GOP frosh: Where's my health care?

[BigD_95]

Source: politico

A conservative Maryland physician elected to Congress on an anti-Obamacare platform surprised fellow freshmen at a Monday orientation session by demanding to know why his government-subsidized health care plan takes a month to kick in.

Republican Andy Harris, an anesthesiologist who defeated freshman Democrat Frank Kratovil on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, reacted incredulously when informed that federal law mandated that his government-subsidized health care policy would take effect on Feb. 1 – 28 days after his Jan. 3rd swearing-in.


“He stood up and asked the two ladies who were answering questions why it had to take so long, what he would do without 28 days of health care,” said a congressional staffer who saw the exchange. The benefits session, held behind closed doors, drew about 250 freshman members, staffers and family members to the Capitol Visitors Center auditorium late Monday morning,”.

“Harris then asked if he could purchase insurance from the government to cover the gap,” added the aide, who was struck by the similarity to Harris’s request and the public option he denounced as a gateway to socialized medicine.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/45181.html

---

amazing.

[trotsky]

1. I wish I could say I'm surprised.

However that's pretty damn brazen and hypocritical of him.

[Roy Rolling]

161. Republican Solution

In the solution straight from Republican talking points: if he doesn't like the health care where he is employed, he is free to find employment at another company with better health benefits. That is the free market.

[saigon68]

170. Just Fundy Repuke "humor"

[Atman]

2. I really hate these selfish, right-wing assholes.

Really.

[L.Torsalo]

50. It's called

hypocrisy or bad faith...fuck'em. Harris is a typical rePIG!

[Cosmocat]

56. Last night at the gym ...

There is this winger I talk to at the gym.

For YEARS I tried to have reasonable political discussions with him, but he never moves past me being the liberal he is told I am. I mean, he unabashedly quotes Rush like it is gospel.

I increasingly have lost patience with him, and a few weeks ago we had a nice go around about jobs - he was on this bizarre rant that only private sector jobs are actually jobs because they make things, but government jobs are just employment ... Just surreal ...

Anyway, during the HCR debate, he of course was up in arms over socialized medicine.

Last night, he let out that he is on his wife's insurance because it is cheaper ...

I will note, on both accounts - his wife works for ...

A public school ...

I have given up trying to even expect intellectual honesty from most of them ...

[SocialistLez]

131. Wow, he SOMEWHAT takes the cake. I've heard of worse. NT

[TxVietVet]

113. I can't blame you. I hate the teabaggin' hyocrite already, too.

:nuke:

[mwooldri]

118. And the spokesperson trying to cover his backside...

quote from the article:

"Nix said Harris, who is the father of five, wasn’t being hypocritical – he was just pointing out the inefficiency of government-run health care." (see OP for link)

IMO, Mr. Harris needs a reality check - lots of private companies have a waiting period for benefits to be available. If a 28 day wait period is "government inefficiency" then I guess that small company offering a basic BCBS plan with premiums out the wazoo after a 90 day wait period is a company that should be out of business no? Because they can't handle something as basic as healthcare?

Sorry, IMO, Mr. Harris is definitely being hypocritical.

[SocialistLez]

132. "Father of five"

WTF does that add to the discussion?

If government health care is so inefficient, why the heck is he crying about not having it?

He needs a good punch in his hypocritical mouth.

[Oceansaway]

3. K&R...n/t

[xchrom]

4. The sad smell of irony. Nt

[polly7]

5. This is sad.

He obviously didn't care two *'ts about low-income or middle-class people when he was denouncing the care he's now demanding for himself. I wonder if he even sees the hypocrisy. How people like this get elected just boggles the mind.

[howmad1]

153. Ignorance should be painful.

Maybe then, assholes like this would never be elected.

[haifa lootin]

162. And likewise, the number of voters would dramatically decrease

it does seem...:shrug:

[ehrnst]

6. He apparently doesn't know about COBRA. Likely hasn't had to use insurance in years -

being a physician and all.

Welcome to the world of health care coverage, Dr. Harris...

[The Wielding Truth]

154. Hallelujah! Now one of them knows that it's not fun to be without insurance.

[SpiralHawk]

7. Sooooo typical of Republicons: hypocrisy up the wazooo

As usual...

[katnapped]

8. Harris needs to pick himself up by his bootstraps

And quit whining!

[TommyO]

9. Physician, heal thyself

[4_TN_TITANS]

33. oh, SNAP.....

[No Elephants]

68. LOL!

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Blandocyte]

11. Typical

I expected to be amused by the story, but amusement turned into mild nausea.

[Lasher]

12. Typical 'small government' Republican.

Small government for everybody. Except when it comes to something good for themselves. Then it's different.

[TxVietVet]

114. Like a conservanazi repthug

he's got to line his pockets first and then screw working people.

[bloomington-lib]

13. "I will never vote to raise taxes"

That'll bite him in the ass some day.

[TxVietVet]

111. He'll be there with the rest of the conservanazi republikkklans

shoving it up our butts with taxes, while giving tax breaks to the rich and powerful.

[madinmaryland]

14. Typical teabagger!

[ck4829]

15. I thought government healthcare was bad, why's he in such a rush to get it?

K&R.

[theaocp]

17. They have not invented a word in the English language

to express what a good question that is. Don't hold your breath waiting for an answer, either. :hi:

[OrangeGrapes]

160. It might be...

...that he was emphasizing that it's bad.

