We're almost to the political finish line. It looks like we will, after a hundred years of debate, finally, take a step towards real health care reform. It's been a spectacularly ugly journey over the past year, but we're almost there. Now, of course, it's not the reform that I was hoping for...but it's a step in the right direction.
And, because we are so close, the far-right has become so desperate that they're now completely incapable of hiding the true heart and soul of their "movement." Yesterday, while Democrats were scambling for votes to ensure that Americans have more access to affordable health care, the Tea Baggers gathered by the tens outside the Capitol to show their fury. They spent the early part of the day chanting "Kill the Bill" and "Stop the Spending!" But, as the day wore on, the hate in their hearts became impossible to hide.
They carried signs with slogans reading "Vote No, I Don't Want to be a Government Slave," and signs with two black hands, that conveyed "Keep Your Black Hands Off My Health Care!" As Rep. Andre Carson and Rep. John Lewis, two African-American Congressmen, walked past the crowd and into the Capitol, the crowd's chant turned to "Nigger! Nigger! Nigger!" A protestor actually spit on Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (who is also African-American) as he walked towards the Capitol building. Yes, all that's old is new again.
At one point, the crowd stormed the Longworth office building, looking for targets to unleash their righteous anger. At one point, Rep. Barney Frank, who is openly gay, rounded the corner and was met by a protestor who yelled, "Barney, you faggot!" The crowd laughed boisterously. All that's old is new again.
At an anti-reform protest just a few days earlier, "patriotic" Tea Baggers showed their undying love for America by verbally abusing an old man with Parkinson's. It's hard to watch, like footage of the early Civil Rights movement was hard to watch for fair-minded, good-hearted people. But, unfortunately, all that's old is new again.
