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Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Victoria Reggie Kennedy, widow of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, greets Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., as Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., center, looks on following a 60-40 cloture vote which is the first step on passing a health care bill on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Dec. 21, 2009.
In Today's Sun
- GOP to keep up its fight until the final deadline (12-22-09)
- Deal-making gets job done, Reid says (12-22-09)
Sun Coverage
- Obama welcomes ‘historic’ health care advance (12-21-09)
- Jim Gibbons attacks Harry Reid on health care bill (12-21-09)
- Health care bill clears tough Senate test (12-20-2009)
- Health care compromise gives sweet Medicaid deal to Nebraska (12-20-2009)
One by one, senators cast their votes in the earliest hours of Monday on landmark health care legislation.
When the roll call came to his name, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stood by his desk in his sober brown suit, cast his aye and sat down. A very slight smile crossed his face.
The majority leader has been second-guessed at every step during the months-long, painstaking process of advancing President Barack Obama’s domestic priority. Critics have said Reid was moving too slowly, too quickly, without enough vision, without leadership.
Hours earlier, a top Democratic Party leader, Howard Dean, criticized the “unseemly scrambling” to secure votes.
But Reid’s ability to assemble the 60-vote supermajority — through a combination of gentle arm-twisting and old-fashioned pork-barrel politics — to propel the legislation toward passage by Christmas will forever alter political perceptions of the Nevadan.
“The much-pilloried Harry Reid led an increasingly undemocratic and dysfunctional institution to a stunning victory for the majority party,” Thomas Mann, a congressional scholar and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, wrote in Politico hours before the vote.
Mann, co-author of “The Broken Branch,” a landmark examination of Congress, said many prominent Washingtonians owe Reid an apology.
Just before the vote, Reid delivered a carefully crafted speech about the lives that would be touched by health care reform. He singled out families from Nevada: Lisa from Gardnerville, who postpones her visits to the doctor so her child can go; Caleb from Sparks, a teenager who needs prosthetic legs that fit; Mike from Mesquite, who cannot afford his son’s medical care.
He nearly put the Senate to sleep.
In contrast, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, gave a rousing speech full of political verve as the 1 a.m. vote neared — punctuating his closing line by turning to the Democratic side of the aisle and pointing his finger as he searched for the one vote he needed to stop the bill.
“All it takes is one, just one,” McConnell said, breathing life into the late hour. “One can stop it or every single one will own it.”
Reid has never been known as an inspiring public speaker. What Reid has always excelled at is cutting the deal.
And the deal he struck on health care will be one for the history books: Reid was able to persuade his liberal majority to abandon its longed-for public option in favor of a less aggressive menu of new private insurance offerings for 30 million people without coverage.
He sweetened the pot with $100 million-plus handouts to holdout senators from Louisiana, Nebraska, Vermont, Massachusetts and other states.
“Sleazy,” Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham of North Carolina decried. Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma called the deal-making “corrupt.”
Republicans hurled criticisms for hours, adding to the hyperpartisan atmosphere that has filled the Senate floor.
But for all those Democrats who wanted a strong majority leader, reminiscent of Lyndon B. Johnson’s time as “Master of the Senate,” as biographer Robert Caro called him, this was their moment.
Professor Julian Zelizer, a congressional scholar and professor of history and public policy at Princeton University, called Reid’s performance “very Johnsonian.”
“When he was the majority leader, Johnson constantly forced liberals to compromise, warning them to take what was possible rather than the perfect or to lose everything,” Zelizer said Monday. “He also used legislative pork as a way to build coalitions that included legislators otherwise unwilling to support the bill.”
Reid himself has made no apologies for doing what he believes it takes to set the bill on a course toward passage.
When pressed Monday, Reid laid bare the raw power that exerts itself in Washington, saying every senator should have something in the bill to make him or her proud.
