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I believe there are some other considerations having more to do with President Obama's presidency overall than the so-called "town hall protesters" are willing to admit.
In the first instance, many of these people are the same ones who subscribe to the ridiculous notion that the president is not a legitimate president, claiming he wasn't born in the United States. Let's be clear and honest, the "birthers" plan to fight President Obama at every turn, not because of his birthplace, but because of his ideas about fairness, equal access and government's role in society.
In the second instance, some of these "town hall protesters" are disenchanted, disaffected, angry citizens who feel the "American Dream" slipping through their fingers. They need somebody to blame. They have lost good-paying jobs to China and Mexico. Their property values have crashed. Their quality of life has diminished. The neighborhood crime, multicultural explosion and underperforming schools they fled 20 years ago have followed them to more exclusive, upscale enclaves which are no longer exclusive or upscale.
And third, there is a segment of the population that still can't wrap its mind around the fact that this country is being led by an African-American man. Never mind he's a Harvard Law-educated, former distinguished law professor and United States senator. All they see is a former community organizer who they believe is either a socialist or Communist trying to take "their" country away from them. They simply cannot fathom that someone whom they believe to be morally, genetically and intellectually inferior is now the leader of their country.
These citizens have become openly hostile, unapologetically belligerent and increasingly combative. The easy targets for their anger and hostility: President Obama and health care reform.
I make these assertions, based on three questions I continuously hear at these town hall meetings:
- "Why can't government stay out of my life?" Well, government is already in their life. It's called Medicare and Medicaid. It's called the Prescription Drug Plan. Social Security represents government in their life. What's more plausible is that they don't mind receiving government's help and assistance, they just don't want it expanded to others they deem less deserving.
- "Will health care reform increase the deficit and public debt?" I have another question: Why weren't these same people storming town hall meetings when we began spending nearly $1 billion a day in Iraq? Where were they when the public debt was increasing exponentially during the years before the Obama administration?
If we don't get health care costs under some kind of control, this country will collapse under the weight of those costs. Even the rich will find it hard pressed to pay for basic care, and millions more will do what they do now, fill emergency rooms with routine ailments because they know they must be treated whether they can pay for the treatment or not.
- "Why do we need health care reform, when 65 percent of Americans say they are satisfied with their existing plans?" Well, I'm one of those 65 percent. For a $15 co-pay, I can get some of the best medical care in the country from one of the best health care organizations in the country. But - this is where it gets tricky - why should I be concerned about my health care only? What about the 50 million Americans who have no health coverage? Do you think they are part of that 65 percent who claim they are satisfied?
I believe it is this country's Christian duty to promote and, yes, provide health care for citizens who can't afford it. Ironic, isn'it, that many of those who oppose health care reform are the same ones who assert that this is a Christian nation?
My conclusion is this: Those who are shouting and shoving at these town hall meetings are doing two things. They are using the health care issue to voice their personal and political antagonism toward President Obama. And they are being hypocrites of the highest order.
James Hull is an award-winning print and broadcast journalist and political consultant. You may reach him at HullMultiMediaMs@aol.com.
The TEA Party is not party based, it is made up of democrats, republicans, independents, and so on. Just concerned citizens asking questions and wanting straight answers.
It does not bother me that Obama is black, it bothers me that he has socialist, communist, Marxist ideas. All you have to do is read the constitution and it clearly defines the governments roll in the U.S.
Obama stood before the world and said that the U.S. was not a Christian Nation, but now he is using scripture to push his socialist healthcare bill, make up your mind Obama. Are we gonna be Christians or not? All the Christians I know give regularly to those in need. I don't need Obama or the federal government telling me who I need to be giving to.
And Mr. Hull, you need to get your facts together before you right another article. It seems to me that you are the bitter racist.
I am not a birther, Obama could clear that up immediately by just showing a legitimate birth certificate. That is not a problem for me.
As far as I can see Harvard only turns out politicians that can make a speech without substance.
Distinguished law professor...LOL. Who decided he was distinguished? Sure he make entertaining speeches, but like Howdy Dowdy, his flair is becoming boring.
Yea we are scared of loosing our American dream because of all the czars, taking over our industries and forcing us to buy cars we do not like or want. Even the people getting the cash for clinkers aree buying foreign cars because they do not want government made tin cans with wheels. We could have that in a third world country.
Obama is giving billions of dollars to GE because GE and MSNBC destorts the news to favor Obama. Why do you think he is for cap and tax because GE will get Billions more to build wind turbines in the desert to produce electricity going no where.
The protesters are genuine American citizen VOTERS. The hypocrats cannot stand to see the tables being turned and the folks wanting their country back.
Obama promised no new taxes on the middle class, yet he signed the schips bill to give health care to illegal alien children and paid by a $90 million tax on the middle and lower class citizens of Mississippi.
This administration has transferred the great capitalist wealth of this country to create wealthy politicians, If Obama is allowed to continue, we will only have two classes of people in America, the poor and the wealthy politicians.
Obama stated that we were no longer a Christian nation, then asks the churches to support him on moral growns.
