Sheldon Whitehouse’s ingnorant rant: Who is really a member of “the lunatic fringe”?

If you are in Washington, D.C. and talk about the simpleton from Rhode Island, you might automatically think of Patrick Kennedy. However, we can’t forget that Rhode Island has another simpleton in D.C.: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. In case you think my categorization is merely a partisan shot, it isn’t. While I disagree with other Democratic politicians, I wouldn’t question their intelligence. I would just recognize the fact that we see the issues differently. With Senator Whitehouse, there is a certain shallowness to his thinking, tinged with hyper-partisanship, and a heaping helping of smarminess.

There have been many comments over the years which reinforced my opinion of him, but his latest speech on health care reform illustrates his failings perfectly:

“Voting ‘no’ and hiding from the vote are the same result. Those of us on the floor see it. It was clear the three of them who did not cast their yes votes until all 60 Senate votes had been tallied and it was clear that the result was a foregone conclusion. And why? Why all this discord and discourtesy, all this unprecedented destructive action? All to break the momentum of our new young president.

They are desperate to break this president. They have ardent supporters who are nearly hysterical at the very election of President Barack Obama. The birthers, the fanatics, the people running around in right-wing militia and Aryan support groups, it is unbearable to them that President Barack Obama should exist. That is one powerful reason. It is not the only one.”

In Senator Whitehouse’s twisted mind, the health care reform bill is fantastic, and anyone who disagrees is a racist, right-wing militia member who is part of “the lunatic fringe”. Funny, but every poll I’ve seen lately shows that the majority of Americans are highly suspicious of the health care reform bill. Does that mean that more than half of the United States is made up of racist militia members? If that’s the case, then how was Barack Obama elected President with a majority of the vote?

Sheldon Whitehouse’s comments are nothing more than an attempt to bully people into supporting the health care bill. If you support it, you care about Americans. If you oppose it, then it must be because you oppose Barack Obama, and why would someone oppose Barack Obama? Because of his skin color, of course! Concern about the deficit, abortion, fewer health care choices, or other changes are never addressed by people like Sheldon Whitehouse. Instead, those with concerns are shouted down and intimidated by accusing them of racism, in order to silence criticism of a bill he knows is defficient.

Interestingly, Sheldon Whitehouse’s comments came a day after Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson said he would vote for the bill. Does that mean he was a racist until yesterday? Many labor unions oppose the tax on their health benefits. Does that make them Birthers? Howard Dean has encouraged progressive Democrats to oppose the bill. Does that mean he is a member of a right-wing militia? Won’t the Democratic Party be surprised!