“If they don’t have something in it that’s important to them, it doesn’t speak well of them,” Reid said. “It’s not different from other pieces of legislation — large pieces and small pieces. We work compromises. That’s what legislation is all about — the art of compromise.”
As Reid approaches his own 2010 re-election campaign, he will be irrevocably linked to health care reform, a position which may help or hurt him in Nevada.
It was often thought that if Reid succeeded in passing the bill, part of which now carries his name, Obama would enjoy the credit. If Reid failed, he would be one to blame.
But it is clear that if the bill emerges from the Senate, survives a merger with the House and lands on Obama’s desk in the new year, Reid, in fact, will share credit for passing the most significant domestic policy since Medicare a generation ago.
Whether that leadership power hurts or helps Reid in Nevada remains to be seen. Nevadans are mixed on health care reform — saying they do not like the bill but want changes to health care.
Republican critics at home complain that Reid has not used his skills to do enough for the recession-weary state.
But others think Nevada voters will like the legislation once the details become known — the insurance reforms and new coverage options — and Reid will be seen as the leader who made it possible.
In Washington, many know of Reid’s past as an amateur boxer and reference it in describing the verbal punches he throws during debates.
But perhaps Reid’s long hauls as a former marathon runner are a more apt metaphor for this endeavor. Success takes training and stamina, but also sheer stubbornness not to stop.
Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Democratic leader, said Monday’s vote was “a total vindication of Harry Reid’s strategy.”
Schumer called it Reid’s “appeal to the higher angels.”
“The strategy was basically to do everything he could first to make sure the left and our party base saw we would do everything we could, as we tried, and then to get every other member to go on board,” Schumer said. “What Harry did was he appealed to every member to work for the common good — the common good for our caucus, the Senate and our country above all. That’s what he did. I saw it. I saw it with members who were wavering at the very end.”
In a note to Nevadans on Monday, Reid said he would continue to press for the bill’s final passage.
“Our state needs this bill more than almost any other state,” Reid said. “I refuse to sit back and do nothing.”
Harry Greid sticks it to Americans again. Go back to Searchlight Harry so you can't damage this once great country any more.
Thank-you, Senator Harry Reid.
For my as yet unborn grandson, and for future generations.
Health care is not a "privilege" -when we choose the dollar over the well being of one another we have lost our way.
When will Americans stop buying into the myth that we cannot survive without suffering for big business?
We are suffering right now-but I sure don't see those profits on Wall Street suffering-
So much for handing over my well being to the "Father's Knows Best Approach" of Big Business, deregulated banks, mortgage companies, utilities and health care.
I'll take the "Father Knows Best" approach of this plan any day.
You have my vote.
""If they don't have something in it that's important to them, it doesn't speak well of them," Reid said"
60% of the people do not want this bill.
Inept Senator Harry Reid has decided it is okay to have a destructive IMPERFECT health insurance bill fashioned by Unions, Special interests (MOVEON.ORG), Insurance Companies, Hospitals, Pharmaceuticals, Trial lawyers, and Lobbyist. Mean while ACORN, SEIU, Community for Change, and Organizing for America are also using taxpayer money and selling Obamacare.
Here is what Paul Krugman said about Reid's bill "Count me among those who consider this an awesome achievement.
[But] It's a seriously flawed bill, we'll spend years if not decades fixing it,".
It was, however, a close-run thing"the Senate -- and, therefore, the U.S. government as a whole -- has become ominously dysfunctional."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/21/opinio...
- years if not decades fixing it
- years if not decades fixing it
We will be bankrupt before this is fix
Good job Harry Reid. The so called right is wrong again. The War Mongers That are Anti-abortion kill more (650,000) in wars. They are a confused bunch.
Thanks Harry. The Repubs will also vote no on the minimum wage bill again. They care for the rich. They'll ruin Las Vegas with the way they vote. They got what they deserve this time. We need you Harry and Obama to make this country a fair place for all.
