Dr. James Sears of the daytime medical talk show The Doctors chose to engage in class warfare during a segment about organic food myths, shown today on various affiliates nationwide. (I saw it on my ABC affiliate.) Apropos of nothing he asked, "Should food stamp recipients be allowed to buy junk food?" (I'm relying on memory, but this is almost verbatim.) One of the other panelists tried to head him off at the pass, saying she'd rather see federal farm subsidies for corn production eliminated, instead of picking on the poor, but Dr. Sears wasn't in the mood to be distracted. "Why should my tax dollars be spent for someone to buy soda?!" And the rant was on. He wondered how food stamp recipients can afford to buy cigarettes, and when it was suggested that that's not really any of his business, he got uglier. This wasn't a medical doctor discussing organic food myths; this was RW fury and blatant class warfare, a privileged man so enraged about how "his" tax dollars are being spent that he's actually advocating - you know - more rules! Bigger government!
What follows is an open letter to this asshole.
Dr. Sears, you need to sit down, shut the fuck up, and stop showing us what an elitist you are. Go watch the tape if you don't believe me: your fellow panelists looked like they wanted to either slink under the table or stuff an organic vegetable down your ranting throat. And don't you dare even think of saying you're only concerned for their health, those poor souls receiving food stamps. The minute you brought your tax dollars into the discussion, you became anathema to me. You need to apologize on the air immediately, The Doctors needs to fire your ass, and all affiliates currently airing this show should stop doing so until those two things happen. You, sir, are despicable.
I'm sure Rick Perry could find a place for you on his campaign staff.
God. I miss Oprah.