Complaining About The Health System Plans? You’re Un-American. John Boehner Responds
Posted on August 10, 2009
So says Steny Hoyer and Nancy Pelosi in a USA Today column penned by the two, which, you probably have heard about at this point, but, Real Life, in the form of a monthly inventory count, kept me from commenting on
However, it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue. These tactics have included hanging in effigy one Democratic member of Congress in Maryland and protesters holding a sign displaying a tombstone with the name of another congressman in Texas, where protesters also shouted “Just say no!” drowning out those who wanted to hold a substantive discussion.
These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.
So, in their world, exercising your First Amendment Rights to protest and be heard is un-American. I wonder what they think of SEIU thugs who assault people exercising their 1st Amendment Rights? I remember when dissent was patriotic, even when those on the Left wanted the United States to lose in Iraq, simply because they hated George Bush.
Really, what else is there to say? This is what the Democrat leadership has come to. I wonder if any Democrats will revolt over this disgusting attack on the citizenry of the United States? Will any of them have the fortitude?
John Boehner (Republican) had this to say on the subject
“For months, House Democratic leaders have worked to silence any opposing views in this health care debate, both here in Washington and around the country where millions of Americans are struggling in this economy. Every poll taken in the last month shows that a majority of Americans are concerned about, if not outright opposed to, the Democrats’ plan because of the cost and consequences it would mean for their own health care. Each public forum should give every participant the opportunity to express their views, but to label Americans who are expressing vocal opposition to the Democrats’ plan “un-American” is outrageous and reprehensible.
“The American people deserve answers to basic questions about whether the Democrats’ plan will increase health care costs, add to the deficit, increase taxes on middle-class families and small businesses, put government between doctors and patients, force anyone to lose their current health coverage, kill jobs, promote taxpayer-funded abortion, or cut Medicare. The fact is Democrats have not been able to address the very real concerns the American people have.
“It’s time for Democrats to start listening. When we return to Washington in September, Democrats should scrap their costly plan and finally work on bipartisan reforms that give Americans what they are seeking: better access to affordable care.”
I was hoping he would go ballistic, but, I’m sure by the end of the day there will be a few elected Republicans who will not be as civil in couching their reply, nor should they.
Long list of others via Memeorandum: Weekly Standard, Gateway Pundit, The Huffington Post, Top of the Ticket, Moe_Lane’s blog, The Moderate Voice, JammieWearingFool, JustOneMinute, The Atlantic Politics Channel, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Jawa Report, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, The Swamp, Townhall.com, QandO, Sense of Events, Flopping Aces, American Power, Daily Dose, Confederate Yankee, Hot Air, Riehl World View, Patterico’s Pontifications, Political Byline, Below The Beltway, Politics Daily, Balloon Juice, YID With LID, Donklephant, Blue Crab Boulevard, Macsmind, Founding Bloggers, Scared Monkeys, Right Wing News, Think Progress, The Plum Line, Taylor Marsh, Atlas Shrugs, Don Surber, Raw Story, Perfunction, Pundit & Pundette, Dennis the Peasant, The Strata-Sphere, Michelle Malkin, Neptunus Lex, AmSpecBlog, Sister Toldjah, Cato @ Liberty, The Next Right, TPMDC, GayPatriot, Freedom’s Lighthouse, Arkansas News, Shot in the Dark, The Campaign Spot, Sam Adams Alliance, LewRockwell.com Blog, The Caucus, Politics Nation, The Page, Instapundit, msnbc.com, Weasel Zippers and Newsalert
“I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform them.” — James Madison
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74 Responses to “Complaining About The Health System Plans? You’re Un-American. John Boehner Responds”
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The only thing more disgusting to me than this newly emboldened fascism on the Left is the weasily decorum of the establishment Right in response. “Now we need to mind our manners here, no going off the deep end… be careful, don’t sound like they’re telling eerybody we sound like…” [edited]. That Boehner or McCain or any of these so-called leaders don’t snap their cap at this astounding assault on our free speech sickens me. Where is Michael Steel today? Hiding?
I’ve heard of uninsured people using emergency rooms when a doctors visit would suffice. Are we paying for THAT too? I think our present health care system needs reforming. Being afraid of all change just makes you weak. America is NOT weak! WE CAN CHANGE HEALTH CARE!!! Thanks!!!
So Boehner thinks we Democrats are picking on him. In reality, he and his goon squads of town hall shouters are ensuring the continuing and esclating demise of the Republican party. It won’t be long now! Thanks for your help John.
So you’re against the ACLU. The American Civil Liberties Union. So the ones that defend the Bill of Rights should be stopped. Wow, that is really a pro America position. Maybe a movement to abolish the Bill of Rights should be started. Feee Speech, the Right to Freely Assemble, and all of those other pesky rights like the Second Ammendment ought to be gone. You people simply do not get it. Rights are easily lost. Look at what happened under Bush, Bush and Regan. Hooray for the ACLU, they are helping keep us free.
I am a Democrat. Well I should say I was a democrat. I went to a town hall meeting and tried to express my concern and ask a few questions. I was talked down to I felt like nobody cared. The so called left is absolutely right to have their opinion but so are all the millions of tax paying middle class, whether Democrat or Republican. I voted for Obama. Now I totally regret my vote. He will definitely make history. I would hate to read the history books 30 years from now. His presidency, on its current path will go down as the presidency that destroyed America. The land of the free and the home of the brave NO more …. sad…Why can’t the crazy liberals at least read before passing law. Isn’t it a requirement that you need to be able to read before taking office? How can they keep this crazy pace up???? Wake up America!!! we are losing our country. Wake up please…. it will soon be too late to do anything about what is happening. God Bless America God Bless our kids….