Lisa Mascaro, you must have a family tie to Harry, or you are beholden to him somehow. Your very good reporting skills are wasted on Harry. By reporting positively on everything Harry does, you WILL get browny points with the Greenspuns, but the majority of people will learn to disregard you as a credible reporter. The truth hurts.
"gentle arm-twisting and old-fashioned pork-barrel politics"
Ah, the good ole days. 100 million to this state, 300 mill to that, where's Nevada in all this?
kenoking53: My guess is you are talking about the war monger named Obama who just sent another 30,000 to war. And boy does he love the rich.... just look at all the lavish parties he throws for them. He's already had more lavish parties for the rich than the previous administration had in 8 years. And I agree he's wrecking Las Vegas and the rest of the country too. He's the most crooked and corrupt president to ever occupy the Oval Office.
Health Care reform? My a/s/s/! It's more power and control of us while growing government again. Dirty Harry is Obama's shoe shine boy who will say or do anything for him. Car companies, mortgage companies, insurance company, banks and health care, whats left for the crooks to take over besides us? Make your vote count in 2010!
"We work compromises. That's what legislation is all about-the art of compromise."Harry, who did you compromise with, You shut out the Repubs, Oh, I see, a closed door session with the Dems only present.
I thought the United States had politicians from 2 main parties that made up our House and Senate, but now we have to learn a new wave of politics, the Harry Reid way. Lock out the repubs and vote for cloture on the bill.
Lisas' whole article pats Harry on the back way to much but I did find one sentence that gives us a glimmer of hope, "As Reid approaches his own 2010 re-election campaign, he will be irrevocably linked to health care reform, a position which may help of hurt him in Nevada."
Hopefully the citizens will have knowledge of the single partisan actions led by our illustrious Senator. I hope our citizens are aware that illegal immigrants are getting a better deal than "We the people" on this health bill. They can thank the Democrats and their leader Harry Reid for this.
Nixon Administration crony and radio hate-talker Hugh Hewpett is running a fundraising campaign against our great Senator Reid out of LA, it shows that the Republicans are bankrupt and have no ideas...and are melting down.
Since the Citadel radio network, now in bankruptcy, carries of syndicated programing of this nature, it shows that the dittoheads have no real money to spend on products and services.
It is amazing how Senate and House Democrats have followed Obama off a cliff voting for a health bill most Americans don't want. No doubt after this health bill is passed, new information will be released that will alarm taxpayers showing that Democrats lied and hid real costs of this health bill among other corruption. Increasingly Americans ask, why are House and Senate Democrats voting for a bill that will surely cost them their seats in the next election. Perhaps the answer in part may be found in history where other charismatic leaders like Obama got parliaments to support programs against the will of the people, obviously destructive on their face. For example Hitler in 1933 got the German Parliament to pass the "Discriminatory Laws of February 28, 1933" that broadly called for the arrest of anyone who incited dissent against the government; Germans were subsequently arrested for even dancing the jitterbug.
Some good news. Democrat voters are falling away from Obama faster than any party president in history.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 25% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-six percent (46%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21 That's the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President
For the second straight days, the update shows the highest level of Strong Disapproval yet recorded for this President. That negative rating had never topped 42% before yesterday. However, it has risen dramatically since the Senate found 60 votes to move forward with the proposed health care reform legislation.
Reid can bob and weave all he wants but the truth is he is not going to be a Senator for much longer. Next election will be the knockout blow which sends the old coot back to Nowhere, NV.
Congratulations Pinkie.
Let's see how much you can deliver in the Conference Committee and through Reconciliation.
I've been listening to Keith Olbermann and Ed Schultz for so long, and they have a lot of detail about the utter cr@p which is in the bill.
So now Harry Reid, if you, Dina and Rory want our votes in the next election, you Harry Reid will have to vastly improve this bill, which in its current form forces people to buy insurance without price controls on private insurers; without shoving aside corrupt state insurance commissions which act to protect the insurance company from claims by consumers; without creating any quick and effective method for people to bring binding legal proceedings gainst crooked insurance carriers.
