BY KENNY BELFORD

In the Aug. 19 New York Times they published a story indicating Democratic leaders are preparing to go it alone on health care reform. They’ve come to the realization – although they must be really slow learners – that Republicans are never, ever going to be part of any health care reform.

Well, duh!

Do you think all those Republican lies, smears, organized tin-foil hat protesters, guns at town hall meetings, etc., could have given them a clue that Republicans are like a two-year-old kid that’s only learned one word … NO.

Several weeks ago Larry Flynt, never known for his eloquence, wrote a letter to the president on the issue of health care reform. His advice: “Grow some balls and just ignore the Republicans and pass it.”

While lacking in subtlety, it’s a reasonable assessment of the Republican “cooperation” in bipartisan politics, and a plan that represents a good way forward.

If this actually happens, this will further add to the legacy of the Republican Party.

The Republicans fought against taking children out of coal mines. They fought against the Civil Rights Act. They fought against the Voting Rights Act. They fought against Social Security, and still do. They fought against Medicare and Medicade. They fought against product and pharmaceutical safety measures. They fought against oversight for our financial markets.

But they did fight to continue a needless war that’s killed over 4,000 Americans – that was born from 100% false claims from their Republican president.

If the New York Times story http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/health/policy/19repubs.html?_r=1&hpw is correct, my view is, it’s about damn time!

Pass it – pass it without one single Republican vote … then make the bastards pay for all the lies and distortions. I’d like to volunteer to chair that committee.

– Kenny Belford lives in Tulsa, OK and is a regular contributor to The Oklahoma Observer