Grayson vs Bachmann On 'Larry King Live'

[democracy1st]

Run time: 07:27 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDpqh5KNxSw   Posted on YouTube: March 04, 2010 By YouTube Member: MoxNewsDotCom Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: March 04, 2010 By DU Member: democracy1st Views on DU: 8234

 
http://grayson.house.gov/


http://MOXNews.com/
March 03, 2010 CNN



Grayson, Bachmann Debate Health Care Reform On 'Larry King Live'

Civility reigned Wednesday during a health care debate between Reps. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) and Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) on "Larry King Live."

Both lawmakers, perhaps two of the House's most ideologically different members, were on their best behavior during a segment that had the potential to be a knock-down-drag-out fight.

Bachmann began the discussion by arguing that the Senate would be breaking it's own rules to pass a health care bill if it uses reconciliation.

Bachmann: An up or down vote is a good thing, Larry. It's just how many votes will it take. Will it take 50 votes or will it take 60 votes...

King: Well what's wrong with majority rules?

Bachmann: Well because that's not how the Senate works. The Senate works with 60 votes, and now what the president is promoting is a nuclear option which is 50 votes.

King: But it used the majority rules on the Bush tax cuts.

Bachmann: Well, the House uses straight majority rules, the Senate doesn't. So what this means is that the Senate has to break their own rules in order to pass the bill.

King: And that's wrong?

Bachmann: Oh, I think so. Sure.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/03/grayson-bachmann-debate-h_n_485078.html

Larry King Live transcript:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/03/lkl.01.html

[Turbineguy]

1. 115 people per day die

because they don't have health care. Never mind outlawing assault weapons and drunk drivers. We should outlaw republicans

[seattle_blue]

2. Answer this question

In the past decade, who has been responsible for more American deaths?
A. Osama bin Laden
B. Saddam Hussein
C. The American Health Insurance Industry

Just thought I'd ask.

Answer: C Congratulations if you got the correct answer.

[howmad1]

46. D. George Bush

[seattle_blue]

57. Nice

I forgot one...:think: Thanx

[Tx4obama]

3. Grayson did a great job biting his tongue and coming off nonconfrontational. n/t

[shotten99]

5. Bachmann looked liek she was ready to cry every time he spoke.

[MrsBrady]

4. I love her deer in the headlights look

when he starts talking facts.
She looks physically pained when facts are employed.
Good for her that she has a doctor and good health insurance.
I suggest she consult a mental health care provider in her doctor network.

Do I need the sarcasm thingy?

[WhoIsNumberNone]

7. She looks like a deer in the headlights even before she starts talking

What's up with that vacant look on her face from the moment she's introduced?

I see she's back to her whole "investigate the Democrats" refrain though.

[hoosier_lefty]

12. more like crazy eyes!

She's got that crazy weirdo conservative whacko look.

How the hell did she get elected!?

[amyrose2712]

32. "Crazy weirdo conservative whacko " voters?

:shrug: :shrug: Oh yes DEFINITELY some "crazy eyes"

[axollot]

35. Her eyes - zomg - they are crazy eyes (and I dont mean that against folks that are nuts)

her eyes are crazy to look at - her mouth spews the rubbish tho!
Creepy eyes?!

[livingonearth]

58. Her eyes are like those of Shirley Phelps!

Check this video out and compare her to the crazy Shirley Phelps of Westboro Baptist fame.
They both have the same eyes and mouth thing going.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-STpW7jarrs

[leftrightwingnut]

76. Yikes! She is creepy.

:yoiks: I couldn't watch for more than a few seconds.

[axollot]

82. Shirley Phelps is crazy sure but her eyes arent as creepy as Bachmanns!

I read that Bachmann's husband is the director of several mental health institutions. Connection? I think he married her to groom her for this sort of bile she spews. However, her hubby would make $$ if more people had access to mental health care. End Corporate Person-hood.

Cheers
Sandy
ps. thanks for the giggle comparison all the same!

[Blue Owl]

47. Looks like insanity to me

n/t

[Botany]

62. she did have the deer in the headlights look when Alan was giving facts

And what is up w/ her we need an investigation into Obama crap?

[Tx4obama]

6. Important thing to point out

Regarding Bachmann saying that Cong. Matheson was at the WH and that Obama was going to do some arm twisting / deal making and that there should be an investigation, etc. (paraphrased) ... that is CRAZY TALK because ---->

" The President has ALREADY made the Judgeship appointment. So how can Obama negotiate a vote from Matheson's brother?????"

