On Health Care Hearings: A Little Perspective, Please

Most of the facts are well known by now. Democratic politicians returning to their home districts during the August recess have been met with a loud and angry opposition. Not in every instance, but in enough cases to make a difference, the conflict has exceeded the norms of civility. And now, in a Gallup poll published on the front page of USA Today, comes the news that these town hall protests have had an influence on so-called independents, two to one against Democratic policy prescriptions.

Liberals and progressives have badly underestimated the strength and resilience of their opposition. While a more humane national health care policy is still entirely possible, Republicans and conservatives retain the ability to stop the drive forward -- like scabs on a union workplace strike. (This is not fascism, by the way, but that is a topic for another discussion.)

Let's begin with the "the screamers are so uncivil they are ruining the chance for a public discussion" thesis. It does not take all that much memory to recall the time when Democratic and Republican politicians supporting the Vietnam War were met with just the kind of loud and impolite behavior we see in these town halls meetings today. In fact, the Vietnam War protests were more raucous. While the political differences between war protestors and health care opponents are real, telling people to sit down and shut up and talk to each other like they were in a schoolhouse library did not have any effect back then. And we should not expect such imprecations to "civility" to have any effect now. In fact, such calls for calm are more than likely to have the opposite effect.

Yes, the so-called "right wing shock troops" mangling the health care debate have been egged on by TV and radio talkers like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Yes, pharmaceutical lobbyists and others corporate-types intent on protecting their profit margins have spent millions ginning up a wild in the streets opposition. Those facts are well documented on www.AlterNet.org by Adele Stan and others--including Bill Berkowitz on www.Buzzflash.com.

Nevertheless, it is mistake of the first order to regard these protestors as simply fake grass roots, the Astroturf of Paul Krugman's imagination, called upon by Republicans and corporate lobbyists to yell and scream on command. Please remember how wrong the McCarthyites of the 1960s were when they regarded anti-war protestors and the black freedom movement of that time as alien creatures manufactured in the Soviet Union. The mistake here is not just that of false attribution, but the unwillingness to conceive of the opposition as an autonomous social force, developing along lines of its own making.

That is precisely what is happening now: the development of something new, the ultimate shape of which has not yet been established. It looks now like an opposition "bloc," with many different political elements: ultra-conservative Republicans of both the Pat Buchanan and free market variety; anti-tax Tea Party libertarians from the Ron Paul camp; Christian right activists intent on re-molding the country into their kind of Kingdom; birth certificate conspiracy theorists, anti-immigrant nativists of the armed Minuteman and the policy wonk variety; third party "constitutionalists;" and white nationalists of both the citizens councils and the Stormfront national socialist variety. Pro-capitalist corporate lobbyists and anti-capitalist fascists together.

This bloc has been in formation step by step since the inauguration. First, the anti-tax Tea Parties in April began energizing white people in suburban and ex-urban communities. After Republican bigwigs like Newt Gingrich pulled out, a harder core held together through a second set of Tea Parties in July. Then Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination allowed the white people-are-a dispossessed majority-crowd to grab the platform and explicitly re-introduce racism into the discussion.

For the angry middle Americans who are the spine of this opposition, this debate is not really about specific legislative policies. For them the issue is whose America is the real America. Is it Sonia Sotomayor's or Sarah Palin's? Is it Barack Obama's or is it Pat Buchanan's? Is it Nancy Pelosi's or is it Phyllis Schlafly's? These are existential questions of national identity -- the type that will continue to generate real raw emotion long after the debate about health care policy is settled.

Leonard Zeskind is the author of Blood and Politics: The History of the White nationalist Movement from the Margins to the Mainstream, published by Farrar Straus & Giroux.

Follow Leonard Zeskind on Twitter: www.twitter.com/www.LeonardZesk

Comments

[Jack Russell]

2.) I don't see conservatives or Republicans stopping any forward drive toward a humane national health care policy. I have watched this closely and have heard a multitude of voices begging that the process be slowed down, explained, and allow this half of the citizenry to discuss the parts of the proposals, some that we agree with and others we don't. We also would like to have input regarding purchasing insurance across state lines and tort reform (Howard Dean was very candid when he commented on why it wasn't expedient for Democrats to consider THIS proven cost cutter) which I have heard no one say would not reduce costs dramatically.But the liberal wing of the Democrat party only wants 'bipartisanship' if they get what they want and nothing more OR less.Well, this is a losing strategy. You're losing the middle of the country on this point and its going to cost you again and again. Why must Democrats insist on scuttling the process of Healthcare reform by insisting on a 'poison pill' provision that will destroy what works in this country for their desired result of single-payer system that is failing wherever it has been implemented? Conservatives, regardless of what banner they're under STRONGLY desire reform in the health delivery system of this country. What we don't want is to be left without a voice with perfectly good ideas while destructive ideas are rushed through the legislative process before anyone even becomes familiar with the bill.

[Boikin]

You might be more convincing if you dropped the conspiratorial name calling and opened your mind. There may be something smarter than another program that is no better than the ones currently going bankrupt. You might even get published elsewhere. One isn't evil or stupid because one opposes the current plans. The us-against-them thing is tired.

[confidance government]

Given the relatively recent debacle at Walter Reed, is it any surprise that their is some suspicion of increasing government involvement in Health Care? If our government is incapable or unwilling to provide quality care to those it relies on for its defense, how effective will their public option for the average Joe be?

PS: One of my friends died last year of MRSA at a VA hospital; his demise was partially due to errors of the hospital staff.

[TheRealMcCoy]

While it is absolutely true that the many government health care programs need improvement, we, the American people, can affect that change with our votes and by petitioning our representatives.