Forcing people to buy cr@ppy insurance coverage is likely unconstitutional Mr. Reid if not downright political suicide for you, Rory and Dina.
We need medicare for all Americans, and if you don't like the concept or the coverage, buy your own insurance on top of what Harry Reid is proposing.
Repubs wanted to include Tort Reform but that would have bucked Harry's Masters.
kenofool wants a "fair" America where everyone is poor, eveyone that is except the Party Bosses and Commissars.
If you want to see who this benefits most look at health insurance stock prices.
Until health insurance companies are forced out of business the American people will be at the mercy of the real death panels.
Good Mornin', Larry.
Did you teach our esteemed Senator from Searchlight to Bob & weave???
Drug prices in the USA are much higher than they should be. Doctors earnings are also too large, and Medicare fraud appears out of control. If the new health care reform does not cut costs dramatically in all three of these problem areas, then the system will not generate the promised "revenue neutral" savings, and the USA will have to absorb another huge annual budget item on top of the already unbelievable debt levels. I seriously doubt that anything worthwhile has actually been "reformed".
Thank you a lot, Harry Reid!
A lot of parents (voters) are going to be very relieved that their children will be covered under their policies til the age of 26, and everyone (voters) should be happy that sick children of any age can no longer be denied coverage by an insurance company.
About those Rasmussen polls: there is a 10 point gap in what CNN says Obama's approval rating is (54%) and what Rasmussen says (44%).
Montana, Connecticut, and Louisiana got $100 million for accepting this bill. Vermont got $600 million. Doctors and hospitals in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming will get paid more than other states under medicare. But what did Nevada get with the senate majority leader Harry Greid steer heading this debacle? NOTHING, we get nothing here and we got nothing in the stimulus package. Thanks for your help Harry! We need somebody in Washington that will fight for Nevadans and the issues that will actually help us.
Being compared to LBJ is accurate. Both were mean, nasty, ill-tempered and corrupt.
Morning gmager,
Harry was doing his dance far before I came along on the scene.
Whatever anyone says about Harry, he is an expert at doing what he does.
Of course, some others would say that this type of politics needs to change.
Don't forget you only have two shopping days until Christmas.
"He sweetened the pot with $100 million-plus handouts to holdout senators from Louisiana, Nebraska, Vermont, Massachusetts and other states."
What the heck!!! Harry is so generous with tax payer dollars. Its politics when they use tax payer dollars to buy senators and its bribery when you use your own money. I would rather that Harry use his own money.
Harry is a CROOK and it is obvious that he cares nothing a public opinion our about Nevada. Harry is the senate Majority Leader and Nevada gets nothing in any bill. The only ones that get something are the senators that extort money from the crooked left wing government that is all to happy to pay of the senators with TAX PAYER DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jw456: Can't find the results you've stated for CNN, but I did find this at CNN: Polls: Majority oppose heath care bill
Posted: December 22nd, 2009 10:33 AM ET
From CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser
New polls show Americans are opposed to the Senate Health Care bill.
New polls show Americans are opposed to the Senate Health Care bill.
Washington (CNN) - For the second straight day, a new national poll indicates that a solid majority of Americans oppose the health care bill that Democrats are pushing through the Senate.
According to a Quinnipiac University survey released Tuesday morning, 53 percent of the public disapproves of the proposed changes, with 36 percent supporting the bill.
That follows a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Monday that indicated 42 percent favor the Senate Democrats' legislation, with 56 percent opposed.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/200...
The Rassmussen poll results are from polling ONLY registered voters.
I no support this bill. why should i start paying, when i get Heath care for free now.
jw456: You either lied or made a mistake. I say you lied. Here's CNN's poll results on Obama's approval rating from Dec.5th, the latest I could find. I believe if there is a newer one it would be lower than even this one:
Washington (CNN) -- Support for President Obama has dropped below 50 percent for the first time in a CNN poll despite high marks for his recently announced Afghanistan policy.
