Persecution Politics: Death Panels and Slavery Reparations
Credit where credit's due: Sarah Palin knows how to capture headlines. She also knows how to speak the language of America's most persecuted demographic: white Christian conservatives. Many in her audience believe in a secret plot by liberals to enact a radical secular agenda, and they view all progressive policies through the lens of this alleged conspiracy.
Sarah Palin on the health care plan:
The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.
For the unvarnished version Palin's ideas, complete with Nazi references, read the account offered by the "Christian Anti-Defamation Committee" (yes, it exists, and yes, it is insane):
Your grandmother will be told to make plans to end her life early because her care will be too costly. After all, it is her duty to not to be a burden. Obama explained they will "encourage the use of living wills" that terminate otherwise viable lives through "do not resuscitate" (DNR) legal releases. This is nothing less than state sponsored euthanasia. Hitler began his reign of terror by his application of the brutal, Darwinian ethic, "survival of the fittest." He started killing the disabled and infirm because they were considered to be a burden on the state. Hitler rationalized the killing of innocent people in an effort to advance his fascist, national socialist agenda. In the name of doing what's best for the good of society, Hitler trivialized human life. Ultimately millions ended up paying with their lives. In the name of the public good, Obama and the Congress are on the same anti-Christian, pro-death path...Not only will this bill end the lives of the elderly, it will expand and subsidize the killing of babies through abortion. The "Capps Amendment" nationalizes free abortions for low-income urban neighborhoods, fulfilling the dream of eugenicist Margaret Sanger that minority babies will be the first exterminated. This is a Planned Parenthood full employment dream come true.
The CADC article quotes from an Investor's Business Daily editorial. The same publication has another editorial that's even nuttier: Reparations By Way Of Health Care Reform. Not only does the health care bill oppress Christians, it also "redistributes health" to black people. Obama has previously noted that a universal health care bill will disproportionately help people of color because people of color are disproportionately insured. Ergo, the IBD reasons, Obama wants to give the "racial grievance industry" the power to redistribute health benefits as a backdoor route to slavery reparations:
Read the health care bill. It's affirmative action on steroids, deciding everything from who becomes a doctor to who gets treatment on the basis of skin color...This may be a goal of Obama's health care plan: the redress of health care disparities on the basis of race and the punishment of those believed to be responsible, such as greedy doctors who perform unnecessary tests and procedures and greedy insurance and drug companies lusting for profits...The racial grievance industry under health care reform could be calling the shots in the emergency room, the operating room, the medical room, even medical school. As Terence Jeffrey, editor at large of Human Events puts it, not only our wealth, but also our health will be redistributed.
Sound crazy? Not too crazy for Glenn Beck. Sarah Palin, for once, showed the good sense not to go there.
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Wingnut trivia question: What does the Democratic health care plan have to do with "Season's Greetings" messages at department stores?
Answer: Wingnuts believe that both will lead to euthanasia and abortion-on-demand. Here's Bill O'Reilly on Christmas Under Siege:
What's really going on here is a well-organized movement to wipe out any display of organized religion from the public arena. The secular-progressive movement understands very well that it is organized religion, most specifically Christianity and Judaism, that stands in the way of gay marriage, partial birth abortion, legalized narcotics, euthanasia, and many other secular causes. If religion can be de-emphasized in the USA, a brave new progressive society can be achieved.
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Cross posted as usual at dagblog.com. You can subscribe to all my posts via RSS feed or email.
The pseudo christian mafia knows that keeping the people caught up in religious confusion and fear gives them power and money. If it keeps working... why would they stop.
You know, it was reported that Sarah Palin called two people before she stumbled through her resignation. One of them was Dick Cheney?!
August 12, 2009 12:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Even nuttier, she also called Giuliani. That's probably the first call he's received from anyone since he dropped out of the primary.
August 12, 2009 2:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Cheney and Giuliani, the two scariest criminals in the country. We should take note while we are laughing: Palin means business.