Or it might be that he is a jackass.
I take that back, I shouldn't say 'might be'.

[tanyev]

16. Most jobs have a 3 month waiting period.

Welcome to the real world, Doctor.

[Judi Lynn]

18. Hope his words won't be forgotten when he runs for re-election.

Hope his opponent will be Frank Kratovil again.

http://profile.ak.facebook.com.nyud.net:8090/object3/1130/103/l18542028892_7894.jpg http://images.politico.com.nyud.net:8090/global/news/101030_andy_harris_ap_605.jpg

Andy Harris

http://www.juddlegum.com.nyud.net:8090/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/kratovil.jpg http://media.publicbroadcasting.net.nyud.net:8090/wesm/newsroom/images/3369778.jpg

Frank Kratovil

[elehhhhna]

63. He can afford Botox, so IMO he can afford COBRA.

[Judi Lynn]

83. I haven't seen it enough to recognize it. Is it his forehead? Interesting. n/t

[Puregonzo1188]

156. Really? I don't. Having had Kratovil as my Rep I can't say I would be that enthusiast for him to run

again.

OK, he's definitely better than Andy Harris. Harris is a religious wackjob and just all around crazy guy, but do you know anything about Kratovil? He actually voted against the healthcare bill twice. He's one of the worst of the blue dogs. The Chamber of Commerce and the NRA both endorsed and actively campaigned for him.

Yes, I'd rather have him than Harris and voted for him, but now that he's gone I'd like to see someone better than him. I know it's a right leaning district, but I swear the Republican who held the seat before, and actually endorsed Kratovil and Obama after being primaried by Harris, was more to the left than he was.

Only time will tell. Perhaps we can have a third election in a row of Kratovil-Harris-Thatlibertariandentistwhokeepsrunning and maybe the seat can just continuously go back and forth.

[rasputin1952]

19. NO surprise there...

it's all about, "gimme mine!".

Just to get this straight, here's an anesthesiologist that can easily afford a month's paying into his current insurance, squealing for something he's not really entittled to. After all, most people out here have to work at least 90 days before any benefits kick in.

I wonder how many people he knows of, because of his profession, that died because of a lack of insurance, no ready cah to pay $500+ an hour for just his services, toss in the rest of the surgery and associated hospital costs...well you all get the picture.

The intense greed of these people nauseates me to no end. It is all about "them" getting what they believe they should have, and the hell w/anyone else.

To Andy Harris: don't get sick in February, you cheap, miserable bastard.

[kag]

20. How many layers of hypocrisy?

He's demanding health coverage that WE are paying for, while denying even a chance at healthcare to the poor and middle class he represents. AND he's outraged that there's not a government plan that can OPT INTO until his plan takes effect.

Absolute bastard!

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

[AllyCat]

21. Hey jerk, at least you only have to wait a month.

If you don't have health insurance to cover you during that time, then you are just irresponsible, right?

[deutsey]

22. That's my new rep.

:evilfrown:

In addition to hypocrisy, Harris is a hateful, mean-spirited little man. A lot of people were disappointed with Kratovil (I was one of them), but I'd rather have him than Harris. :puke:

[Judi Lynn]

60. As an out-of-stater, haven't heard anything about Kratovil. If he was Republican lite,

hope they get a stronger Democrat to run next time.

[Baltimore]

107. Eastern Shore

Kratovil comes from the Eastern Shore, i.e. Confederate country. That seat was a lucky pickup for the Democrats in 2008, and I expected to lose it this time around, which Rove and the Chamber of Commerce made sure of. It's very unusual for any Democrat, let alone a "strong Democrat" to get elected there.

[deutsey]

126. I know what you mean re: "Confederate country" but the Shore was Union

during the Civil War. My great-great-grandfather, in fact, served in a Union unit from Cambridge.

Dorchester County was also one of the country's main hot spots for civil rights activity in the '60s. If you haven't read "Civi War on Race Street," a history of that time in Cambridge, I highly recommend it:

http://www.upf.com/book.asp?id=LEVYXF03

[Baltimore]

165. Eastern Shore

Sorry if I seemed to be unfairly "dogging" your county. I believe Dorchester County was the only one on the Eastern Shore that went for Obama.

[deutsey]

171. Not at all...I have a love/hate relationship with this place

Lots of good...still too much bad. But I have to say, there has been lots of progress here...slowly, but surely.

[Baltimore]

182. Maryland vs. Illinois

I'm a former Baltimorean displaced here in Illinois, and I'm still in mourning over the defeat of my beloved Alexi Giannoulias. The election was pretty bad for us, but Maryland is the one bright spot on the map--we leave dead Republicans all over the battlefield. Even Chicago's Oliver Willis says Maryland is the only place he wants to hear about. O'Malley by 14%! I keep rubbing it in the noses of my Illinois friends, but how does O'Malley do it? I'm sure he's the A#1 Democratic governor, but I'm short on the details. Can anybody inform me on how things are going that makes Maryland so much better than Illinois? I'm really thinking about moving back to Maryland. The only sure and certain thing I know I tell my Illinois friends is, "We have a hell of a lot fewer a!@#$%^s in Maryland!" Why is Maryland suffering so much less than Illinois?
What's happening?? I'd really like to know, and I can't find out anything coherent on the Internet.
Grace

[TygrBright]

119. Kratovil won the seat after the troglodyte wing of the GOP shot itself in the foot...

...getting rid of one of the few principled, effective, intelligent Republicans left in the Party. Wayne Gilchrest had served a bunch of terms in Congress after a career as a high school science teacher, and while he was socially a bit more conservative and pro-business than I liked, he was rock solid on science, on saving the Bay from the Army Corps of Engineers, and a whole lot of other issues. He made his decisions about what stand to take on an issue based on rationality and intelligent research, rather than on knee-jerk neanderthal principles or pandering to the wackjob wing, so of course he had to go.

