shouting loudly

Many, many commentators have expressed vivid disgust at the right wing extremists who have shouted down any chance at civil discussion over health care reform, but the Dems haven’t done very well with re-seizing the political momentum, thoughtful and still-needed suggestions about how to do so notwithstanding.

Until yesterday.

Barney Frank shot down a feisty questioner who asked why he’s continuing to support a Nazi plan. He asked her what planet she lives on. He said the ability of people like her to spout such vile rhetoric is a glorious sign of the power of the First Amendment. He said talking to her is like arguing with a dining room table.

The crowd ate it up.

This may be the Joseph Welch moment in the health care debate. Finally, as Welsh did when facing Senator Joseph McCarthy’s commie witch-hunt in 1954, somebody has confronted this ridiculousness based on lies, innuendo, and fear. Finally, somebody may have given the cowardly media a hook for conveying the ugly truth.

“Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?“