August 12, 2009 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Look, there's no reason to pretend, we know what this is all about. Jesus is about to return for the final battle between god and satan. Obama plans to stop it. Virgin birth and all so he can't stop it with a condom.
Next best thing is to abort Jesus. Jesus' poor mother could never afford an abortion. That's why he's pushing for funding for abortions. Obama wants to make sure Jesus' mom can get an abortion even if she's homeless and broke.
Of course its unlikely that Jesus' mom will go for an abortion, what with god telling her in dreams and what not about her birthin' the messiah. That's where the death panels come in. With all those Down Syndrome children going before the death panel and being shipped off to be killed it should be pretty easy to slip Jesus in among them without anyone noticing.
Why would Obama do that? He's the antichrist silly, don't you ever read the bible? Its all in there.
August 12, 2009 2:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
hahahhaahahah
This is pretty good Ocean. hahahahah
August 12, 2009 2:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh sure, you laugh at me now. Just wait till all the prophecies come true. You won't be laughing then.
Then Jesus said to them, 'Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.
August 12, 2009 8:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
That was arch snark, oceancat! Super!
August 12, 2009 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Someone should point out to the American Anti-Defamation League that eugenics was propogated in America. We supplied the race/class angle. Then Hitler picked it up and ran with it. In other words, American racists/classists got the ball rolling. The same kind of ass-backward thinking behind their current ranting.
August 12, 2009 2:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Turning a living will, a document i prepared thousands of times, a political issue...damn
August 12, 2009 3:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
OMG. The absurd Christian Anti-Defamation Commission was quoting from an Investors Business Daily Article. Here's another ludicrous claim from the imaginative, but brain dead, pens at IBD: there is a racial grievance industry.
If I followed the article correctly, Obama is using health care reform as a substitute for slavery reparations and for the benefit of said industry. To witless:
It gets somewhat incoherent after that first paragraph, but I persisted... it was like staring at a fatal traffic accident.
August 12, 2009 7:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, I can't believe that I didn't click through the link before. It's not only Christians who are oppressed by this bill, it's also white people. I'm going to have to edit my piece. Thanks.
August 12, 2009 8:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
sounds like the next blog. Where the hell is rationality?
Uh oh, I said "ration". Crap, now someone's going to be talking about rationing being the focus of death squads in the government takeover of health care. Don't you just love framing?
August 12, 2009 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
The crazier the Palin crowd gets, the more moderate conservatives, still the majority of the party, will support the reforms that come out of conference committee.
I am still not sure why this drum beat of "progressive" paranoia comes out whenever Crazy Sarah says some Crazy Shit. Many on the left still have a long way to go to combat their inherent distrust and skepticism of "Christians" as well as republicans.
Most people don't vote except for that rare Tuesday in November every four years, so I am not sure how relevant Palin even is to the discussion since she isn't crafting the legislation and no one with half a brain believes anything she says.
Her fifteen minutes expired nine months ago.
August 12, 2009 8:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wish that I shared your confidence, but the GOP has repeatedly kissed the hand of the paranoid right wing. No one has the guts to take on Limbaugh and Co. The very fact that McCain selected Palin is a sign of the power of the right in the GOP. Palin is the politician who most embodies that power, at least for now. That makes her relevant.
August 12, 2009 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
It remains a quiet revolution, ☠enghis.
Deanie Mills' latest blog as well as my own personal experience gives me hope that a reservoir of moderate conservatives who never took the time to care about politics are starting to pay attention.
Perhaps like the Gen X progressives who never took the time during the 90s to ensure the democratic party lived up to its ideals and were shocked into awareness by the brazen power grab of the Bush administration.
The crazy quilt of idiocy that is the modern GOP's leadership is currently singing their Swan Song. I suspect the midterms will be less about democratic party gains and more about republican incumbents being replaced with moderates.
