Remember congressional town hall meetings?
Sure, they were a form of political theater with partisan spin and public relations always on the agenda. They could even be ad hoc pep rallies for particularly populist politicians, regardless of party affiliation, regardless of issues. But they did keep House and Senate members in literal touch with constituents, and they did provide a forum for those, including naysayers, who wanted to weigh in on an issue that resonated with them. Or just hear in person, without media-middlemen interpretation, what their elected officials had to say.
For sure, no one ever confused such gatherings with discussion-defying shriek fests and issue-devolving mosh pits. But U.S. Representative Kathy Castor of Tampa became an unwitting YouTube headliner last week when she was shouted down in Ybor City over health care reform.
So, what’s really going on? A perversely perfect storm, it appears.
The Obama Administration didn’t help itself – or the cause of health care reform – by outsourcing details to Congress to get Blue Dog buy-in. In return, they got an amorphous, work-in-(impeded)progress, non-plan — one that has enabled opponents to cherry pick disparate details and mislabel at will.
Distorting a galvanizing, gut issue such as health care lends itself to combustible sound bites and inevitable demagoguery. Especially in today’s noxious, zero-sum political environment. “Socialism” begot 1984-like big government “control,” which begot “rationing,” which begot “euthanasia,” which begot Sarah Palin’s “downright evil” assessment.
Those marinating in such scenarios — not to be confused with pure political proxies — are not likely to turn up at a town hall meeting primed for a civil exchange of views. Not when your sign says: “Abortion is not health care.” And few visceral issues also account for nearly a sixth of a $14-trillion economy. What, they’re supposed to respect the side they’re demonizing? Instead you get a Howard Beale – “I’m as mad as Hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.” – collective vent.
Then add in the forum facilities themselves. The one in Ybor City that Rep. Castor tried to address was woefully inadequate. Even when you lock out the well-modulated, they won’t necessarily go quietly.
Then there’s the phenomenon that is Barack Obama, America’s first African-American president. He was the “Yes We Can” template candidate of hope, the one whom voters – although a majority of whites didn’t vote for him – were able to ascribe whatever they wanted. From the environment to foreign policy to racial harmony to health care reform to whatever else needed fixing.
Now, ironically, it’s the obverse of that template.
To opponents, President Obama embodies fears not felt since the McCarthy era. According to “birthers,” he’s not just not native born, but probably an elected “Manchurian Candidate.” To those truly clinging to guns and religion, he’s an elitist, socialist infidel. No, this is not politics as usual. This is personal, this is way beyond single-payer scenarios and tax hikes, and this is scary for America.
This is as zero-sum as aligning with Dr. DeBakey, Dr. Jarvik, Dr. Salk and probably Dr. Feelgood — or siding with Dr. Mengele. It means no civil discourse, and it makes no sense.