Louisville Courier Journal: Tea Party Disgrace.
Tea party disgrace
It was bad enough when tea partiers and others hijacked last year's health care discussions with false fears and outright lies about death panels and pulling the plug on Grandma. They did not act alone. Their wrongheaded and irrational notions were stoked by marquee-name Republican office-holders and mouthpieces, who found political value and advantage in changing the conversation. They bear responsibility in the ugliness they helped unleash.
As bad as all that was, the tone and tenor of some tea party gatherings and anti-reform protests worsened in the days leading up to Sunday's historic vote for health care reform, and some of the bitter brew — racism, homophobia, sexism and downright meanness — was spewed by protesters while the world watched and listened.
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus were treated to spitting and taunts of the “N-word.” (Did the hate-mongers even know that one of the men they shouted at was Rep. John Lewis, a living hero of Selma?) They also confronted openly gay Rep. Barney Frank with the “F-word.” Others promised Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi a place in hell for her work for reform, and held up a broom with a sign of “here's your ride.” When anti-abortion Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan stood to explain his “yes” vote, a fellow congressman shouted “baby killer.” (Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, has owned up to the shout, but he said he was referring to the bill, not Mr. Stupak. Sure he was.)
Robust protest is one thing; mob mentality is another. The ugliness around this debate was mob mentality. The scariest part of all this is that, again, marquee-name Republican office-holders and mouthpieces helped stir the brew. According to reports, Kentucky Rep. Geoff Davis, R-4th District, shamefully abetted the scene by brandishing a “Don't Tread on Me” flag and meeting with the tea partiers.
It was bad enough when tea partiers and others hijacked last year's health care discussions with false fears and outright lies about death panels and pulling the plug on Grandma. They did not act alone. Their wrongheaded and irrational notions were stoked by marquee-name Republican office-holders and mouthpieces, who found political value and advantage in changing the conversation. They bear responsibility in the ugliness they helped unleash.
As bad as all that was, the tone and tenor of some tea party gatherings and anti-reform protests worsened in the days leading up to Sunday's historic vote for health care reform, and some of the bitter brew — racism, homophobia, sexism and downright meanness — was spewed by protesters while the world watched and listened.
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus were treated to spitting and taunts of the “N-word.” (Did the hate-mongers even know that one of the men they shouted at was Rep. John Lewis, a living hero of Selma?) They also confronted openly gay Rep. Barney Frank with the “F-word.” Others promised Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi a place in hell for her work for reform, and held up a broom with a sign of “here's your ride.” When anti-abortion Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan stood to explain his “yes” vote, a fellow congressman shouted “baby killer.” (Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, has owned up to the shout, but he said he was referring to the bill, not Mr. Stupak. Sure he was.)
Robust protest is one thing; mob mentality is another. The ugliness around this debate was mob mentality. The scariest part of all this is that, again, marquee-name Republican office-holders and mouthpieces helped stir the brew. According to reports, Kentucky Rep. Geoff Davis, R-4th District, shamefully abetted the scene by brandishing a “Don't Tread on Me” flag and meeting with the tea partiers.
Labels: News reporting
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 9:19 AM
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