65% of Governors, Senators, and Congressmen are now Attorneys. Who speaks for the Doctors … without whom there would be no Health Care?
Just replace the words “Democrat” “left” and “healthcare” with “Republican” “right” and “war in Iraq”, and you’ve got a good approximation of how the other side felt 6 years ago. We who were essentially accused of treason for expressing our 1st amendment rights to disagree with W now smile inwardly at the “outraged” right-wingers’ views on healthcare.
No one should have their voiced silenced on these issues. But remember righties, you were happy to consign the opposition to criminal status when you were in power. It’s no fun to be called un-American, is it?
Robert,
Post an example of the ACLU defending the 2nd Amendment. Might be helpful to first post evidence that they even understand it.
Defend the Bill of Rights… not hardly! They are too busy trying to change it through the activist courts and activist judges.
Robert, have you noticed that the ACLU is not defending the 1st Amendment Rights of people to speak out and ask for redress of grievance at the Tea Parties and town hall meetings? And, notice that they have no problem with the Presidents snitch mail program? Hmm, seems as if the ACLU is more interested in an agenda, than equal Rights for all.
David, many of you folks on the left were actively pushing for the US to lose the war in Iraq, and even surrender in Afghanistan. So, yes, we did call you traitors. If you rooted for Hitler and Japan, you were a traitor during WWII. But, remember, we NEVER stopped your Right to speak out and ask for redress of grievance.
To Robert Westbrook:
Au contraire Pierre: In my judgment the ACLU is a dedicated group of (leftwing) crackpot anarchists operating under the guise of “protecting consitutional rights.” The truth, as is so often the case with names, is the opposite.
To wit: Let us examine the ACLU’s most “esteemed” (ex?) member, Ruth Bader ‘bad’ Ginsburg. Her best claim to (shameful) fame? Trashing the takings clause of the 5th Amendment (eminent domain), issuing a Carte Blanche to any rapacious gov’t crony who wants your land for a Big Box Store — private use (vice “public”). Did Bad Ginsburg defend my land rights? Thanks to her (and four other leftwing goony birds on the bench), nobody truly owns anything anymore. Your land is “safe” as long no one else wants it.
I could go on infinitely, but neither you nor the ACLU is worth it.
David: name one conservative political leader who called the Left “traitors” or who tried to criminalize dissent. Never happened — another Leftist myth. Bush bent over backwards to express and demonstrate his respect the right of dissent. And dissent flowered under George Bush as never before in America history — from books to movies to documentaries to the total anti-war and anti-Bush hatred in the media. But I’ll satisfy your quota by doing it myself. The Left actually were traitors — not because they questioned the war, but because they made every possible attempt to demoralize the troops and lose the war, from concocting fake charges against our men in Gitmo to fake war-crime charges against Marines to trying to destroy our relations with Turkey as a supply line into Iraq to exposing national security secrets on front pages to accusing the President of lying over and over without a shred of proof.
In this case, Americans are accused of being un-American for simply asking hard questions in forums historically set-up for hard questions.
You can smile inside as much as you want, but there is no moral equivalence.
Lets tell the truth about the aclu. They are plain and simple commies in my opinion. As with all liberals they are brain dead. No common sense at all. The libs cant handle some of thier own medicine. As for Pelosi I have door knobs in my house smarter that she i
This nation already has a health care program, it is called the “US Welfare System” and it doesn’t work too well. What makes anyone think making it larger will help anyone. America is becoming too dependant on the government to do every thing for them.
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” JFK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB6hLg3PRbY
I think it is a load of bull being called unAmerican because I disagree with Obamacare. As a hardworking middle class small business owner, I have every right to question obamacare when the burden to pay for the rest of America will be put on me both as part of the middle class and on my business. I served my country for years and my spouse retired and we are definately not UnAmerican by any means. I cannot stand the liberal lefts oppression of anyone who disagrees with their views. Obamacare will impact my family and I in a very negative financial way so you are darn right I have questions!!!!
To David:
Stop the laughable histrionics. Nobody seriously accused you lefties of anything post 9/11. Nevertheless, you were “treasonous” long before that, from Jane Fonda to Bill Clinton.
Birth certificate-in-waiting Zerobama is another story, however. He seeks to control the air we breathe, the medical care we get, the cars we drive, which gov’t-owned commerical or investment bank we employ, all along printing up (fake) money like confetti scattered after an aardvark stampede, to the tune of $trillions$. Now that is a problem!
William, your example of “many” of us on the left actively pushing for us to lose in Iraq/Afghanistan is tantamount to me saying that “many” on the right are actively sabotaging the healthcare system in hopes of destroying any possibility of reform. Both examples may well be true, but are not nearly representative of the overwhelming majority of either point of view, and it’s reprehensible to not acknowledge that obvious fact. I mean, the people who are hoping our government fails on healthcare reform are on your team. Do I get to treat them as enemies of the state? Call them (and you) traitors for going against the government, just as I did (and was) six years ago? Or can we all be Americans who just disagree on what is or is not a good idea, whether it’s war, healthcare reform, or whatever?
And as for you NEVER stopping our right to be heard – how exactly have we now stopped yours?
Robert, you ought to be in pictures!
