Today's Article
They should admit
that all members of
Congress --
Democrats and
Republicans alike --
have enjoyed a
health insurance
public option for years.
that all members of
Congress --
Democrats and
Republicans alike --
have enjoyed a
health insurance
public option for years.
The American Spark
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Conservative Lawmakers Should Give Up Their Gov't-Run Health
Care
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 8th, 2009
Senate Republicans who are opposed to any kind of public health-insurance option for you hope to require
members of Congress and all essential members of the Obama Administration to join such a plan.
We can only assume this example of GOP rhetorical hubris is meant to make it appear as if every lawmaker for
a public option is afraid to have such an option for themselves.
But lawmakers backing a public option are gleefully latching onto this idea.
An earlier, more narrow version of the amendment--proposed by Republican Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and
Tom Coburn (R-OK)--quickly turned into a joke on Friday as numerous Democrats worked to make the GOP
amendment a reality.
For instance, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) told The Hill that he had hoped to lend his backing to the
amendment, but was rebuffed by frustrated Republicans.
A spokesman for Sen. Coburn claimed that Sen. Brown was welcome to join the amendment drive...but that
Republicans were so busy, they just couldn't find the time to send a reply to the Ohio Democrat.
Sen. Brown, as well as Senators Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Al Franken of Minnesota, stood on the
Senate floor and proudly stated that unanimous consent should be added to the GOP amendment. The
request was swiftly approved.
Such drives simply reveal Republican lawmakers' stunning lack of honesty when it comes to the health care
crisis in America. Otherwise, they would acknowledge that all members of Congress--Democrats and
Republicans alike--have enjoyed their own health insurance public option for years.
The late Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts made a habit of pointing out this obvious hypocrisy from
America's most conservative congresspeople.
In Memphis, Tennessee on December 9th, 1978, the senator gave an excellent speech which touched on this
issue at a health care workshop sponsored by the Democratic National Committee:
"We've got national health insurance for members of the Senate and House of Representatives," said
Kennedy.
"They give their speeches and cast their votes in Congress. And then they go out to Walter Reed Army
Hospital or Bethesda Naval Hospital for the free medical and dental care that Uncle Sam provides," he added.
"That isn't fair. If national health insurance is...good enough for Congress, then it is good enough for every
American citizen in every city, town and village and on every farm throughout this land," declared Kennedy.
It's a conservative hypocrisy which continues to this day. Need a concrete example? Representative Roy Blunt
(R-MO) freely enjoys the benefits of his public-run health care system.
During his tenure as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Blunt has opted to have at least two
highly-involved medical procedures of his own performed at Bethesda Naval Hospital, via the government-run
health care service provided to members of Congress.
Rep. Blunt's medical procedures were not delayed. They were not denied. They were not rationed. And Blunt
has a personal net worth of up to $1.6 million, according to OpenSecrets, a leading political watchdog group.
Hence he has no monetary need to use this publicly run health care system.
Representative Roy Blunt freely chose this government-run option because he knew he could trust it with his
life, and because it was much less expensive to boot.
Other conservative lawmakers who happily use the government-run health insurance program of
Congress--but tell you it would be pure horror if you enjoyed the same benefits they've enjoyed for
years--include Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Senator George Voinovich, (R-OH), Senator Kit Bond (R-MO),
and even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
If that high-quality, inexpensive service is good enough for America's millionaire conservative lawmakers, it will
be good enough for you and your family.
So we at The American Spark offer a counter-proposal for America's conservative lawmakers: Give up your
own generous government-run health insurance program, spend the next few years paying the same bloated
prices for health care that average Americans now are forced to pay, then come back and lecture everyone on
the "evils" of a public option.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
Care
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 8th, 2009
Senate Republicans who are opposed to any kind of public health-insurance option for you hope to require
members of Congress and all essential members of the Obama Administration to join such a plan.
We can only assume this example of GOP rhetorical hubris is meant to make it appear as if every lawmaker for
a public option is afraid to have such an option for themselves.
But lawmakers backing a public option are gleefully latching onto this idea.
An earlier, more narrow version of the amendment--proposed by Republican Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and
Tom Coburn (R-OK)--quickly turned into a joke on Friday as numerous Democrats worked to make the GOP
amendment a reality.
For instance, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) told The Hill that he had hoped to lend his backing to the
amendment, but was rebuffed by frustrated Republicans.
A spokesman for Sen. Coburn claimed that Sen. Brown was welcome to join the amendment drive...but that
Republicans were so busy, they just couldn't find the time to send a reply to the Ohio Democrat.
Sen. Brown, as well as Senators Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Al Franken of Minnesota, stood on the
Senate floor and proudly stated that unanimous consent should be added to the GOP amendment. The
request was swiftly approved.
Such drives simply reveal Republican lawmakers' stunning lack of honesty when it comes to the health care
crisis in America. Otherwise, they would acknowledge that all members of Congress--Democrats and
Republicans alike--have enjoyed their own health insurance public option for years.
The late Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts made a habit of pointing out this obvious hypocrisy from
America's most conservative congresspeople.
In Memphis, Tennessee on December 9th, 1978, the senator gave an excellent speech which touched on this
issue at a health care workshop sponsored by the Democratic National Committee:
"We've got national health insurance for members of the Senate and House of Representatives," said
Kennedy.
"They give their speeches and cast their votes in Congress. And then they go out to Walter Reed Army
Hospital or Bethesda Naval Hospital for the free medical and dental care that Uncle Sam provides," he added.
"That isn't fair. If national health insurance is...good enough for Congress, then it is good enough for every
American citizen in every city, town and village and on every farm throughout this land," declared Kennedy.
It's a conservative hypocrisy which continues to this day. Need a concrete example? Representative Roy Blunt
(R-MO) freely enjoys the benefits of his public-run health care system.
During his tenure as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Blunt has opted to have at least two
highly-involved medical procedures of his own performed at Bethesda Naval Hospital, via the government-run
health care service provided to members of Congress.
Rep. Blunt's medical procedures were not delayed. They were not denied. They were not rationed. And Blunt
has a personal net worth of up to $1.6 million, according to OpenSecrets, a leading political watchdog group.
Hence he has no monetary need to use this publicly run health care system.
Representative Roy Blunt freely chose this government-run option because he knew he could trust it with his
life, and because it was much less expensive to boot.
Other conservative lawmakers who happily use the government-run health insurance program of
Congress--but tell you it would be pure horror if you enjoyed the same benefits they've enjoyed for
years--include Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Senator George Voinovich, (R-OH), Senator Kit Bond (R-MO),
and even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
If that high-quality, inexpensive service is good enough for America's millionaire conservative lawmakers, it will
be good enough for you and your family.
So we at The American Spark offer a counter-proposal for America's conservative lawmakers: Give up your
own generous government-run health insurance program, spend the next few years paying the same bloated
prices for health care that average Americans now are forced to pay, then come back and lecture everyone on
the "evils" of a public option.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
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