Republicans walk the line over healthcare outrage
Leroy N. Soetoro
2.story
The GOP could gain from voter anger stirred by the bill's passage,
displayed by threats and vandalism. But Democrats question whether the
party has crossed into reckless provocation.
Reporting from Washington - In the days surrounding passage of
healthcare overhaul legislation, Republican lawmakers have been left to
strike a fine balance between harnessing voter outrage and fueling it.
Examples of raw anger have piled up. A call to New York Democrat Louise
M. Slaughter said snipers would "kill the children of the members who
voted for healthcare reform." Later, a brick smashed a window at her
Niagara Falls district office. Hate messages jammed the lines of
Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, the anti-abortion rights Democrat whose
last-minute support helped cinch passage. Law enforcement offered
increased protection to at least 10 lawmakers, a security measure
usually only afforded party leaders.
The GOP wants nothing more than to ride to victory this November the
wave of anger stirred by President Obama's expansion of the federal
government -- much of it from the burgeoning "tea party" movement. But
as the ire turned ugly, Democrats questioned whether the GOP had crossed
the line between loyal opposition and reckless provocation.
"You would think they would come down to the floor of the House and say
these actions, this language, is deplorable and we ask that all of our
supporters engaged in this conversation on either side do so in a
conscientious and reasonable way," saidRep. Steve Driehaus, an Ohio
Democrat who received death threats after House Minority Leader John A.
Boehner, also from the Buckeye State, said Driehaus could be a "dead
man" if he voted for the bill.
Top Republicans distanced themselves from the worst of it, while still
defending the motivation of upset voters. On Thursday, GOP members
denounced from the floor conduct that had overshadowed otherwise fierce
but contained opposition to a much-debated law.
"End the threats. End the vandalism. And let's also end the smears of
law-abiding citizens exercising their 1st Amendment right to speech and
peaceable assembly," said Mike Pence of Indiana, chairman of the House
Republican Conference.
Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia condemned the threats, while also
trying to blunt the Democrats' denunciations. "It is reckless to use
these incidents as a media vehicle for political gain," he said,
suggesting that the Democrats themselves were "dangerously fanning the
flames."
Angry demonstrations are nothing new to Washington, especially when
unpopular wars are fought or controversial law is engineered. The right
points out that the left has given as good as it's getting; President
George W. Bush was called a dunce and likened to Hitler.
What's different this time is the role of mainstream lawmakers who
critics say were not only slow to condemn over-the-top behavior, but
sometimes egged it on.
On Sunday, three GOP lawmakers on the Capitol balcony pumped fists and
waved posters before an already agitated crowd. When unruly
demonstrators were ejected from the House gallery, several Republican
members of Congress rose to applaud them. During the debate, some
Republican members likened Democrats to the Soviets and warned that
freedom was dying in the United States. Alarmed, more than 100 House
Democrats met with the FBI and Capitol Police in closed-door sessions
mid-week.
When a gas line was severed at the home of Virginia Democrat Tom
Perriello's brother, whose address was published on an opposition
website that mistakenly thought it was the congressman's, Boehner called
such acts "unacceptable."
Tapping the passion of the political base can be heady and profitable in
the short-run. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) earned a House scolding after he
shouted "You lie" during Obama's healthcare address to Congress last
September, but in the weeks following received a donations boost that
made him the top Republican fundraiser in this election cycle, with
nearly $3.4 million in campaign funds.
In the long-run, such appeals risk alienating the centrist voters and
independents who typically decide elections. "A lot of Americans who are
part of no party's base are repelled by extremes of language or action.
The people in the middle simply don't believe in that sort of thing,"
said William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and
former Clinton White House advisor.
But the strategy of both parties today is to win by demonizing the
other, and the line of civility keeps getting pushed.
"Behavior that was unheard of and would not be tolerated a generation
ago is becoming all too routine. It's not just among Republicans," said
Charlie Cook, an independent analyst and publisher of the nonpartisan
Cook Political Report. He cited Rep. Alan Grayson's (D-Fla.) floor
speech saying the GOP's healthcare plan amounted to wanting sick people
to "die quickly."
Opinion leaders have urged healthcare opponents to fight on in what some
heard as "coded rhetoric" -- Sarah Palin's tweet: "Don't Retreat,
Instead -- RELOAD!" and national Republican Party Chairman Michael
Steele's wish to see House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on "the firing line."
As the spring recess approached, emotions at the Capitol ran high. The
violence was the talk of the Senate cloakroom. House members pointed
fingers at one another. At a news conference, Cantor said a bullet
struck a window this week in a building where his Richmond campaign
office is housed; the police said someone fired into the air.
One Republican lawmaker observed: "This is full-contact sport up here."
--
Nancy Pelosi, Democrat criminal, accessory before and after the fact, to
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel of New York's
million dollar tax evasion. On February 25, 2010, the House ethics
committee has concluded that Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles
B. Rangel knowingly accepted Caribbean trips in violation of House rules
that forbid hidden financing by corporations. Democrat criminal Nancy
Pelosi is deliberately ignoring the million dollar tax evasion of
Democrat Charles Rangel.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had to be forced to remove Charles B. Rangel
from the House Ways and Means Committee.
