Health Care and Eric Holder: The Good Shall Triumph

By: The Rev. Al Sharpton | Posted: July 3, 2012 at 12:30 AM

The Washington Post/Getty Images

In a piece for the Huffington Post, the Rev. Al Sharpton says that the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act should teach us a lesson about perseverance that we can apply to the House contempt vote against Attorney General Eric Holder.

By all accounts, Thursday was a momentous and notable day. The Supreme Court of the United States upheld President Obama's Affordable Care Act, thereby paving the way for millions of Americans to obtain insurance coverage, and millions of others to remain on their plans without fear of being kicked off for simply becoming ill. After decades of working to push for health care reform, progressives saw this President and his signature legislation become the literal law of the land.

But June 28th will also be remembered unfortunately as the day when a sitting Attorney General of the United States was disrespected in the most egregious way. By voting in favor of contempt against AG Eric Holder, Rep. Darrell Issa and others proved that they are not on the side of the American people. And just like obstruction against health care reform, these insulting and outrageous efforts at defamation will be defeated in due time ...

AG Holder has been hard at work fighting voter suppression efforts across this country, including in the always controversial state of Florida. In an obvious ploy to distract, delay and deter his efforts, those who voted to hold him in contempt and conduct this ridiculous circus (including the handful of Democrats that gave in to NRA pressure) should take heed from the earlier lesson of the day: justice will prevail. Even though it may have taken some time, and unyielding effort and patience, health care reform is now a reality. Allowing millions to receive insurance coverage is a reality. Progress is a reality.

While AG Holder may have been disrespected, if history -- and the present for that matter -- prove anything, it's that good shall triumph in the end.

Read the Rev. Al Sharpton's entire piece at the Huffington Post.

The Root aims to foster and advance conversations about issues relevant to the black Diaspora by presenting a variety of opinions from all perspectives, whether or not those opinions are shared by our editorial staff.

Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.