As Republicans and Fox News continue to spread inaccurate information for the sole purpose of stopping health care reform, a history lesson is needed. In 1995, Republicans managed to stop health care reform. They also managed to win Congress, which they held until 2006. Once they lost Congress, Republicans put up barriers to Democratic initiatives at a rate that has been unprecedented.

From 1996 until 2006, Republicans did nothing to reform health care. That is one reason why reform is so desperately needed now. Given that Republicans and President Bush did nothing to reform health care as costs skyrocketed, how can their claims about wanting reform now be taken seriously?

Republicans are adept at creating outrage based on serious distortions, with the “tea parties” being simply one aspect of that force against change to benefit the majority of Americans. Even Republicans must admit that President Obama has brought health care reform to its rightful place in the public square.

Despite the distortions and millions of dollars being poured into stopping any form of meaningful reform, America has moved closer to health care reform, thanks to the bold, visionary leadership of Obama than at any time since Republicans got their way and trashed reform in 1995.

The time for assessing the track record of Republicans regarding health care has come. As they accuse Obama of being a socialist, fascist, communist, illegitimate president, Marxist and even the anti-Christ, thoughtful Americans must consider whether the Republican circus is worth the price of admission.

Mark Tardif, Waterville