>>And as for you NEVER stopping our right to be heard – how exactly have we now stopped yours?<<
(1) Threat to reintroduce the "Fairness Doctrine" (designed to quell gov't oppostion when lefties rule the roost)
(2) (Failed) ACLU attempt to ban the Boy Scouts of America from public forums
(3) Campus speech codes authored by the vicious Thought Police on the left, who regularly burn campus newspapers of groups on the right. When was the last time a leftist paper was burned?? Never happened…
You cannot create wealth by dividing it. America has become the country of losers who get something (note I didn’t say “want”) for nothing. This will eventually kill this country as soon as the ponzi scheme of the govt going further into debt to pay its debt is ended. Evweryone in the world wants the MRIs hip and knee replacements, brain surgery,
catheterizations, back surgery, cancer chemo.. etc… But only HERE do they make someone who is making more than YOU pay for it. You are a country of fat whiney pigs with the fattest laziest most poorly disciplined children I have ever seen… by far. I see tantrums in my office almost every week and never saw one in Canada where I was raised till I was 18. There are millions on “disability” when they Could do something. This country is a walking dead… when it ends, I will be looking for a lawyer to string up.
It absolutely breaks my heart to see the comments on so many news reports, blogs, etc that are so mean spirited, so misinformed, so politically based. When did we lose the ability and desire in this country to have a civil, informed and respectful dialogue on an issue that is so important to all of us? Both “sides” of the health reform debate are so determined to misinform, mislead and incite anger that none of us actually know what the bill is going to do. In fact, we don’t even HAVE a bill yet. I think the people opposed to the “bill” are relying on past experience when bills have been passed that cost 3-4 times what the original estimates were and had horrible, unintended consequences. History is a great teacher. We’ve been burned so many times before that people are actually afraid of the longterm ramifications of this “health reform”. We cannot trust our administration, our Congressmen and women or anyone else in government anymore. “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Beware, my friends. Be afraid of any government run program.
David, if you actively root against your country in a time of war, that makes you a traitor. If you are simply disagreeing with a fundamental policy change on something like health system reform, that is free speech.
Obama himself said the other day that if people didn’t agree with him, they should STFU.
Real simple folks…we need to vote out all incumbents and anyone that says protests are un American…Let’s wake up the sleeping giant now
What makes me mad is the fact that they will not make the time to explain thier plan to the public and there should be an election for the people to vote on it. Unless they are to busy pushing things through so that the normal public doesn’t know what is going on till it is too late.
Can anyone, liberal or conservative, tell me what part of Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution (that explains the powers enumerated to Congress, in case you didn’t know) that gives Congress the power to FORCE citizens to have health care? It is absolutely silent on the point. In fact, there is no mention of Congress FORCING citizens to do something for their own good.
This health care “reform” is all about absolute control of “the people!”
heres the one thing id like to know,does nancy patheticlosi read any of these bills,did she or any of these so called intelligent people read the bail out bill or the health care bill,why dont we reguire them to answer questions about either one of these bills and see if they even read them,as im sure they didnt,i dont get it,why arent we the people demanding that they show proof that they even read this stuff,thats what we pay them to do,how arrogent and shallow are these people,what really scares me is that this lady,and i use the term lady very loosely,is actually in a position to run this country(allbeit into the ground)should anything happen to either obama or biden,all i can say is Father forgive us we just dont get it!!!!
Jim… the problem is our incredibly weak constitution (in more than one way in this country). Imagine: No income tax – only sales taxes – you eat more… you pay more… Imagine: Govt NOT ALLOWED to run deficit spending.. EVER!!… Imagine: You get fat and lazy, smoke, etc… YOU PAY for YOUR healthcare!! Imagine: You wanna get rich : EARN IT!!! Imagine: You want disability: PROVE YOU CANT EVEN THINK!! Imagine: You ant to sue your doctor: If YOU lose YOU PAY ALL Costs!!! Imagine what a system we would have with simple common sense – which is Why this country is walking dead. There is and WILL NOT be any common sense here until the fall of this nation – tens of millions dead by starvation and riots… it WIll come (and no I am NOT some religious “NUT”!
The whole purpose of “healthcare reform” is to enlarge the class of (hopelessly) dependent people such that democrats establish a permanent majority. This is why the Old Lion (Teddy Chappaquiddick Kennedy) fiercely opposed Health Savings Accts (HSAs), for example, the ability to opt out of Social Insecurity etc., anything and everything that encourages independence and responsbility.
To the democrats (socialists), ‘citizens’ (legal or otherwise) are sheep to be tended by their democrat pol sheperds (mostly to be found on Martha’s Vineyard, Hilton Head, Hollywood etc.). They represent everything our Founding Fathers opposed — state control of fundamentally all aspects of life.
please people,in the next elections,get these insane people out of office,they are not working for you,they are working for thier own agendas and egos,get nancy palosi out of office,and out of this country if we can,she dosent deserve to be called an american,she is as unamerican as they come,and shes a traitor to the constitution of the united states and the freedoms that our soldiers have and now are dying for,nancy palosi does not have our backs,she just owns the knives that she puts in them!!
I am a veteran using a government hospitalization now. I would give anything to git rid of it so I could get better treatment. My local VAMC in Huntington, WV would make a great example of what not to do. Will the new plan have away to reject people that done thier part by serving and when the doctors are needed most you’re told you don’t qualified or you waited to late, the VA does. So the million dollar question is, Do we really want the government in charge of our health care?, They mess up everything they touch.