August 12, 2009 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jason I'd love to agree with you but history just does not bear that out. Every time the Democrats say to ourselves, "Oh those outlandish ideas are held by only a handful of crazies. Regular normal republicans are not influenced by that nonsense."
Then we are totally sideswiped.
We are dismayed at how the supposed "regular, normal GOPers" will actually support and spread the batshit crazy.
Bill Maher said it quite hilariously the other night on Real Time:
Laughing it off has also been the reaction from democratic leaders so far. Proving that Democrats will never learn. In America, if you don't immediately kill errant bullshit no matter how ridiculous, it can grow and thrive and eventually take over like crabgrass or Circque de Soleil.
He then goes on to list examples that are just spot on. Definitely worth a watch.
August 12, 2009 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I try not to look at the past for any concrete idea of what is to come as it is a confused quilt of shifting norms and maxims.
The republicans have been in a super crazy place for forty years, give or take. The democratic party has had its problems living up to ideals as well. Both parties have been hawkish on the Drug War and Vietnam and World War II and many other instances stretching back to the founding of the country.
The lack of accountability in both parties is directly attributable to the fact that Americans only vote on that rare Tuesday in November every four years. Even then it is a bare majority. I think the increased enthusiasm by previously lackluster democratic voters will inspire a similar turnout among moderate conservatives.
Remember, they are the ones who really gave us President Obama. Without republicans and moderate independents during the primaries, the outcome could have been much different. It costs the democratic party nothing to assume a vast reservoir of support exists in the center-right and moderate their pitch accordingly.
August 12, 2009 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
The right does not make up a majority of GOP voters, but it represents the largest voting block in the GOP. As such, its influence is bigger than its size. That was very evident in the last primary, in which Republican candidates pandered to anti-immigrant and anti-evolution voters, and it was evident in McCain's VP choice--he felt that he had to shore up the base.
So you're correct that the right can't anoint a President, but it can nonetheless create a lot of mischief, which it has already done, repeatedly.
August 12, 2009 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this oversimplifies what we saw in last year's election. When only 30% turn out for presidential primaries, it is going to be the fringes versus the moderates with most of the latter staying home. We don't have enough people participating to make any sort of assumptions about the left or right.
August 12, 2009 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Love the Cirque comment. I mean, doesn't every hotel, down to the Motel 6, in Vegas have one of those things?
August 12, 2009 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jason, thanks for staying positive. I really hope that the crazies and the average moderate Republican's reaction to them does drive us toward a workable plan. I think already the far left's (I'm being rhetorical here) single payer idea is flagging to say the least. The far right is clinging to the status quo. That still leaves us with a big freaking change in my mind.
I just wish someone would take the mic away from the loud fringe. Ok, maybe not that. But I wish we had some kind of timer.
August 12, 2009 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Always stay positive. It is the only thing that has kept me rolling along after numerous challenges over the years. I smile when most people might be expected to cry. It is infuriating to anyone with the slightest inclination toward melodrama.
I think if more democrats were able to approach these discussion with your logical detachment and obvious commitment to progress that the battle would have already been won. There is absolutely no reason for a lack of 75% approval on the reform efforts currently in Congress.
As far as I can tell, the legislation likely to emerge from a final conference committee takes measured, common sense steps to address widely acknowledged problems in the existing health care system without instituting much more than a new Sallie type health insurer for the uninsured and uninsurable as well as new regulatory agencies to ensure private compliance with the new standards.
This shit should sell itself, yet the democratic leadership still fucked it up. Somehow, it is a fight between Single Payer and Status Quo. That's I decided to help refocus the republicans on a more Teddy Roosevelt style GOP. Get the moderates to wake up and pay attention. The democratic party seems to continue failing when left to their own devices and is unlikely to change that trend as the majority party.