I do not know about Obama's genetics and intellect, I do however believe I and most of this country has highr morals than Obama.
My conclusion, Mr. Hull, you are calling your greatest viewers and listeners hypoctites of the highest order, So I will stop reading your retoric and change the channel when you appear on my TV.
"You're just picking on me 'cause I'm black (or a woman, or etc., etc.) has gained traction for a generation, but it has begun to slip. Ideas are going to have to stand on their merit. Lime the little boy who cried "Wolf!" too many times, the left has shot its credibility.
The parallels between the experience of the Peron era Argentina and contemporary USA are enough to send chills up one's spine. Careful, America. We'd better explore these waters before we dive in.
It was never meant for the Government to take care of the people. That is the churches job. It ended being the churches job when people stopped going to church, paying tithes, and leaning on the Government. And I sir have not lost a job. I have worked all of my life. I pay taxes. I pay for medicaid and medicare, and Social Security. I pay for everyone but me, because it will not be there when I am old enough to draw.
I am not angry at Obama. He told everyone what he was going to do before he entered office. And sir, he is doing it. I blame all of the greedy Senators and Congressmen that are letting him do it. He taught the Constitution in a college and he knows just how far he can go without breaking the law.
He said he would not tax middle class. And he will not. He will add more taxes to everything you buy, every move you make, and every breath you draw. The Cap and Trade bill tells us that our utilities will be taxed, each household will pay an extra 3,000 or more per year for those same utilities. Millions of acres of farm land will be replanted in trees. We will generate electricity through other sources than coal. It does not tell you that we will become more dependent on other countries because the crops produced, being replaced by timber will then have to be bought overseas. The utilities produced by coal will be generated by other means will put thousands of work. And they have not proved Global Warming as yet. What was your temperature tonight?
The Health Care Bill says in very nice words that millions more will be fed to Planned Parent Hood. They do more than birth control pills, they help young ladies underage and above receive abortions. We pay for those same abortions under this bill.
They will socialize this country until it comes to a screaming halt. They will have all of the power and treat us like dogs. If you have a dog you feed him when you want to, you water him when you want to, and you take him to the vet when you want to. We are not dogs and do not deserve to be treated as such. And this Sir, is not racism. It is every Senator and Congressman with his hand in the till!!
Good citizens that use free speech to oppose the outrageously expensive and rushed Healthcare Reform Bill are being hammered by mainstream media. They have been called Racist,manufactured, astro turf, unAmerican,Right-wing extreemist/domestic terrorist, unPatriotic, and angry mobs among other things.
I can't speak to what is going on in other regions but as far as the TEA PARTY movement in Tupelo I see peaceful assemblies speaking on troubling issues that are valid.
The race-baiting is simply a ploy to attack the messenger. Then to question ones Christian duty and call good citizens Hypocrites of the highest order tops it all. I would expect this from Chicago politics, ACORN, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Louis Farrakhan or other race-baitors but It's sad to see coming from this area.
As far as Christian duty goes most people I know at these events are active in faith, helping in community, not afraid to say homosexuality is a sin then counsel and pray for that person. They are not afraid to say we should not send taxpayer money to planned parenthood when they get $349,000,000 per year and stand to get more as this bill stands. Not afraid to say that President Obama's declaration that June is lesbian,gay,bi-sexual,transgender pride month brings a mockery to our nation. Sure people are angry but it's fueled primarily by actions and policy not racism or neglected Christian duty.
The list goes on, but those whose character remain in question are not those who dare to disagree, but those who lead others into fueling racism.
Where does a traitor, who wanted the terrorists to win in Iraq, and a supporter of unfettered slaughter of unborn babies, get off lecturing about “Christian Duty”?
And in the end we will all pay more per capita in taxes than private health care policies would cost and we will be amongst all the other countries with socialized medicine where we will have to wait and wait and wait for medical treatment.
If one is a supporter of a socialized health care, then so be it, but please be aware of what it is that you are asking for.
Mr. Hull, I would have to note that your argument above is based on false logic. To paraphrase: if you support health care, your a christian, if you not support health care, your not a christian. (If A, then B, not A therefore not B). Let's try that with a different argument: If I am in Tupelo, I am in Mississippi, I am not in Tupelo therefore I am not in Mississippi. Hmm? That one does not seem to work. So if I do not support what YOU think is the right answer I must not be a Christian? Wow.
I am a christian, and I do support health care changes, just like you. Being a controller for the company I work for I see every day how much our Company sponsored insurance program costs. But I do not support a single payer system. That does not mean I do not want change. Most American's I think support change...but how it will be done and how much will it cost are questions that are very much on their minds.
Yes I am typically a Republican...but in the last election I voted for two Democrats because I thought those men were the better choices. So far they have both made me proud of my choice.
Now....let quit attacking the people, and attack the arguments and the problem. Let's find the common ground...and work on those items. Some of the 50 million people you note without insurance make that choice...some do not....so lets work on the ones who do not have a choice...and get them some help. The others....just like me...you live with the choices you make in life.