Republicans Will be Republicans
“The grass is green, the flowers have riz, I wonder where the Republicans is?”
The first day of spring was an apt time for the House passage of the health care bill that will forever change how we look at being ill or growing old in America. But as birds were chirping all across the land, not one Republican in Congress welcomed the new day.
It’s been a nasty and discomforting winter that culminated with verbal outbursts in the House and Tea Party tantrums harsh enough to wilt the dandelions on the Capitol lawn. Sadly, Republicans did nothing to restrain the Teabaggers from their shrill and racist outbreaks. In many cases, they have embraced their rhetoric and given tacit approval to their antics in hopes of keep the “teapot” boiling.
Our own Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (KC) was spat upon by a protester as he walked from the Capitol with other black members of Congress—though I have heard that the good reverend has turned the other cheek and will not file charges against the arrested man.
Meanwhile under the dome, Republicans were using more scare tactics than a Stephen King novel in their attempt to stave off health care reform. Having been defeated in the legislative halls, the GOP now vows to run in 2010 and 2012 on repealing health care. No doubt they will take a page from Alf Landon’s presidential playbook from 1936 when he ran on the repeal of Social Security. How did that work for ya?
Frankly, I can’t believe they will try to run on repealing the donut hole in the prescription drug benefit. I can’t believe their platform will take away coverage for 32 million people or the pre-existing exemption for children or the extension of coverage to those in families up to 26 years old.
But if they do, we welcome that fight.
One HP blogger has already suggested that as health care takes it place alongside other Democratic offerings such as Social Security and Medicare, it needs its own distinctive name and suggested: Americare. That doesn’t trip off the tongue easily, but then, that might just serve as a reminder of how hard it was to achieve.