August 12, 2009 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are probably right. That way, it won't be the government, but a semi-independent entity, that runs health care. And just like Sallie and Freddie, there's no way the government would let this fail. But it would assuage the conservatives that there was no direct government control and assuage the progressives in that every one of us has coverage. I'd hate to be the CEO of this company/non-profit during the first couple years, though. It's not going to be easy.
I've told you before that I'm for single payer, and I still am. But I'm more for a plan that works, covers everyone, and gets passed. We can't let this fail because the diametrically-opposed fringes dominate the discussion.
But, weirdly, in my mind, because we do have this vehement argument that's dominating the national dialogue, the in-between position is a huge change: coverage for everyone. I really think that it's going to happen.
August 12, 2009 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed.
August 12, 2009 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I admire your dedication, but I think you're tilting at windmills, at least currently. Based on voting records, there are only a bare minimum of Republicans that show any moderation at all, or that are willing to make decisions based on what's good for the public interest; two are from Maine and one just switched tickets. The currently-elected R leaders are all supporting and fueling the radical right agenda and continuing to throw red meat to their base. Every time a "moderate" tries to act reasonably s/he is thrown to the wolves, and risks being primaried. That's why Specter changed teams, and Martinez is resigning. Look at the Rs responses to every moderate/right journalist and pundit who dares challenge their dogma. Until the current Rs all lose or see the light and denounce the far right, the party will continue its death spiral.
Oh, and just a historical note. TR thought one of the greatest threats to our system of government was the accumulation of wealth by a minority and campaigned for a stronger estate tax. He also believed in the need for conservation. Good luck on convincing current Rs to support higher taxes on the wealthy and climate change legislation.
Let's be real here. The numbers of voters who are self-described "moderate Republicans" are plummeting. Today they call themselves "Independents," and tomorrow they will vote for Democrats (or not vote) just like they did in 2006 and 2008.
August 12, 2009 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you are confusing the dwindling minority, as loud as they are, with the silent majority who have been largely absent from the political process. When we have a 16% average turnout for primary elections, the only possible outcome is the status quo, for both parties.
I am quite confident that incumbents on both sides of the fence better start performing or their time in Washington will be coming to a rapid close as the voters start understanding the importance of staying involved. The idea that conservatives are all going to become democrats isn't likely. Not without all the liberal democrats leaving to form their own party.
I think the more likely scenarios is the democratic party continuing to piss-off independents to the point that they start looking toward changing the republican party to provide a more common sense and pragmatic progressive strategy than can be typically found in democratic circles.
That was my story and I suspect it won't be unique in years to come. It is time for both parties to live up to their better histories, as our president might say.
August 12, 2009 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
For years, I've tried to convince my friends and family (of all political persuasions) that primary elections are as important, if not more important, than general elections. For one thing, your vote is worth about 3 times as much. For another, you often have more choices, and it determines who you (and others) get to vote for in the general.
August 12, 2009 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly right. By the time the general election arrives, it is much too late to make a difference in how business will be conducted in Washington as you are choosing the lesser of two evils at that point.
August 12, 2009 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great post. I admit that christianist theocracy is a bit ofn obsession with me; i have written almost too much on it. Talk2action is a great site to keep up with all things christianist. I am at least glad some more mainstream christian churches are organizing pro-healthcare rallies, but still...no one knows quite what they are rallying for.
If you haven't already, check out larry wilmore on jon stewart about health care fear and race and changing demographics:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-11-2009/reform-madness---white-minority
August 12, 2009 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Regarding the pushback from the religious left, you can find out a bit about this at Faith in Public Life, at http://blog.faithinpubliclife.org/
From the post on 8/10:
Take a peek at the ad.
While you're at it, you might look at http://www.faithfulamerica.org/
Sometimes we find allies where we don't expect to find them. I try to encourage them; if only to keep the religious right from owning the field.
August 12, 2009 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ha, thanks I had missed that one.
August 12, 2009 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Forty acres and a triple bypass. Free at last. Free at last!
August 12, 2009 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink