My New Column

This is my new column posted at American Issues Project:

Part of the Department of Education’s suggested lesson plan to go along with President Obama’s speech to school children this week was for teachers to ask students, “Why is it important that we listen to the President and other elected officials… Why is what they say important?”

A better question might have been, “Why is it important that elected officials listen to the people they represent?  Why is what the people say important?”

So much of the President’s current problem with his approval ratings can be traced back to these simple questions.  Whether it be the stimulus package, the bailouts and control over private industries,  a growing deficit or the health care debate, many Americans believe those in power don’t care what they think or what they have to say.

In an effort to engage the public and try to persuade them to get on board with health care reform legislation, lawmakers returned to their districts this summer to hear what their constituents had to say at town hall meetings.  In many meetings the public expressed outrage at legislators. 

In response to such a reaction at one meeting in Pennsylvania, Democrat Senator Arlen Specter told constituents, “I’m encouraging constitutional rights by coming to Lebanon to talk to my constituents. I could be somewhere else. I don’t get extra pay. I don’t have any requirement to be here.” Some attendees of the town hall meeting responded by reminding Specter, “You work for us!”

Regarding the recent controversy over the President’s speech to school kids, some of those in the media decided to weigh in on parents who voiced their concerns about their children being subjected to a political speech in school.  CNN’s Campbell Brown said, “I want to take a minute to talk about some of the insanity we have witnessed over the past few days- the ridiculous charge that the President of the United States addressing American schoolchildren is somehow a dangerous thing… So now, can we all take a deep breath and admit this whole episode was just nutty? I mean, don’t we feel a little bit silly right now for even debating the issue?”

No, I don’t think we need to feel silly at all, because those parents concerned about their kids are voters and taxpayers.  The man making that speech to their children works for them (as some feisty Pennsylvanians reminded Arlen Specter).  I don’t seem to recall those in the media over the past two decades saying it was insane or nutty or silly to debate claims that Republicans wanted to starve school children or poison our water or kill black people in New Orleans.  Those sound a whole lot nuttier and ridiculous and insane than what any of the parents I heard said about Obama’s speech.

Some in the media are concerned at the level of ferocity aimed at this President.  ABC Political Director, David Chalian said “Even unfounded criticism is finding a home because there's a resonance on the larger issue for many Americans of too much government in their lives – auto bailouts, bank bailouts, government-run health insurance.”

Those in the media were not so concerned about unfounded criticism when it was of President Bush regarding unfounded claims that he “lied” soldiers into war to line the pockets of his rich oil buddies.  I don’t recall those in the media worrying about the ferocity of the criticism of Bush and Cheney, or how it affected their ability to fight two wars and defend the homeland against additional terrorist attacks.

PBS’s Bill Moyers is even more unhinged than usual over the current state of affairs.  Here are a few excerpts from some of his most recent commentary: 

“…we've posted on our website an essay by the media scholar Henry Giroux. He describes the growing domination of hate radio as one of the crucial elements in a ‘culture of cruelty’ increasingly marked by overt racism, hostility and disdain for others, coupled with a simmering threat of mob violence toward any political figure who believes health care reform is the most vital of safety nets, especially now that the central issue of life and politics is no longer about working to get ahead, but struggling simply to survive.”

“So here we are, wallowing in our dysfunction. Governed -- if you listen to the rabble rousers --by a black nationalist from Kenya smuggled into the United States to kill Sarah Palin's baby.”

 “Poor Obama, he came to town preaching the religion of nice. But every time he bows politely the heart of the Republicans kick him.  No one’s ever conquered Washington politics by constantly saying ‘pretty please’ to the guys trying to cut your throat.”

 I don’t recall Moyers being so concerned when those on the left were claiming Sarah Palin’s Down Syndrome baby was not really hers, but rather her teenage daughter’s child. Or when some incredibly nasty people on liberal blogs were saying that child should have been aborted.  Did Moyers lament the “culture of cruelty” on the left then?

Moyers was not crying for George W. Bush when he came to Washington offering the hand of bipartisanship to the point that he allowed Ted Kennedy to write his education bill.  It didn’t seem to bother Moyers that Bush was constantly labeled a divider, in spite of the unreciprocated courtesy he showed others.

This week President Obama is re-launching his push for health care reform with a major, prime time speech.  There will be polling of the American people done over the next few weeks to gauge public opinion on the issue.  If Obama listens to what the American people say and adjusts his proposals he may regain some of the trust and respect of the public that he has evidently lost over the past eight months. 

If he continues to ignore the wishes of the American people and decides instead to play the role of the victim the media appears determined to cast him, he is going to continue his downward spiral. Americans are only now learning just how loud their voices are.  They deserve to have those voices heard. If Obama decides to listen to them it will be one of the best political decisions he’s ever made.

 

Comments

[MBT Shoes]

I just realized I'll still be typing next week if I keep talking about the great stuff we've gotten, so I'm going to list it!