Roger's Rules

August 7th, 2009 6:50 am

Paul Krugman and Dorothy Parker

I should have known this was coming. We are, after all, in the silly season. Legislators are on recess and typically return home to take the pulse of their constituents.

The collective pulse is rapid. Blood pressure is elevated. Breathing has quickened. Muscles are tense. The people, in short, are angry. All across the country, in small towns and large cities, citizens are turning out in droves at town meetings to express their concern about the Obama administration’s various policy proposals.

The major focus of criticism are Democratic proposals to transform American health care into a government run concession. That is hardly surprising, since the proposed government takeover of health care is item number 1 on the agenda at the moment. But a quick inventory of what citizens are saying to their duly elected representatives shows that the alarm is being sounded on other elements of Obama’s plan to bring big government, higher taxes, and increased regulation to the land of the formerly free.

There has been plenty of unhappiness about the amazing non-stimulating stimulus package, for example, as people queue up to ask embarrassed legislators exactly where that $800 billion went and what they have to show for it. Facts, as Big Sister Linda Douglass, likes to say, are stubborn things, and presented with the fact of an $800 billion stimulus package, on the one hand, and an unemployment rate that just inched up to 9.6 percent, on the other, people naturally will start asking questions. [UPDATE: a new figure, just released of 9.4 percent, is hardly going to inspire joy.]

Then there the cap-’n-tax bill, a real kick in the economic groin. Predicated on bogus science about the supposed disastrous effect of man-made carbon emissions on climate change, the bill was every sentimental environmentalist’s wet dream. It’s unclear how much of the bill will survive Senate scrutiny. But that hasn’t prevented people from sitting up and taking notice: the man in the street can tell when government officials are preparing to pick his pocket, and, like the young man in the Mikado, he usually objects. Take a look, if you haven’t seen it, at this video clip showing the condign anger directed at Congressman Tom Bishop (D. NY) when he defends the Cap-and-Trade legislation because “global warming is real” (“No, No” is the rejoinder) and, moreover that “it is caused by human activity.” (The whole thing is worth looking at but this delicious exhibition of stupidity on Congressman Bishop’s part occurs at 3:50 – 4:25.)

The White House, in addition to compiling its enemies list of people who say or write something “fishy” about its policies, has been urging its supporters to get out and “punch back twice as hard.” Obama flack Paul Krugman endeavored to do just that today, claiming that critics of the President’s plans for a government take over were — wait for it — motivated by “racial fear.”

Right. It’s another Dorthy Parker moment for the celebrated New York Times columnist. Let’s see if you have worked this out correctly. Presented with the bloated everything-but-the-kitchen-sink thousand-page obscenity that Rahm Emanuel is endeavoring to shove down the collective gullet of America, why would you be critical? You might fear the government taking over another big chunk of the economy, since that way, you have learned “par expériences nombreuses et funestes,” is a prescription for waste, corruption, and inefficiency. You might be critical because you know that where similar systems have been tried, they have led to health care rationing and a denial of services to many vulnerable parts of the population, especially seniors. You might also be critical because you suspect that the plan will put a damper on medical innovation — one of the key ingredients that has made American health care the best in the world. You might further be critical because you have guessed that the price tag for this government sponsored boondoggle will be enormous and you do not relish paying yet higher taxes to fund it. I think you might be even more critical about the issue of freedom: the fact that, were anything like the Democrats’ plan to be passed, it would limit your freedom of choice in what doctors you see, what treatments you can get, and what sorts of insurance you choose to have (or, come to that, to forgo). There are a dozen things you might not like about the Democratic plans. But what does Paul Krugman seize upon? “Racial fear.” Right. And I, as Miss Parker said, am Marie of Roumania.

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30 Comments

1. Instapundit » Blog Archive » ROGER KIMBALL: Paul Krugman and Dorothy Parker….:

[...] ROGER KIMBALL: Paul Krugman and Dorothy Parker. [...]

Aug 7, 2009 - 7:21 am 2. Thomas Hazlewood:

Well, I did read somewhere that dissent is the highest form of racism.

Aug 7, 2009 - 7:29 am 3. PJ:

What strikes me the most in this national debate is that the leftists are being hoisted on their own petard: they have been telling us for years that Social Security is failing, that the VA is a hellhole, and now they want to expand these programs? Too late, folks.

