The Ever-Worrying Fusion of Far-Right Crazies and the GOP
September 9th, 2009 by Dan Rozenson“Stay in school, kids” is the latest postscript to the Communist Manifesto, if you are to believe the GOP uproar to the president’s address to the nation’s students yesterday. But in tonight’s address to the nation on health care, the fringe right made another appearance in the form of not just Joe “You Lie!” Wilson, but in many outbursts from various Republican congressmen:
Throughout the speech, Republican members of Congress repeatedly held up stacks of papers that appeared to represent ideas they had for the bill.
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) held signs that read “What Bill?” and “What Plan?”
When Obama told the chamber that the “death panel” lie was, in fact, a lie, a Republican member said loudly enough to be heard in the press gallery, “Read the bill” — a common refrain at August’s angry town hall meetings.
When Obama told the chamber that he had “no interest in putting insurance companies out of business,” a Republican member responded with a loud, “Ha!”
Say what you will about members of Code Pink who interrupted speeches by President Bush over the years, but never did we see Democratic members of Congress pollute the discourse like this. Even I, an admitted cynic, did not expect to see this.
Tags: Congress, Far right, health care, Obama, Speech
September 10th, 2009 at 12:34 am
I have to disagree. I was quite pleased that certain “disrespectful” Republicans actually had the guts to stand up and speak out against for what they believed was injustice. It’s moments such as these that symbolize a healthy, even Jeffersonian style of democracy - angry members of a minority showing strong opposition to the majority’s face. And what is more ballsy than calling the president a liar to his face?
I began watching the speech hoping to see democracy unfold. I did not want President Obama talking at Congress, I wanted him to talk WITH Congress.
There’s a thick line between respect and being walked upon. Respect is applauding the President when he is announced by the Sergeant at Arms (as I would’ve also done for President Bush, Reagan, Nixon, etc.). That is respect for the position itself, for being commander-in-chief, for being the head of the executive branch. Then there is being walked upon, which is what too many Democrats quietly allowed during the Dark years of 2002-2008.
September 10th, 2009 at 12:37 am
But let me make a distinction between contributing to a healthy democracy and dragging the IQ level of everyone in the room down. What this Republican did today was absolutely fine and should be encouraged. What would NOT have been sane is for him or anyone else to yell “STOP KILLING SENIOR CITIZENS YOU SOCIALIST.” Again, fine line.
Do not deny your political opponents the same rights you would like to enjoy if you were in their situation.
September 10th, 2009 at 2:43 am
I don’t think Congressional Republicans have been deprived in any way of sharing their disapproval of the president’s policies. No one is denying anyone’s rights. You have the right to call your parents dirty names, but that doesn’t mean it’s the proper thing to do.
September 10th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
The relationship between a parent and their child isn’t anyway like the relationship between an elected official and his/her constituents or between two elected officials.
And no, congressional Republicans haven’t been deprived in any way, but this particular Congressman had every right to yell what he did. He’s all the more disagreeable for it, but he has every right.
September 11th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Ismail, will you stop it with the straw men? Nobody said he didn’t have the right to do it. What you said originally, was not just that he had the right to do it, but that you were “quite pleased” at its occurrence.