According to business columnist Steven Pearlstein, who wrote the following August 7, 2009 essay in the Washington Post:
Republicans Propagating Falsehoods in Attacks on Health-Care ReformAs one who always reads Pearlstein's columns, which typically often sound financial advice, I have to say that I'm astounded as the position he has taken in this essay.
As a columnist who regularly dishes out sharp criticism, I try not to question the motives of people with whom I don't agree. Today, I'm going to step over that line.
The recent attacks by Republican leaders and their ideological fellow-travelers on the effort to reform the health-care system have been so misleading, so disingenuous, that they could only spring from a cynical effort to gain partisan political advantage. By poisoning the political well, they've given up any pretense of being the loyal opposition. They've become political terrorists, willing to say or do anything to prevent the country from reaching a consensus on one of its most serious domestic problems.
[...]
Health reform is a test of whether this country can function once again as a civil society -- whether we can trust ourselves to embrace the big, important changes that require everyone to give up something in order to make everyone better off. Republican leaders are eager to see us fail that test. We need to show them that no matter how many lies they tell or how many scare tactics they concoct, Americans will come together and get this done.
If health reform is to be anyone's Waterloo, let it be theirs.
Those with concerns about ObamaCare are "political terrorists"? Perhaps Pearlstein is a covert disciple of Cass Suntein and Zephyr Teachout....
Read the rest at Always On Watch.
"Those with concerns about ObamaCare are "political terrorists"?"
ReplyDeleteHe is not just describing people with concerns, he talks about very aggressive people who are not trying to have a normal debate.
Some people here for example have started to talk about weapons already, that would be political terrorists (or just terrorists)
obama is the political terrorist who demand congress pass the bill without debate and before the august recess.
ReplyDeletein chavezeian fashion.
anger is human - and to be expected - when the legislative body meant to listen doesn't, and doesn't even read the HUGE bills before it.
the angry so-called "mobs" are justified in their anger.
and if the bill passes despite the fact that 90% of americans ;like their coverage and 55% oppose obamacare, then the dems will get what they deserve: they will be thrown out of office inn huge numbers.
if their thugs - from acorn and the seiu - try to strongarm us then we will fight back -PHYSICALLY IF NECESSARY.
The conservative redstaters own 200 million guns.
the lib bluestaters have unilaetrally disarmed.
we will not face the same terror and lose - as the Venezuelans have and the iranians have.
Math, history, facts, logic, and the U.S. Constitution are very dangerous things to liberals. They really do threaten their continued existence, at least as powerful entities.
ReplyDeleteOskar,
ReplyDeleteHe is not just describing people with concerns, he talks about very aggressive people who are not trying to have a normal debate.
In that essay, yes.
And as I pointed out, Pearlstein typically writes nothing like this essay.
However, I did connect some dots to show the line that Pearlstein is slipping over. Please see the full essay with information about Sunstein and Teachout.
As for "normal debate," you need to watch some videos which show that those engaging in normal debate for a town-hall meeting are being very shabbily treated -- even despised by their elected public servants.
Sooo... Apparently Pearlstien feels that "there is no credible way to look at what has been proposed by the president or any congressional committee and conclude that these will result in a government takeover of the health-care system." Alrigity... I suppose they weren't taking over the banks or auto manufacturers either? He parses his words carefully, given, but I really don't find it that much of a stretch to view the latest "BIG NEW PLAN" from Obama and company as yet another government power grab.
ReplyDeleteOh wait: "The centerpiece of all the plans is a new health insurance exchange set up by the government" ... I think we have a winner!!!
Now I am not 100% sure, but wasn´t Obama pretty clear with this change of healthcare before elected? If so, this is what the american ppl have voted for. If they have changed their minds, then we will see this in the next election.
ReplyDeleteBut of course a such important thing shouldn´t be passed without debate
Oskar,
ReplyDeleteClear?
He didn't advocate universal coverage and, in fact, deprecated the idea in a debate with Hillary Clinton during the campaign.
He also promised transparency and a public forum on C-Span.
I believe that BHO will go down to defeat in 2012, particularly if his health-insurance reform passes. People will get a taste of what all the reform really entails.
But of course a such important thing shouldn´t be passed without debate
It seems that we agree on that point.