The more things change, the more things stay the same. I am so sick and tired of politicians, politics, the Democrats, the Republicans, the idiots, the liberals, the conservatives, the ignorant, the poor, the minorities, the Europeans, the Africans, etc.
Amazing the lies and distortions that are prevalent here. Amazing how the Republican conservatives get upset when the very tactics they use are used against them in any way. Pelosi and the others did NOT say that disagreeing was unAmerican. What they said was unAmerican was not allowing others to speak. The disruptions Republicans are making at these meetings is not trying to voice their disagreement, it is clearly designed to prevent the Democrats from explaining their side. Those of you saying the Democrats are trying to stifle your voice are simply lieing. No one is trying to FORCE anyone to have healthcare, they are simply trying to make sure that everyone has ACCESS to it as is obvious if you even bothered to listen to what they were saying. Anyone who thinks the system as it stands does not need fixing is either a fool or a liar milking it for their own ends. If you don’t like the way Obama is trying to fix it, fine, come up with a better way, but stop trying to pretend the system works as is, unless of course you agree to a system that causes thousands of needless deaths every year due to egregious waste and fraud on the part of insurance companies. Sorry, but I don’t like the insurance companies telling my family they aren’t worth the money to save, despite the fact that we paid our premiums and the policy explicitly covered what was needed. Help in fixing the problems or shut up.
May I requote the quote?
“Drowning out opposing views is un-american.”
“Drowning out opposing views.”
“Drowning out.”
The article doesn’t say standing against health care is bad. Speak up, be free to do so, because drowning out your opinion is un-american.
This quote was addressed to protesters who won’t let anyone get a word in through constant chanting, shouting, and mob-like behavior in a town hall to the point where no one else can have a say. This is not the streets, but in a place where many differing viewpoints come forth to discuss.
Democrat or Republican, its American to speak your piece, then let others do so as well.
it is not unamerican to protest…but death threats are not protests, they are felonies. also, i hear again and again that the protestors have a right to be informed-sure they do. we all do. but they’re not going to town halls asking for information-in fact, they’re shouting over the answers being offered. they’re screaming “read the bill!” when the bill does not yet exist! it’s stupid to call this “unamerican”-what it is is stupid, and americans are just as capable of stupidity as anyone else on the planet.
most people go to town halls to ask questions and have them ANSWERED. that is not what these protestors are doing. if you want to protest ANY government health care bill, do that. if you want to spread misinformation (and outright lies) and try to bully your view through with death threats (for crying out loud)-well, keep right on keeping on.
this is going beyond what could charitably be called emotional reasoning and into the realm of hysteria. i doubt most people even know why they’re so upset, they’ve just gotten swept up. if they do, i wish they’d tell us. calmly. logically. and without death threats…do death threats really BELONG in a discussion of health care???
The Republicans claim that a bipartisan effort will save money, and also claims that an effort that is not bipartisan will not address the concerns of Americans.
Yet, they provide no evidence for their claim. There are not 50% of economists clambering onto the bandwagons. Uninsured Americans aren’t loving the GOP platform. These seem to be the words of a party that doesn’t care what the people say unless they support the Republicans. They will continue to argue for laissez faire economic measures even though little hard evidence backs up their fantasy.
No one is trying to FORCE anyone to have healthcare, they are simply trying to make sure that everyone has ACCESS to it as is obvious if you even bothered to listen to what they were saying. ….
JD Have you even read what has been put forth???
They are FORCING health care on all, because if you do not sign up for the GOVERNMENT run health care you will be FINED for not having health care.
I wish the Democrats would actually learn how to read and learn how to comprehend what they read. This next election I hope we see a major turn over of ALL incumbents. From my experiences so far in life I can honestly say that OBAMA is the WORST president we have had yet.
The federal government has never been sucessful with a business venture because it is not their damn job! Social Security, Welfare, Medicare! all in serious trouble. Stolen by criminal mismanagers. We must stand up and vote these clowns out, starting with anyone who votes for these nonsense bills. Wake up people! It is not the job of the government to hold your little hand and give you your little freebies. Meanwhile telling you what you can and can’t do and say, about your own health you idiots!!
further more your little freebies are not free. Those who pay taxes are paying for them and it does not matter if they are “rich” or not!
Maybe if we had enough competent people running all the government social services things would be less expensive in the long run. One small example? Years ago the cashiers at retail and food stores were not allowed to blab to their friends at the registers. No personal phone calls on the job unless emergency. This overly relaxed attitude along with not enough help leads to very poor quality customer care. Lower pay for important jobs leads to the I-don’t-really-care along with the cavilear attitude’s. Healthcare should NEVER have become a stock market toy for profit. Illnesses should never all be served in the same way as everyone differs in their body’s reactions. Greed always spoils the free enterprise system. The ones at the top always put profits first. Some at the bottom have learned to manipulate our social services and live on almost nothing because they get so much for free. Us at the middle pay for the profits and for those who use our system. If there were enough competent people in charge not being pressured to make as much profit as possible, and didn’t have the resources to give top quality care to so many users maybe things would not be so difficult. Maybe all those big, fat shouting mouths should shut up enough to listen to a well thought out plan worthy of being explained, (when we really have one) could be implemented.Maybe if all those millions of illegals wouldn’t be led to believe that emergency rooms ARE NOT FREE. Won’t they be surprised if and when they are made legal they would suddenly be responsible for paying for all those births they continue to have, and all those emergency room visits. Maybe big companies should have to pay a decent persentage towards their immigrants medical care instead of shoving it all towards their profits and investors and CEO’s bonus’s, and leave the costs to the taxpayer. Let’s face it. Unproductive illegals shouldn’t expect to get much more than physical exams and some early treatments for certain conditions. There can be no such thing as “equal health care”. Free Market has gotten way out of control and that’s one of the biggest reasons our once wonderful country seems to be going down.
and do not even get me started on the ACLU the federal reserve and other mafia orgainzations
JD and Terri are right on. Nice Job!
