Government Healthcare Proponents Attack Whole Foods

Well, the Left is at it again.  It seems that when opposition to one of their ideas surfaces, all of Hades breaks loose.  It is no secret that President Obama and the Democrat’s proposition of health care reform (that includes a public option) is not going well.  The latest Rasmussen poll shows that only 42% of Americans support the government-run health care reform option, but yet we are seeing hatred spring up all over the place because of the Left’s inability to allow dissenting views without uprising in a loud and potentially destructive way.

Carrie Prejean was vilified back in June over her honest answer to a same-sex marriage question.

Consider the number of times conservatives are called “racist” when they oppose a policy of our African-America president.

The Tax Day Tea Parties in April. . .protestors were call names with sexual innuendos and attempts were made all over the media to discredit them–pointing out the very, very small percentage of signs that were personal attacks on the president, when in reality, the vast majority of these protests have been civil and respectful.

The Town Hall Meetings over the last month. . .again, the overwhelming majority of the town hall attendees are respectful (albeit passionate) and are genuinely concerned about the direction that the Democrat’s health care plan would take them and their families, yet what gets covered?  The one or two who are completely without class who bring signs of swastikas or Obama-as-Hitler.  I oppose any personal attacks from any party or group.  But at the same time, the thousands of people who are at these town halls across America voicing a valid opinion with their Constitutional right of free speech are being discredited as “Astroturf” or “un-American.” 

And now Whole Foods CEO John Mackey is taking a hit.  Why?  Because he voiced opposition to the Left’s plan. . .not any one person in particulr, not by personally attacking our president, but by writing an op-ed piece that outlined why, as a very successful business man, he held the opinion that a public-option in health-care reform is absolutely not the answer.  He says in this Wall Street Journal piece, “A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic right to health care, food or shelter. That’s because there isn’t any. This ‘right’ has never existed in America.”

Why does Mr. Mackey not have a right to say this?  And if he does, why should he be penalized for respectfully voicing his opinion?  He did not personally attack the president.  He did not use disrespectful language, signs or imagery.  He spoke with a well-informed voice as a man with a business-mind and a history of success in the business world.  And now, his company and his employees (not Mr. Mackey, as we will see) stand to suffer because of a boycott of Whole Foods that is gaining ground (at least according to the liberal media).  Mr. Mackey takes a salary of $1 annually and donates his stock option proceeds to charity.  He employs 50,000 people, many of whom might be in danger of losing their job if the Left continues with this nonsense. (source)  It is a sad day when more jobs of innocent employees are threatened because the Left believes that free speech is only a right for those whose speech matches theirs. 

Now I know what kind of comments I might receive.  “But what about the boycott of the Dixie Chicks back in 2003 when all they were doing was expressing their opinion?” they will say.  First of all, if you can honestly tell me that what the Dixie Chicks said and where they said it is the same as John Mackey, I will question your judgment and ability to be rational.  The Dixie Chicks made a personal attack against President George Bush in London (outside the United States).  They took their right to free speech into the gutter and made it personal, just as the protestor holding the Obama-as-Hitler sign did.

I will defend anyone’s right to free speech even if I don’t agree with what they are saying.  Why won’t the Left afford conservatives that same right?

I will be writing Mr. Mackey later today because I respect the stand that he took and that he took it respectfully.  I will also be supporting him in his right to free speech and although I already frequent Whole Foods, I will do so now with the knowledge that my money is going to a company that has at its helm a man not afraid to stand for truth.  I urge you, if you believe in Mr. Mackey’s right to express his opinion without vicious backlash, to support him and his company by following the link below.

http://www2.wholefoodsmarket.com/blogs/jmackey/2009/08/14/health-care-reform-full-article/

The Left isn’t the only voice demanding to be heard lately, thank God.