They primaried him in 2008 and he went gracefully, although a LARGE number of his constituents would happily have supported him as an Independent. I do truly believe that even the Democratic Party would have stood aside and/or run only the smallest token campaign in 2008 had Gilchrest been running as an Indy. It's a VERY conservative district, but most people liked Wayne.

However, he was anathema to the wackjob caucus so he had to go. Kratovil was the best the Dems could come up with to contest such a very conservative, effectively "safe" GOP seat. It's astounding that he pulled it out in 2008, even with the Obama coattails.

Kratovil might not have thrilled the more liberal Democrats but he was a truly amazing phenomenon in that district and it's really too bad he didn't manage to hang on again. It will probably be another twenty years before demographics and the expanding commuter communities turn that district blue again, no matter how wonderful a candidate the local Dem party can find to run.

sadly,
Bright

[deutsey]

125. Yep, it's not easy being blue in this red section of Maryland

although I do live in a relatively purple part of the Shore.

Lots of progressives and artsy types where I am (we also had a lot of anti-war activity here leading up to the invasion of Iraq), but we're surrounded by lots of red.

[mysticalchick]

123. Same here ...

... and agreed - Kratovil was 99% bluedog but he's 100% better than dirtbag boy. Bleah.

[Botany]

23. against health care when it is for others

Dr. Harris understands that the Obama-Pelosi-Hoyer agenda threatens to pull the plug on America's long-term health," Harris said in an
Oct. 30 statement. “"In Washington, I will never vote to raise taxes, I will fight to repeal health-care reform, and I will work to balance the budget."

[Can of Whoop-ass]

24. Pugs

Pugs: Cake= Eat it too!

[The Wizard]

25. I'm not a doctor

but I play one in my imagination. This guy needs an enema. It's one of the best remedies for being full of shit.

[alcibiades_mystery]

26. Watta bagiagaloop!

[classof56]

27. Words. Simply. Fail. Me.

:argh:

[Javaman]

28. First to criticize, first to put their hands out.

he will make a fine repuke politician.

[liberalhistorian]

44. No shit, just like my own

newly-elected (gag! choke! bleh!) congress critter, the only rep we have for the entire fucking state (SD); I wasn't that crazy recently about Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, whom she defeated, but she's light-years better than this naive, clueless, ignorant, hypocritical, bagger-loving, hypocritical, dipshit Palin-wannabe who replaced her. She, too, yammered on about spending and the eeeevil fedrul gubmint, etc., you know the drill. She was especially vociferous about health care reform and how she'd be the first in line to repeal it. Never mind that she has no fucking clue just how government and congress work and thinks she can just wave a magic wand and everything will be the way she wants (like most freshman repubs). Yet, she and her family farm have received millions in federal farm subsidies over the years, they continue to do so, and she's made it clear she has no intention of allowing that to cease. Nor will she give up the cushy federal health benefits she's now entitled to that WE pay for, the very people she would deny needed insurance and reform to.

To that idiot "doctor": Listen, motherfucker, hubby and I both work very hard but have been without insurance for almost two years now. We're healthy for the most part, and can, at least now, afford the few prescriptions and visits we do need, but if something were to happen to one of us now (cancer, accident, any one of a million things that can go wrong in the blink of an eye), we'd be up shit creek financially for the rest of our lives, that is, if we could even afford treatment or find subsidized/charity care (too young yet for Medicare but too "rich" for Medicaid and too old for any affordable individual plans). 'Cause your colleagues sure as shit aren't gonna treat people without beau coup bucks. What the FUCK do you think we're supposed to do? And you yammer and whine about not having TAXPAYER PAID GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED insurance for a fucking MONTH? GAAAA!!! I know it's too damned early, but I think I'm gonna go have a drink or two or twenty now.

[geardaddy]

59. +1,000,000

on your rant about too young for Medicare and too "rich" for Medicaid.

[liberalhistorian]

121. No shit, too many people are caught in that trap. And

just try to find any affordable individual plan when you're over forty, doesn't matter if you're in excellent health and never had any major health problems or issues. All these pubs' who point to individual plans as the "savior" of those who don't have group plans have no fucking clue what they're talking about (because they've never had to worry about it and deal with such themselves) or they DO know the real score but just don't give a tenth of a pellet of rat shit. Usually, it's the latter.

What gets me is that we pay for Medicare through payroll taxes, but can't access it until we're 65. That is horseshit. Make Medicare available to ALL, period, we already pay for it, why the fuck should we have to wait until damn near the end of our lives, after likely over FORTY years of paying into it, to get any benefits from it?????

[SocialistLez]

134. +1

He so conveniently forgets about all the people who will be going without health insurance and have no hope of seeing health insurance ANYTIME soon.
Oh and health insurance is nice but it's also nice being able to afford to USE IT!