Answer: HE CAN'T since the appointment has already been made and announced - so there will be NO arm twisting. no deals. End of story.

[Hamlette]

8. Jim Matheson will NEVER vote for heath care because he is a coward and Scott (Judge) is a great guy

Jim, the congresscritter, is a bottom dweller. His father would hate what he has become. Scott is a man of integrity. He would have been great as a political leader but he is painfully shy and 1000% smarter than his idiot brother in congress.

It make me sick that Bachman thinks she has the right to even mention the name of either man.

Odd interview though. She really looked loony and Grayson (bless his heart) stuck to the facts and didn't let her drag him into the mud.

What an odd tangent for her to go off on.

[imnKOgnito]

9. When ones own talking points are so handily refuted...

especially to ones face on national television, odd tangents to deflect the harsh, bright light of truth are all that's left, appearances be damned.

[Hamlette]

39. well said, how sad though that so many Americans fall for it

Wonder why she didn't go for the GOPs other favorite trick: lie. She could have said "your statistics are wrong, we have the best health care system in the world, people come to the US from all over the world to get treatment, HCR will destroy that because it will destroy competition and incentive." My guess is she was caught off guard. She has never heard the statistics Grayson was quoting and because she's never heard those numbers, she couldn't think fast enough to come up with the lies. Either that or she's honest. Honestly nuts, but honest none the less.

[axollot]

36. She lost the debate so she did what they right always do - throw up a distraction

- at the end of the conversation she knew she didnt come out ahead so she went conspiracy theory. It was fairly amateur work even for ol crazy eyes herself.
Cheers
sandy

[Rozlee]

43. Yeah, I kept expecting her to bring up Area 51

And yeah, guys, I agree about her eyes. Did she ever blink at all during that interview? I'd be terrified to be alone with her. I'd be afraid she'd pounce on me, unhinge her jaw and swallow me head first. And they complain about Nancy Pelosi using Botox. This moonbat looks like she injects in with a turkey baster.

:scared:

[opihimoimoi]

10. Her district needs some series civics upgrading that they continue to send this JOKE to Congress

Amazing Level they got....that they send her as their mouth piece....are they all cynical and mystical??

[Divine Discontent]

15. extremely cynical and afraid of change.... must be.

[SirRevolutionary]

11. Grayson was awesome!

Level-headed, intelligent, calm, well thought out answers, and he called her out on her bs every time. Then you have the crazy Jesus eyed batshit lady and the talking points written on her hands on the other side.

[Divine Discontent]

14. yes yes yes! agree with everything but impugning Jesus in with her hate! She's a lunatic fringe

nut-job, and clearly, there's something in a lot of the water up in her home district if she can keep getting elected with those crazy-eyed stares and bizarre talking points. She's creepy....

and ps -
I LOVE MY CONGRESSMAN!!!!

[SirRevolutionary]

56. True, a better term is probably crazy fundie eyes

But Grayson had her trying to uncross them with his calm intelligence. Threw her for a loop! :crazy:

[Chisox08]

13. Is Bachmann stupid or is she just stupid?

The Senate works on a simple majority just like the House. It takes 60 to break a filibuster. With that being said they are filibustering everything requiring a super majority to get a bill passed.
It was funny that all she had was talking points and when confronted with facts she looked like she pissed her panties.

[underpants]

17. "An up or down vote is a good thing, Larry. It's just how many votes will it take. "

:rofl:

that was the part, at the very beginning, that just cracked me up

"up or dow" MEANS a simple majority. She not only didn't understand the basic question or she didn't understand the words coming out of her own mouth

too funny.

[vduhr]

61. That was the first thing I noticed too.

If I had been drinking something, I would have done a spit-take. Then I couldn't take my eyes away from her facial expression (or lack of expression). It was like watching the Stepford Wives. Is the GOP taking people to a secret place and replacing them with robotic creatures. It might explain why they keep repeating talking points over and over again.

[Bosso 63]

28. She is not "just stupid".

Bachmann is so profoundly stupid that she lacks the basic self-awareness of her own stupidity.

[activa8tr]

29. I was going to post the same thing, and I like the choices you offered

I'm going with BOTH! She is stupid and she is just stupid.

All of the above.

Oh, and she's stupid, too!

What's wrong with the electorate in her district? Are they stupid or just stupid?

