Editorial: Conservative compassion
Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 | 7:25 a.m.
Paying no attention to the hypocrisy of their position, some Republicans who profess to be pro-family and pro-life say they are doing the right thing by upholding President Bush's veto of a bill that would provide health insurance to 10 million uninsured children.
Although they wrap themselves in family values, many Republicans have exposed their true interests in lining up with the president against the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
"This is a profoundly moral issue," Utah Republican Rep. Chris Cannon intoned, before adding, "but that doesn't mean the government should do it. Government isn't very good at doing some things, mostly because of rigidity."
This "profoundly moral issue" is really political, as these right-wing obstructionists, who claim to have enough votes to uphold the veto, have put the free market above the family. They are speciously calling the insurance program, which would expand coverage from 6 million children to 10 million over the next five years, socialized medicine and saying it would take children off private health insurance.
Adding to that, the far-right congressional critics, who ironically are fully insured on a government health plan, believe that only the poorest of the poor should qualify for help. These arguments are baseless. For instance, they fail to acknowledge, as the bill does, that health care costs have skyrocketed, and that those who would qualify under the bill include the so-called working poor - those people who work full time but can't afford health insurance.
This is the type of program the government should embrace. It takes care of people whom private insurance doesn't. It would help improve public health by giving children the opportunity to see doctors. It would also help private hospitals that lose money on patients who can't pay their bills.
It is shameful that the Republican Party would let its right-wing minority kill a plan that would do so much for the American families they profess to defend. So much for family values.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Two second-graders involved in shooting at bus stop
- Trainers scuffle at Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto weigh-in
- Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs among stars in Las Vegas for Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight
- Hooters reports loss, says Chapter 11 possible
- Gaming Control Board recommends licensing of CityCenter
- Clubs want to be ‘good citizen,’ so stripper-mobile ends its run
- Nuclear plant in Ely could complicate radioactive waste, water issues
- Las Vegas club agrees to halt promotion featuring live dancers on truck
- Police seek man who stole $2,000 worth of clothing
- Manny Pacquiao says he feels stronger than ever
Blogs
The Kats Report
New face of Monte Carlo includes all the faces of Caliendo
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate (1 Comment)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (9 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Harry Reid's fourth TV ad begins running today
The Greene Room
Chad Ochocinco vs. Anderson Silva? That would be a sight ... (5 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: The three stages of chefdom
Calendar »
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
- 19 Thu
-
Actor's Expo at Rave Motion Pictures
Rave Motion Pictures Town Square 18 | 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
-
Lily Tomlin at the Hollywood Theatre
Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand
-
Neil Sedaka at the Orleans
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Supernatural Santana – A Trip Through the Hits at The Joint
The Joint
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati





