Frank Rich spent many years as the theater critic for the New York Times, where, at worst, his venom could cause a Broadway production or two to close down.
Now, however, Mr. Rich opines on political and social issues for the Times, and, while the results are usually mildly amusing (even if unintentionally so), his reach has grown a bit, so the damage he causes can travel beyond the footlights. Im not sure why anyone turns to Rich for political analysis heck, you might as well read the rantings of a TV game show host but the Gray Lady continues to pay him for his weekly column, and, at the rate shes bleeding money, thats no small sacrifice.
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Anyway, Mr. Rich has apparently been able to get to the bottom of the vocal opposition to the healthcare reform bill that was recently gently shepherded through Congress.
It turns out, according to his well-crafted analysis, that its not the bill thats got people in an uproar; rather, what were facing is the death rattle of a dwindling cadre of white, racist, sexist, homophobic males terrified by the ascent of people of color, women and gays.
As the ever-tolerant Rich reasons: The conjunction of a black President and a female speaker of the House topped off by a wise Latina on the Supreme Court and a powerful gay congressional committee chairman would sow fears of disenfranchisement among a dwindling and threatened minority in the country no matter what policies were in play.
March 31, 2010