Dictionary Problems

Well, judging from Memeorandum, everyone else has something to say about Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer's op-ed in USA Today, so I guess I should analyze it too.

These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.

Health care is complex. It touches every American life. It drives our economy. People must be allowed to learn the facts.

The first fact is that health insurance reform will mean more patient choice. It will allow every American who likes his or her current plan to keep it. And it will free doctors and patients to make the health decisions that make the most sense, not the most profits for insurance companies.

Reform will mean stability and peace of mind for the middle class. Never again will medical bills drive Americans into bankruptcy; never again will Americans be in danger of losing coverage if they lose their jobs or if they become sick; never again will insurance companies be allowed to deny patients coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

Pretty much three-quarters of the blog linked on that Memeorandum page there up top are complaining about the use of the word "un-American" in that piece and are saying that Nancy and Steny consider dissent to be un-American.

I'm not sure how they're making the jump here, but then again logic isn't your average wingnut's strong point. The sentence clearly says "Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American." A better word would have been "undemocratic" (which it is) rather than "un-American" (which given the behavior lately, it apparently is not.)

Go figure.

[UPDATE 1:05 PM] As Eric Kleefield notes, the GOP is now playing the "Democrats are questioning our patriotism" card for all it is worth. Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer said no such thing, but that of course doesn't matter.