An op-ed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on the health care debate is generating a lot of buzz in the blogosphere today. After pointing out that Americans have been "waiting for nearly a century for quality, affordable health care" and that this debate goes back to Teddy Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party in 1912, Pelosi and Hoyer tear into health care opponents....it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue. These tactics have included hanging in effigy one Democratic member of Congress in Maryland and protesters holding a sign displaying a tombstone with the name of another congressman in Texas, where protesters also shouted "Just say no!" drowning out those who wanted to hold a substantive discussion.Pelosi and Hoyer then proceed to lay out the facts, including: 1) "more patient choice;" 2) "free[ing] doctors and patients to make the health decisions that make the most sense, not the most profits for insurance companies;" 3) "stability and peace of mind for the middle class;" 4) no denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions; 5) no loss of coverage if you lose your job; 6) "affordable coverage for all Americans;" and 7) "higher-quality care by promoting preventive care."
[...]
These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.
Health care is complex. It touches every American life. It drives our economy. People must be allowed to learn the facts.
Given all these obvious benefits from health care reform, it really makes you wonder, what are the Sarah Palins, Rush Limbaughs, Bob Marshalls, Eric Cantors and Bob McDonnells of the world so afraid of? Whatever it is, they obviously are REALLY afraid, as they make stuff up out of the darkest recesses of their craziest dreams - "death panels," "euthanasia," "socialism," even Nazism! Are these people all misinformed? In the pocket of Big Pharma and the private insurance industry? Crazy? All of the above? Whatever the answer, the question is why anyone in their right mind would listen to any of these people?