Forty-eight percent of Americans questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. national survey released Friday said they approve of the job Obama is doing as president -- a drop of 7 percentage points from a survey last month.
Fifty percent said they do not approve. The difference of 2 percentage points between approval and disapproval falls within the range of the poll's sampling error.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/04/o...
Pay for it, or you'll be fined on top of the additional taxes you'll be paying on your income.
By CHARLES BABINGTON , Associated Press
Last update: December 22, 2009 - 11:32 AM
WASHINGTON - Freshman Democratic House member Parker Griffith of Alabama is switching to the Republican Party, his office said Tuesday, another blow to Democrats facing a potentially tough midterm election.
Reid you are a pig. You will be voted out
Please see attached link:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_c...
We stuck it to the Repubs.
kenoking53, you stuck to more than the repubs.
kenofool: more likely than not, you're stuck to your chonies.
FromBellevilleCanada: What will all the Canadians do that come here for their health care when their wait for treatment becomes too long in Canada? Even a member of the governments Liberal Party in Canada Belinda Stronach came to the US for her cancer treatment. Won't make sense anymore because we'll be waiting like the Canadians are if this becomes law here.
juansanchez,
TNSTAFHC
There is no such thing as Free Health Care.
What is next, I need some food so I walk over to my neighbor and take the food they have because it is, free?
Someone pays for everything and not all payers of tax are rich.
Now lets think about Dirty Harry. He was a poor lawyer once and now is a multimillionaire. He couldn't of become a multimillionaire on the Senate pay and a few books.
How do you think he got his millions? Mmmm....... Cutting shady deals like they just did in the health care bill?
If this health care plan is so great why aren't the politicians going to join in the plan? Mmmm.....
Every politician should be required to file a net worth statement today and then go back in a few years and and do another net worth statement and see how much money they have stolen from the citizens of the United States.
I think Eric Holder should put Dirty Harry and everyone of the Senator's that took a brib in the health care plan, and anyone else involved, up on charges of bribery. It is criminal how those 60 are running the country. They should be disgraced!
Bah Humbug to the 60 Senator's who voted for the health care and Happy Holidays to everyone else.
"Oh Canada" is complaining about Doctors making too much money.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, "Oh Canada" is an attorney who likes to lower the amount of earnings that doctors take home. "Oh Canada" calls this, "income redistribution..."
Elizabeth,
Eric Holder only goes after the innocent.
John vs Harry...
Senator John Ensign charged this morning that the health care bill being debated in the Senate violates the Constitution by requiring people to buy health insurance or pay a penalty.
John is correct. I may be talking crazy but didn't all the house, senate, and pres take an oath to defend the constitution?
The ultra left wing dems are moving as fast as they can before the rest of America wakes up and sees the shackles they are now wearing.
Constitutional? Sweetheart closed door multi-million dollar deals. The 700 page Managers Amendment which could be a hiding place for the continued funding of ACORN:
According to page 241 of the amendment:
In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary, acting through the Deputy Assistant Secretary, shall award grants, contracts, enter into memoranda of understanding, cooperative, interagency, intra-agency and other agreements with public and nonprofit private entities, agencies, as well as Departmental and Cabinet agencies and organizations, and with organizations that are indigenous human resource providers in communities of color to assure improved health status of racial and ethnic minorities, and shall develop measures to evaluate the effectiveness of activities aimed at reducing health disparities and supporting the local community. Such measures shall evaluate community outreach activities, language services, workforce cultural competence, and other areas as determined by the Secretary.''
According to a Senate legislative aide, the scandal-plagued Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now could qualify for grants under this provision. ACORN would also qualify for funding on page 150 of the underlying Reid bill, which says that "community and consumer-focused nonprofit groups" may receive grants to "conduct public education activities to raise awareness of the availability of qualified health plans."