[SomeGuyInEagan]

62. The entitled, Republican way.

He's a natural.

[Blue_Tires]

117. +1000

[mwb970]

29. Imagine that. A hypocritical republican jerk.

:eyes:

[NewJeffCT]

35. I know - a first time for everything

:sarcasm:

[dkofos]

30. repube assholery knows no bounds

[Evasporque]

31. When they repeal it then his pre-existing condition would deny him coverage...

As he would of dropped continuous group coverage.

[NewJeffCT]

36. Yes - he has the pre-existing condition of his head being up his ass

cranial rectal inversion.

[donco6]

32. Maybe he can trade a chicken for it. n/t

[yellowcanine]

34. Seems that Frank Kratovil has an issue for a rematch in 2012 if he chooses.

The Democrats are remiss if they don't start running ads right now in the district pointing out the hypocrisy of Harris campaigning against public health care for ordinary folks but demanding his publicly funded health care forthwith.

[wial]

37. I bet he doesn't even know

how ridiculous he looks.

[Botany]

42. I bet you he does not care

* the new Florida Governor Rick Scott's company paid the largest fine ever and plead
guilty to 16 felonies for defrauding the government for health care

* Ohio's new Governor John Kasich worked to weaken controls over wall street
and went to work for Lehman Brothers and got Ohio to invest $480 million into
Lehman Brothers and when they went out of biz that money went bye bye but
Kasich walked w/ a huge commission check

* Rand Paul invented his own Medical Board to get his medical license

[peace13]

38. We must cut them free from their addiction to insurance!

Set them all free and give them a small stipend to try and procure health insurance out on the free market. That my friends, is the only way these selfish, stupid people will ever learn!

[PearliePoo2]

39. The stupidity of voters is on display here.

Hey baggers.....how's that "anti-ObamaCare" candidate working out for 'ya?

[Yavin4]

40. Rep. Harris, Talk to the Invisible Hand

Cause the face aint listening.

[alcibiades_mystery]

43. ROFL

:thumbsup:

[Capitalocracy]

41. Best news story I've ever read.

If the American people don't have healthcare, who cares? But if I have to be without healthcare 28 days, that is simply unacceptable! Who knows what could happen to me during those 28 days?

The unabashed selfishness, the sense of entitlement, the unbelievable disdain for your fellow American... all illustrated so clearly in this case. Not only does he show a sense of entitlement to something that he believes other people aren't good enough to receive, he obviously thinks that not having health care for as little as four weeks is this huge deal! And yet he would enact policies that make health care inaccessible to millions for their entire lives. We're serfs to these people.

[valerief]

45. Knock yourself out, Andy. Please. Knock yourself out. nt

[BlancheSplanchnik]

46. K and R for visibility.

Rub it in everyone's face---thanks, clueless voters.





Disgusting people who have no business in leadership positions.

I vomit from them.

[Yavin4]

47. Why Doesn't These GOP Freshmen Set An Example. Buy Your Own Health Insurance

Set an example and buy your own private health insurance for your family. Show the world the wonders of free market, for profit healthcare!

[Botany]

51. many freshman democratic congress critters did just that .....

.... and said that would not take government health care until a health care
law was passed. My Congressperson, Mary Jo Kilroy turned down a pay raise
and gotten beaten by a bank lobbyist.

[JBoy]

48. "C'mon. This is MY healthcare I'm talking about. Not some poor person's."

What a fucking shit bag.

[valerief]

78. You've nailed the attitude to a T. nt

[KansDem]

49. Just heard about this on "Democracy Now"

Interview with Wendell Potter, former spokesperson with Cigna and Humana, now "whistle blower" with new book exposing the outrageous swindle perpetuated on the American people in preventing "socialized medicine."

Andy Harris is the typical whining hypocrite with the "I've got mine, to Hell with you" attitude...in short, a "Republican."

[ehrnst]

52. Perhaps he has a pre-existing condition..... (nt)

[LeftishBrit]

58. Perhaps he has the pre-existing condition known as being a stupid hypocrite...

[grilled onions]

102. He does....

No heart...no soul but far too much nerve!

[thereismore]

53. In medical circles, anesthesiologists are known (stereotyped) as being devoid of any personality. nt

[kath]

127. They also make a shitload more money than primary care docs, who are working their asses off

in the trenches - with phone calls all night long (at least once or twice a week), hospital rounds (sometimes at 4 or 5 different hospitals), and office hours.
Anesthesiology is a pretty cush deal - set hours (show up for your shift, then go home) and BIG bucks.

This guy makes hundreds of thousands of dollars a year -- I'm sure it would be NO hardship for him to pay for a month of insurance.
Jeebus H. Christ on a trailer hitch, what an asshole.

[RKP5637]

54. Yet another lame R asshole! n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

55. Democrats should make noise about this and use this guy

to paint the entire Republican Party as whining, hypocritical, and out for themselves. They should do so without mercy. They should call upon him to make a public explaination of his double standard, after that double standard has been publicized and widley discussed. It should be constantly pointed out that every single Republican who impeded and voted against insurance reform eagerly take their Government healthcare, that they beg for it, complain that it is not good enough, and they do not want other Americans to get what they have.
This man is being paid $13,600 a month and he is bothered about a month in which he pays for himself out of that highrise stack. Poor guy. Such a slim salary the People give him, and then they make him wait for his Government Health Care, a whole month!
They all look for a handout, these GOP fatcats, and they don't mind letting you know when they are not being served quickly enough. This man has yet to work a day in Congress, and already he is complaining about the deal the People give him. Nothing is ever enough for these Republicans, but nothing is just what they think the rest of us should have, and this Harris is living proof of that, he's an opera about Republicans looking for special treatment.