Aug 7, 2009 - 7:42 am 4. John:

They tried ignoring Americans who spoke out against the massive government land grab. Then they tried ridiculing them.

Now Krugman is just signalling a shift in tactics: the Democrats will now demonize Americans who oppose Socialism. We’re all a bunch of racist Swastika-carrying brownshirts on the payroll of Big-Whatever.

Yawn.

Aug 7, 2009 - 7:52 am 5. Bird:

So it only took until August of his first year for the “disagree with Obama and you’re racist” approach to surface.

Post racial, my white ass!

Aug 7, 2009 - 7:53 am 6. Army of Davids:

Chris Dodd…resign NOW

Aug 7, 2009 - 7:55 am 7. Krugman on Health Care: | My Legal Spot:

[...] Roger Kimball (via Instapundit) properly mocks Krugman’s claim that angry opposition to the Democrats’ health care “reforms” is a product of racism. But Krugman also includes a logical fallacy, to wit: [...]

Aug 7, 2009 - 8:22 am 8. Calvin Ball:

That makes sense. Patriotism is racism. QED.

Aug 7, 2009 - 8:36 am 9. Calvin Ball:

And right on cue, Godwin checks in:

http://www.columbian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090806/NEWS02/708069952

Aug 7, 2009 - 8:38 am 10. Mike:

Left knows the value of the race card. When properly deployed it tends to shut off all debate.

Aug 7, 2009 - 8:45 am 11. Paul A'Barge:

Ah, the race card.

Tah Dah!!!

You just knew they’d play this one, did you not?

Can’t be an honest disagreement. Gotta be !!!!RACISM!!!!!

Aug 7, 2009 - 8:47 am 12. Whitehall:

This “punch back twice as hard” statement is really chilling. Besides the biased and contribed reporting from the MSM, we’re seeing real violence, non-lethal so far, from the unions and other Obama supporters. Obama seems to be egging them on.

This is spinning up as some people have been predicting since before the election. However, we can’t let violent intimidation go unanswered of our Republic is doomed.

Again, the focus has to be on the Blue Dog Democrats in Congress. They are the ones who should be listening to the voters.

Aug 7, 2009 - 9:05 am 13. Fausta’s Blog » Blog Archive » About those “fishy” and scary healthcare protestors,:

[...] While, in New York, Paul Krugman claims that critics of the President’s plans for a government take over were — wait for it — motivate… [...]

Aug 7, 2009 - 9:38 am 14. Brian G.:

C’mon. Does anyone really take anything Krugman says seriously?

Expect many more subtle “only racists don’t support Obama” over the next few years.

Aug 7, 2009 - 9:42 am 15. fiona:

Attended a purported Moveon.org demo in front of Fl. Sen. Nelson’s office (someone in the Tea Party group found out and rounded up counter demonstrators).

A number of the MoveOn folks were plainly not Floridians, and would not respond when asked if they were being paid. They were outnumbered about 2-1. All the counter demonstrators went into the Senator’s office and left comments with NAMES and Addresses in Florida. The Senator’s office called me later to check on my address.
If it comes to violence, most of the counter demonstrators were seniors (It was the middle of a work day) and include some military veterans who are not intimidated by thugs.
I had a nice conversation with a teacher who denied being a member of Move on. It was one of the few actual conversations below screaming that went on.
The counter demonstrators are prepared to photograph any attacks. We notify the local police – I saw two police cars making the rounds during the demo.
I have found that there is very little discussion of ideas going on – a lot on chanting and fist waving, but not a lot of knowlege about what is actually in the bill(s). But then, even the Senator is not really up on what is in there….

Aug 7, 2009 - 10:02 am 16. Neo:

It’s so good to see how President Obama has brought us all together … a national “Kumbaya” moment.

Everybody sing …

Aug 7, 2009 - 10:02 am 17. Dave:

If you want to display a complete lack of intellectual honesty or sincerity, quote Paul Krugman. And when a leftist starts yelling about racism, you know they are losing the argument and they are losing this one badly.

Aug 7, 2009 - 10:43 am 18. ROB:

Obamacare is a left trifecta. It vastly increases government power, makes dependent enormous numbers of citizens, tees up euthanasia and subsidizes abortion. Oops thats a quinella.

