GOP: We Owe It to People to Repeal Health Care

[Poll_Blind]

Source: CBS News

(CBS) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the Republicans "owe it to the American people" to try to repeal health care reform.

"This was a terrible bill," McConnell said on "Face the Nation" Sunday.

McConnel said the results of Election Day meant that "People who supported us - political independents - want it repealed and replaced with something else. I think we owe it to them to try," McConnell said.

Also on the program, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., defended the sweeping health care legislation, likening the reform with other major initiatives, like the civil rights laws of the 1960s. "The fact of the matter is what we did with health care is to make that a fundamental right of every citizen."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/07/ftn/main7031682.shtml?tag=mncol;lst;2

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I can't say I'm surprised but they're still ***holes.

PB

[liberal N proud]

1. People being the insurance companies and drug companies

[Poll_Blind]

2. Yeah, that's about the only "personhood" they respect. n/t

PB

[ProSense]

3. Clyburn to the GOP:

I dare you.

[Drale]

4. Health care is a wedge issue

they are trying to divert the sheeoples short attention span away from the jobs they arnt not going to create or the fact that they are going try to use their power to investigate the president solely on the basis that hes a black man.

[Beartracks]

12. Reminds me of that old racist "joke"...

... about how a black man in a Cadillac must obviously be a thief. Well... this idea that a black man can't possibly be in the White House legally sort of reminds me of that.

-----------------------------------

[alanquatermass]

15. The only POSSIBLE reason for repealing it...

-- would be if the majority of Americans are opposed to it.

But I'm not sure if that's the case or not.

Anybody have the numbers?

[roseBudd]

17. If you subtrqact the views of the Americans who already have it, senior citizens

you find majority support.

Nate Silver's 538 had a post, in July about that breakdown by age

[alanquatermass]

24. Wow! Very cool stat! Thanks, Budd!

nt

[CBHagman]

26. We don't do government by applause meter or logical fallacy.

We elect representatives, legislation is negotiated, and then there's a vote. We don't take a survey of 1,000 Likely Voters to decide whether the military ought to be segregated again or the Civil Rights Act ought to be repealed or institutional prayer returned to public schools.

McConnell is pandering, he's employing the logical fallacy called appeal to popularity, and he looks dishonest, and weak, intellectually and morally, by pulling this stunt. I never thought much of him anyway; his office was the one that encouraged a smear of the Frost family back during one of the legislative battles about SCHIP funding.

Moreover, you think poll numbers aren't influenced by attack ads and talk radio, both of which spread misinformation and outright lies? Have you taken a look at how much money was spent on a pro-GOP message this election season? Someone actually ran an ad warning that seniors would be forced into "Obama's government-run" program -- as if Medicare were not a government-run program.

s for numbers, they change all the time, and on top of that some people are just confused about what the law actually contains. Moreover, I have seen conflicting reports -- some saying that certain aspects of the legislation, such as allowing young adults to stay on their parents' policies, are highly popular.

Right. Some polls, news stories:

Kaiser poll numbers from October 2010:

http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/8115.cfm

Americans confused about healthcare reform: poll

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67M0JJ20100823

The Rasmussen poll, including...

...wording of the questions.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/questions/pt_survey_questions/october_2010/questions_health_care_law_october_30_31_2010

...results, which suggest a majority of voters surveyed by Rasmussen believe the law will be bad for the country, but bear in mind believing does not make fact and moreover much of the law simply hasn't taken effect yet. People don't actually know what the long-term effects are.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/health_care_law

[alanquatermass]

29. Couldn't agree more, CB...

-- but by invoking the "We don't do government by applause meter" argument then you are officially forfeiting your right to ever... EVER... cite "the will of the people" when it suits your fancy. I'm just saying.

Because God knows I have pointed to the poll numbers on innumerable occasions to win points during arguments, and (God help me), I have also invoked the "this is not a true democracy but a Representative Republic and to hell with the polls" argument when it suited my whims, too. In other words, I am as hypocritical as anyone on, and off, DU. But at least I know it.

[Zambero]

25. So much for focusing on jobs

The GOP accused Dems of being too fixated on health care reform, and not enough on job creation. It certainly appears that the GOP is headed down the same road they'd voiced opposition to just days ago. The only differnce, they're still stuck in reverse.

[Demeter]

5. Fine. Let's Go With Medicare for All

That wouldn't be a bad bill.

I hate to agree with Mitch, but he's right, accidentally, I am sure, but it's a start.

