What kind of prayer is that?
I grew up Baptist in Alabama, surrounded by ultra-conservatives whose religious beliefs were quite different from mine. Southern Baptists split with their northern counterparts because the southerners believed that God condoned slavery. White southern church-goers were also likely to oppose full citizenship for black Americans, using the Bible as backup for their beliefs.
Despite all that, I’m still surprised to hear that an ultra-conservative religious group, the Family Research Council Action PAC, held a video “prayercast” to pray that God will defeat health care legislation. You’re kidding, right?
An estimated 40,000 people die in this country every year because they don’t have access to health care. The Senate’s health care bill takes very little away from anybody while providing access to health insurance to millions more Americans. So, in the Christmas season, which celebrates the birth of Christ (supposedly), these jokers want God not to make life any easier for millions of sick and injured Americans?
What kind of prayer is that?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
338 comments Add your comment
jt
December 17th, 2009
7:33 am
Maybe RCA PAC knows this. The more government involvement, the less quality medical care. Maybe RCA PAC really cares about lives instead of some democratic big government control agenda.
From The Economist-
“Medicare was the most likely to deny any part of a claim, with a 6.9 percent rate. Aetna was a close second at 6.8 percent while the others ranged from 2.7 percent to 4.6 percent.
Whatever the reason, the fact that Medicare denies more claims than commercial insurers should dispel the myth that the government is simply a benevolent entity, while commercial insurers are ruthless, profit-hungry wolves. The truth–as always–lies not in the black nor the white but in the gray.
SouthernGal
December 17th, 2009
7:48 am
I find it ironic…my mother had health insurance and died anyway!
Peadawg
December 17th, 2009
7:51 am
“An estimated 40,000 people die in this country every year because they don’t have access to health care.”
What’s the numbers on people dieing WITH healthcare, Cynthia?
fred smith
December 17th, 2009
7:51 am
One of the reasons I avoid white churches and organized religion is that many are nothing but (very) thinly veiled excuses for endless variations of rampant bigotry. In the case of health care, the wish for somebody’s god (I hope not mine) to deny health to the have-nots is nothing short of asking for that god to support murder. Shades of the Crusades; nothing changes. Is the proposed system perfect? Of course not. Is it better than the present? Don’t know yet. But for God’s sake, let’s try.
Bob
December 17th, 2009
7:52 am
I have never been a fan of these people but they have it right on this one. Many dems including Robert Reich admit that innovation will die under Obamacare and he is fine with that. This is part of the same group that bashed Bush over stem cell research saying Bush was limiting progress, and if they were elected, Christopher Reeve was going to walk again. This liberal idea will help healthcare as much as busing helped education. Why can’t you libs do something that does not punish responsible people, just like the ponzi scam Social Security, dems have to lower the bar for most while raising the bar for so few.
Bob
December 17th, 2009
7:58 am
Fred Smith, Why don’t you go to Obama’s church and see rev Wright if you want to avoid bigotry ? They are not a white church so I am sure nothing racial goes on there. And sure, lets throw out a great system so we can try a program designed by Nancy Pelosi, after all, she did get 30 million for the mouse habitat restoration in San Fran, that helped the have nots quite a bit.
jopar
December 17th, 2009
8:08 am
As if denial of claims has anything to do with quality of care.As a radiologic technologist I see that probably 40 percent of imaging done is sheer waste.Medicare is the only entity mentioned that has the slightest interest in saving money.The private insurers don’t really mind if their total payouts are high, they are going to take their profit and you are going to pay the rest.
I agree that there are problems with proposed legislation.The only sane direction to go on this is single-payer and so that’s where most other developed countries have gone.
But we’re AMERICA,we have to reinvent the wheel so that healthcare execs can make millions a year.
jopar
December 17th, 2009
8:09 am
Above was response to JT, sorry.
jopar
December 17th, 2009
8:11 am
Bob: If you really think our system is great,your judgment is impaired.