The American people have no control over insurance companies, drug companies or hospitals, these entities operate to make ever higher profits for their shareholders, the way they do this is by eliminating payouts, they are motivated by money and profit, the health and well being of the patient is a very low priority.

Mistakes happen in all hospitals and for varied reasons, I'm sorry for what happened to your friend, bu the question is between the government and corporate America, which one do we the people actually have a chance of influencing.

[littleblackcat]

So what are we saying? That this country is exposing the fact that it is still very much a racist, bigoted, divided-by-class, corrupt, greedy, and dishonest collection of "elected officials" who are so annoyed about the current situation (that the face of America and its governing body is several shades darker than what we are accustomed to seeing) that nothing will be done for the American people because every solution that has a chance of succeeding is being put forth by someone who isn't a "member of the established hierarchy"?
Good luck, United States. Honduras is beginning to look pretty good.

[noaxe397]

The comparison of the town hollerers to the anti Vietnam war protestors is is a bad one. I don't see cops, national guard or Republican sympathizing union workers (imagine how well off the working man once was in this country that unions supported Republican candidiates!) shooting, killing or bashing the heads of the anti health care crowds.
Plus, Vietnam was real and was hurting the country. The Yelling Points crowd's issues are phony and they are trying to stop something (HC reform) that will HELP America.

Plus, the Southern Povert Law Center said recently that while there is a rise in right wing extremist activity, it is not as bad as it was in 1994. That is because in 1994 the GOP, the mother ship to many of these extrimist groups was, simply, larger. Today, after almost two decades of purging liberals and moderates, the GOP is a rump, regional party so the megaphone for many of the crazies is smaller.

There is a word for the "autonomous social force developing along the lines of its own making."
They are racists who will not accept a black president.

We have the Patriot Act now, and if it was Ok for Bush to use it to read my emails, faxes and listen to my phone calls, it should serve as a shot across the bow to the domestic terrorists posing as sunshine patriots among us.

[schatsie]

BAD PREMISE....We progressives KNEW that Fox News and the MSM would be bought and paid for by the opposition, just like they were bought and paid for for the Iraq War.... We expected Dr Dean to be Sec of HHS and that he would fight for us, but no, we have a Sec of HHS who does not even show up on TV.... and Obama, we expected a progressive solution to the Wall STREET mess and what do we have, just more of the Repub BS. (Read Lowenstein about LTCM and you will see what I mean)...

[Flokk]

Like Arion said--first-rate analysis. I've been wracking my brain at work for weeks trying to put my finger on precisely what kind of monstrosity has been growing underneath the opposition's tent...and damned if this isn't a pretty exact description.

Excellent, excellent work. Thanks for...well, guess I can't say putting my mind at ease unfortunately. Something wicked is definitely headed this way and racism and xenophobia and plain old garden variety rage is clearly an integral part of its composition.

[Abby L. Ferber - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for putting this into broader perspective for us.

[Charles NYC]

The facts are not known to those who didn't read the bill, including Zeskind.
This is called reality destortion: "Yes, pharmaceutical lobbyists and others corporate-types intent on protecting their profit margins have spent millions ginning up a wild in the streets opposition"

Aren't the paharmaceutical companies and their associates paying for the pro healthcare TV ads? They invested more than 150 millions in TV ads???? Have you just been caught lying trying to turn the opposition to the healthcare bill into a a partyline issue? The real america is neither Pelosi, Palin, Obama, .... the real America is WE THE PEOPLE who are exercing our rights to protest. Like it or not, the constitution is well and alive in the mind of the American people.

"Million Boost From Unlikely Ally
A pharmaceutical industry advertising campaign makes its case for reform. The industry’s lobby group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, will spend $150 million while Congress is on summer recess. "

source: http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/26/60/90.php

[Arion]

This strikes me as first rate analysis. It's not about health care per se, but about opposing Obama and his consituencies in any direction possible. But so long as they are there and engaged in full bore rants, they are going to get lots of media attention and have an undue effect on policy. There is no point in either rational debate or moralizing about their bad manners. The only counter tactic I can think of so far would be a REALLY BIG march for healthcare, perhaps in late september. If we can get out the numbers we can show the world how comparatively tiny they are.

[jill2468]

You are very right when you say that the people who are against this Health Care debacle are really against so much more than just that. WE are greatly afraid of the direction this Administration is taking this country. From owning car companies to controlling CEO's salaries. How about the 30 something Czars the President has appointed, who answer to no one but him? How about counting illegal's in the Census? ( And yes, I will tell you now that I think all illegals should be sent home). I am not a racist, but you won't believe me and I don't care. If we do not agree with you, then we are all racists in the eyes of you people because you just cannot believe that it could be anything else. If this makes you feel better, OK. We have set and yelled at our TV"s long enough and are now getting involved and doing what we can. We will not stop and you can continue to attempt to analyze us and our motives, but our motives are right in front of your faces. AMERICA and keeping our Constitution from being trampled by the Progressives. That's all.

[littleblackcat]

jill, I do not believe you have read or know a thing about our Constitution. It has become a buzz-phrase that is being used by those who know very little and believe way too much when it comes from the mouths of those who enjoy the greatest welfare scheme in the world. This continual rant about "keeping our Constitution from being trampled", blah, blah, blah, demonstrates the same kind of ignorance displayed by a certain illegal occupant of the White House who objected to being told about the oath he had taken with these words; "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face, it's nothing but a goddamned piece of paper!" In case you've forgotten, georgie-boy was the punk who said that.
You want to run your mouth but you haven't got a single thing to say that means anything. You know nothing about the Constitution or the workings of this nation, nor do you understand WHY President Obama has thus far been unable to get much done. Look to the repubs first, then to the rest of the old white men, and you might not like what you see, if you have the ability to understand it.