The Republican'ts and Health Care

In a brilliantly crafted speech, President Barack Obama put our country's health care crisis center stage last night before a joint session of Congress.

It was a landmark speech filled with straight talk and good ideas. For those who missed it, it can be viewed online with an attached transcript here.

Obama presented a balanced plan built from ideas of both parties - and once again displayed a clear determination to face our nation's out-of-control health care system. With clarity and rhetorical brilliance, he placed the entire circumstance in perspective so American citizens could easily understand the situation we face. He called for action.

As he said it, "The time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we much bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can do what we were sent here to do."

He fought back against the organized campaign by the Republican't party, conservative activists and talk show hosts to use lies and misinformation to avoid the critical issue we all face, calling them "cynical and irresponsible".

As an independent not aligned with either party, and a small business man paying over almost $1,200 a month for health care for my wife and myself, I would like to add my small voice to his.

I am sick to death of the politics of deception. I am well past the point of being offended by the condescending and patently deceptive tactics of the far right.

I believe lying to the American people about important issues facing the nation is not just deceptive - but flat out unpatriotic and unAmerican. It smells of McCarthyism - and its underbelly is filled with a tint of racism.

I am sick to death of those who create problems where they do not exist - and stoke the anxiety of the ignorant in order to stir anger and uproar that keeps progress from being made on issues that are damaging the lives of American citizens every day.

These are plenty of Republicans who are legitimately concerned for our nation and doing their best to have a fair debate about how to accomplish reform in a vast and broken system.

But there is another group on the right that does not have our nation's interest at heart. There is another dogmatic and cynical group willing to sell our country down the river by any means necessary.

I would like to address these demagogues of the right and give them a new name.

There are Republicans - and there are Republican'ts.

Republicans have a can do spirit. Republican'ts have a "can't do" cynicism.

Republicans have our country's best interests at heart. Republican'ts don't care about our country. They only care about the minority that share their views - which very often includes racists, the ignorant and powerful economic interests who are exploiting our citizens. Republican'ts disguise economic self interest and fear mongering as patriotism and faith.

Here is what I would like to say to the Republican'ts.

Quit talking to Americans as though we are fools.

Stop trying to frighten us with lies.

Try to put the interests of our nation above your own negative view of reality. Your fear of people different than you is not a platform for public policy that will sweep the nation. It is simply sad and horrifically unworkable.

"No we can't" is not a useful counter balance to "Yes we can."

And to fair minded, patriotic Republicans who fail to call out the Republican'ts who are dividing us and blocking our nation's progress - I say get a spine.

Keeping your seat is not as important as keeping your integrity and the integrity of your party. Your grand old party will pay the consequences if you continue to cater to an ignorant and unreasonable fringe group.

Our President has called down members of his own party on the far left - even those who share his own views of policy - when they use similar tactics to those of the Republican'ts.

Please do the same. Stop the lying. Stop the deception. Focus on the real issues and get the job done for America.