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Category |
Political |
Published |
July, 2009 |
Synopsis |
Confronting the Obvious Half-Truths of Republicans |
Factophobia: A Conservative Disease
There’s one pre-existing condition that doesn’t prevent you from getting health
insurance - being a conservative.
The symptom of this particular malady occurs when you have access to the truth,
but prefer shading it with hyperbole, and even flat-out lies.
The recent dust up over these so-called “Birthers” is a prime example of this
disease.
Despite repeated attempts by the Hawaii Dept. of Health to dispel the rumors
that our president is, indeed, an American citizen, some Republican members of
congress still tell us they aren’t quite convinced.
They may say they “believe” Barack Obama is an American citizen, but few are
willing to concede the point that most of the people claiming there’re
unanswered questions about it are the ones who believe Elvis is alive and living
in Laurel Caverns.
The others are pure racists.
Minus any serious calls by Republicans to cease this “Birther” nonsense, the
controversy rages.
They know the truth, but choose to allow the internet-fueled fiction to
flourish.
Or, like conservative James Inhofe (R-Okla.), they simply give the “Birthers” a
nice little public wink and a nod.
“They have a point,” Inhofe has been quoted as saying of the Birther movement.
“I don’t discourage it.”
That, as his colleagues in the U.S. House unanimously passed a resolution (one
that celebrates Hawaii’s 50 years of statehood) which declares, in part,
“Whereas the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in
Hawaii on August 4, 1961."
Unanimously? That means every Democrat and every Republican in the House who was
present that day affirmed Obama’s citizenship. It also means that any Republican
who appears before a camera who sticks the word “believe” before the words “he’s
really a citizen,” is merely playing to their conservative base.
It’s also being completely dishonest.
If a manufactured fiction like this “Birther” ruse can be distorted – and given
legitimacy - by some conservatives to satisfy cheap political agendas, then
consider their opportunities to engage in selective deceit when the subject of
health care comes up.
“Socialized medicine.” That has an ominous ring, doesn’t it? Plop a conservative
wingnut in front of a camera and the phrase “socialized medicine” is sure to fly
out.
But this country already has a form of “socialized medicine.” It’s called VA
benefits.
I can personally attest to the efficacy of that particular system of health
care. I’m a military veteran who has made frequent use of it. I can tell you
that it’s certainly nothing to fear.
The VA is easily the most efficient health care delivery system I’ve ever
encountered.
Conservatives know that. They’ll never publicly admit that a health care
provider like that of the VA could serve as a workable competitor to private
health care facilities, though.
Instead, they’ll build their opposition to health care reform by hinting
Democrats, with their calls for a “public option,” want to force you into
government run operations that’d been fashioned by Josef Stalin himself. That
simply isn’t the case.
They’ll also emphasize the public part, while ignoring the option part. Option,
ya know, means choice. And you know how conservatives are afraid of the word
“choice.”
Some conservatives also tell you there’s a provision in one of the health care
proposals that will lead to armies of government workers who’ll fan out across
the country and greet the nation’s elderly citizens with shocking mandates.
"I have been told there is a clause in there that everyone that's Medicare age
will be visited and told to decide how they wished to die," an elderly woman
asked the president during a recent AARP town hall meeting.
The president responded with the truth. He knew of no such provision. He added
that there’s one clause that would help senior citizens make out living wills.
It’s easy, though, seeing how that lady would ask that question. There’s been a
flurry of conservative disinformation about the possibilities of “death camps”
for the elderly or “a subtle form of euthanasia,” if health care reform is
enacted.
Conservatives know the truth. But a politically expedient fabrication suits them
better.
Edward A. Owens of Uniontown is Webmaster of “Red Raider Nation: Where Champions
Live.” E-mail him at freedoms@bellatlantic.net
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