Partisan Politics Reach a New Low

American journalist H. L. Mencken said, “A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of.” If Mencken were alive today and a witness to this week’s political happenings, I suspect a satisfied smirk would grace his face, as he realized that his observation is just as apt today as it was during his lifetime. Last week, President Obama’s speech to American children was heralded by much controversy and murmurs of the indoctrination of our country’s youth. Representative Joe Wilson then caused quite a stir with his outburst during the President’s address on health care reform. While it seemed as if partisan politics could not possibly reach a lower level, they did.

On Tuesday, September 15, the House voted 240-179 to reprimand Wilson for his allegation that President Obama was lying during his speech on health care, when he claimed that illegal immigrants would not be covered under the bill. Though I feel this action is a bit extreme, considering Wilson’s apology to the White House for his accusation and the President’s acceptance of that apology, I understand there is a certain level of decorum that is expected on the House floor. What bothers me is not so much the censure Wilson is receiving, but the outrageous remarks made by fellow representatives. In an interview with CNN, Hank Johnson of Georgia stated Wilson’s remarks “did not help the cause of diversity and tolerance”; he continued to say that he would bet Wilson’s allegation “instigated more racist sentiment… we’ll probably have folks putting on white hoods and white uniforms again and riding through the countryside, intimidating people.” Call Wilson’s remark ill timed, inappropriate or disrespectful, but call it racist? I fail to see what in that brief outburst points toward racism on Wilson’s part.

Incredibly enough, Representative Johnson is not the only person with this view. Wednesday evening, former President Jimmy Carter appeared on NBC Nightly News. Like Johnson, he believes that Obama’s critics are impelled by racism. He told NBC, “I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man”. Despite a slight boost following the President’s health care address, 52% of the nation is currently opposed to his health care bill. If a little over half the United States is opposed to Obama’s health care bill, and “an overwhelming portion” of these critics is motivated by racism, how did Obama end up in the Oval Office? If our nation is as President Carter presents it, it seems highly unlikely that Obama would have been elected in the first place. Of course, there are still those who cling to bigoted ideas and hatred, but they do not represent the face of the nation governed by an African-American, with a Hispanic female sitting on the land’s highest court.

To continue this outrageousness, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi expressed the desire on Thursday that “we all curb our enthusiasm in the statements that we make”, stating, “The balance between freedom and safety is one that we have to carefully balance”, lest we foster a climate in which violence could occur. To borrow Hilary Clinton’s words, “I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration somehow you’re not patriotic… we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration.” During this debate, Republicans have been accused of fear mongering and misrepresenting their opponents, but it seems like it is the other side that is employing these tactics. To appear on network television and call a significant portion of this country racist is truly shameful. Where will we draw the line?

To me, these political ploys reek of desperation and fear. Those in favor of the health care bill have tried every trick in the book to sway public opinion in their direction, yet none of it has had the impact they had hoped for. A majority of Americans oppose the bill, and 54% say the more they hear about it, the less they like it. When politicians don’t get the results they want, they employ diversion tactics: concentrate on punishing an already contrite Congressman instead of investigating whether his statement held any truth; insult your constituency’s character and intelligence by attributing their opposition to racism, instead of considering the possibility that they are against the ideology behind the legislation. Whatever you do, be sure not to address the real issues! That might be too dangerous…

One Response to “ Partisan Politics Reach a New Low ”

1. J. Kaiser says:

   September 18, 2009 at 3:49 pm

   Although I am close to retirement age and not a particularly optimistic person in general, reading this young person’s thoughtful assessment about today’s name-calling climate in the public arena made me quite hopeful for the future of this country. Congratulations to this college student for the intelligent commentary about this important and sensitive issue.