that still pervades far too much of our society runs amok, ostensibly over healthcare reform, I am reminded of just how remarkable that night was.

There were plenty of articles in the papers and magazines, and lots of self-appointed pundits on television, talking about the lack of the so-called "Bradley effect."  I disagree.  I think that if Barack Obama were white, with a name like Don Jones, he would have gotten 60% of the vote instead of 53% -- despite the fact that African-Americans wouldn't have turned out in such high numbers.

Fortunately, despite the racism that exists across this country, and even in my own neighborhood in Queens, enough Americans rose above the lowest factor that marks too much of our politics to elect a black President.  And maybe, just maybe, the hateful nature of the racists who make up such a large percentage of those who disrupt town halls, regurgitating Rush Limbaugh/Sarah Palin/Glenn Beck lines fed to them by extremist right-wing lobbyists, will shame enough "middle Americans" who have yet to come to terms with the lingering elements of racism that still exist in their hearts as well.

So as much as I'd like to take a lethal weapon into those crowds of evildoers and put them out of our misery, I find it possible to follow President Obama's "no drama" lead in dealing with that urge.

Of course, watching Rachel Maddow doesn't hurt either.

---

by: Dan Jacoby @ Fri Aug 14, 2009 at 20:56:10 PM UTC

Also remarkable (0.00 / 0)

There was something else about the President's election that moved me besides the color of his skin juxtaposed with the history (and, as you pointed out, present state) of our nation.  That was that a politician had gotten elected running a campaign that pledged not just to change policy, but also approach in politics.

That is, he wanted to change the tone.  Unfortunately, one must judge him as unsuccessful until now on this point.  The entirety of the news I'm reading about health care forums hardly focus on the elements of the health care plan at all.  Rather, they tend to focus on calling one side teabaggers, the other side commies, and instead of detailing aspects of the plan, we end up detailing who had the most outrageous sign post.

I think that was the kind of tone Mr. Obama wanted to change.  We owe it to ourselves to make this health care debate about health care, not about the the number of supporters of one side there versus the other, not about an astro-turn conspiracy, and not, not, not about race in any way shape or form.  Obama knows one thing: to feed into that is to spoon-feed the opposition their sustenance.

That is to say, while I may personally agree with the diarist that these protesters are haters, that they know nothing of the facts, and that they will one day have their foots in their mouths every time they visit the doctor...I think it's plain that calling them such is non-constructive.  That is when the debate stops being about helath care; verily, it's when debate itself stops and the same old name-calling begins.  The very same nonsense that Obama and a lot of us who voted for him want to go away.  

Furthermore, no matter what you say of these people, all those soldiers who died for your freedom to rally in support of health care also died for others to rally against it.  These souls would be proud either party would show to participate for either cause; I doubt they'd stand so tall at the content of the rhetoric that follows and is focused on afterward.

Remember..."No Drama Obama" means "NO DRAMA."

---

by: Soundpolitic @ Fri Aug 14, 2009 at 21:58:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Characterization (0.00 / 0)

I agree that name-calling back isn't all that helpful. However, since they don't wish to have a grand debate about policy I strongly disagree that we should not call them out.

So long as the media and the average person buy into some portion of their nonsense their noise factor blocks out the health care conversation.

Frankly, not calling these folks out is exactly what killed care in 94. They and their enablers take every opportunity to pick out random lefty bloggers who go over the line to try to kill out entire community, not to mention what they are calling our leaders.

Certainly, the majority of those opposed are not hate mongers, but frankly those coming out to these events largely are and we should point that out as frequently as possible.

As to the speech issue. No one is saying that they can't say whatever the hell they want but when it's code for hate we must call the on it. If they want the freedom to be haters, let them be exposed as such.

---

by: jacksonian dem @ Sat Aug 15, 2009 at 00:51:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]