FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
This country ought to be embarrassed. Our government has turned the debate over health care reform into a series of misrepresentations, name-calling and ugly comments more fit for a school yard than a national forum. First came the Republicans - led by Sarah Palin - who went on and on about "death panels."
Rep. Joe Wilson shouts, “You lie!” after President Obama denies the health plan would cover illegal immigrants.
She was followed by Congressman Jim Wilson - who called the president a liar during his speech to a joint session of Congress, a public outburst toward the president we've never seen the likes of.
But it's by no means just the Republicans.
On the floor of the House of Representatives, Freshman Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson claimed the Republican health care plan calls for sick people to "die quickly."
Grayson then went on to issue a non-apology... saying he apologizes to "the dead and their families that we haven't voted sooner to end this holocaust in America." Really? He's comparing the plight of uninsured Americans to the Holocaust?
Grayson's a real class act. Right here in the Situation Room yesterday he called Republicans "foot-dragging, knuckle-dragging Neanderthals."
What has happened to us? We used to be able to engage in an intelligent debate, be willing to compromise, reach a consensus, and move on. And when the government engages in this kind of childish behavior, it's no surprise when ordinary Americans start yelling nasty slogans and lies at each other. Sad.
Here’s my question to you: When it comes to health care reform, whatever happened to intelligent debate in this country?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Kellie from Cleveland writes:
For an intelligent debate, those engaged in the debate have to actually use facts to make their arguments. These aren't debates, they are shouting matches. Factual, intelligent debates don't get air time.
Kathryn writes:
When our elected leaders are bought and paid for by the special interests of the health care industry, they have no reason to debate, compromise and come to a consensus. They already know what they want the outcome to be and any distraction serves their purpose to keep legitimate debate and compromise from occurring.
Marco in Gainesville, Florida writes:
"Hey hey, LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?" I firmly believe, Jack, that you are pining for a past which never existed. Comments, like the one I've quoted above, have been a staple in American politics since I suspect our inception.
Monica from Lincoln Park, Michigan writes:
Calm and rational debate ended when this country elected our first African-American Democratic president and the Republicans drew a line in the sand. From day one, the Republicans said they wanted Obama to fail and followed the likes of Rush Limbaugh. The GOP does not want to debate the issues on their merits or based on what Americans really want! They are out to defy this President no matter what!
Joe writes:
Intelligent debate requires intelligent people. Washington has been lacking intelligent people for a long time. With lawmakers voting on bills they don't read, ignoring the voices of their constituents, and putting their own political careers before doing the right thing, good luck!
Glenn from California writes:
The health insurance companies paid for it to go away.
Jyll in Texas writes:
What happened to intelligent debate? It got sick and died.