Leaning Left

By: Jim Fitzgerald

Sentinel Columnist

Even though one writer has suggested – indeed stated as fact – that the equivalent of the combined populations of Wyoming, North Dakota, and Vermont descended on DC to protest health care, a number even conservative bloggers disagree with, I think we can all agree that a significant number of people were in the Capitol. Their gathering was democracy in action, up to a point. Even though this nation has a long history of protests against unpopular policies, I remember anti-Vietnam war protesters in the late 1960’s, and how ugly that scene became as I watched it on the nightly news. I was in the military at the time and wholeheartedly agreed with the then-current conservative slogan, America: Love It or Leave It. However, those protests, unlike many others, cast an ugly, dark mood over the country.

In spite of conservative pundits trying to put a good face on the DC protests, their actions reminded me of the anti-Vietnam war protesters. One writer had the gall to suggest that our black Congressmen were lying about being called the “n” word. In fact, he is putting forth the argument trying to be made by conservative pundits that such unacceptable behavior was fabricated. Such reasoning is excessively cynical, bordering on paranoia. I do not think that protests that split this country into two hardened factions is healthy or productive. They were not healthy in the 1960’s and I do not think they are healthy today.

Legitimate protest should not include personal slurs and when such slurs occur, the leaders of the movement should denounce them publicly. We can say that there have been threats made on the lives of Congress-people from both sides, conservative and progressive. Such behavior is inexcusable regardless of who is guilty. Such behavior should not be defended unless we consider hate speech to be a family value. In my opinion, the protests have gone over the top, just as they did in the 1960’s. Even in a democracy, there are limits to protests, just as there are limits to free speech. The disagreement has gotten too ugly and that, in turn, begins to threaten the foundation of democracy.

One writer chastised me to “get [my] facts straight” but then misquoted Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. By changing one word, the writer totally mischaracterized the meaning and intent of what she said before the 2010 Legislative Conference for National Association of Counties. She did not exhort Congress to pass the health care reform bill so that “we” can find out what is in it, indicating the Democrats had no idea what they were voting on. Here is her actual quote: “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.” When quoted correctly, there is an entirely different meaning.

However, I do agree with the writer that when writing an article for a wide audience, it behooves the writer to check and double check their facts. With that in mind, I invite anyone to point out inaccuracies in my articles. I make no claim to inerrancy. However, I do complete a background check on everything I write about and work to make sure I do not repeat inaccurate material.

With that in mind, a writer piqued my interest last week who said Elizabeth Stamatina “Tina” Fey was the origin of the “I can see Alaska from my house” remark. So, I Googled the internet and found that was true, but misleading. Sarah Palin has been ridiculed because her answers to questions about her foreign policy experience have been nonsensical, not because they were false. For example, what she really said, that Tina Fey made fun of, was: “They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.” This statement was from an ABC News interview, September 11, 2008, suggesting that the ability to see Russia from Alaska constituted foreign policy experience.  In a follow-up interview with Katie Couric on CBS, she said: “As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border.” This was an attempt, once again, to explain why Alaska’s proximity to Russia gave her foreign policy experience for the US Vice-Presidency (interview on September 24, 2008). If the ability to see Russia counts as foreign policy experience, then anyone who travels outside the United States has a ton of such experience.

Next week, I hope to focus my column of the effects of the new health care reform on the citizens of Georgia, especially the Ninth District. For example, 203,000 seniors in Georgia will have their brand-name drug costs in the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” reduced by 50% while 1.1 million seniors will start receiving free preventative services. I am the first to admit that there are problems with the bill just passed but, frankly, we had to start somewhere. Future changes in the system will be more gradual and, hopefully, do a much better job reigning in costs.