Aug 7, 2009 - 10:44 am 19. Dave M.:

The focus has to be on the RINOs too. McCain, Collins, Snowe et al. need to hear from the people as well.

Aug 7, 2009 - 11:21 am 20. Victor Erimita:

Krugman probably actually believs it. He is one of the NYT people who live in a bubble.

But this shows the true derangement of the Left today. The people concerned about the government takeover cannot possibly be educated, sensible people with a different view than Krugman. No, the only possible explanation is that they are birther nutjobs. Or that, yes, they are racist, the LEft’s all-purpose explanation for every person who opposes their agenda.

This shows the total intellectual and moral bankruptcy of people like Krugman, if he actually believes this stuff. It shows the extent of the rage-fueled dreangement we have seen the last 9 years.

Aug 7, 2009 - 12:52 pm 21. teqjack:

19. Dave M.: I understand they are indeed hearing much the same things as the Dems – but are actually [for once /snark] listening.

Aug 7, 2009 - 12:57 pm 22. Amos:

The problem isn’t that Barack Obama is Black.

It’s that he’s Red.

Aug 7, 2009 - 3:38 pm 23. someone please kick paul krugman in the balls. « dix bixley:

[...] leave a comment » asshole. [...]

Aug 7, 2009 - 3:51 pm 24. Jamie:

Nicely said, Amos…

FWIW, Krugman doesn’t seem to me to tout “racial fear” as much as “ignoramuses who don’t know what the bleep they’re talking about” as the cause of anti-Obamacare protests. His explicit example is of protesters who, asked if they are against all forms of gov’t healthcare, say “Yes,” then when asked if they’re on Medicare, also say “Yes.” As usual, the problem is the question: Asked to give a yes/no answer to either question, the answerers can’t engage in any of the nuance the Left claims to be so good at – for example, saying, “I support a health care safety net for those with no other options, much like Medicare today, but recognize that expanding Medicare to include EVERYbody is a recipe for (a) immediate disaster and (b) eventual health care rationing that may indeed result in de-facto euthanization of the vulnerable.”

Krugman is a tool. Has been forever. What I loved, in addition to his characterization of angry protesters as “crass” (thank goodness none spit in his pinot, or he might’ve upgraded them to “cretinous barbarians”), was the little line at the bottom: “David Brooks is off today.” I do hope Mr. Brooks is on the correct (that is, the right) side of this debate, considering his own genteel Obamania…

Aug 7, 2009 - 5:26 pm 25. Roy Lofquist:

Dear Mr. Kimball,

I dislike the “cap and tax” formulation. It obfuscates the the real issue – follow the money. Cap is a loser for everybody but particularly the coal industry. Trade is where the money is. Goldman Sachs anybody? The robber barons are oh so much more clever now.

Regards,
Roy

Aug 7, 2009 - 6:50 pm 26. sam:

they are giving rasism a good name

Aug 8, 2009 - 11:20 pm 27. Nolanimrod:

You can’t fool us. Marie only wore STRIPED bow-ties.

Aug 9, 2009 - 2:13 am 28. Kate:

Do you suppose that just writing on a blog like this constitutes joining an organized effort? I am reading that any dissent to Obama’s policies, especially health care, is organized and paid for by vague corporate associations on the right or by the Republican Party. “Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Republican Party or part of any group or organization that may be affiliated with the Republican Party in any way?”

Aug 9, 2009 - 6:40 am 29. bandit:

In the Dem Magic 8 ball the answer to every question about Obama is ‘then you’re a racist’. Whoops I said 8 ball – mapping me the Grand Wizard.

Aug 10, 2009 - 7:33 am 30. gaetano catelli:

“So it only took until August of his first year for the ‘disagree with Obama and you’re racist’ approach to surface.”

Bird, that was fore-ordained. just prior to the financial meltdown, when the Obama candidacy was starting to lose steam, iirc more than one NY Times Op/Ed columnist declared that if [the least qualified candidate in the history of the country, pace, Nancy Ferraro] lost the election, it could only be because of racism.

btw, i’m not Dorothy Parker — i’m Eleanor Roosevelt.

Aug 11, 2009 - 8:07 pm