It's nonsense that Americans are angry about getting access to insurance when they get laid off, have pre-existing conditions, or have sick children who need healthcare ["Sarah Palin, Tea Party Leaders Must Condemn Healthcare Threats," usnews.com]. When you watch the videos of the tea party demonstrations in front of the Congress, there aren't even 500 people there. The news people are just trying to sell advertising when, in fact, the vast majority of us are now relieved to know we won't be wiped out if we become sick, or worse, sick and unemployed.
Comment by David of VA
I hold people like Sarah Palin directly responsible for the ugly turn politics has taken. Democracy doesn't mean complete agreement and compliance, it means debate and being willingness to compromise. Right now the Republicans would rather stonewall or just take their marbles and go home, and the far-right people are being encouraged to riot, scream, and spit. Issuing a map with bull's-eye targets, urging people to "take back" their government, allowing continued racial slurs and other horrible behavior, constantly showing disrespect for our president and other members of the administration is reprehensible. People are angry because they may have lost their jobs, their homes, their investments, maybe their healthcare. Sarah Palin ought to be leading, instead of inciting, and so should all the other Republicans who so far show little inclination to listen to anyone at all.
Comment by Katie of ME
People are responsible for their own behavior. People make threats against all politicians. It is all equally unacceptable. Condemning threats is giving more emphasis and publicity to the nut jobs out there. You can not make Sarah Palin or Barack Obama responsible for threats and vandalism carried out by someone else. The violent alone are responsible. I have learned that a leader can never make everyone happy, and there will always be criticism of leadership. As unfair as it seems to be, don't seek a position of power if you want a stress-free life. The media should do its job and not give the nut jobs a platform for fame. The vast majority of them intend to intimidate and gain notoriety. [The media] plays directly into their hands with this coverage.
Comment by Leslie of WA
I'm always concerned about Republicans when they try to get their viewpoint across without factual support. Because they're not doing a service, they're damaging the democratic ideal of an enlightened and informed base of citizens. It becomes a vicious cycle. The unreasonable mob hysteria feeds the political leaders and information passing back and forth results in more and more distortion of reality. We need a system that penalizes dishonesty in public statements and information intended for media dissemination. The situation we're in is only going to get worse and worse. Some kind of checks and balances have to be in place.
Comment by Jon of IN
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Reader Comments Read all comments (9)
Ray of IL 1:34PM April 09, 2010
jerrbarn of LA 3:28PM April 05, 2010
BORN AMERICAN of CA 8:40PM April 04, 2010