[fromVT]

38. I'm so glad someone else noticed that

THAT was the real point of this clip. Bachmann is busy saying that it takes 60 votes to pass anything -- like it's been that way since the founding of the country. And now the Senate is ILLEGALLY changing its rules to a mere majority to pass legislation! I was shocked that Grayson did not set her straight and let that slide right by.

If Bachmann's perception becomes mainstream -- and it already is -- this healthcare legislation looks even more shady. It's not about reconciliation. It's about America's lack of civics education and the lack of memory this country has. 50 votes to pass legislation in the Senate, unless the other side filibusters!

[tomm2thumbs]

16. Obama should give Bachmann a big ol wet kiss on the lips the next time he sees her

She earned it...

Her paranoid idiocy is doing wonders for the Democratic cause. One look at her and you realize how important it is to NOT vote Republican.

[ro1942]

18. Americans get the representatives the deserve

feel sorry for Minnesota

[Bosso 63]

27. With all due respect, thats the just the 6th district.

My Rep. is Keith Ellison D-MN 5th. We're not ALL crazy, but the 6th district does have more than it's fair share.

[spicegal]

19. Bachman is batshit crazy, and shows once again how out of touch the Republicans are.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

20. At least she smiles when she insinuates people should "die qUickly," isn't that nice, erm nah.

[The Wizard]

21. Someone needs increased medication

Michelle Bachmann is closing in on electro-shock therapy. She clearly suffers from thought disorders compounded by loose associations. Her driving privileges are a threat to everyone walking the streets.

[bulloney]

22. Without the audio you can tell that Bachmann is off-the-charts goofy.

Then, after you listen to her, you shake your head and wonder how the people in her distict can send such an ingorant bimbo to represent them in Washington.

All she does is parrot RW talk show rhetoric. Nothing to back up her claims. No data. Just scare tactics.

[ixion]

23. uh, so stupid is now called "ideologically different"

therein lies the crux of our problem. When stupid, devoid-of-fact statements are given the credibility of "ideology" we are truly, deeply and wholly screwed.

[ScottLand]

24. Larry, I sense I'm losing this debate so allow me to

change the subject!

[MUAD_DIB]

33. No shit. You know how Republicans love to investigate...

unless they're investigating their own corrupt buddies, and then they'll turn a blind eye to it.

Is she serious?


If we were to have an investigation then it should be to pry open Bush Cheney and spill out all of the illegal shit that they did for 8 years.

[Enthusiast]

42. This is why the Obama Administration

is doing such a disservice to the American people by refusing to investigate Bush Administration malfeasance.

As soon as the Republicans regain power they will investigate, they will fabricate and they will insinuate that there is Democratic wrong doing, whether true or not.

[ScottLand]

66. And we'll live to regret that they didn't do anything about

the torture problem. It's not over as long as the official word is "let's just look forward".

[ScottLand]

68. Absolutely. If what they did was so good for the country,

why didn't they mention it before and during the time they did it? If I do something I think is good, I don't hide it.

[AsahinaKimi]

25. In boxing match terms..

Bachmann was K-Oed in the first few seconds.. just after she opened her mouth. Grayson was probably trying very hard not to roll his eyes. (Though I think a well placed Face palm and head shaking would have made it fun.)

[icee]

26. Grayson kicked her ass. He could have destroyed her but chose to

stay professional. This is my favorite politician. Were he to attain the Presidency one day, I do not think he could be compromised.

[Crowman1979]

49. He was afraid of causing Bachmann's head to explode.

The last thing he wants is for her to become a martyr and get pieces of brain on his suit. :rofl:

[icee]

55. LOL

[LaPera]

63. That's why he'll never become president someday.

Much too much compromise has to be made with the money & power boys....If you don't compromise you unfortunately, don't stand a chance.

[icee]

71. Nope. That's about to get us HCR from Hell. Grayson wouldn't

do it. No offense, but if I believed as you suggest I'd start packing now.

[mucifer]

30. Grayson handled the interview well. I'm glad neither screamed. I'd have to turn it

off if it was a yelling match.

[activa8tr]

31. Larry King, is he still competent? He doesn't seem to know

what the heck he's talking about.

[silenttigersong]

34. Ms. Bachman

is utterly despicable,I believe she has opened the door for all the filthy ,lying, scum- sucking, scratch my back I will scratch yours Re- buke tatics.She needs to go back to her prayer closet and ask for forgiveness.

