Q&A: Braley says progressives must ‘speak truth to fear’

Politicians in Washington, D.C., are driven by the images they see in the media every day, and as far U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley is concerned those images have been dominated for far too long by right-wing activists.

It’s a situation progressives have to address, the Waterloo Democrat and founder of the House Populist Caucus said in an exclusive interview with The Iowa Independent. And while he isn’t advocating supporters of health care reform take to the streets with torches and pitchforks, he does believe it’s time to make their voices heard.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo

Iowa Independent: Everywhere I’ve heard you speak lately you’ve referenced an idea that Democrats have to stand up if there are certain things that they want. Can you expand or go a little more in depth about that?

Bruce Braley: I used the phrase, “speak truth to fear.” I also used that when we were over at Thompson [in Illinois]. Everybody was saying that this was a horrible thing, that we couldn’t bring terrorists to the Midwest — even though there are hundreds of them in the state of Illinois housed in federal prisons. I think it grew out of my experience of going to these town hall meetings where people would come and misrepresent things that I knew were in the [health care reform] bill. There was a sense that if you yelled loud enough, or if you made a big enough demonstration, that maybe you could intimidate the member of Congress into changing his or her position.

That’s why my message to Democrats is that you have to stand up, make your voice be heard and speak truth to fear. The people in this country who are struggling to get by need us to be strong. That’s why I have challenged Democrats and progressives who want health care reform. And, yet, there has been no march on Washington this year for health care reform like there was for civil rights.

II: This year? You mean since January?

Braley: Yes. That’s right. Or, even during the run-up to the health care debate. There has been in the past, but that is a long way in the past.

The problem is that Senators and House members are shaped by what’s happening in the press, what’s happening back home. People who really want health care reform have to get united and organized and let their voices be heard to help people do the right thing.

What’s been a little frustrating is you look at the incredible organizational strength of the [Barack] Obama campaign and how connected they were and how engaged they were. We heard evidence about strong efforts that were made to help get people out to vote in Massachusetts. But, there doesn’t seem to be the sense of urgency among the people who elected President Obama to make their voices heard on the fundamental issues he campaigned on that are going to define whether we succeed in achieving his agenda.

That’s kind of the message I’m trying to share when I go out and speak to groups. It is time for you to get back in the game. We can’t afford to wait until Labor Day to start running and helping candidates that we want to be elected achieve their goals. We need your voice now. We need you to write letters to the editor. We need you to talk to your neighbors. We need you to help us refute the misinformation that is out there because your voice counts in your community. You are a credible person who has the ability to influence opinion where you live.

II: For those people who can’t go to Washington, and can’t march down Pennsylvania Avenue, can they make a difference by marching down 1st Avenue in Cedar Rapids or Grand Avenue in Des Moines? Does that send a message?

Braley: Yes, absolutely.

II: Does that impact lawmakers in Washington, D.C.?

Braley: Think about it. The tea party movement — although they have some very strong financial support from people who are benefiting from health care reform not moving forward — a lot of it was spontaneous eruptions from people around the country of people who said, “I am upset about what’s happening, and I want my voice to be heard.” So, yes, absolutely it matters.

If you look at organized political movements throughout the history of this country, it has been when people get upset and get organized and unite to make their voices heard.

II: Are you asking for progressives and Democrats to act in the same fashion as what was observed during town hall meetings during the August recess?

Braley: No. No. Absolutely not. In fact, I had a letter to the editor in the New York Times that was counteracting an editorial by David Brooks, who was making light of the so-called populist movement — which has been hijacked by people like the tea party movement. My whole point is that this is not all about pitchforks and torches. This is about standing up for middle class values so that we strengthen and expand the middle class because that’s what made this country great. I think what my message is is that activists have to stand up, speak truth to fear, not be intimidated, yet not resort to the tactics that are going to turn people off.

My district has 40 percent independent voters. They decide who goes to serve the 1st District of Iowa. If you resort to those tactics, you risk losing independent voters who really want somebody who is going to be a hard worker. Someone who will fight for their interests. Even though they may disagree with you, they respect you for the effort you put in on their behalf. If you engage in shouting, they will tune out and say, “Why should I care?”

I had a lot of hospital administrators who hosted my town hall meetings that came up to me afterward wondering how I was able to keep my cool. I told them, “I can’t afford to lose my cool. I have a job to do and I represent everybody in this room.”