White Supremacists Need Health Care, Too

In the 15 years I have been working as a doctor, I have probably not treated too many white supremacists. I have worked in community health centers in Boston and in the Chicago area, and most of my patients, who are mostly uninsured, are either African American or Latino/a. But if a white guy who harbored a lot of racist sentiments came to my clinic with chest pain, I'd evaluate him and give him urgent care, without asking his political beliefs.

So why are white racists so opposed to health care reform?

In the tea parties that started last spring, the town halls of the summer, and Representative Joe Wilson's now famous "You lie!" outburst during President Obama's speech before Congress last week, it became clear to me that all the protestors I see online and on TV are white. I suspect they are straight and religiously conservative, as well. But they still need health care, and may even lack health insurance.

In the current system, virtually any American under age 65--white, black, Latina, straight, gay, married, single--could loose his or her health insurance with a job layoff. Anyone could be denied coverage for a preexisting condition, could have their coverage rescinded in the midst of needing care for a major illness for an obscure reason, could have to decline a newer, better job because they could not transfer their essential health insurance coverage, or could max out their current policy if a serious illness strikes someone in their family, and face a medical bankruptcy.

As a doctor I know that since we are all human, we all get sick and need health care at times. So why do thousands, perhaps millions of Americans who would benefit from health care reform legislation that would provide care without the unjust restrictions currently in place protest so loudly against 'Obamacare?'

Sadly, the book "What's the Matter with Kansas," provides the answer: some Americans harbor such deeply racist sentiments that they will vote against their own self-interest. The conservative radio, TV and Internet commentators, Sarah Palin and her 'death panels', the birthers, and the tea party organizers have so convinced a segment of Americans that Obama is trying to foist a socialist, un-American health care plan upon our country and have stirred up so much fear in the process, that the white folks who fear a non-white president have completely overlooked a critical fact: our current health care system is broken, and Obama's trying to make it better. I'll bet that many of the folks showing up for the tea parties and town halls are on the brink of financial collapse, lest they develop a serious illness. I'm sure many could loose their health insurance if the factory where they work closes, or could be denied coverage for an obscure reason if they change jobs.

And if this happens, some of them may even come to my clinic, where most of my patients have no health insurance. I will provide them with care, and I won't ask about their political beliefs. Even if they repeatedly vote against their own self-interests.

Comments

[lfrancis61]

Your post reminds me, once again, how prevalent racism is in our country. Even among the most disenfranchised, medically under served patients in my own clinic, I hear the word "moreno" used disparagingly amongst patients. We have a long way to go...

[MikeDu]

I'm reminded of the guy who posted a comment to Huffington Post saying he was against the bill because he disliked northerners. Can't get much more blatant (or simple-minded) than that. Of course he seemed unaware 'carpetbagger' Blue Cross is located in Chicago while Washington abutts Virginia.

[poliscibabe]

Well, they need jobs too but that didn't stop them from supporting the pro-business, anti-labor GOP for years. The watched industries and their jobs leave the country and continued to vote for the people who basically opened the doors and REWARDED the businesses for shedding jobs. I hold out no hope for people who think about race first.

[Opt1musPr1me]

They oppose HCR because of the distorted information they inhale from their news source of choice. But mostly because they can't and will not swallow the fact that the President is black. This fact is what is driving certain levels of the opposition Obama is facing. Granted, some people are really upset but it seems to me like they waited 8yrs before they got upset.

[faithnj]

People with these types of political beliefs have been voting against their own self-interests for decades. I don't know why they are so confused. So many of these people are white and poor or working class, yet they side with "Big Business" every time. Chris Rock said it best-- if given the choice between being a black millionaire like himself, or being poor and white with one leg, they'd say they would choose to ride this one-legged thing out.