As is so often the case with heavily televised American political gatherings, from the State of the Union address to Supreme Court nominations, the "how" of the event is almost as important and widely covered as the "what." The House of Representatives convened on Sunday, March 14 to vote on the Senate health care bill, as well as "fixes" to the bill. The following day, what dominated headlines immediately — that the bill passed the House and was on its way to President Barack Obama's desk to be signed into law — showcased a rather distressing "how." The "how" highlighted the environment and nature of the House chambers that evening and the utter loss of decorum in American politics that, for some time, has become standard and very much emblematic of the health care debate.
What was even more disconcerting was the fact that the loss of decorum and sensibility during the proceedings included not only protestors stationed outside the building but also ranking members of the House and their guests upstairs in the chamber's cheap seats. Racist and derogatory catcalls toward African−American members of the House as well as Rep. Barney Frank (D−Mass.) are disgusting and most certainly represent one of the low points in American public political discourse in recent memory.
That being said, these epithets and terrible words came from a group of people who dress up in period costumes and pretend that they are a meaningful political group — they came largely from disgruntled members of the Tea Party. The fact that the Tea Party is as irrelevant as it is irreverent does not make its behavior acceptable, but it should provide Americans with a context for understanding that these outbursts and loss of decorum during protests the day before the vote came from an irrational minority.
Inside the House, however, ranking politicians turned a formal, nationally televised vote on health care into little more than what can best be described as a name−calling, brainless, hissy fit of a middle−school lunch−room argument. The constant booing and hissing from both sides of the aisle were bad enough, but when Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R−Texas) yelled "baby killer" at Rep. Bart Stupak (D−Mich.), the level of political chaos was off the charts in a way rarely seen in American politics. The general cacophony on the House floor, as well as the noise raining down on the politicians from the chamber's upper seating, led to a surreal atmosphere as House members went to cast their vote on the health care bill.
Whether or not this health care bill reduces health care costs and increases health care quality and access, what happened that Sunday night was historic. This sort of major health care reform legislation was something that had been in the works since the days of Teddy Roosevelt, but something that no one had ever been able to create and pass.
The Democrats, and particularly President Obama, will be remembered for getting the bill through Congress and delivering one of the most important changes in health care policy in American history. Whether or not the bill actually works as it is supposed to, the Democrats will be remembered for having given it a shot and for taking a major gamble on reform legislation.
The Republicans, meanwhile, will be remembered as the party that called Democrats names and did little else — as the party that refused to take any ownership of the bill whatsoever. Shameful Republican hubris served to make the bill infinitely weaker. The Republicans may or may not feel the consequences of their actions at the polls in November, but they will always have the tape of Randy Neugebauer to remind them of just how far they have fallen.
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