NEWS JUNKIE POST
Mar 23, 2010 at 7:06 amNasty Noise: The Far Right Goes Too Far
Nothing should shock us at this point. I mean we’ve heard the rabid rancour for months over everything from Obama’s birth certificate to health care reform. Still the names hurled at members of Congress last weekend as the House Bill was finally headed to the floor, was nothing short of shameful. Citizens yelling the “n” word at African American congressmen, spitting at and tossing anti-gay epithets at Barney Frank, Texas Congressman Randy Neugebauer actually shouting “baby killer” at Bart Stupak, who despite holding out for anti-abortion language ( which was, by the way, included), voted for the bill. All deplorable. For the record, Neugebauer apologized, saying he shouted, “it’s a baby killer” denouncing the bill, not Stupak. Whatever that’s worth. The de facto Grand Pooh bah of the GOP, Rush Limbaugh, kept the crazy fury going on the Monday edition of his radio show vowing to “hound, hassle and wipe out” the Democrats.
What compounds the unforgivable, hateful spewings is the silence of the “loyal” opposition. Why have no Republican leaders emerged to slam such heinous hate speech? House Majority leader John Boehner would actually garner my respect if he had the decency to condemn such talk. A rebuke would in no way detract from his very vocal opposition to the bill, or quite frankly anything that has Obama’s fingerprints on it. There is room for disagreement, even passionate disagreement without using, condoning or endorsing hate.
This is what turns me off the Repubs. Last summer the were content to sit by and watch as the town hall meetings were tea bagged with hateful, often racist and threatening language. Some like Michele Bachmann and Chuck Grassley actually stoked the fire, whipping the borderline irrational into a frenzy with crazy talk about birth certificates and death panels. Even more moderate voices like Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have remained mum. With the exception of John McCain and Lindsey Graham who have selectively denounced –without prompting– hateful gushings by citizens and congressmen, I haven’t heard a GOP leader speak out against the angry rabble. McCain was one of the first to condemn Joe Wilson after he yelled “You lie!” at President Obama during a joint session of Congress.
Yet, yesterday McCain came out forcefully against the legislation, vowing to offer “little cooperation” for the rest of the year. On an Arizona radio show he said, “They have poisoned the well with what they’ve done and how they’ve done it.”
While he isn’t dripping with venomous vitriol, McCain has joined the obstructionist chorus. Of course the GOP has been threatening to take their marbles and go home since Obama took office. And this tact is a long term loser. Okay, maybe they will fetch more seats in November, maybe even–and it’s a long shot– reclaim the House. But after a while the voters will get sick of the tantrum party, sick of watching these guys stomp their feet, shake their fists and wail “NO!!” at the top of their lungs. Now, the GOP mantra is “repeal.” Good luck with that guys. As the elements of the reform bill become better understood and the public let’s it settle in, more people will get on board the reform train. Despite the messy, often mean process and the bill’s limitations, people will realize there are long-term benefits that will improve their families’ lives. Try telling folks we’re re-implementing pre-existing conditions, raising senior prescription costs or kicking your newly minted unemployed college grad off your insurance. At some point, the voters will recognize those who actually look to our better angels, working with greater concern on the people’s business than for their own re-elections.
Let’s face it, I can’t jump for joy over this current health care reform legislation. I agree with Dennis Kucinich, who held his nose as he voted yes for a bill that did not contain many of the elements needed for a full overhaul. But Rome wasn’t built in a day. And every baby step in the right direction counts. And there are some good things in the bill, though even many of those won’t go into effect for another four years. But it is a beginning.
And in time, people will forget just how arduous the journey to take these first few awkward steps has been. But the ugly stain of hatred will not be easily removed from our national psyche.
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Sort of telling when Mitt Romney is considered a ‘moderate’ in the Republican Party. During their prime time in the 80′s, he would have been a conservative wingnut and extremist.
“And in time, people will forget just how arduous the journey to take these first few awkward steps has been. But the ugly stain of hatred will not be easily removed from our national psyche.”
You don’t feel that abortion is an ugly stain? Our tax dollars should not go to killing our children. You need to live a little before calling people that care about others nasty.
You may be surprised to learn that most of us who are pro-choice are not proponents of wide spread abortion. We just feel it is a decision that needs to be made, with great care and soul searching, by a woman with advice from her partner and doctor. But I know those who are pro-life have deep convictions and I respect them. However, hurling nasty langauge at anyone is not appropriate or the most effective way to lure them over to your side. In any event, the health reform bill that was passed contains language that would maintain the status quo: no federal money will be used for abortions.
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Thanks for this terrific article – how right you are! Have we lost all decency?
It’s great that we are in America and can express our feelings, but geez folks can we do it with a little bit of class! I think the Republicans are just sore losers and a very DECLASSE bunch!