Are the Nazi symbols appearing at town halls meetings and congressional district offices a sign of racism? Representative David Scott (D-GA), whose district office was defaced with a swastika, thinks so.
"We have got to make sure that the symbol of the swastika does not win, that the racial hatred that's bubbling up does not win this debate," Scott told the Associated Press. He also claims to have received racially intimidating emails, some of which have called President Obama a Marxist.
Race-baiting is childish whether employed by a Klansman or a Congressman, such as Rep. Scott. But calling Obama a Marxist is something akin to calling apples, apples and oranges, oranges.
The Nazi symbolism has sparked outrage, but very little in the way of logical thought. There are several ways to look at this situation, each with its own degree of viability.
First case. Neo-Nazis could certainly capitalize on the current mood to express their warped and repugnant views. But before accepting the premise that opponents of socialized medicine are the racists that Rep. Scott claims, let’s remember who the Nazis were. The German Nazis were the National Socialist Party. They considered people and industry to be state property, subject to dictatorial whims.
No Mr. Scott. Opponents of healthcare reform aren’t trying to intimidate you with Nazi symbols. And they certainly aren’t promoting Nazism.
Second case. Mr. Scott is correct in identifying the heated arguments surrounding healthcare reform. That being the case, who’s to say that left-wing activists wouldn’t paint a Swastika on the Congressman’s sign, certain that the offense would be blamed on the opposition?
Leftists routinely likened Bush to Adolf Hitler. They called for his impeachment and execution, even writing books and making films about how to assassinate him. They toss unsubstantiated charges and labels—such as racist, sexist, homophobe, or xenophobe—at their opposition, attempting to discredit them without having to argue the facts. That is the heart of authoritarian dogma.
Now, is it impossible that people who utilize such tactics would paint a swastika on Congressman Scott’s sign? Not by a long shot. But it’s not a lead pipe cinch that the Left painted the symbol.
Frankly, opponents of government healthcare could’ve painted that swastika on Rep. Scott’s sign. But, if so, the intent wasn’t racial intimidation or promoting Nazism. He who has eyes let him see, and he who has a mind let him think.
Rep. Scott, how blind and dense can you be? If town hall protesters painted a swastika on your sign they did so not to promote Nazism but to call attention to the heavy-handed manner in which you and your colleagues are governing.
You and your party are promoting a healthcare plan that few of you have read. You and your party speak about the plan as if you’re familiar with every aspect. Yet when questions are raised you simply deny their viability, never offering reasons for why antagonists are wrong.
The President, a man of your party, claims to want a spirited debate over healthcare legislation. Yet when the debate turns spirited he dismisses or trashes legitimate questions about the bill’s language as misleading or false. His administration establishes a snitch line and encourages Americans to become White House spies.
Have people utilized Nazi symbolism to oppose nationalizing healthcare? No question. But if those people deface property, which isn’t a proper response, it’s not to promote racist ideas or Nazism itself.
Some Americans are just tired of federal diktat, Rep. Scott. Perhaps they’re letting you know that Washington’s actions are usurping private property, individual liberty, and our Constitution. Maybe they’re letting Congress know that they realize what’s happening and that they’re not pleased with the way Washington is exceeding its authority.
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