[klook]

89. Hell Yes! Poster Child for Repub hypocrisy

And every single Democrat and Democratic spokesperson should us the exact same wording to hammer the message relentlessly for a few news cycles. And create ads contrasting this spoiled whiner with actual Americans who are struggling without adequate health care coverage.

He needs to be held up as an example for public ridicule. Give him the modern-day equivalent of the stocks in the public square, where everybody can throw rotten vegetables at him.

This pisses me off more than anything in a long time -- well, several hours since I read about the latest Republican outrage.

[mbperrin]

57. The stoooopid! It burns!!!

Good lord, I hope the university where he received his training is no longer in business, or is quickly revoking his degree. He obviously has no thinking capacity at all.


Not to mention a heart.


Here's hoping he gets everything he deserves!! And quickly.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

61. “This is the only employer I’ve ever worked for where you don’t get coverage the first day ..."

... are employed,” his spokeswoman Anna Nix told POLITICO.

Really? REALLY?

I bet there are several of your constituents - many who even voted for you - who would love to have a job with such benefits. I can't think of an employer I have worked who offered coverage on day one, you spoiled, entitled little POS.

[Demstud]

120. Was only available for those with 1 year experience in my current job and my last one :-P

What an out of touch idiot.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

64. Andy Harris needs 28 days of Rehab.

[LibDemAlways]

65. So this asshole ran on getting rid of

"Obamacare", which is government sponsored healthcare ONLY in the fantasy world in which he apparently lives, and now he's demanding real government sponsored healthcare for himself?

WTF?

The hypocrisy of this idiot knows no bounds, but I suppose the majority of voters will get what they voted for - a worthless turd.

[harun]

66. Inequality is their prime directive. They want everything now and want

others to have nothing.

Ego-maniac assh*le.

[DWilliamsamh]

67. I can'tr believe it...

No I don't mean I can't believe that this "anti-Obamacare" asshole is literally pissed because his government subsidized healthcare doesn't kick in immediately, or that he doesn't have an OPTION to buy in sooner.

I can't believe that I am still astounded by the level of hypocrisy found in almost every single one of these republican/tea bagger asshats.

[abqmufc]

69. the mindset of the fuck you pay me politician....

mind blowing...

[DirkGently]

70. Hi-larious. B-b-b-ut I want MY government healthcare. I just don't want YOU to have it.

[Steerpike]

71. what a spud....

ask yourself why these dolts are effectively blocking our every effort?

[NBachers]

72. You elect a greedy dog fucker, you deserve a greedy dog fucker

Sounds like a perfect candidate for Chariman of the Freshman Coalition.

I was lucky enough to get a job with insurance when my prior employer went under. I had glaucoma with edema blisters of the eye, which meant I was walking around all day feeling like a hot pencil had been jabbed into my eyeball.

I had to wait a 6 month probationary period before my insurance started. Only then could they put me on the list for a cornea transplant. It wasn't pleasant. I was on the list for two months before I had the operation.

After several years, the cornea has failed; I'm scheduled for another transplant in January.

Every single day, I'm grateful for the insurance that has made my care possible. Most of my adult life has been spent with no insurance at all.

This guy astounds me with his hypocrisy. I hope his constituents enjoy him tea bagging them throughout his time in Congress.

[Steerpike]

76. Good Morning

I hope you get the treatment you need soon. I hope you get better...cause that shit sounds like it hurts!

[NBachers]

173. Thanks. The painful part was four years back. I hope I never have to life through that again

[Flatulo]

73. Poor baby!

I have to spend almost 50% of my net pay to get a plan that routinely refuses to pay any claims! I have to fight these fuckers to the death over every nickel.

[bvar22]

74. The DNC and the DCCC shoulld plaster THAT...

...all over his district for the next two years....
They could make it stick if they wanted to. He would become known as:
"The Republican who Couldn't Wait to get on Big Government Health Insurance."

[prodigals0n]

75. This clown reminds me of the person who said

"The government better keep their hands off of my Medicare!" during the so-called health care reform debate.

LOL

It's no wonder our nation is in decline. Democracy cannot survive this level of stupidity.

[Pacifist Patriot]

77. The whole Tea Party / far right-wing Political Philosophy can be boiled down to 5 words.

I want mine, fuck yours.

[Democat]

79. Shocked!

Not really.

[mstinamotorcity]

80. Tell him

his Health care is in the same place that most uninsured American's Health care is " their DREAMS"

[DainBramaged]

81. We have to file these stories and FEED THEM to our media friends

in 2012 when these turds come up for election again. Wait, if we had a propaganda arm like FAUX we wouldn't HAVE to file them ourselves.

[Monarda]

82. welcome to the world, Doc

This could be a teachable moment for this bozo and his followers.

[BigD_95]

84. I just dont understand

why people vote these guys in office. Why people vote against their own self interest.

