Do you oppose Obamacare?  If you do, it might be because of the cost, the growing deficit, fear of the quality of your health care being eroded, or opposition to the government growing even larger.  Well, that's what you say, but according to Congressman Charles Rangel, you really oppose Obamacare because you're a racist.  That's right, we know you're true feelings.

     At a recent town hall meeting, Mr. Rangel said this:


"Some Americans have not gotten over the fact that Obama is President of the United States. They go to sleep wondering, 'how did this happen?'"


He then added:


"Why do black people have to bargain for what is theirs? Why do we have to wait for the right to vote? Why can't we get what God has given us? And that is the right to live as human beings and not negotiate with white southerners and not court the votes. Just do the right thing," Rangel said.


     That's a lot of ignorance to address, but I'll do my best.  As for the first statement, I don't care about Barack Obama's race.  I would have gladly voted for Colin Powell or Alan Keyes over any of the Democratic candidates.  I voted based on ideas, not race.  By the way, Barack Obama enjoyed a great deal more support among black voters than George Bush.  Is that because those additional voters are racist and didn't want to vote for a white candidate?  I personally think their votes were largely based on ideas and policies, but if Mr. Rangel's ideas hold, then they're also racists.  Just like all those Americans who supposedly go to sleep wondering, "how did this happen?'"

     I would also like to mention another problem with Charles Rangel's argument.  He chalks up criticism of healthcare reform to racism, but what about Bill Clinton's attempt at reform in 1993?  The last time I checked, Bill Clinton was white.  Then, like now, opposition is not based on race.  It is based largely on philosophical differences about the government's role in our lives and the power it is allowed to exert.  To some, a large over-reaching government is perfectly acceptable.  To others, it is the exact opposite of what the Founding Fathers intended.

     Mr Rangel's second comment is even more laughable.  First, he seems to imply that healthcare reform is an issue for black Americans, rather than Americans in general.  The last time I checked, none of the proposed bills would offer or decline coverage based on race.  Second, he seems to be against negotiating a plan and thinks it should occur with no resistance.  What piece of major legislation has ever made it through Congress without negotiations, arguments, or differences of opinion?  Someone who has been in Congress as long as Charles Rangel should know this.  Finally, we have Mr. Rangel talking about "rights"  and not getting "what god has given us."  When I'm done writing this article, I'm going to reread both the Bible and the U.S. Constitution to see if either has ever promised health insurance, but to my knowledge, neither God nor Thomas Jefferson ever made any such promises.

     It's odd that Mr. Rangel is looking for racial bias to explain the lack of momentum in the healthcare debate.  In Charles Rangel's view, things aren't going smoothly and many people on the other side are white, so it must be about race.  If there is any racism, it can be found in Mr. Rangel's thought processes.