Thanks for reminding me why I don’t watch these folks.

(a scalp-penetrating treatment?)

Thank you, Dr. Wheeler, for performing yet another essential task that the serious employees of paid media, eager to avoid betraying any hint that they might spot the exclusive shield some have offered them, have relegated to aimless dilettante bloggers —telling the goddam truth.

George Staphilococcus.

Just wrote informing him he lost a viewer here.

So far fromThe War Room, so close to Cokie.

Because false equivalencies permit the MSM to stay fat and happy.

It is troublesome when they won’t differentiate when the degree of difference is substantial. It is beyond maddening and extraordinarily harmful to our political discourse when the difference, as here, is not a matter of degree, but kind, and they pretend otherwise.

This has nothing to do with Joe Wilson, what he did was reprehensible and despicable. He was chastised as he should have been.

However, what Grayson did was wrong. It’s not the same of course, he did not say what he did to the president when a joint session was in progress. But he was wrong on the merits. Republicans don’t want “sick people to die quickly”. To make such a general statement is inflammatory hyperbole and it’s just not true.

What has become of progressives?

Will someone tell me why my “comment is awaiting moderator approval”? Because I happen to have a different political point of view? Is that the way this works here? You are censored if you aren’t just parroting the prevailing opinion here?

George Straponeonforus…poor George, paraphrasing Ann Richards. George was born with a silver dildo in his *** heh

It’s bad enough that Stephanopoulos is outraged. The Hill reports “Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (Conn.) has said Grayson’s remark wasn’t as serious as Wilson’s outburst, but still said he should apologize.”

Calling for Congressman Grayson’s apology for telling the truth shows what is wrong with today’s Democratic leadership. Congressman Grayson took a page out of George Lakoff’s writings about proper framing of the issue, not just for health care reform but for saving this country from the devastating blows rendered by the right wing in the past three decades. (See generally Lakoff’s Don’t think like an elephant: know your values and frame the debate: the essential guide for progressives.) In his August 20, 2009 post on Huffingtonpost.com, “ The PolicySpeak Disaster for Health Care,” Lakoff advises:

Health care is a moral issue, and the right-wing understands that and is using it. That’s why the “death panels” and “government takeover” language resonates with those who have a conservative moral perspective and used terms like “pro-life.” Health care is a life and death issue, which is as moral as anything could be. The insurance companies have been on the side of death and that needs to be said overtly. (Emphasis added.)

The Republicans are on the side of the insurance companies; ergo, they are on the side of death. Congressman Grayson would have been more effective if he had singled out the insurance companies for the “death” label, but he certainly need not apologize for including the Republicans, who have made it clear that they are unanimously working for the insurance companies.

The Demon in Disguise (see link at 71) has responded:

“And now the Republicans claim they are going to introduce a resolution “disapproving” of my behavior.

“What is this, junior high school? Do they think my feelings are hurt? Just what do these people think health care means?”

More.

this conduct among mainstream media “stars” only happens when there is BIG pressure from the bosses.

let’s see now,

abc,

disney,

white house,

rahm emmanuel,

disney,

abc,

stephanie.

what is there to be surprised about?

I am going to be slammed for stating this. Gastro has a point. He’s pointing to the concern, “Did we have to reflect Republican behavior?” As though the behavior was compromising values of decorum for political “stage affects”.

There is a point to his perspective and it should not be thrown out as a “troll view”.

By the same token, there is a frustration level with the fact that Republicans have made it clear they do not care about health care, their real fight here is to make Obama fail on health care for the sake of politics. Their fight is not for citizens. It’s about Obama’s Waterloo and the Republican party has clearly stated that. Cleary. “Making it Obama’s waterloo,” were their words, not mine.

When Democratic parties “tried” honest efforts to seek policy which would bring both sides together, one side just did not want to participate in constructive dialogue unless it protected the status quo of the health industry.(And that includes conservative Dems too unfortunately.)

Grayson’s in your face tact/perspective is one of, “We tried to get your party to participate in the process to include your ‘values’ such as ‘life based’ concerns and fiscal responsibility on policy. But all that resulted was, “You lie!” a blank piece of paper, and lots of hate building at Town Hall meetings. He is peeling the layers of the “values hypocrisy onion” back to show that 70% of the country is not in agreement with such movement on such an important issue.

Do I like how he did it? No. In an ideal world I would hope decorum would work to create thoughtful, positive sum policy. A “fair play” approach.

Is there a place for the approach Grayson took? After the Republican response and the media response, I have to state, Grayson’s reality check pill has a roll to play. He is reflecting righteous anger for those disenfranchised by the healthcare industry. My family is one of those carrying righteous anger for the abuses of the industry due to denial of coverage after approval of coverage and then being left with a $25,000 bill. No one has stood up for my healthcare experience and my righteous anger due to it until Rockefeller and Grayson.

Thankfully, we have Jay Rockefeller continuing to use decorum and presenting thoughtful policy to balance out Grayson’s manner. And both approaches are finally getting the voice of concerns regarding healthcare heard within the MSM.

So Gastro, I agree with your point. It is frustrating to see “more politicing.” Grayson’s action(s) are forcing the hands of the Republicans to come to the table with some thoughtful legislation which is positive sum. If they cannot deliver, then the GOP rage at Grayson ends up hollow and false. Then Grayson ends up correct.

The GOP has stirred up way too much false and ugly divisiveness. Grayson is simply stating, “I have had it. Walk your talk buckos.”

Therefore, I think Grayson was closer to righteous anger and admonishment for accountability, then “two wrongs do not make a right.” But it is very close to the line in how he approached it.

Salted words just do not work on the GOP right now. I hate the fact that such an important issue in our country has been over shadowed by ugliness. I think that is part of Grayson’s point. He’s mirroring political behavior but using corrective language, not hate language.

Grayson has opened a door in an aggressive yet astute move. Are Republicans going to ask him to apologize for the dead who die of complications which basic healthcare could have prevented? That would be the dumbest demand by the GOP on Grayson. He would become a hero for all those families who are losing every day by standing with those families and stating, “I will not apologize for their pain.”

Now, had the GOP responded with:

“You know, we were wrong to issue a blank piece of paper as policy. We were wrong to shout out, “You lie!” We were wrong to stir up lies about policy on healthcare such as death panels and create hate at town hall meetings. Forgive us citizens, here’s an honest effort at a win-win policy, ” and then hand Grayson some well written policy,”

then, I think Grayson should apologize.