I have a friend who is a teacher & her mom was a teacher & her brother is a teacher. Yet they are all Republicans in PA where the Republican party wants to break up the teachers union. Their mom made a nice life and their family was all on her health benefits and not their dad's because being a teacher she had the better heath care benefits. Her and her brother has their entire family on their health benefits for the same reason. Yet the teachers union is the one who fault for them to get those healthcare benefits.....along with their salary and nice retirement package. Yet they vote Republican every time. Makes me sick.


My cousin told my mom she love Glen Beck and would love to march with the tea party and cant stand the Dems. Later on she was telling my mom how she had to get unemployment again because it ran out. My mom was like.... " You know the Republican party was against extending unemployment". What would you do if they got their way? Oh yea she is a single mother and gets assistance from the big bad government to help with her child. Yet she is voting Republican.

Its like these people have no clue.

[No Elephants]

85. Clearly, he is not the sharpest scalpel on the surgical floor.

As a doctor, a Congressional Rep AND a govt employee, he had 3 compelling reasons to KNOW Medicare is the only health insurance the U.S. government offers, yet he did not know and never bothered to inquire until someone told him his insurance would kick in on Feb 1, 2011.


How did he ever make it into and out of Johns Hopkins, let alone debate an incumbent?

[Blue Owl]

86. Looks like someone's had too much of their own anesthesia

n/t

[FlyByNight]

87. Republican = Hypocrite

This jackass should be ashamed of himself but that would require integrity and self-awareness.

The hypocrisy is, simply, breathtaking.

:eyes:

[No Elephants]

88. P.S. Lousy headline, conflating govt-provided health insurance with govt-provided health care, 2

very different things. How very Republicon!

[old mark]

90. K&R - I hope this is spread far and wide by the MSM....nt

[brentspeak]

91. This Harris clown didn't take long to show what a hypocritical weasel he is

[Action]

92. Exactly Why

repub voters are so knowledge challenged.

[Vinca]

93. Doesn't this just piss you off to no end?

Find your own health care, sport . . . like the rest of us.

[usaf-vet]

94. "what he would do without 28 days of health care"...

....the same scary thing 50 million other American's without health care do. Hope and pray you don't get sick or worst yet that one of your kids don't get sick?

And NO you moron you can't purchase insurance from the government to cover the gap because selfish, self-center, greedy morons like you did everything in your power to kill a public option.

Have you ever heard the phrase "first do no harm"?

As an ex military medic I wouldn't wish you any ill health but....here is hoping you don't get re-elected to congress, that your medical practice fails, that you loose your license to practice medicine, that you get sued for every penny you ever had or would hope to have, and that you live to a ripe old age without any health care and you get up everyday hoping you don't get sick because you can't afford health care.

God where do evil people like this come from. He has a white coat and goes to work but he's no doctor in my book. He's an anesthesiologist because he doesn't like people unless they are asleep and don't know what a moron he is standing at the head of the OR table.

[Mimosa]

112. I wish you could tell Andy that in person!

USAF-Vet, a hearty welcome to Democratic Underground from me, just a member. :D

[Carolina]

129. welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Enrique]

95. fuck Politico!

just kidding. It is funny, though. 93 posts and not one mention of the source of this story. But if the story is "anti-Obama" we'd see 93 "fuck Politico!" responses.

Anyway, Politico does have problems, but this is a good story from them.

[boycottfaux]

96. I GOT MINE

Screw the rest of you . .

Is any one of us surprised?????

[mod mom]

97. shouldn't a prominent journalist ask him if he shouldn't forgo this benefit since he is against

"socialized medicine"?

[soryang]

98. He should permanently refudiate his socialist benefits n/t

[No Elephants]

179. LOL. Well done!

[social_critic]

99. Andy Harris is a secret agent

Andy Harris is a democrat. He's a secret agent, and will have to vote for the public health care option once he's in office. Either that, or he's the most cynical sob in the universe.

[colsohlibgal]

100. Multiverse Record Hypocrites

How dumb are teabaggers not to see through these two faced liars? It staggers the imagination. my guess is dumb as a box of rocks. Yet people like this clown are there because our democratic leadership is a woeful combo of bought out and/or spineless and they kept too many turned off liberal voters home election day. Blue Dogs turn my stomach but fake liberals like Dodd are even worse IMHO.

The time is now Americans, use that mass in your skull between your ears and connect A to B to C, it's not rocket science. You get another chance in 2012.

[Crunchy Frog]

101. He's perfectly free to purchase a policy on the open market isn't he?

Does he think there's some sort of problem with free market health care? :shrug:

[No Elephants]

178. Yep. It ain't free. Or even inexpensive.

Old joke:

Q. Are you free tonight?
A. I'm never free-but I'm quite reasonable.

(Rim shot)

[KamaAina]

103. FAIL before he's even sworn in.

:rofl:

One down, 238 to go. :eyes:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

104. next on his agenda: voting himself a raise.

bet on it.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

124. Right after voting to raise the debt limit ...

... can't give yourself a raise - or do anything - without the debt limit being raised. Otherwise, shut the whole thing down.

That'll appeal to his voters.

[BlueDemKev]

105. I posted this to my Facebook page this A.M.

Typical right-wing hypocrisy. Heaven forbid if his TAXPAYER-FUNDED benefits don't kick in until 30 days after he's sworn into office, but screw those of us who are PAYING FOR HIS INSURANCE while trying to qualify for insurance coverage ourselves.