[Angry Dragon]

6. He did say he wanted to replace it

Let them come up with a plan before they repeal

[Liberal Veteran]

7. Okay, let's start with eliminating medicare, medicaid, and VA benefits.

And then see where the hell you are in two years when you touch those third rails.

[Iowa]

16. I don't know... This country is so fucked up the Dems would probably be blamed for it.

[Guilded Lilly]

8. McConnell you are a punk, and forever will be nothing but a punk.

The list of what Republicans owe to the people of America is longer than your chin shadows.

But an apology for being obstructionist, self-serving, bigoted, racist misogynist morons would be a nice start.

[RC]

9. Repeal this and replace it with Single Payer Universal Health Care?

Most everyone wants Single Payer Universal Health Care, except our "Leaders"

[Starbucks Anarchist]

10. I never understood this logic.

If a moderate (or at least non-liberal) HC bill like this one barely got through, how exactly would single-payer HC pass?

[RC]

39. Most everyone wants Single Payer Universal Health Care, except our "Leaders"

"...except our "Leaders" There is the real problem. We need to work on that.
France had the guillotine, what do we have?
There is a workable solution if we would only work at it.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

41. Proof?

Because it seems like anything that can be even remotely labeled as "socialism" is dead in the water for the public.

[CBHagman]

40. Thank you.

It's all down to votes.

[eagertolearn]

22. When I talk to people on both sides about medicare for

All they always think that sounds like the best and then when i say that that is a single payer system the right think death panels.

[iamjoy]

11. He's Right: It IS a Terrible Bill

the PPACA is a horrible bill, but it would have been worse to do nothing.

[ProSense]

13. No he's not.

Mitch McConnell is a moron, and most Americans want do not want the bill repealed.

[iamjoy]

14. I Mean, That It's A Terrible Bill

With no public options and individual mandates, many Liberals agree - this sucks.

But repealing it is not the answer, that would be worse than terrible.

[and-justice-for-all]

18. Turtle is a delusional fucking wanker...

I have talked to people, mainly older folks, about what the bill has done for them and NO ONE has said it was bad. It has lowered their prescription cost significantly and for the thugs to think that we want it repealed is utter bullshit.

A repeal will not make it through Senate.

[David__77]

19. Note that "repeal and replace" is different than "replace."

The intention is "repeal," and then nothing. I agree with eliminating anything resembling self-insurance mandates. Medicare for all!

[cstanleytech]

20. Well if they want to talk about being owed something lets start with

the republicans still owing an apology to our soldiers they got killed in Iraq and then to our nation for getting us bogged down in said needless war in Iraq and after that we can move on to the apology they owe us for sinking us into debt in the first place.

[mvd]

21. He's delusional if he thinks repeal will happen

In fact, let's apply pressure to expand the law - the Repukes will look obstructionist again.

[Dawson Leery]

23. Steroids McMahon (who lost badly) called for a repeal and offered no alternatives.

The GOP is hellbent on making sure that anything with Obama's mark is eliminated.

[ishaneferguson]

27. They don't owe it to me ....

I want to keep it -- heck, maybe Mitch can repeal, kill, embalm, and bury the McCarran-Ferguson Act.

[prolesunited]

28. He'll probably get a lot of support for this here

but unfortunately, all they want to do is replace it with caps on malpractice and more private accounts to allow the wealthy to shield their income. And you think your insurance company is screwing you now? They'll just take off the brakes. Deny every one and go back to rescinding claims.

[niceypoo]

30. Corporations are people too

Right Mitch?

[ProfessionalLeftist]

31. Replace it with what? The "don't get sick and if you do die quickly" plan?

It's the old Repig "I got mine f*ck you" attitude.

American taxpayers provide THEM with the best healthcare. As for the American taxpayers - they don't deserve any health care - (other than don't get sick/die quickly plan).

What have Republicans said they're going to replace "Obamacare" with? Hmmm?

[jillan]

32. Selfish assholes.

[johnlucas]

33. This is what happens when you half-step

I have been so disgusted with this Democratic Party which houses the Progressive platform I stand for.
I don't care about that ignorant party label nor the party itself (the meaning behind Democratic has been lost centuries ago & has been interchanged countless times).
I care about the ideals championed the appropriately named Progressive platform.
See, in the case of the word Progressive, the meaning of the word is direct and relative to the platform. To progress is to advance. Pro means positive.
Positive advancement. The People's Progressive platform. Positive advancement for the people of a nation.

