Congratulations Main Stream Media!

Congratulations Main Stream Media!

Congratulations, for the fine job you did with your accurate coverage of the town hall meetings throughout America. The current health care insurance system in the U.S. is entirely run by the private insurance industry for profit. Pres Obama introduced his plan, which would provide a little competition to the private insurers, in hopes of curtailing the skyrocketing rise in premium costs. He also wanted a plan to provide basic affordable health coverage to the 47 million uninsured Americans left behind by the private insurers. His plan was to offer an alternative choice to the public through "the public option" The town hall meetings were billed as a "debate" to weigh the pros and cons of his plan.

Instead of a rational debate, our TV news people brought extensive coverage to millions of something different going on at the town halls. The majority who showed up for a rational debate, were drowned out by a vocal minority of ill informed loud mouths with shouts of "the Obama plan will pull the plug on your grandmother", "It's Government run Socialism"..... Blatant lies, fabrications, and distortions. Not to mention the humanity and class shown by the crowd heckling the woman in the wheelchair. Although only a very vocal minority, the millions of TV viewers were left with a distorted view that this was how the majority of Americans felt about the Obama plan. Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that 83 percent of all Americans, and over 50 percent of even registered Republicans, support health care reform. 72 percent of all Americans also support the public option.

What a fine job the TV news people did with their portrayal of the "truth" on how Americans really feel about the Obama plan. The extensive coverage of those who brought loaded pistols, the comparisons of Obama to Hitler.... I attended two town halls where nothing but an actual, sensible, debate occurred. No TV cameras though. I guess it wasn't as exciting or entertaining, or as good for station ratings, as screamers and people packing pistols. I personally watch the news to be informed about the truth, not to be entertained.

Yes, our media should be proud of their accurate depiction of the truth, and their fine job in journalistic excellence to millions of viewers. I'm sure it will have no impact on whether the Obama plan passes in Congress, or not. I'm sure that the CEO's of the Corporate parent companies, who own the news stations and sign their reporters paychecks, will be proud of them too! Not to mention the pride felt by the ghost of the late Sen Joe McCarthy himself! McCarthyism does appear to be back in 21st century America. In its town halls and Republican party, anyhow. You did a "heckuva" job, MSM.

Jeff Morris-Saugerties, N.Y.- DeJaVu57

Views expressed on this page are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Campaign for America's Future or Institute for America's Future