Hullabaloo

Friday, August 07, 2009

 
Fear And Loathing In Arkansas

by digby



The woman crying and wailing "I'm scared" is a perfect example of what I was talking about earlier. People are scared. And the right wing is willing to name names and tell them who's at fault. Indeed, after decades of conservative propaganda, blaming Obama for their woes --- the liberal black man who represents the government --- makes perfect sense to them. Rush is telling them so every single day.

If you have time to get through the whole thing, stay to the end to see the young man say he is a huge Obama fan (to huge applause, interestingly) and tell the evil Blue Dog Mike Ross that he was mad at him for selling out health care until he heard this crowd. I can see why he would say that. Ross couldn't even convince these poor deluded souls that he wasn't for single payer when he told them repeatedly that he wasn't for single payer. But you can see by this how these demonstrations of crazy can change the political landscape, can't you? That kid has a different view of what's possible based upon the kooks that showed up to those town hall meetings.

That's all the industry needs. It certainly all Mike Ross needs ...



Update: I should point out that quite a few of these people are just plain old selfish assholes:

via Olbermann

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like say 100 percent of Americans in America, 80 percent of them have insurance, might more. I'm saying, it's just the general presence. Why do 80 percent of us have to change and get something that y'all, the government, President Obama, is turning in with an agenda?

(CHEERING)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why does he have to change our way of life for that 20 percent? Congress' job is mainly to protect us from terrorist, enemies, the borders.

Olbermann pointed out that this is just the old "I got mine, fuck you," although he used nicer language. Jonathan Alter had a good reply:

ALTER: Well, first of all, she's right that 80 percent, you know, have health care. Where she's wrong is that somehow if they've got it, it's going to be enough for them, or they're not going to be in danger of losing it, should they lose their job. A lot of people nowadays are losing their jobs.

So, what she's not factoring in is what happens to people who have some sort of a change that happens in their lives? They get sick, they actually need health insurance, and it ends up being like homeowners, you know, insurance, where once you have a burglary, suddenly, they cancel your insurance.

OLBERMANN: Right.

ALTER: That's what health insurance is like and people have not had big health challenges, I have, and others don't understand that just because you're insured doesn't mean you're protected.

OLBERMANN: Right.

ALTER: The second thing that she's ignoring is the promise that President Obama's made which is that, if you're happy with your insurance, it's not going to get taken away. I mean, if she loves her insurance company, God bless her. But she's not going to have any problems with that insurance company, it's not of any danger of going bust. They might jack up their premiums on her again, but...

OLBERMANN: . or lower it because there's competition from the public option.

I would bet money that the woman who said that considers herself a good Christian.


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digby 8/07/2009 02:00:00 PM |