‘Borking’ health reform

In the summer of 1987, Sen. Ted Kennedy made his famous speech describing Robert Bork’s America:

“Robert Bork’s America is a land in which women would be forced into back-alley abortions, blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters, rogue police could break down citizens’ doors in midnight raids, schoolchildren could not be taught about evolution.”

In a story by NPR’s Nina Totenberg (“Morning Edition”, 8/ 27), Jeff Blattner, former Kennedy staffer, said the purpose of the speech was to “freeze the debate.” Kennedy used the time to mobilize “grassroots activists” against Bork’s confirmation.

The strategy was successful. Bork went down to defeat, and the speech is lauded as part of the senator’s legacy.

The irony is that the senator’s strategy is now being used to defeat his lifelong ambition: national health care. Claims involving death panels and Grandma’s Medicare come right out of Kennedy’s “Bork” playbook. They have frozen the debate and provided time to mobilize grassroots activists in opposition.

This time around however, the “grassroots activists” are being labeled Nazis, terrorists and astroturf.

If health care reform is defeated, those leading the effort should thank Sen. Kennedy for showing them how it’s done.

Chris Salzmann
Overland Park

Comments

[Kee]

The fallacy in your comment Chris is that The Swimmer's attacks were based upon falsehoods and accusatins. The attacks on the Obamanation health care plan are factuals, and that is what is so devastating to the moonbats.

[Smarter Than You]

Actually Chris, when Obamacare is defeated it will be because of any of a myriad of issues; cost, efficacy, independence or the economy for a few quick examples.