Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Instead of being so righteously indignant over Republican Congressman Joe Wilson’s “You Lie!” remark, liberals should be considering their own verbal blasts at President Barack Obama, writes journalist Dave Lindorff. After all, the American presidency is now on too high a pedestal, “with all the imperial trappings and pomposity formerly associated with royalty,” which is why Democrats in Congress should have “hooted down some of the other whoppers and stretchers told by the president in his health care address.” Suggested callouts include:
“Can Kicker!”: Obama claimed he wants to settle the health care problem once and for all, rather than “kick the can” to the next administration. But Lindorff argues that’s exactly what the president is planning to do, based on the fact his proposal will leave “the basic untenable system of employee-financed healthcare in place.”
“What About Military Spending!”: The president claimed no other expense rivals health care when it comes to ballooning the federal deficit. Really? Lindorff says Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold should have shouted down that one, given how much is being spent on the military to fight two wars.
“Legitimate Service My Ass!”: This one should have followed Obama’s remark that the insurance industry provides “a legitimate service.” Americans know what insurers really are—“nothing but vampires, or better, leeches on the health care system,” argues Lindorff.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
In Praise of Joe Wilson: What's Wrong with Calling Out Liars in Congress? (by Dave Lindorff, This Can’t Be Happening)
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