Dick Durbin: 'If You Think It's A Socialist Plot, Drop Out' Of Your Federal Health Program

[Hissyspit]

Run time: 01:29 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWuM2iVVtaA   Posted on YouTube: February 25, 2010 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 26, 2010 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 5070

 
C-SPAN3 - 25 February 2010: Senator Dick Durbin asks Republicans who oppose health reform to give up the health plans they and their families receive from the federal government as members of Congress: "The federal employees health benefit program that we enjoy as individuals and want for our families is all we are asking for in this bill for families across America. If you think it is a socialist plot and it's wrong, for goodness sakes, drop out of the federal employees health benefit program. But if you think it is good enough for your family, shouldn't our health insurance be good enough for the rest of America?"

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2010/02/25/healthcare_summit_slide_show/slideshow.html#

Richard Durbin, D-Ill.

Reid's deputy gave the best rebuttal to GOP arguments of any Democrat (many of whom actually would have been better off staying mute and letting Obama speak), putting tort reform in its relatively irrelevant place and reminding people that the "government takeover" involves giving citizens the same choices as members of Congress have. Which led to the best line of the day: "If you think it's a Socialist plot and it's wrong, for goodness sakes, drop out of the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program. But if you think it's good enough for your family, shouldn't our health insurance be good enough for the rest of America?"

Grade: A

[cutlassmama]

1. A+++ When the Senator tried to say it would be OK for members

to do that Obama qualified it with "and make $40,000.00/year":fistbump:

[laughingliberal]

2. K & R nt

[ashling]

3. Outstanding!

I'd like to see someone (Olberman, Maddow?) string together a clip of these type moments

[Delphinus]

8. And play it on rightwing radio.

Or on Faux News.

[sasquuatch55]

12. Discrimination of the constituancy!

nt

[GreenTea]

4. This is mind-blowing truth on television for ALL to see....

[bulloney]

5. I think I saw Cantor looking the other way as Durbin was making that statement.

There's so much truth and logic to Durbin's remark that Cantor and his Republican colleagues can't handle it, so they have to look away and hope it doesn't register with anyone.

A bunch of sick puppies in that room.

[seattle_blue]

10. YOU'RE RIGHT

Republicans react to the truth like vampires to a cross..That's just too funny. :wow:

[sasquuatch55]

19. Cantor always looks like all that is on his mind is DUH!

nt

[Vermontgrown]

26. The worst we can do is underestimate the intelligents of the right wing.

[zanana1]

28. Um...Don 't you mean "intelligence"?

Or are you right-wing?

[wolfgangmo]

30. Intelligents: noun

Partly intelligent and partly gentlemen, but not fully of either.

[bjobotts]

44. It's not about the issue of HC with these repubs.It's about defeating democrats.Most don't know what

is even in the bill outside of what their lobbyists told them...the lobbyists are speaking thru these repub's mouths. They knopwingly lie because everyone one of them know the difference between the "nuclear option" and what reconciliation is...they knowingly just repeat the lie...which indicates they aren't concerned about "policy making" or the issue, just trying to defeat the dem agenda for political gain. Only stupid selfish assholes vote republican after this.

[Oldtimeralso]

47. Intelligence and right wing is an oxymoron. n/t

[liberation]

25. For the GOP their ends justifies their means, and any means at all will do for them...

... that is why it simply does not face them when they are exposed in their lies. They simply move on, because it does not register them that "lying" is wrong or immoral, they simply view those lies being exposed as a small bump in their road to achieve their ultimate end. Which to them is the only thing that matters.

I have seen sociopaths with more empathy and sense of decorum that any modern day Republican seems to be able to display.

[midnight]

6. I love that this part of the health care debate is being televised...

[ScottLand]

7. Amen!

Put your money where your mouth is!

[peace13]

9. To watch this live was a thing o f beauty!

So many of us have been saying this for years and there Durbin was, speaking our words on TV to the thick headed, greedy folks who need to hear it.

[mucifer]

11. He's my senator and no response when I called and emailed regarding

signing the public option letter. I'll keep voting for Durbin. But, actions are more important than words in my book.

[SteveM]

13. Nice remarks, but they won't go anywhere...

The Democratic Party is tone deaf (or quite afraid) when it comes to the GOP.

Shh, now, we don't won't to antagonize them. They -- they're -- BULLIES! Don't push back against a bully, just walk away and keep your dignity. I know, I know, they're fewer, but they're stronger and smarter, and they know how to fight. Just be quiet and let them embarrass themselves. It'll happen. I hope. And don't tell the media -- it'll look bad; you know, like we are no longer in the bi-partisan spirit. Isn't that the way we're supposed to be? And the media knows that Democrats are supposed to be accomodating and the GOP are bullies. If we don't act that way, the media will be all over US, not the GOP. Pretty soon the media will call us "Leftist," or something, like LBJ.

Watch. It won't go anywhere.

[Grassy Knoll]

38. Exactly !!!!!

It's like getting a Rolls Royce ( Obama for president ) , and all the jealous sore losers ( the Repugs ) do their best
to get his license revoked . sad, so sad !

[suede1]

14. That was great!

[sulphurdunn]

15. I wonder how many

networks edited or didn't broadcast Durbin's remarks?

[PatSeg]

31. I saw it and I was watching CNN

They kept cutting into the summit with their lame analysis, but they did show Durbin's comments in full.