POS Republican Loser.

[Iggo]

106. Anesthesiologist. Fucking priceless.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

108. I don't think it's hypocrisy, actually...

I think it's complete and utter ignorance. This douchebag probably didn't even know what Obama's healthcare plan was when he campaigned against it. He probably figured it was death camps, unplugging Granny, and all the other horrors of socialism. :eyes:

[yellowcanine]

142. It is hypocrisy. He is against government health care for "the little people" but wants his now.

Definition of hypocrisy.

[TxVietVet]

109. Hey, teabaggin' kkklucker, welcome to reality.

Do what the rest of us have to do: without. :o

Now, here's a good lesson in hypocracy. The teabagger wants to deny health care to most Americans (except rich conservanazis), gets elected and bitches because the government, which he wants to destroy, isn't suiting his immediate needs.

Sounds more like a greedy spoiled brat rather than a teabaggin' kkklucker. :spank:

[prolesunited]

110. Where's mine

I can't afford my insanely expensive asthma drugs and have now been playing Russian roulette with my Advair inhaler. I already ran out of the Singulair after stretching them out as long as I could.

[FLyellowdog]

115. Posted on Facebook...

My conservative friends won't be pleased. :rofl:

[Harry Monroe]

151. I did exactly the same thing

My progressive friends are livid. All I hear from my conservative friends are the sounds of crickets!!

[FLyellowdog]

177. Mine have gone balistic on me. OMG!

One even asked me to tell him just exactly what Obama has done since in office because I seem to be "getting a tingle going up my leg." Well, I was more than glad to give him a list and sent him links to other lists. I doubt he'll read them, but he did ask. :rofl:

[Harry Monroe]

180. "THEY CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!"

Did they provide logical counter arguments to refute Harris' hypocrisy or did they just put their fingers in their ears? They'll always invoke Obama's supposed sins when they have nothing concrete to counter with.

[FLyellowdog]

181. Just fingers in their ears

and heads up their asses. (The asses aren't happy.):rofl:

[ProudDad]

116. "What am I going to do without insurance?!"

Take some Fentanyl and call me in the morning, asshole...

[Carolina]

130. I love it

toss in a little Versed, too.

[NewJeffCT]

144. I would just tell him "sorry, you have a pre-existing condition"

Your head is stuck up your ass...

[liberalhistorian]

122. If only there were a way to refuse to pay the portion of

our taxes that go to pay for the health plans of these selfish hypocritical motherfuckers. I would more than gladly do that, as would almost everyone else I know. They refuse us and deny us the same benefit that WE PAY FOR FOR THEM, but demand it all for THEM. Not on my goddamn tax dollars.

[Throckmorton]

128. I'm on board, lets pull up the ladder! n/t

[mistertrickster]

133. Don't fret, you hypocritical bastard, thanks to the Democratic Party you can buy COBRA. nt

[Permanut]

135. It's not often you see one of these clowns

Max out the hypocricy meter and the irony meter in one sentence.

[starzdust]

136. I work for the government...

However I am not a filthy rich doctor or a member of the trillionaires club. I live in Arizona and our GOP senator, John McCain and Jon Kyl (GOP) get social security and I'll bet ya that they also get the same health benefit package. McCain married a multimillionaire so why does he need these benefits?

I'd like to set things straight as far as government health care benefits are concerned.

As a government employee I also get this benefit. I have a high end policy with NALC; I have a yearly deductible, I pay for 20-30% out of pocket each pay period for this coverage, I have a co-pay and specialist can cost from 20 - 100% if the provider isn't in network. So my government health care benefit is NOT FREE. I also have a drug benefit and take a boatload of them and it costs anywhere from $15 for generic, $35 for name brand or 100% if the drug isn't in their formulary. The costs are for a months supply. CVS/Caremark is a mail order and I have to pay for a 90 day supply. They will not fill anything less.

I can fill a 1 month prescription at a CVS store (have to drive 3690 miles round trip). All this adds up over the month. Here's the kicker; My job site is in the middle of no-where and I have to drive up to 360 miles (round trip) for my doctors visit (every two weeks) I can spend up to $75 dollars a trip usually more. There are no medical suppliers out here and there is only one that will drive out here for oxygen and oxygen concentrators.

I also pay social security because I am a relative new hire and I am part of the newer FERS. Only those with the old retirement system (CSRS) did not pay into the social security system. All new employees must take the newer FERS system.

I know that many will say that my health insurance is better than nothing. Perhaps, but I can't afford to pay for it as, due to medical illnesses, I had to stop working. It is taking so much time for my disability retirement to kick in that I will most likely have to file for bankruptcy.

Starzdust

[starzdust]

137. I forgot to tell you...

That I also pay premiums every pay day for my government health insurance.

Starzdust

[freerebel]

149. Social Security

should NOT be for folks who clearly don't need it. Set a high cap to start, that's fine, but start somewhere. If you have 30-40 million in assets when you retire, I think you can just live off that for the rest of your life.

It's money meant to be there to ensure the financial security of folks later in life. People in the above money class are about as secure as secure gets.

[Ruby the Liberal]

138. k&r for hypocracy on parade!

I love a good parade. :D

I hope this gets played as a clip on the local news in his district.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

139. Even Forbes is tearing him to pieces.

OK, it's a blogger at Forbes, but still....

Conservative GOP Freshman Wants His Government Health Care-Now!