Please… Does anyone else have the feeling that it has nothing to do with healthcare and everything to do with “my team’s better than your team”? It’s just another battle between the Democrats and Republicans. A juvenile, namecalling, shouting match over who can get the most votes, the most money, and a shot at reelection. None of those people on Capitol Hill seem to care at ALL about the people of the United States. They won’t even read the bill they’re all fighting over. No one knows the answers to any of the questions being asked so they make up stuff to suit their own agendas or (surprise!) start namecalling. All they care about is their cushy jobs with their month-long vacations, private jets, state dinners and campaign fundraisers. Heaven forbid they actually roll up their sleeves and do some work instead of bickering and whining to each other (and the press) all the time.
The reason our country is going to hell in a handbasket is because both Democrats AND Republicans follow party lines almost to the person. Any attempt at more political parties is squashed; only the 2 main parties get their presidential candidates on the ballots of all 50 states WITHOUT having to get a certain number of citizens to sign petitions for the privelige. As long as PARTY politics dominates Washington, nothing will ever be done that puts the emphasis on the CONSTITUENTS’ best interests instead of what’s best for the party.
Lobbyists are the next-biggest problem. Give the candidate enough money and make them do for your agenda, regardless of the what the public wants. I’d wager that there is not a politician around who would turn money for their campaign away even if said politician would then become beholden to the donator’s agenda if the donation was big enough.
The other thing that really riles me up is all the pork-barrel spending done via ear-marks. I say that once a bill gets introduced onto the floor, it cannot be changed except for changes regarding the bill itself. If it is a defense-spending bill, the only changes that can be made are those relating to defense spending. If you, the politician, are seeking some funding for some project, let it be voted upon based on its own merits. And stop using the ear-marks to buy votes. The attitude of “If you don’t support my project being added to the bill, you won’t get my vote” is nonsense. A bill should be voted upon by a politician because it is in the best interest of (1) the country as a whole and then (2) his or her constituents. Morality must also be addressed, both personal and constituency. Basically, if you are pro-choice but your constituents are a pro-life majority, your job is to vote the way of your constituents first and foremost as representative of said constituents. If, however, there is a split in the opinions, vote then on personal morals. Until the day dawns that our representatives actually represent US, the people who live in the politician’s area and who voted him or her into office, the idea of a representative government will be just that — an idea. Regretfully, with the current fiasco in Washington, we seem to be going more in the direction of a socialist govenment than ever before. I bet our founding fathers are all rolling in their graves at the way this country is currently being ran.
What was said: “Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American.”
What people claim was said: “Anyone who dissents is un-American.”
I believe the time has come for government sponsored healthcare, but the more I read on this website, the more I think perhaps that money would be better invested in some basic literacy skills.
SHUTTING DOWN SOMEONE ELSE’S OPINION IS, IN FACT, UN-AMERICAN. No one said you cannot dissent. But you do NOT have the right to dissent while depriving others of the right to response.
Really, how hard is that for you folks to understand? Or have you all become so partisan, so led by your nose by the pundits, that even basic comprehension skills are lost on you?
This article is a pathetc misrepresentation of what was actually said–WHICH IS RIGHT THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE–and each of you who are willfully blind to this manipulation should be ashamed of yourselves.
Waaaaaaaaa!!!!! I am so sick of these right wingers crying all the time. Things have changed baby and I love it! The Democrats now have the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. Republicans and their supporters are just angry. Well all you FOX news watching, war loving, gun toting, fake christians can just get used to it. The people have spoke and they said they are sick of the Republican Reich. Obama for 8 years then Hillary for 8 years. Maybe after 16 years of Democratic rule our country will be respectable again. And as far as all these death threats and people shouting over people at town hall meetings….they are all a bunch of uneducated, redneck cowards.
JD Have you even read what has been put forth???
They are FORCING health care on all, because if you do not sign up for the GOVERNMENT run health care you will be FINED for not having health care.
I wish the Democrats would actually learn how to read and learn how to comprehend what they read.
Mark, you are patently, completely incorrect. Perhaps you might want to brush up on your reading yourself:
http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf
It’s 2GB, so I’ll give you some time. I look forward to your apology once you’ve read the document and discovered that, in fact, you were mis-informed by Fox News.
Once agian the comments have gotten off track. Why bring up past events to condone present events? Whether something happened to free speech under Bush (nothing did), there is now an attempt by Obama to do just that. The problem with the sound bites of the news is that they don’t tell the whole story. Many town hall meetings have ended with officials being shouted down is because they refuse to dialogue with anyone. A person asks a question and they are accused of being an interloper. they are told they are not from the district, and more off putting, so the people react, they shout down the speaker who has just done the same to them. One man refusing to be quiet at one event had asked a question on behalf of his son, the congressman refused to answer and the man told him to answer the question. Obama wants no dissent, his friends are hiring people to hinder free expression, beat people up, etc. He has refused to include republicans, or anyone disagreeing with him in the debates or planning of he bill. Where is the open communication we were promised?