[AlbertCat]

16. The WHO rated the USA #37 in Health Care years ago.

No we don't have the "best health care in the world". I wouldn't mind being in France when I'm sick.... then I won't have to worry about nurses who were taught "touch healing" and other crap! I'm so sick of this "we have the best health care" meme! All we have is the most expensive.


Other than that.... his comments were excellent.

[wolfgangmo]

32. Could you stick to the topic?

Please don't dilute the topic with irrelevant references to healing touch.

This is about health care (you are dead on about how bad the care is in the US) and the theft of it from the American public by the corporations and their paid for congress critters. Let's not dilute our message.

It is good to see someone hitting back at the GOP'ers. Sorry for the snark but if we don't get ourselves focussed we will lose this fight again.

[AlbertCat]

34. Please don't dilute the topic with irrelevant references to healing touch.

I thought it was an example of a symptom of being 37th.


To be more clear about the subject and not diluted or even be as rude as I was...

What we have here is some of the best facilities, personnel and technologies in health care. But the cost of health care is part of "the best" equation, and so is access to these superior assets. What good is having a great hospital and staff if you can't afford to go there? Reform is about access. Health care SHOULD be expensive considering what it entails. Making all this "best" stuff accessible has been neglected for decades.

[smoogatz]

17. It's the same thing we've been saying

since the healthcare debate started rolling a year ago. It's the same thing Michael Moore said in Sicko. Obama campained on this very idea. It should have been the Senate Democrats' rallying cry from day one. Better late than never, boys. I guess.

[SemperEadem]

18. oh you know they're not going to do that

it's ok for them to take advantage of a 'socialist plot' when it serves their individual purposes while they're taking money from the insurance lobbyists, don'tcha know?

But Durbin is right on in challenging them on their bullshit.

[Plucketeer]

20. Here's the question in my mind!

How many more times are the Rethugs gonna expose themselves to these public drubbings??? Between Durbin's questions and Pelosi's calling them LIARS, they've GOT to be reeling when they slink back to their C-street sanctuary? LOL!!!

:rofl:

[husky92]

21. Bravo Senator Durbin

Senator Durbin is exactly right. When I was watching the proceedings I cringed every time I'd hear some Republican basically saying...tough shit to everyone w/o health insurance. They made noise about people setting up health savings accounts, etc. Sure, that is another way to funnel money to companies to keep and make bigger profits. These guys just don't get it. Senator Durbin put everything in perspective of those people in the room being one step away from being like some other people. I noticed the Republicans never mention how good their health care is. It is terrific and will remain that way until they die. These people have no compassion for others and they show it every time thy open their mouths. They can talk all they want about being friends of the man or woman on Main Street, but it's pure bullshit. They don't care about them at all. Screw starting from scratch. Proceed forward and let's get a public option and crap on all those lobbyists and others who have been working to kill this bill.

[Stuart G]

22. K and R

[mzmolly]

23. A beautiful

moment in history. ;) K and R.

[walldude]

24. K&R... Bout time someone brought this up.

[Divine Discontent]

27. GREAT JOB SENATOR! problem is that last sentence - they're not 1 accident/diagnosis away from being

able to afford/find care - most of them have a million bucks easy in the bank, if not tens of millions. They can have any damned care they want, and for that matter, any damned non-medical treatment they want! Cantor can afford to have surgical treatment to replace his hair every day for the rest of his life if he wants - these people are uber wealthy.


and therefore - THAT'S why people like the GREAT senator Harkin, standing up for me and other Americans, is so honorable.


The ones against HCR are nothing but elitist traitors to the people, living off of OUR tax dollars.

[PassingFair]

29. "...unfortunate FEW"???

On what planet is nearly 50 million people
considered an "unfortunate few"?

[katty]

33. great idea Dick--I say get them all off Fed Healthcare! they don't

deserve my tax$$ to cover their golden asses!

[proud patriot]

35. sums up my feelings

:thumbsup:

[rtassi]

36. Eloquence in every word ... n/t

[dyingnumbers]

37. The conservatives don't like sharing.

Any motion that allows ethnic minorities to have the self-same rights as white Anglo-Saxon Protestants has to be socialist, unpatriotic, and should be discouraged.

[Dunky360]

39. HYPOCRITICAL SONS-OF-BITCHES!

Dick Cheney does not deserve to have taxpayer funded health insurance, especially since he doesn't want other Americans to have any. What the hell makes him so special? That war criminal should be rotting away in a prison cell in Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo Bay along with his fellow war criminal Dubya Bush!

[Shining Jack]

40. Well said ! nt

[Cha]

41. Yeah, you lying hypocritical whineasses.

[AML]

42. I gave him $250 for his last re-election campaign...

...and now I'm glad I did!

[defendandprotect]

43. Excellent point -- and too little discussion of that yesterday at Summit . . .

especially one one Repug Senator/Doctor was suggesting the health care investment

programs -- $$$ -- what hypocrisy!!

[BlueMTexpat]

45. Why has this not been the #1 talking point for the Dems from

the beginning?
The corollary is that those who are unhappy with having Medicare coverage should also refuse to sign up or drop out if they already have it.
After all, Medicare is "socialist" too.

[UrbScotty]

46. ABOUT. DARN. TIME I heard a prominent Democrat say that!

I mean I've heard other Democrats say that, but Durbin is the #2 Dem in the Senate. Props to him!

:applause: