#Franken tears GOP a new one over Health Care "misstatements"
5295 Dead, 428 since 1/20/09
By Sahil Kapur
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 -- 9:19 am
Share on Facebook Stumble This!
In a few moments of heated but controlled anger on the Senate floor
Monday evening, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) slammed Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and
the GOP for essentially lying about the nature of the Democratic health
care bill, suggesting they haven't read it.
"We are entitled to our own opinions; we're not entitled to our own
facts," Franken said. "Benefits kick in right away."
Thune then took the floor and stressed that "tax increases start 18 days
from now" while "spending benefits don't start till 2014."
Franken got angrier and reclaimed his time. "Spending benefits start
right away," he stammered, also rebuffing Thune's claim that the bill in
all pain and no gain in the short-run. It "will prohibit insurance from
imposing lifetime limits on benefits starting day one."
"He doesn't want to hear it," Franken said in a heated voice, while
pointing to Thune. "We are entitled to our own opinions; we're not
entitled to our own facts."
Story continues below...
"Lifetime benefits kick in on day one, and we shouldn't be standing up
here with charts to say the exact opposite," Franken said. He also
pointed out that "small business tax credits will kick in right away" and
the bill closes the doughnut hole for Medicare Part D.
"Facts are stubborn things," he said, repeating: "We are not entitled to
our own facts."
"I stand here day after day and hear my colleagues, my good friends from
the other side, say things that not based on fact," Franken declared, and
also accused Thune of not reading the fill.
During the exchange, Sherrod Brown (D-OH) accused Republicans of trying
"monopolize our 30 minutes" while Thune tried to interrupt. Later, Brown
said of the GOP: "Perhaps if you're going to vote against [the bill], you
don't have to read it -- is that the way they think about it?"
"I will find that many of my colleagues, who I'm very friendly with, have
not read the bill," he said. "And I think that if you're going to get on
your feet and debate and make assertions, you should really be familiar
with the content of the bill. I've only been here a while, so maybe I'm
naive."
The video was taped on the Senate floor on December 14.
Phlip
So he's too polite to just use the word "lie"... but compelled to
dance around and around it.
5295 Dead, 428 since 1/20/09
wrote:
>> Franken slams GOP on Senate floor: �You�re not entitled to your own facts�
>
>So he's too polite to just use the word "lie"... but compelled to
>dance around and around it.
Senate rules forbid any member from calling another member a liar.
This isn't a bad thing. It forces Senators to use their words, and
their imaginations.
Phlip
> On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:16:21 -0800 (PST), Phlip <phli...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> So he's too polite to just use the word "lie"... but compelled to
>> dance around and around it.
>
> Senate rules forbid any member from calling another member a liar.
>
>
> This isn't a bad thing. It forces Senators to use their words, and
> their imaginations.
Whereas some of them get on the floor and read speeches literally written by HMO
lobbyists...
Not Sure
wrote:
> Franken slams GOP on Senate floor: ‘You’re not entitled to your own facts’
Looks like Franken's doing everything he can to ensure he's a one-term
loser. It should be hilarious once he's marginalized following next
year's devastating elections :)
5295 Dead, 428 since 1/20/09
<fred1...@gmail.com> wrote:
>On Dec 15, 7:10�am, "5295 Dead, 428 since 1/20/09" <d...@dead.com>
>wrote:
>> Franken slams GOP on Senate floor: �You�re not entitled to your own facts�
>
>Looks like Franken's doing everything he can to ensure he's a one-term
>loser. It should be hilarious once he's marginalized following next
>year's devastating elections :)
Wave your arms frantically, and be proud that you frightened your
fellow cultists from watching the video.
Of course, sensible people will watch it anyway, and that's where
you're sunk.
GaryDeWaay
@g31g2000vbr.googlegroups.com>, fred1...@gmail.com Not Sure says...
> On Dec 15, 7:10 am, "5295 Dead, 428 since 1/20/09" <d...@dead.com>
> wrote:
> > Franken slams GOP on Senate floor: ?You?re not entitled to your own facts?
>
> Looks like Franken's doing everything he can to ensure he's a one-term
> loser. It should be hilarious once he's marginalized following next
> year's devastating elections :)
>
Lemmee guess... You are a rightie that thinks the entire world thinks
exactly the same way as you do?
My gawd... you just suggested that a Senator will become LESS popular
because he damands others to stop lying about stuff.
Do you WANT our Senators to lie or something? Is that where we are in
politics? Shame on Franken for calling out someone for lying (while
ignoring the actual lies)?
JFC people like you are making me sick.