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---
betweentheeyes
news:Xns9D47E9E26...@202.177.16.121...
> http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-backlash26-2010mar26,0,37032
<snip>
gun group numb nuts
The PHANTOM
<betweenthee...@defendingThe2nd.org> wrote:
> "Leroy N. Soetoro" <leroysoet...@usurper.org> wrote in messagenews:Xns9D47E9E26...@202.177.16.121...
>
> >http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-backlash26-2010mar26,0,3...
>
> <snip>
> gun group numb nuts
Here's what the people are REALLY angry about. The taxpayers know more
about whats in the ObongoLongoCare bill than the braindead
progressives that voted it into law:
Pretty good bullet list of the non-benefits of Obama-care
This letter appeared in the Indianapolis Star (which is owned by the
same people who own the Arizona Republic) and was sent to a very
popular Indiana Senator. This just goes to show everyone what
pressure these Democrats are currently under, so continue to let them
know how you feel about the healthcare bill.
Bill Stough
Shock to NBC This morning.
An Indianapolis doctor's letter to Sen. Bayh about the Bill (Note:
Dr. Stephen E. Frazer, MD practices as an anesthesiologist in
Indianapolis, IN ) Here is a letter I sent to Senator Bayh.. Feel
free to copy it and send it around to all other representatives. --
Stephen Fraser
Senator Bayh,
As a practicing physician I have major concerns with the health care
bill before Congress. I actually have read the bill and am shocked by
the brazenness of the government's proposed involvement in the
patient-physician relationship. The very idea that the government
will dictate and ration patient care is dangerous and certainly not
helpful in designing a health care system that works for all. Every
physician I work with agrees that we need to fix our health care
system, but the proposed bills currently making their way through
congress will be a disaster if passed.
I ask you respectfully and as a patriotic American to look at the
following troubling lines that I have read in the bill. You cannot
possibly believe that these proposals are in the best interests of
the country and our fellow citizens.
Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of
all employers that self-insure!!
Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill: THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that
decides what treatments/benefits you get.
Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!
Page 42 of HC Bill: The Health Choices Commissioner will choose
your HC benefits for you. You have no choice!
Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: HC will be provided to ALL non-US
citizens, illegal or otherwise.
Page 58 HC Bill: Govt will have real-time access to individuals'
finances & a 'National ID Health card' will be issued! (Papers
please!)
Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: Govt will have direct access to your
bank accounts for elective funds transfer. (Time for more cash and
carry)
Page 65 Sec 164: Is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their
families in unions & community organizations: (ACORN).
Page 84 Sec 203 HC bill: Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for
private HC plans in the 'Exchange.'
Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans
-- The Govt will ration your health care!
Page 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill: Govt mandates linguistic appropriate
services. (Translation: illegal aliens.)
Page 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18: The Govt will use groups (i.e. ACORN &
Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan.
Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans.
(AARP members - your health care WILL be rationed!)
Page 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill: Medicaid eligible individuals will be
automatically enrolled in Medicaid. (No choice.)
Page 12 4 lines 24-25 HC: No company can sue GOVT on price fixing.
No "judicial review" against Govt monopoly.
Page 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill: Doctors/ American Medical Association -
The Govt will tell YOU what salary you can make.
Page 145 Line 15-17: An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into
public option plan. (NO choice!)
Page 126 Lines 22-25: Employers MUST pay for HC for part-time
employees ANDtheir families. (Employees shouldn't get excited about
this as employers will be forced to reduce its work force, benefits,
and wages/salaries to cover such a huge expense.)
Page 149 Lines 16-24: ANY Employer with payroll 401k & above who
does not provide public option will pay 8% tax on all payroll! (See
the last comment in parenthesis.)
Page 150 Lines 9-13: A business with payroll between $251K & $401K
who doesn't provide public option will pay 2-6% tax on all payroll.
Page 167 Lines 18-23: ANY individual who doesn't have acceptable HC
according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Page 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill: Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from
individual taxes. (Americans will pay.) (Like always)
Page 195 HC Bill: Officers & employees of the GOVT HC Admin.. will
have access to ALL Americans' finances and personal records. (I
guess so they can 'deduct' their fees)
Page 203 Line 14-15 HC: "The tax imposed under this section shall
not be treated as tax." (Yes, it really says that!) ( a 'fee'
instead)
Page 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill: Govt will reduce physician services for
Medicaid Seniors. (Low-income and the poor are affected.)
Page 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill: Doctors: It doesn't matter what specialty
you have trained yourself in -- you will all be paid the same! (Just
TRY to tell me that's not Socialism!)
Page 253 Line 10-18: The Govt sets the value of a doctor's time,
profession, judgment, etc. (Literally-- the value of humans.)