Let Obama prove that the governement can run medicare, and social security, and welfare, then we will let him tackle health care. health insurance companies have asked to work with the president and help and he refuses. That is why people are fed up and protesting, and they need no group to tell them to go their and disrupt. Most of those elderly you see on the TV protesting can’t be forced ot do anything, including shuting up.
how come all of a sudden this bill has to be passed at once,why is it that the bill is written on the spur of the moment and then they demand,without reading it that we pass it and except it as gospel without question what kind of nation would we have become if this is how we did it over our history,and by the way,why can nancy patheticolsi exspress her opinion on things and say we that speake out at town hall meetings are unamerican,im sorry,but this idiot is an embarassment to the united states,and im ashamed as an american to admit that this skank is even a citizen of a country that i spent two years in the war fighting for. hey Dave(he was a friend of mine who died in the viet nam war)i want to apologize to you for having to give up your life so that the likes of nancy patheticolsi could live to stomp all over the very constitutional rights to speak freely,i wish it couldve been her that died for that freedom,at least she would have served this country in a honerable way,instead shes a humiliation to this country,GOD FORGIVE US FOR TURNING OUR BACKS ON YOU
if private industry, private,for profit health insurance companies had done a good, fair,well balanced service, providing coverage to any american who came to them,then we would not be having this issue of health care reform. but instead,they exhibited unbridled greed,practiced unethical,misleading,unfair,and sometimes illegal business. many,if not most people,had complaints about their coverage. that includes republicans. the private sector will not ever agree to work with all citizens to provide coverage. this is their downfall. say what you will about govt health care,but my sister has medicaid (she is mentally disabled) and she has always received any and all office visits, surgeries,prescription meds etc. with no wait to see if it is covered,no expensive co-pays,etc. i, on the other hand, work 2 jobs, and have no insurance. my only “sin” is degenerated discs in my neck from a car accident many years ago. i have monthly office visits, meds, any MRI’S, etc. all paid out of pocket. i pay for congress to have health insurance, i pay for medicaid, i pay for medicare. but-i am denied coverage by private, for profit insurance. and no- my employeer of my full time job doesnt offer insurance-he is a doctor- and he claims it is too expensive. mine is not a unique experience. there are millions of the uninsured who take care of themselves, work, pay taxes and contribute to this country. people are looking for anything to get riled up about,any mis-spoken word, any glance,body movement,whatever. never mind that children have jars in stores to raise money for some surgery they need,or a bake sale for some father to have life-saving heart surgery. do you really think these people give a damn that someone said that opposing obamacare is racist? do people have nothing better to do?
Sorry deluded ones,This is not just a fight between two partys, because I am not democrat or republican. I am someone who wants the big bad governments hands out of my life. Private insurance has been many of the things mentioned, including but not limited to greedy. How can the super greedy government ever do a better job after screwing up so many things? If this health care plan is so good why won’t they be on it themselves? I’ll tell you, it’s not good enough for the elite congress,and the rest of the govt., who think their feces is potpourri.
There was only one standard in Orange County, California, where I group up, for determining if someone was un-American or not. You simply determined if they were utterly macho, completely brain-dead and unflinchingly conformist or not. So long as the person was filled with hatred toward anyone or anything that did not strike them as white enough, manly enough and mean enough, it was considered evil. Actually, in Orange County, what I thought of as ordinary kindness was actually considered a grave moral evil. You were considered good so long as you showed absolutely no mercy to anyone that was not perfectly “normal” in every way. Were you to “go soft” on “losers,” you were considered something akin to an un-American subversive. However, we in Orange County were too stupid to actually know anything about the belief systems we held or the belief systems others held, and “fortunately” we weren’t required too. One only had to check and see if the idea was different in any way or showed any bit of kindness. If it did, it was wrong, period. These days South Orange County and Central Orange County have changed for the better. But North Orange County is still utterly soulless in every way. Oh yeah, and they’re mostly rich and selfish, which they believe makes them more like Jesus. In fact, the meaner they are, they more Christ-like they think they are. You have to live there to get it.
One single thing that would – over time – reduce the costs of health care would be to eliminate artificial barriers to entry into Med schools around the country. By limiting supply, the doctors can keep their prices high and their testing overzealous. No government help required.
One man’s opinion …
There is going be a revolution soon…..poor people are tired of asking for help and equal treatment…..we are going to take this country back soon……in a few years, there will be no more Republicans!! Tax the churches…..Eat the rich…..Long live the ACLU !
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Admin note: This is just too good not to repeat!
poor people are tired of asking for help and equal treatment…..we are going to take this country back soon
Hard to type through tears! ;0)
As an American living overseas in a country that has socialized medicine I am appalled by the lack of knowledge by people supporting this in the US. First, I pay over 50% of my income for this right, second like most people here I have had to go to private Drs. just to get moved up on the list because the waiting lists are so long(2 years just to see an orthopedic surgeon) onlyto be told I have to wait for the knee replacement surgery because I am too young (58). I have disussed this situation with people from other countries here with the Gov’t health care & they say the same thing most people visit private Drs. in order to be treated in a timely fashion. Bad mouth insurance companies all you want but they do a much better job than any Gov’t system which would end up like an insurance program gone terribly wrong
Dear M,
I went to the bill based on your URL. In Title IV, Subtitle A, Part 1, Section 401, about line 20, it talks about an additional tax on those who do not have acceptable health care coverage. Even rational debate can call that a “fine” IMHO.