Like many soft drinks under the Coca-Cola label, that platform has been acquired into the Democratic party.
Dr. Pepper is Dr. Pepper regardless but it is bottled by the Coca-Cola company. That doesn't mean Coca-Cola is always good, it's just who we have to go through to get that Dr. Pepper.
Problem is when the overall parent company starts watering down the product to save costs. The Dr. Pepper doesn't taste so good after they changed the formula. You remember how Dr. Pepper used to taste before all of that new Coke-style meddling. New kids growing up today only know the modern day Dr. Pepper not having a clue how old Dr. Pepper used to taste. You can't explain it to them because it can only be shown through direct experience. They have to taste it themselves.

To you this new Dr. Pepper is nothing more than brown sugar water. Others like you who remember the old Pepper have just given up on that & drank the new Pepper out of habit. They know it's not the same but it's just what they're used to. Nostalgia for the way the drink used to be. That brown can is all they left to remember what once was.

The Democratic Party is the Coca-Cola parent company & Dr. Pepper is the Progressive platform.
Some homebrewers learned to make their own homemade Dr. Pepper the way it used to be made. And when we get a taste we're like WOW! I forgot it used to be like this!
The new kids say WOW! So THIS is what they were always talking about!

Of course, homebrewers don't have the distribution channels like the well-funded Coca-Cola brewery so only a few get to make this discovery.
The ones who got to taste this old Pepper from non-descript containers try to get drinkers of the new Pepper to give it a taste.
But the new ones refuse because it doesn't come in that snazzy brown can. If it ain't in that brown can it ain't Dr. Pepper.
The ones who tasted homebrewed old-style Pepper futilely try to explain that it's not the packaging that matters only the content.
But their words fall on deaf ears. Human beings are such creatures of habit.

The Democrats watered down this good brew called the Second Bill of Rights turning it to nothing more than glorified sugar water.
People still want to shop at (vote for) the Democratic Party to buy this sugar water & think it's the good brew.
But the competition at Pepsi, the Republican Party, wants to put their drinks up to the top of the market. Mr. Pibb will have to suffice.
Never mind the new watered down Pepper OR the original good-tasting homebrew Pepper. They want you to drink Pibb.

The drinkers (the voters) who don't have a favorite either way are looking at the competition & decide that Pepsi's got the better advertising campaign.
I'll drink their drinks instead. And Pibb might as well be Pepper after all, right?

But the homebrewers know that if the real Pepper was on the market, there wouldn't be a decision.
Coca-Cola gets the rub when everybody wants to drink the real Pepper. Advertising campaigns be damned. A good drink is a good drink.

What if Coca-Cola doesn't want to make the old Pepper anymore? Then it's up to the homebrewers to start selling the old Pepper on their own.
Old-style Dr. Pepper out of Mason jars with a paper bag label with plain stenciled logo of "DR. PEPPER". Image plain, substance sublime.

The Democratic Party's half-stepping on every measure of this good Progressive platform brew is why Pepsi, the Republican party is pushing their rancid drinks onto the market.
Pibb ain't Pepper & if we don't want Pibb to replace Pepper we better start selling this drink by any means necessary.
Even without the backing of the Coca-Cola—Democratic—brewery.

How's that for beating an analogy into the ground?
John Lucas

P.S.: Feel free to place the drink or food or product of your choice (and its rival) inside this analogy. I just wanted to get the point across in the most fun way possible.

[sakabatou]

34. *facebludgeon*

[ipaint]

35. They'll never get rid of the mandate, it will be a very useful tool

of control over the middle class and below.

[harun]

36. Pass real Health Care Reform instead of Health Insurance Reform and you might

get some where McConnell.

This is a non-starter. They think if they talk about it enough it will get traction. Not happening.

[L.Torsalo]

37. You owe it to the people

to shut your big fat lying mouth. BTW, how's it going with the "young men" who you date on the sly, eh Mitch?

[Vinca]

38. I agree. It's a terrible bill, but it shouldn't be repealed.

It should, however, be expanded and "tweaked" so we might actually have an affordable option and won't be scraping and bowing to big insurance as we beg for care.

[LeFleur1]

43. It's a Terrible Republican Bill

That's what McConnell doesn't say, along with other sane stuff.

Right this minute, the Democrats should give the heave ho to filibuster and pass every good thing we ever wanted. THAT'S what should happen right now.

[Evasporque]

42. We OWE ::cough:: RICH INSURANCE ::cough::: people

They know that eventually healthcare will be socialized. So stepping backwards just delays the inevitable and makes more profit for the cat killer HC CEOs... of the world.