How Misinformed Hecklers, Teabags, and Shatner Remind Us to Pay Attention

I’ve resisted the temptation to post about politics. Circa 2003 and 2004, I was a frequent, nearly obsessive blog reader, and they were mainly progressive blogs that were, admittedly, invigorating. Politics was one of my first loves. (There’s pictures out there somewhere of dorky me volunteering on a local campaign at 16.) The thrill of the election, the logic (or lack of) of the argument, and the good old-fashioned theater of democracy in action made politics exciting. It made me feel as if caring about it with fervor aligned me with something bigger than myself.

After George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004, I was done. I was tired of everything – the blogs, the stupidity, the blatant lies. Me, someone who had been so into the political scene and its ramifications for the country, had checked out. Cliche 20-something apathy ensued. I lost faith in a process that I had so much faith in.

Like lots of people, Barack Obama’s campaign – and the sheer elation of knowing George W. Bush would be back in Texas where he belonged – got me fired up again, but not with the fervor of before.

Now my youthful, wide-eyed energy about politics is like the last swig of whiskey in a fifth – enough to give you a taste but not enough to get you to the point you were hoping the whiskey would get you in the first place. (That’s sad, too. I’m only 28. I guess that’s how quickly jaded politics turns people.)

But with the latest video of hecklers hijacking town hall meetings of Democratic congressmen and women over the August recess, I feel like I need to post something about politics. Ironically what has been going on the past few days isn’t really true politics. Its more of a lobby-sponsored, concocted mini-mob that shows up at any and all Democratic events in home districts. Hecklers, fueled by righty talk radio that stirs up flat-out lies about the government killing off old people and all the “birther” nonsense, are conjuring shouting matches with their senators and representatives about the “government takeover” of healthcare.

(Note: I’m all for disrupting a hearing when all other channels have failed. I’m all for posing tough questions to our elected leaders. The crazies have every right to do so. It’s just really sad that the basis of such patriotic acts are lies in themselves.)

Lately, it seems like there’s a dangerous mix of ultra right-wing events: Sarah Palin quit to possibly raise money and an army (word deliberately chosen) for her election to a national stage; Glen Beck’s WTF moment (skip to 2:50) on the air with a caller; teabaggers blind and deaf to anything not spouted from a pill-popper with a shirt-pulling tick; Texas governors who want to secede. The future of these events could be a frightening scenario.

So what if it continues? Not even 60 Democratic Senate votes and the cucumber-cool of Obama can quell an angry mob. At what point does this become frightening? And if it does become frightening, wouldn’t that be a surprise? We suffered through the Bush regime for 8 years and watched the world suffer more than us. If these folks turn nasty/violent, how ironic would that be?

Maybe this is nothing – just another Bill Ayres-esque fiasco that is whipped up and deflated just as quickly. Or maybe it’s the beginning of an even greater American divide. Either way, I’ve learned that it pays to pay attention. To not completely check out, no matter how disheartening it gets. Because you never know when the angry mob is going leave the school gyms and YMCA community rooms and take to the streets.

p.s. Check this out. Are they for real? Seriously.

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