I cannot accept government being involved in my medical care. They are trillions in debt and doing nothing about it. Democrats, Republicans – politicians are all the same. They consider even reasonable tax breaks as their losing money!
I just don’t like it. The debate is great, though
From what I understand, they were speaking about death threats against union members who were to arrive at townhall meetings in support of the healthcare reforms. I’m sure you knew that already though, but since that bit of information doesn’t reinforce your point you left it aside. Anything taken out of context can be misinterpreted. Duh.
I think that dissent is a necessary part of any discussion, but violence (or threats of violence) are counterproductive…and hopefully un-American too.
republicans didnt do anything wile they were in charge. a total bunch of idiots,int ent on detroying the only hope we have since hillary clnton tred to get health insurance for us. wy are the they trying to destroy america by denying the people health care.could it be they are just selfish and jealous really dont care about the people as they do about thier own selfish needs.republicans used to have my vote but no longer,i am a democat now and forever.
What I see is the Obama admin and democrats attempting to use psychological warfare to label citizens who disagree with them with distasteful names such as unamerican, racist,or terrorist. The people are speaking listen to them…
What Obama lacks is confidence, not his own obviously but that of the people. I think if he would first fix the other goverment run programs such as social security, medicare, or welfare many would then have confidence in the govt to attempt to fix healthcare.
I rarely denigrate peoples Grammar, spelling, and/or English on the Internet, as everyone makes mistakes now and then. I know I do. But, damn, looking at some of the comments, such as katie bugg’s, it is very easy to see who is a Democrat voter.
You should probably work on English 101 before calling anyone else idiots, katie.
Chairman Obama-nation can’t take criticism but likes to mislead, aka LIES, to the Americaa
n public! What is the problem in letting people examine the bill, remember he promised TRANSPARENCY and a 5 day WAITING PERIOD before anything is taken a vote on?! If the word FASCISM is what comes to mind, you’re right!! WE THE PEOPLE have the right of FREE SPEECH AND EXPRESSION, this does NOT mean LEFTWING THUGS starting and provoking violence at usually PEACEFUL Town Hall meetings!! Of course the LEFTIST MSM is trying to DISCREDIT the RIGHT, or the CITIZENS OF THE USA!!
I’ve been the owner of a small business for over 20 years and I’ll send a shout out to all you “say no to reform” types. We can’t afford to carry the burden of your health care going into the future, so I hope you’re all ready for the day when more and more of us drop your coveted plans like hotcakes. I guarantee you’ll be singing a different tune when that happens. The small business community is behind reform because the system is stacked against us, but hey, if you’re all pro-free market health care then I’m sure you won’t mind picking up the tab yourself…if you can even get coverage. I won’t shed a tear for a single one of you.
Some of you people already said this. We already have a health care system in place for people who don’t have insurance or jobs,it is called welfare!!! Lets take a look at medicaid and medicare??? Why do you democrats think that this congress can fix things??? Get your heads out of your [edited]. This congress cant even wipe its own [edited]…
Medicare, medicaid and welfare system is the only thing that needs overhauled. I am completely satisfied with my health insurance. I don’t want you democrats screwing up my insurance. Leave us the U.S. people alone. I am glad to see that some people in here have admitted to voting for the wrong president. Hooray for admitting this mistake. This congress and the pres. is going to destroy our country. Most of you people are too ignorant or too selfish to admit this, because you are too worried about all the government handouts that you may not get if this does not pass. Well I am tired of people living off of the blood, sweat and tears of working class people like myself, that helps pay for all this government abuse and waste of taxpayer dollars that we don’t have. I bet a lot of you people think that all that stimulus money is putting a lot [of]people on the payrolls. News flash for you all. Go onto the the governments website and check it out. Why in the hell should we be building parks and boat slips and playgrounds for people,when there are so many people out of jobs. Yeah right so you are not working, you cant afford your house, so what the hell we might as well utilize the new boat slip that is funded by the 700 and some billion dollars that this government already pissed away. To you people that keep trying to shove this crap down our throats, well I am tired of paying for [edited] that don’t work. You all can’t prove that this is going to work either, and to force this upon us and all those that oppose this, is being arrogant and selfish. Ohh I see a little note at the bottom of this website, it is from Paul Krugman, he says that opposing obamacare is racist. Bulls***!!!! I would like to know why every time someone opposes obama we are being racist. People get off this racist wagon, it is getting old. It looks and sounds to me like our own president is somewhat racist!!!! Here is saying I have to those of you that have a problem with us that oppose our pres. AMERICA LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!!!!! If you don’t like what is going on here then get out. America is going to stay free no matter what that cost might be. We the people will not let some fascist take our country from us without a fight!!!!
Nancy Pelosi wasn’t saying exercising your First Amendment rights was un-American, you idiot. She was saying that DROWNING OUT OPPOSING VOICES WAS UN-AMERICAN. That means showing up at town-hall meetings, screeching like hyenas to the point where the Democratic congressmen can’t even calmly explain what the health-care legislation means. I knew you right-wingers were morons, but I would think you could at least read and comprehend the text that you yourself highlighted.
M, read Sec. 401 under taxes for individuals without qualifying insurance. I think 2.5% of up to 70k or $3500.00 qualifies as a fine under some considerations.
It odes not say they will get coverage, just the bill.
