Signs of racism occur in the midst of health care reform debate

NPR and Georgia Public Broadcasting report that Georgia congressman David Scott is dealing with signals of racism and heated passions in the midst of this summer's efforts toward health care reform.

"At a town hall meeting last week, the Democrat was heckled and shouted down. Racial intimidation has also come into play; a swastika was painted on a sign at Scott's district office, and faxes with racial slurs have been sent there. Saturday, Scott held another town hall just south of Atlanta to try to address the concerns of his constituents again."

Eric Smith, a 29-year-old near Jonesboro, Georgia said debate is good, but racism, the kind finding its way into the debate, is un-American. "'I mean, there's nothing wrong with disagreeing with the president. I mean, that's healthy. But when you begin to take the debate away from the actual issue, it becomes problematic. And we're here to try to refocus on the issue of health care,'" Smith told Georgia Public Broadcasting (Capelouto, 8/17).