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.
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.
Amy Beth Arkawy is a writer and radio talk show host. You can read more of her musings on politics and pop culture at Radio Graffiti. You can also follow Amy Beth on Twitter. and read her News Junkie Post articles.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Funny how no one witnessed it and how there is no video… just more demonization and Alynsky rules.
Funny how anyone who disagrees is HATEFUL just like the little old grannies from the town halls who were terrorists.
Drew,
First of all, when you have an Establishment publication like USA Today, one must always wonder where these polls were taken.
Second, “rape metaphors”?????? AB, what were you saying about hate speech?
J Byron,
Like, “WOW”.
Silverwun,
Do you honestly believe that Christianity “crushes individuality”?
AB,
Paragraph 2: As J and Silver pointed out, it is hate speech, but it is free speech and is no more inflammatory than the hate speech by the other side. It is true that 2 wrongs don’t make a right. But let’s please not step up onto our soapbox simply because the target is different. And just because there are inevitably always a couple of boneheads in a crowd, that does not mean that the entire crowd should be branded the same.
“McCain was one of the first to condemn Joe Wilson after he yelled “You lie!” at President Obama during a joint session of Congress.”
Well, he DID lie. It is likely that if the tides had been turned and it was a Republican President trash-talking through his teeth and a Democrat would’ve stood up and called him on it, most of the media would have most likely praised him as a “whistle blower” or for having the guts to speak out. I don’t trust GOP Presidents any more than Democratic Presidents, but my point is always the media’s double standard.
“While he isn’t dripping with venomous vitriol, McCain has joined the obstructionist chorus. ”
Unfortunately, that is the nature of politics. Or fortunately, in this case, because this is an issue that a plethora of Americans have shouted from the proverbial rooftops (and probably a few from the literal rooftops) their deep concerns, only to be ignored by the “The People Have Spoken” mentality of the elected officials.
“Now, the GOP mantra is “repeal.” Good luck with that guys.”
We DO agree there. History has proven that it is exponentially more difficult to reverse a bill than it is to pass one in the first place. Theoretically, even if the GOP clean house in November, their job would be similar to trying to spoon squirted toothpaste back into the tube.
“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. ”
Are you SURE about that? Hateful, OFTEN racist? The only 2 racist incidents I recall was when a black man was protesting on the side of the town hall protestors and got beat up by the union thugs and the other time when MSNBC talked about the guy who showed up at a town hall meeting with a gun and how these “radical right wingers” were a danger to our beloved President. Well, when the smoke cleared, it turned out that the camera had strategically filmed the gentleman in a way where his face and hands couldn’t be seen. Why? Because he was black.
For most of the protestors, this has never been about affordable health care covereage, it has been about greater government control. The IRS is already in the process of hiring a lot of “bounty hunters” to enforce this new “health care plan” mandate:
http://www.examiner.com/x-2684-Law-Enforcement-Examiner~y2010m3d21-Health-care-mandate-to-be-enforced-by-IRS-bounty-hunters
Lastly, regarding Stupak, there is video evidence that he was likely going to vote for the bill regardless and that the abortion issue was only used for the purpose of making him look like a Pro Life hero:
http://www.lonelyconservative.com/2010/03/21/stupaks-been-lying-all-along-video-surfaced-obamas-deal-wont-even-count/
The People certainly are a fickle bunch, huh?
Opinions turn favorable on health care plan
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-03-23-health-poll-favorable_N.htm
So much for ramming it down Americans throats when they don’t want it. Opponents will have to find something else to do with all the rape metaphors now.
The allegations of hateful taunts and spitting are as unsustainable as the monstrous power grab called health reform. It is certainly po9ssible that the words and spittle flew, for there are certain to be some racists and few racists and theological zombie zealots in the crowd who feel that their ends justify any means. On the left, the Marxist zombies behave just as ‘hatefully’ and with identical ends and means attitudes.
I happen to hate them both. YES! Hate! Last time I checked, hating wasn’t a crime. It is a perfectly legitimate human emotion that the guardians of tyranny have watered down to mean anything said in opposition to them or their plans.
Opposition isn’t necessarily hatred but hatred is definitely opposition. Hatred is largely fueled by disappointment and I’m disappointed that neither the Left nor the Right will take the courage to open ranks and rid themselves of memberships that are determined to stand in the way of freedom and individuality.
“Whatever crushes individuality is despotism, by whatever name it may be called.”
—On Liberty
John Stuart
Mill
I would add to that a list. Democrat, Republican, Progressive, Christian, Marxist, Muslim.
This Country seems determined to take refuge in oppreessive doctrines that steal freedom. I think it is well earned and deserved. Should I live long enough to witness the culmination, I’ll certainly regard with bitter delight, the surprise and awe of adults and deeply mourn the lives in freedom thwarted for the young.
You see the sins of the parents really do fall upon the shoulders of future generations.
Amy Beth,
You hit the nail on the head- good job!
Radio Chick,
How bold and fair minded you are, lionizing those who are no longer with us, and who would have shot your political positions into oblivion.
It’s very much like the atheist who always say’s what a great man Jesus was, while getting drunk in a gay bar.
You and I know McCain is and was but a tool of the liberal media, who loved him until election time, and then set about shredding him. He made the fatal mistake of trying to earn your love, only to find out the liberal machine is an adulterous companion. If a better looking candidate appears, the moderate is left waiting at the restaurant, all the while the better looking mate is getting the love.
As for hate speech, one or two yell inappropriate things and that’s all we hear about, ignoring the true concerns voiced by the overwhelming majority of this nation. By the way, when a candidate votes for the furtherance of killing babies in the womb, why is calling him a baby killer such a stretch and hateful. I say, killing defenseless babies who have no advocate is a hate crime, but that’s just silly ol me.
If you want to hear hate, just tune into any of the Air America voices still alive and well and on the air. Ya know what I mean, you and I know the list of examples would be never ending.
As for the backroom deals we’ll never hear about and the outright bribes paid for with US tax dollars to circumvent the will of the “undisputedly overwhelming” will of the People, yeah, that’s real noble, in a Chicago Mafia kinda way.
Our representatives chose not to represent us, rather tell us what is good for us and ram it down our throats against the “obvious” will of those who are supposed to be their employers.
If creating a womb (if not killed by the un-hateful baby killers) to the tomb government nanny state against the will of we the people is courageous, then your party is full of noblemen and we are their surfs.