The following just kind of makes your stomach turn:
If you don't want to watch the video, or are unable to, what he said was the following:
“Instead of joining us on the right side of history, all Republicans have come up with is this slow down, stop everything, let's start over. You think you've heard these same excuses before, you're right. When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, 'Slow down, it's too early. Let's wait. Things aren't bad enough.'
“When women spoke up for the right to speak up, they wanted to vote, some insisted, 'Slow down, there will be a better day to do that. The day isn't quite right.'
"When this body was on the verge of guaranteeing equal civil rights to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin, some senators resorted to the same filibuster threats that we hear today. History is repeating itself before our eyes. There are now those who don't think it is the right time to reform health care. If not now, when, madam president? But the reality for many that feel that way, it will never, never be a good time to reform health care."
Now this may not seem that bad, but just think about it: The Senate Majority Leader just compared the opposition party to slaveholders, misogynists, and racists. I guess there's not much substance to his beliefs, so he resorts to namecalling. This really should cost him his job as SML, although it's probably a moot point as he almost assuredly sealed his fate for next year. But of course, the spineless Democrats will not only fail to criticize him, as they did with Alan Grayson, they will probably hail him as a hero. What a sad party, especially one which is headed by a man who claimed to be "post-partisan."
Not only did Harry Reid make hyperbole look like an understatement, he was dead wrong. The Republican Party has done more than say "no." Democrats must either be idiots or willingly misleading their constituents on the Republicans role in Health Care Reform. They have submitted MULTIPLE bills to combat this problem. Three of which can be found here, here, and here. But of course he doesn't reference these. Perhaps he doesn't argue facts and proposals because he can't counter them. Or perhaps he is simply following the lead of his Leader.
America deserves better from her leaders. She certainly deserves better from the leaders of her leaders. This is a shame. Harry Reid is a shame.
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The thing I don't like about what he's saying is that he says "all Republicans"; I cannot stand when people paint such a broad brush over an entire group of people.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I think, like you, I get the basic point he's trying to make but I would certainly blame it on the faults of a scared nation rather than one political party. Surely, there where democrats who were against women's suffrage and fought to hang on to their slaves.
Not to mention the fact that Abraham Lincoln was a republican. Pretty sure he's be pissed at hearing this.
One last night, I also find it funny that he's using these historical arguments to talk about a very modern problem whereas I have an inedibly hard time picturing him standing up there talking about marriage equality for gay and lesbians individuals which is a violation of civil rights. It's funny how some people can be all crazy encouraged for the rights of one group but still ignore another. It's like when Jessie Jackson said that the gay rights movement took away from the Africian-American struggle. Really? Hate is hate, dude - get over yourself.
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Was this a giant tangent or what? LOL!
~ Cary
Good points Cary! I understand he is trying to say that Republicans are dragging their feet. But the point he misses is WHY they are dragging their feet. They're not doing it because they don't like "change" or hate uninsured people or whatever, they're doing it because they truly and honestly believe that it is bad for the nation.
ReplyDeleteAnd the biggest problem I have is comparing the health-care debate with those historical events. That really degrades civil rights, suffrage, and abolition. The guy is just trying to score political points by being an asshole. I don't appreciate that!