Page 265 Sec 1131: The Govt mandates and controls productivity for
"private" HC industries.
Page 268 Sec 1141: The federal Govt regulates the rental and
purchase of power driven wheelchairs.
Page 272 SEC. 1145: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS - Cancer
patients - welcome to rationing!
Page 280 Sec 1151: The Govt will penalize hospitals for whatever the
Govt deems preventable (i.e...re-admissions).
Page 298 Lines 9-11: Doctors: If you treat a patient during initial
admission that results in a re-admission -- the Govt will penalize
you.
Page 317 L 13-20: PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. (The Govt
tells doctors what and how much they can own!)
Page 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion. (The Govt
is mandating that hospitals cannot expand.)
Page 321 2-13: Hospitals have the opportunity to apply for exception
BUT community input is required. (Can you say ACORN?)
Page 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339: The Govt mandates establishment of=2
outcome-based measures. (HC the way they want -- rationing.)
Page 341 Lines 3-9: The Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare
Advance Plans, HMOs, etc. (Forcing people into the Govt plan)
Page 354 Sec 1177: The Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of 'special
needs people!' Unbelievable!
Page 379 Sec 1191: The Govt creates more bureaucracy via a "Tele-
Health Advisory Committee." (Can you say HC by phone?)
Page 425 Lines 4-12: The Govt mandates "Advance-Care Planning
Consult." (Think senior citizens end-of-life patients.)
Page 425 Lines 17-19: The Govt will instruct and consult regarding
living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. (And it's
mandatory!)
Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: The Govt provides an "approved"
list of end-of-life resources; guiding you in death. (Also called
'assisted suicide.')(Sounds like Soylent Green to me.)
Page 427 Lines 15-24: The Govt mandates a program for orders on "end-
of-life." (The Govt has a say in how your life ends!)
Page 429 Lines 1-9: An "advanced-care planning consultant" will be
used frequently as a patient's health deteriorates.
Page 429 Lines 10-12: An "advanced care consultation" may include an
ORDER for end-of-life plans.. (AN ORDER TO DIE FROM THE
GOVERNMENT?!?)
Page 429 Lines 13-25: The GOVT will specify which doctors can write
an end-of-life order.. (I wouldn't want to stand before God after
getting paid for THAT job!)
Page 430 Lines 11-15: The Govt will decide what level of treatment
you will have at end-of-life! (Again -- no choice!)
Page 469: Community-Based Home Medical Services = Non-Profit
Organizations. (Hello? ACORN Medical Services here!?!)
Page 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover marriage and family therapy.
(Which means Govt will insert itself into your marriage even.)
Page 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including
defining, creating, and rationing those services.
Senator, I guarantee that I personally will do everything possible
to inform patients and my fellow physicians about the dangers of the
proposed bills you and your colleagues are debating.
Furthermore, if you vote for a bill that enforces socialized
medicine on the country and destroys the doctor-patient relationship,
I will do everything in my power to make sure you lose your job in
the next election.
Respectfully,
Stephen E. Fraser, MD
Too_Many_Tools
wrote:
> http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-backlash26-2010mar26,0,3...
Typical conservative shortsightness.
For every conservative crazy bastard acting out, there are thousands
of NORMAL Americans who will vote Democrat this November to throw the
conservative crazies out.
An analogy...when a spoiled chiild throws a fit, do the adults cave in
or do put him in the corner?
Lots of Republicans are going into a corner this November.
TMT
Klaus Shadenfreude
<too_man...@yahoo.com> wrote in talk.politics.guns:
>For every conservative crazy bastard acting out,
There's a leftist trying to stalk somebody....
Like this nutcase...
___________
"I will be bringing the local cops with me to visit you so be sure you
have enough doughnuts for all of us. ;<)"
-Too Many Tools, 5/30/09
"Try posting your real address just once and I will
guarantee you a visit."
-Too Many Tools, 6/2/09, right before
he scrambled for excuses not to show up.
"Got a valid address yet winger?
I would like to arraign[sic] a visit for you."
-Too Many Tools, 6/19/09, still hoping
someone actually believes him.
"Give us a valid address and we can arraign [sic] a playdate with some
friends."
-Too Many Tools 7-1-2009 STILL trying to get
someone to believe him
"Show a picture of your mailbox then...with you in front of it. ;<)"
-Too Many Tools 7-2-2009 changing the conditions in
another desperate attempt to weasel out of visiting
"Provide the information and you will receive a visit."
-Too Many Tools, 9-16-2009, yet again making promises
he has no intention of keeping.
"Why don't you provide us with a valid name and address ...and we will
arrange a visit for you."
-Too Many Tools, 9-20-2009, yet *again* making promises
he has no intention of keeping.
"Got your real address yet?"
-Too Many Tools, 3-4-2010, STILL trying to make believe
he can work up the courage to "visit" someone.
"Did you post a real address yet?"
-Too Many Tools, 3-4-2010, wanting so hard to convince
anyone who will listen...