[indy legend]

37. Bachman continues to execute the GOP game plan to perfection.

Keep repeating a lie over and over and eventually enough stupid people will believe it's true.

[benld74]

40. Thanks Minnesota! Too cold up there to think straight before ya vote?

[Blue Owl]

48. It's some kind of weird gerrymandering thing, I've been told.

All the nuts in this otherwise liberal state supposedly live in Bachmann's district.

[geardaddy]

53. I kinda wish I lived in her district

so I could vote against her, but then I'd be living among the troglodytes. Also, I get to vote for Keith Ellison where I live now.

[Divine Discontent]

80. it would be fun to help unseat her (it's possible, anything is possible), and you at least to get to

vote for a good person. I do to, the guy talking is mine, and I'm happy!

[geardaddy]

83. Aren't we lucky?!

:7

[Enthusiast]

41. Her wing nut constituents

probably think she sounds perfectly reasonable. We know better.

[LatteLibertine]

44. Yep Alan shut her down

[KansDem]

45. I swear, my cat got up and left the room when Bachmann began speaking...

Really!

[Fla Dem]

50. I'm sorry but Bachmann got more "Talking Points" in than Grayson and that's what counts.

I love Alan Grayson, he is one of a handful of congress people and Senators that will stand toe to toe with the Rethugs and fire back. So I was disappointed in his appearance on LKL.

In the 30 second sound bite, talking point media world we live in the Rethugs have honed their skills to an expert level. Probably from all the times they have been on Fox and thanks also to Frank Luntz. Democrats, bless their little hearts, always try to take the more reasoned, fact based, let's educate the masses approach. Just look at the exchange on LKL.....whose comments are going to stick with the viewers? The comments in italics are mine; Under Bachmann's remarks what I wish Alan Grayson had said. Under Grayson's remarks, what impact I felt they would have on the average viewer.

Bachman

"Well, the problem is, number one, it's a job killer."

Not a job killer a job creator.

"...it's a government takeover of 18 percent of the economy and it's going to be massive tax increases."

no government takeover, all people will be insured by private insurers who will have to hire more staff.

"...it will cut $500 billion from Medicare from vulnerable seniors."

$500 billion will come from improved efficiencies, seniors will see no change in available health care. $500 billion over 10 years is a drop in the bucket of total Medicare payments.

"...Time Magazine" today said that the president's spending is laying the groundwork to double taxes in 10 years."

...I don't have an answer for this one, because I don't know.

"Unfortunately, President Obama's bill won't bring down the costs for average Americans -- or really for very few Americans, if any."

Yes it will. With more healthy insureds paying into the system, premiums will come down.

"Because today, the president offered a judgeship to the brother of a member of Congress. Tonight, the president has that same member of Congress at the White House, pressuring him to change his vote on health care."

Before making an inflammatory statement like that, where is your proof a judgeship was offered for a vote?

"...the big question is, is the White House trading health care votes for judgeships?"

just one more conspiracy theory to add to the list.

Grayson
"Look, we spend 17 percent of our income on health care. No one else in the entire world spends more than 11 percent of our income. And yet we're 50th in life expectancy in the world. The Japanese live more than five years longer than we do. And we are 46th in infant mortality, below Cuba."

Good response, but where is the takeaway sound bite.

"The system is broken and it needs to be reformed. That's what this bill does."

yada, yada, yada..... no substance, no sound bite, no talking point.

"According to a Harvard study, if you take two people who are absolutely physically identical -- same race, same age, same gender, same -- same smoking experience and same weight -- two people who are identical except one has health care and the other one doesn't, then the one without health care is 40 percent more likely to die each year."

Again, another good reasoned answer. But if I already have health Insurance, why should I care. Does not address the "ME" issue.

"Well, my esteemed colleague from Minnesota has just deployed another weapon of mass distraction that the Republicans use from time to time to try to change the subject away from health care."

Nice use of words, but does nothing to advance the HCR cause.

"...affordable health care in this country that is accessible to people and that covers everyone. That's the issue. If you want to go off on a tangent, you're doing a disservice to the American people."

Another useless comment, platitudes with no punch.


All I'm saying is whether it's HCR or any other issue we want to advance, we've got to get some hard hitting talking points and hammer them home. The Rethugs are so on message all the time. All their key people have the same message whenever a camera or mic is in front of their face. I laughed at the compilation Hardball did of the Rethug's talking points at the HC Summit, but those talking points are what the masses take away.