Rick Ungar
The Policy Page
Nov. 16 2010 - 2:35 pm

....
The bottom line here is that Dr. Harris – the man elected to Congress by the voters of Maryland’s 1st Congressional District – clearly knows very little about the American health care system he was sent to Washington D.C. to change.

If these Marylanders are feeling a bit sheepish and embarrassed as their new Congressman makes a complete ass of himself in front of the nation, they are getting precisely what they deserve. When you vote for a representative without bothering to ascertain if he knows what he is talking about, you get Dr. Harris. And when you don’t bother to vote at all, you take what you get and forfeit the right to complain about it.

Unfortunately, the rest of us are stuck with the result of your failing to take these elections seriously.

[penndragon69]

140. Yes to Socialized health care

But ONLY for refugnicons.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

141. He beat Frank Kratovil, who I believe was the only Democratic incumbent in Maryland

who lost. What an asshole!

[freerebel]

143. To be fair...

he was trying to make the point that if there is an effective delay of a month for him, it will likely be the same or worse for anyone getting a new government plan. He's an idiot, and he stated it like an idiot, but I don't think he was too worried about his own plan.

That is a gap that should be addressed though, to make it easier for regular folks to transition into a government plan. Might be put offish otherwise.

[liberalhistorian]

169. Name me ONE private insurance/group plan where you do NOT

have to wait less than thirty days. In most cases (in fact, in every plan I've ever known or been a part of), the wait is more like 60 or 90 days. You almost never start off work someplace where the benefits kick in on the very first day. 30 days is a bargain, frankly. And when he asks what he's "supposed to do" in the month he doesn't have anything, well, what in the hell does he think the rest of Americans, and those without insurance, have to deal with???? The only "inefficience" here is in his brain.

[DailyGrind51]

145. If it applies to THEM, it isn't "socialism", I guess?

[NewJeffCT]

146. Of course

he's not one of the "little" people, so he's probably not used to waiting...

[gatorboy]

147. FUCK THESE GUYS!

ARGGHH! These cretins piss me off!!!

[NewJeffCT]

148. Hey Rep. Harris...

[SteveM]

150. Bald-faced hypocrisy means nothing to the Far Right; in fact, they thrive on it. nt

[crim son]

152. Imagine if this guy developed cancer during those 28 days,

and then was refused treatment when the insurance kicked in, because it was considered a preexisting condition. That'd be terrible, wouldn't it?

[geckosfeet]

155. Zero sympathy. It's called a waiting period asshole. You're lucky it's only 30 days. eom

[Roy Rolling]

158. republican solution

In the solution from republican talking points: if he doesn't like the health care where he is employed he is free to find employment at another company with better health benefits. That is the free market.

[greenman3610]

157. Unbelievable. No, wait. Completely believable.

[jimlup]

159. Idiots

:rofl:

[fascisthunter]

163. Question is, is he just trying to discredit the Bill

I'm wondering if he really doesn't care, but is just trying to find flaw with the Bill.

"See... see... government can't do anything right! This is the red tape I was talking about!"

These fuckers are weasels... never underestimate them.

[Strelnikov_]

164. A Hypocritical Reichpublican . . . Ach Mein Gott !!! n/t

[Beartracks]

166. LOL - Rly, he did this to emphasize gov-care inefficiencies??

Then I presume he will turn down the offer of what he considers inferior, wasteful insurance.

And I presume also that he will support the next public option effort and other progressive initiatives going forward. Heck, he should sponsor such legislation.

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

[ibegurpard]

167. I have no words...

[mckara]

168. Douche-Bag!

Is he tone deaf, or merely stupid?

[unkachuck]

172. K&R....typical puke....n/t

[markmyword]

174. False Representation....Rep. Harris

I would have loved to have had the Medicare and Social
Security representatives 
at the Tea Party rallies,  and at the polls on election
day,where the representatives
could conveniently CANCEL any government subsidies, that Tea
Party members were getting. 

Tea Party members don't believe in a socialist government and
since
taking Medicare and/or Social Security is a government
handout, they
should be willing to give them up. BUT THEY DON'T!

Representative Harris, as a Conservative Republican, shouldn't
even be
thinking of getting Health Care offered by the government. He
believes 
in an individual paying their own way. SO PAY!

Didn't he get elected on smaller government?
Aren't(Conservatives) they
going to dismantle Medicare and Social Security and the
People's Health 
care program?

So why would he want a government handout??? 

Didn't he LIE to his constituents about Health Care, in order
to get elected?
Someone should get this in all his local papers, how he will 
vote AGAINST health care for his constituents, but NOT FOR
HIMSELF.

 

[Aviation Pro]

175. Excuse me Mr. Republicant....

...BUT YOU CAN GO FUCK YOURSELF YOU FUCKING WALKING WAD OF FUCK! WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE FUCKING JOBS, SHITSTAIN?!? HOW COME YOU HAVEN'T FIXED THE FUCKING ECONOMY YET, FUCKSTAIN? MY ADVICE, ASSHAT, IS THAT YOU DON'T CONTRACT A LIFE THREATENING DISEASE IN THE NEXT MONTH, ASSBAG.

GET BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY FUCKSTICK.

[Hubert Flottz]

176. If it was up your entitiled ass kicking a freakin' political football you'd...

know where your government healthcare was, you neanderfuk!