Thursday, February 25, 2010

Finally, an Actual "You Lie" Moment

I thought that Rachel Maddow's segment on reconciliation was spot on. And she put it out there like it needed to be put: the GOP is lying.

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What's both funny and sad about this GOP fiction is that the GOP knows that many within the American electorate will actually believe the lie, revel in it, and will argue with you when evidence to the contrary, you know stuff like the truth, is presented.

Maddow is right is saying that those within the media who push the GOP lie that reconciliation and "the nuclear option" are the same thing should be called out. And I know that there are plenty within the media who will conflate the two. I am glad that others are calling bullshit on the GOP accordingly (and I would hope that bullshit would be called on the Democrats for trying to pull the same crap, because we deserve better).

I love the fact that NPR just recently did a story explaining how reconciliation has been used for advancing changes within health care reform. And here is a post from The Washington Post explaining the use of reconciliation in the recent past.

It is more than fine to have differing perspectives on issues, and to present those perspectives passionately. Outright lying completely undermines arguments, and, as Maddow and others have shown, the GOP is lying to the American public. Do GOP supporters care?

3 comments:

Micheal Sisco said...

A politician lies? Really? Great Scott, man ... I had no idea.
Our -- and I'm generalizing here -- expectations are so low, so pessimistic, when it comes to elected leaders that I think our eyes kind of glaze over and our brains fog up whenever they open their mouths.
It's nice to hear Rachel (still got my lez crush on her and Ellen) come out with the truth, but as she (and Keith) are seen as partisan as Glenn and Rush and the Fox lot, it's not something that will play well with the Bert and Myrtles out there, who just want the "guvment to git offen our backs a mite" -- but still send the stamps and SSI check every month.
Truth coming from a librul don't count, you know.
Walter Cronkite, where are you?

Scott said...

"What's both funny and sad about this GOP fiction is that the GOP knows that many within the American electorate will actually believe the lie, revel in it, and will argue with you when evidence to the contrary, you know stuff like the truth, is presented."

Exactly. During the Healthcare Summit a few days ago, Mitch McConnell claimed that polls show a majority of Americans are opposed to the Democrat's health care plan. Oddly enough, he was telling the truth.

What he didn't mention is that when you ask people their opinion of specific provisions of the Democrat's plan--elimination of preexisting conditions, the "insurance exchange," limits on out-of-pocket risk, even the public option (no longer on the table) substantial majorities of people express approval.

How can this be? Well, you nailed in the paragraph I quoted above, Free. Enough people have bought into the lies the GOP has been telling about "government takeover" and "socialism" and "death panels" that will "pull the plug on Grandma."

That none of that is a part of either the Democrats House or Senate plans doesn't matter. That it could be proved in about 10 minutes by a 12 year old with Google...doesn't matter.

“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it”
--Adolf Hitler

hscfree said...

It's interesting that when one talks about politicians lying, there is a sort of catch all mentality that for some provides an opportunity to dismiss the lie at hand (Mike, I am not accusing you of that at all, but of another buddy who commented to me directly, and a conservative, that all politicians lie).
Let's just clear the air: all people at some point in their lives, for good or for bad, will lie.
Regarding the lie that I've highlighted, I agree with Scott that a simple bit of research about what the Democrats are attempting to do within their health insurance reform plans would lay bare the lies of the GOP on this proposed legislation.
While watching "Hardball," I was reminded, by Chris Matthews, of a rather simple fact: the GOP would like to see the various programs of the New Deal and the Great Society gone. Matthews continually asks Republicans why, when they are in the majority in Congress, do they not take up issues of health care reform. With the exception of the perscription benefit program, that was unfunded, and leaves seniors at the mercy of the market during the period of the "doughnut hole," the GOP, I think, could care less about health care reform that doesn't include the complete dismantling of Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP. Until that is on the table for discussion, the GOP will not ever support substantive reforms, and the GOP will lie openly to prevent any expansion of health care that isn't purely market based.