The democratic congressmen can’t explain a trip to the toilet, even if there were total silence for an extended period of time.
and mr small business man. this socialist crap will put you out of business very quickly. so i hope you don’t get what you ask for. For all our futures. I am with mad. If that socialist dung is what you want, go to Canada or Great Britan and leave us and our insurance the hell alone!
and mr poor, a lot of us are poor, so you can’t make this a rich vs poor thing, so I’ll be waiting for your “revolution” in my Church with my big Bible and My Big Gun.
My friend is a Republican he doesn’t have insurance. He is against any healthcare reform. He is 48 and he’s got bad teeth. What if he gets sick. Who’s going to pay for it. If he gets sick he’ll wait till the end. No wonder a country a third world country like Mexico is fast catching up with the USA. Mexicans will outlive Americans in a few years. Why? We have to many people with no medical access.
M
I would like to direct your attention to page 97 line 20 of the bill that your URL is linking to. It is sec 205 (b)(3) for those who may have it from a differnt source. It says that if you do not have insurance that you will be enrolled in a plan if you are not medicaid eligible
Dear…everyone.
America – Love it or leave it? There are numerous things the government does, through my tax dollars, that I don’t support. sue.. that “socialist drug” has been called medicare for years. “I’ll be waiting in my church”…yada yada yada… Big Bible, so you’re a Christian? From your big Bible “I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Why would you not want a system that helps those less fortunate and in need?
Brian, Aug 11, people are starting to realize that the Marxist administration currently in power are nothing but control freaks that want complete power over the population. That is a sure step in a direction that the founders of this nation were wise enough to foresee and put forms of checks and balances in the Constitution. The power belongs to the people with our right to bring down an oppressive government and replace it with a government for the people and by the people. Mid-term elections in 2010 will become a strangle hold on Obamas remaining time in office, until 2012. The Congress will be cleansed of all those in Congress that are refusing to listen to what the people have to say, but instead are trying to shove bad policies down all Americans throats. It worked in Germany, Venezuala, Cuba and any other communist nation you care to name, but it will not happen in American as long as those that dissent hold their ground and not allow Obama to further undermine our nation.
EOT – It’s spelled Venezuela. And what worked – shoving policies down the public’s throat or their health care programs?
Sergio, I feel for your friend, but, sorry, his problems are not my responsibility to pay for his health probs (BTW, dental care is not part of the reform. Yet.) He can purchase insurance like the rest of us.
Why can’t Medicare stop spending money for people espacially elderly who wn’t be able to live even after getting treatment? YOu know what this is cure for making no changes to patients like them but we need to reform our healthcare system so that money spent through current system will be saved. This is a common sense to everybody-they shouldn’t waste billions of dollars in medicare for them who couldn’t get their health better, this is unnecessary.
To all those who would like the government to stop meddling in health care: You may be right, and there is certainly reason to discuss (not outshout) the pros and cons of this. However, if the government truly gets out of health care these are some of the ramifications.
1. At present, due to favorable government tax laws, I don’t pay taxes on the roughly $2500 premiums I spend each year on my employee provided health insurance, nor do I pay taxes on the roughly $7500 my company spends each year on my behalf, nor do I pay taxes on the $2400 I contribute to my flexible spending account. For someone in the 25% tax bracket, this is a monthly tax savings of about $258. If the government stops meddling, that’s a cost we’ll all have to pay.
2. Because most health care costs occur at the end of life, the fact that the government takes care of those costs through Medicare means my insurance premiums don’t reflect the cost of these very ill and very costly people. Furthermore, presumably, doctor and hospital costs also don’t reflect the lost profits due to the inability of the elderly to pay for end-of-life care. If the government stops meddling, everyone’s health care costs are going to increase to cover them.
3. Because the elderly become so sick and so costly, no insurance company would ever provide insurance to them at any conceivable cost. Thus, if the government stops meddling, we can go back to the days of grandma choosing between taking her medicine or eating cat food for dinner. Or, we can pay for grandma’s medical expenses out of our own pockets. Better still, let’s abolish Social Security (another instance of government meddling) and end any chance grandma can ever live on her own. Then we can pay all her living expenses out or our own pocket, too, with the 7.65% raise we’ll get by not paying Social Security and Medicare taxes. This might be expensive, but clearly it’s worth it to stop government meddling in our lives. Correct?
4. If the government stops meddling in health care, then we can end the Veterans Administration and let all those soldiers purchase their own health insurance. Sure they may have service related conditions that make it impossible to ever obtain insurance, but, hey, that’s the chance you take when you volunteer your life for your country. Maybe we can all toss them a few bucks when we see them begging on the street.
These are just the first things that come to mind; I’m sure there are others. The fact is we all benefit because the government is “meddling” in our health care. If I recall correctly, if just the tax advantages of #1 above were removed (and, really, why shouldn’t they be removed?) much of the cost of the various versions of the health care reform plans could be paid for with no increase in the deficit. The problem is that a rational debate and discussion seems to be impossible given the partisan nature of the issue, the incredible anger from the side of those who oppose health care reform as currently envisioned, and the falsehoods that are being manufactured.
M, read Sec. 401 under taxes for individuals without qualifying insurance. I think 2.5% of up to 70k or $3500.00 qualifies as a fine under some considerations.
It does not say they will get coverage, just the bill.
M
I would like to direct your attention to page 97 line 20 of the bill that your URL is linking to. It is sec 205 (b)(3) for those who may have it from a differnt source. It says that if you do not have insurance that you will be enrolled in a plan if you are not medicaid eligible
M they beat me to it….. But I will wait for an apology from you now.