Peace out.

:shrug:

[SlingBlade]

51. K & R : Tell them that we demand Single Payer NOW

Contact the White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Call the White House
[phone]

Call, Write, Fax and E-mail your Representatives, House and Senate
http://www.contactingthecongress.org /

[vanbean]

52. Larry let her off the hook right off the bat.

When Larry said that the Bush tax cuts came from reconcilation her answer was that the House rules are different. He should have pressed her on the point of the Bush tax cuts, but he let her off the hook.

[bamacrat]

54. Corruption? An investigation? So they are going to try and find something to bog Obama down.

I swear, we didn't investigate Bush for all of his corrupt actions because the dems realized how bad it was when the pukes did it to Clinton, but oh of course the republicans are going to try and find something to investigate Obama over. She is bat shit and this was the sanest I have seen her. She needs to go. Please Minnesotans get rid of Bachmann.

[howmad1]

59. So you think she's bat shit crazy?

The rethuglicans don't have a monopoly on bat shit crazy. How about Blanch Lincoln, Max Baucus, Bart Stupak, Kent Conrad, dozens of blue dog demobots, etc., etc., etc. By the way, how hard is the DCCC working to find a suitable candidate to run against Bachmann? How much money is the DCCC willing to throw into district 6 to defeat this bitch? Let me remind all you DU'ers making fun of this whore that one day after Obama's inauguration, the pundits were claiming the end of the rethuglican party. So how come more bat shit crazy conservative whacko's will win elections in Nov. and 2012. Yeah, You keep making fun of this bat shit crazy women and her supporters, then wonder why she and other nut cases are going to get elected. Maybe it's because there are as many bat shit crazies in the Democratic party as well.

[LittleGirl]

64. I can see your point

but seriously, you have to have armour (or is it armor) coated skin to take on politics and frankly, I don't know many people that have that much guts or patience. Franken, Dennis K and Grayson..yeah, but anybody else?

[zenprole]

60. Toss-up

Who's more loopy, Rep. Bachman or Larry King? She's got the blank stare of the true believer and he should have been put out to pasture 20 years ago.

Rep. Grayson is incredible.

[Left Coast2020]

65. Grayson, at the buzzer, shoots, SCORES!!!

:applause:

[Jester Messiah]

67. I see what she did there.

"Oh crap, I've been systematically shut down and called on everything... what to do... oh yeah, JUDGES!"

Grayson was serene, stoic, and unstoppable. I was expecting his firebrand persona, but this one will do quite nicely as well.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

69. Larry King is un-watchable

[JohnWxy]

70. Grayson countered with logic and referring to reality

"My esteemed colleague from Minnesota is entirely wrong. There's nothing in the Senate rules that prevents reconciliation. It's been used 22 times overall and 14 times by Republicans. If it's good enough to provide tax cuts for the rich -- twice under Bush -- it's good enough to provide health care for all Americans."


Well done. If only more Democrats could talk like this to Coporate Lobbyist Big Lie brokers.

[DWilliamsamh]

72. How did he do it??

How did Rep Grayson not tell Bachmann she has to be the stupidest, most ill informed person he's ever me? Either that or an unrepentant liar?

There is no way I could have had that much self control. I guess that's why I deal with servers and he's in congress.

[perdita9]

73. Are the people in Minnesota crazy?

How could they elect this dumb broad to Congress? So much for mid-west values.

[geardaddy]

81. Nice broad brush you got there.

Minnesota also has given us Wellstone and Franken.

It's the largest minority in CD6 that elected this numbskull.

[2Design]

74. why are lies given equal time to progandize n/t

[theFrankFactor]

75. Bachman = Republican EOM

[GrantDem]

77. Rep. Grayson did an awesome job of not letting Bachman take him off message.

[Hulk]

78. she does look "crazy".....

And what's with that "stupid smile" she pastes on her face everytime it's her turn to speak? God...this battle-ax scares me. Are the good people in her district really that God awful dumb?

Seems like Larry King is having a little trouble with names, titles, etc. tonight. I think the old bird needs to take a long vacation...say 30+ years?

As for backmann.....she's just Fruit-Loops crazy....or is it CocoaPuffs?? She is really a loon. I'd LOVE to see her and the lipstick pig on a ticket in 2012. That would be a riot.

[defendandprotect]

79. GOP has for so long been working on super-majority votes that almost no one

recognizes 51 anymore!! Majority rule!!