Diary: The Right Claims the Moral High Ground While Opposing Health Insurance Reform

During the Civil War, August 21st, 1863 was declared a day of prayer and fasting. All military duties were suspended, except those deemed absolutely necessary. Below is an excerpt from the order issued by the general.

"Soldiers! We have sinned against Almighty God... We have forgotten His signal mercies, and have cultivated a revengeful, haughty, and boastful spirit. We have not remembered that the defenders of a just cause should be pure in His eyes; that 'our times are in His hands:...'"

Clearly, these men believed in the justness of their cause before God. But, in fact, the general issuing this order was Robert E. Lee, head of the Confederate forces following the declaration by Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy. Would anyone today say that retaining the right to own other human beings is a just cause? I certainly hope not.

Many of my friends on the Christian Right firmly believe that opposing health insurance reform is somehow a just cause. Is it just because opposing anything proposed by President Obama makes it just? Or do they oppose reform on truly moral grounds? Pains have been taken to prevent public money from being used for abortion, but fraud might occur which justifies opposing reform. Health care providers will no doubt expand capacity, but even the possibility of waiting any additional time for an appointment justifies opposing reform. Although Medicare and Tricare (for military families) are successful and popular government programs, preventing the government from furthering health insurance justifies opposing reform. These justifications to maintain the current system are preventing millions from access to life giving and life saving care. The Christian Right supports this silent killer. And in their eyes, their cause is just.

Robert E. Lee's statement does hold true, "defenders of a just cause should be pure in His eyes". But, no matter how well-intentioned the confederate heart, their cause was grossly immoral. I hope my friends on the Christian Right will look at the health insurance reform proposals for themselves, not the misleading, well-spun rhetoric being spoon fed them by media outlets seeking to maintain an immoral system. Absolutely positive intent is meaningless when you support an absolutely unjust cause.