Al Franken, Man of Reason

The former satirist and comedian puts his communication skills to good use calming down "tea baggers" (this still makes me snicker) and then explaining the healthcare "debate" as clearly and succinctly as is possible.

What does it say about the current state of politics in this country that one side argues facts and figures and reports and studies and science while the other is reduced to having its leaders spout lies in order to defeat any kind of healthcare reform? And yes, I mean liars. Michael Steele, the "head" of the GOP said that people should be very afraid of the death panels. There are no death panels. The section of the (still unwritten) law they are lying about was originally written by a Republican and added to Medicare legislation... under Bush! Senator Grassley, the lead Republican on the healthcare committee has said his job is to defeat reform... and he also lied and said there were death panels at one point or that people should be afraid of the bill as if it had death panels in it... whatever. I see little rhetorical difference between the two. Each is an attempt to scare the stupid... and it seems to work.