Jeff Wartman

While I’m generally not a “protest” type of guy,  I decided to attend a demonstration I heard about in downtown Joliet across from Debbie Halvorson’s office.  It was an interesting experience to say the least, and I wanted to share some thoughts from the front lines.

(Note:  For the sake of brevity, I’m going to use the term “Obamacare” to describe the general plan put forward by the President.  It’s not intended to be an insult.  Besides, Democrats have been using the term “Reaganomics” to describe supply side economics for decades, so they have no room to lecture on using a term like this)

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After driving up, I noticed something that was half-expcted:  the anti-Obamacare group which I came out to stand with was joined by an organized group across the street demonstrating in favor of Obamacare.  I suppose word got out that we were going to do this, so the Democrats responded with their own group.  Seems reasonable.

There were some very interesting differences between the sides, however.  After hearing Nancy Pelosi and other Democrat officials describe the anti-Obamacare protestors as engaging in “astroturfing” and being funded by the wealthy and the RNC, the look of the protests told a different story.  On the anti-Obamacare side, every single sign I saw were homemade.  On the pro-Obamacare side, 90% of the signs I saw were professional poltical signs, and they were all identical.  While I don’t think the type of sign you’re holding discounts your point of view, one thing is indisputable:  Pelosi’s assertion that the anti-Obamacare protestors are well funded is uninformed.

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At the event, I sent out two twitter messages that read:

At a protest against Obamacare…a pro-Obamacare group across the street…everyone screaming at each other. What does this accomplish?
about 5 hours ago from txt

Neither side innocent. Both sides just screaming at each other. Screaming across the street at each other has never changed anyone’s mind
about 5 hours ago from txt

I stand behing those remarks.  Two groups, standing on opposite sides of the street, screaming at the top of their lungs, have never in the history of mankind actually changed anyone’s mind.  Early on in the rally, I was struck with the thought that both sides were wasting their time. I stand firm against any type of socialized medicine or single payer health care systems, but I was just struck at the senselessness of standing on a street corner screaming at one another.

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If we’re going to succeed in reform, which everyone agrees we need, we need to alter our tactics.  I understand that people get emotional.  I understand people have strong feelings.  But if we’re going to have a debate, it needs to be civil and it needs to stick to the facts.  No one wants the status quo — Obama is attempting a sales job where he’s trying to paint the Republicans as the party of the status quo and the party of obstruction.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Republicans like myself recognize that the system is broken.  Reform is needed.  We have ideas on the table and we’re ready to talk.