Earlier this year, Congress passed and the president signed into law a ban on federal funding for ACORN, but a judge ruled that that law was unconstitutional. If a higher court reverses that ruling, ACORN may be prohibited from receiving funds through the Office of Minority Health earmark. But according to the Senate legislative aide, ACORN would still "absolutely" qualify for federal funding through the provision in the underlying Reid bill because the anti-ACORN appropriations amendment would not apply to funds provided through the health care exchanges.
If Obamacare is such a great deal for America, than how come it is the most unpopular major bill in history?
So, why is the only way to pass this bill is to bribe democrats to vote for this very unpopular healthcare bill?
Juan appears to be well established in the Liberals ways that have come to signify the Democrat Party.
And Juan is not the only one lining up for free health care as soon as it becomes available.
So Juan, are you going to support Harry Reid in his reelection bid if he gets the health care bill passed?
Angry: Is everything and everyone racist to you?
Harry Gread does not bob and weave. Lowlife snakes like him slither and slime.
LarryV John Ensign also states that the Health Bill Compromise, a single partisan compromise between the Democrats, who wrote the bill, will benefit the illegal immigrants more than it will American citizens.
Heck, our citizens have got to pay for our part into health care reform or they will be either fined and/or jailed. The illegal immigrants won't have to pay for their benefits, our citizens will take care of that for them.
Oh, and "we the people" will also pay to have bi-lingual office staff at each hospital so they can interperet to the non-English speaking immigrants(legal and Illegal) during their stay in the hospital.
We the people need a bill that will benefit us. Where in the he## does our government have a right to vote on bills that will benefit non-citizens. What are our Politicians going to make it possible for them get the rights that an American citizen has and then turn around and say that since they have the rights of an American citizen we might as well give them citizenship.
Ask Luis Gutierreiz, Rep. from Illinois, with all the economic problems our country is having right now, he has introduced a bill in the House, H.R. 4321, to give amnesty to illegals aliens who are in our country. He says that the american workers(he doesn't specify North, Central,or South American, or all of them)are in the majority of being in favor of this immigration reform.
Well just to let him know, The United States worker, by the way this is our country, wants to forget the immigration bill and wants our government to start enforcing our immigration laws. It is time for our government to start showing the American citizen that we do have rights in our own country.
VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS!
You can save America! Party affiliation doesn't matter. Vote 'em all out. They don't represent "we the people" anymore anyway. Maybe a new crop of younger fogies will do a better job than the old fogies we have now.
Mike must be a magician. He can make angry people disappear. Resistance Is Futile...
I will give Harry credit for doing what ever is necessary to get a bill passed. I hope that it will at least have a few fixes in it.
Harry Greid lied, bribed and did everything a crooked slimebag could to get this piece of garbage passed. If there is an afterlife I hope he pays dearly for it as he does deserve anything bad that comes his way. May you suffer forever Harry Greed. You are a despicable excuse for a human.
I support Senior Reid as long as I can get free medical. I cannot afford to pay Insurance I have 8 kids, plus my parents live with me.
Yes, Harry should be congratulated for taking good care of people like Mr. Sanchez and his family.
Just last week Jaun had six children no wife and now he has eight children. It is one great health care system that we have here in this country.
Hey Jaun. If you ever want to start to work, the Burritto Bandit is looking for a chef for his upscale burrito wagon. The pay is not good and the benefits are worse but you get to take home the left overs...
For God's sake you goofballs... this "Juan" is one of the regular Sun right-wing nut-job posters who's pulling your collective leg.
Jaun Sanchez has lived right down the street from the Burritto Bandit for the past eight years now.
Their children play together except for Jose who has had some medical problems. Juan and his family attend the Pentecostal church on Charleston.
The Sanchez's are also active in several community service organizations.
Old Harry should be arrested for bribery of a federal lawmaker. He bought the votes of at least two US Senators by promising to dole out our tax dollars to Louisiana and Nebraska in order to get a vote on ObamaCare. After we reject Old Harry's reelection bid in 2010, we can file suit that the bill that seems to be passing is unconstitutional. Section 8 of the US Constitution states that all taxes shall be uniform throughout the states. By allowing the two aforementioned states special tax relief, it appears that not all states are equal.
The polls show 56% are opposed to the Senate Health Care Reform. And, probably all of us in the 56% really want health care reform, but not that that is being developed by Congress. The legislation is laden with pork and bribes. If this legislation is so good for the American people, why are the bribes to members of Reid's own party necessary? He calls it "compromise". I call it CORRUPTION. This is wrong, no matter what party one belongs to!
Tank you larryvegas for setting the record straight, something wrong with that caron gmag39
Well Merry Christmas to you and the Sanchez family there Jaun...
Maybe the New Year will bring you free health insurance and free "green cards" for you and your family...
Please remember folks that we don't need to play a race card in the comments. Attack the substance, I knew a white family that went onto every government program while the husband was going through medical school. Does the fact they they are white have any bearing on the story, no. He would not get a job because it meant he would lose some of his assistance and he would have to start paying back loans. They have been mooching off the system for 6 years now. Does the fact they they are white have any bearing on the story? No.
The problem with the system are the permanent moochers that never get off the programs. Dems support this kind of "assistance" and it is an easy way of getting votes. The unpopular person is always the fiscally responsible. I believe the government programs should be temporary and that those collecting section 8 and food stamps should be required to provide community service (pick up trash and clean up graffiti) while they receive assistance.
We have too many people receiving and not enough contributing. It doesn't help that every 5 minutes there is a new gov program.
I'm sick and tired of Republicans that are against anything and everything President Obama is trying to do. I don't believe this Health Care Reform bill is the best they can do, but it's most likely the best they could get past with all the partisan fighting. I think it's time to tell Washington that we want them to stop the "Us vs. Them" fighting and remember that "WE" elected them to office to do whats best for the American people and if they can't do that then it's time to throw them ALL out of office and elect new people that will.
Australia tried to enact Universal Health care in the mid-70's and failed. The threw out almost all their elected officials and elected new ones and passed Universal Health care. According the the World Health Organization, The UK, France, Canada, Australia, Italy and Germany all have better health care systems than the US and they spend less. What's the difference? The profit motive has been removed and they have Universal Health Care. Open to all people in the country, not just the rich. Whenever you hear Rush or any of the other idiots on talk radio, just remember they have advertisers and some of their advertisers are insurance companies. We need to make sure our elected officials don't hold the needs of their "advertisers" above the people that elected them. Just think how much better and less expensive health care would be if BILLIONS of dollars each year weren't going into the pockets of insurance CEO's and execs. It's not about politics, it's about money and elected prostitutes... , sorry, ...officials that would rather take money than serve the people that elected them.
I'm hoping that Sen. Reid see this as a first step rather than an end. I also hope Sen. Reid views the attacks on him by people like Rush and other talk show idiots for what they are. Small people afraid of Sen. Reid for doing the right thing for the American people.
AmericanMan is well enough to post the same dribble on several posts...
AmericanMan is sick and tired and needs the assistance of a government health care worker.
Sorry, they all have the next few days off because it is a holiday for government workers. So the "Man" will have to wait in line at a private owned health care facility to tend to his medical needs.
According the the World Health Organization, kinda says it all...
Hmmm, nice. The 111th Boob Brigade's Christmas gift to Big Insurance; mandatory healthcare insurance. Guys, I don't like the idea of the limited income folks having to decide between using their meager income to either buy groceries to eat and risk jail, or pay for healthcare they do not need and cannot afford and have to eat bugs off the ground. Welcome to the 111th dictatorship of 2010.