Jimmy62
December 17th, 2009
8:21 am
Almost, but not quite as crazy as the Cindy Sheehans and Bill Ayers of the world. At least these people aren’t on the front page of every paper in the country, or killing people. I think you’re worried about the wrong kind of people, start worrying about the ones that cause violence, like the left wing protestors in Copenhagen who are rioting.
Turd Feguson
December 17th, 2009
8:29 am
One of the reasons I avoid black churches and organized religion is that many are nothing but (very) thinly veiled excuses for endless variations of rampant bigotry. In the case of health care, the wish for somebody’s god (I hope not mine) to deny health to the lazy is nothing short of asking for that god to support them in finding a job. Shades of the Crusades; nothing changes. Is the proposed system perfect? Of course not. Is it better than the present? Don’t know yet. But for God’s sake, let’s enjoy what we have.
There…Much Better.
Turd Feguson
December 17th, 2009
8:31 am
The prayer was to defeat a bad idea. If one wants to pray for murder then that certainly is their perogative, however, a very bad idea.
Ms Tucker, stop with the attempting to create what isnt there and perhaps people might take you more seriously.
Vinny
December 17th, 2009
8:35 am
How many doctors do you think will drop medicare like a hot potato as soon as their reimbursements are cut by the dems? That is how the irresposible Obama administration plans on reducing costs – by reducing payments to doctors.
Let the rationing begin!!!
Scout
December 17th, 2009
8:50 am
Miss Cynthia, Miss Cynthia:
I have a question for you. Jesus had the power to heal every person. Why didn’t He?
Now, when you answer that one I have some more for you regarding why the Democrats health care bill is so bad for this country.
jt
December 17th, 2009
8:56 am
jopar -
JT is my father. I am jt.
You state——-”Medicare is the only entity mentioned that has the slightest interest in saving money.”
Should a health care entity be interested in “saving money”? I prefer a health care entity that is ONLY interested in providing the highest level of service.
You mentioned reinventing the wheel. It seems to me like there is absolutely no inventing going on. It is the same old crap. More government regulations, higher taxes, more misery.
To REALLY invent solutions, get the two middle-men who stand between ourselves and quality healthcare out of the equation. Entirely.
You can start by voting Libertarian this next election.
sam
December 17th, 2009
9:03 am
cynthia, you of all people should know that organized religion is not about helping people any more. it is about money and pushing a political agenda. this goes for black, white, yellow, etc….sad but true.
lovelyliz
December 17th, 2009
9:04 am
So much for the LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION AND ENDS AT BIRTH, Christians.
Call it like it is.
December 17th, 2009
9:05 am
Stop the presses, this just in Cindy is black and had issues growing up in Alabama. It was of course all of the conservatives fault, just as it is today……..Stay tuned for further updates.
Hey Cindy for kicks and giggles since “you” are so fond of just talking about “your” community, tell us how many people are dying each year from having unprotected sex and passing on STD’s and AID’s? How many are dying from gun shot hits from drive-by’s, gang wars, drug wars and on and on and on. But I am sure this is the fault of the Right or some church prayed for it. Well all I can tell you is my preacher never got and started screaming G-D America.
Why don’t you clean up your own house before you start complaining about others and what they pray for. Some pray to God, others like yourself worship Obama. I guess we will find out real soon who is going to win.
Of course I guess a new health care package will take care of all of this, right?
lovelyliz
December 17th, 2009
9:07 am
men jopar!!!!!!!!
lovelyliz
December 17th, 2009
9:08 am
Amen jopar!!!!!!
sam
December 17th, 2009
9:09 am
seems to me that a “religious group” praying for poor americans to continue dying unnecessarily is about as good as screaming g*d damn america…
lovelyliz
December 17th, 2009
9:16 am
Many have the assumption that private insurance pays so much better than Medicare. As someone who knows someone, that’s not the case much more than people think. Insurance companies loves squeezing doctors and hospitals as much as they do the consumer. There are doctors out there that won’t accept certain health insurance plans for this very reason.
Of course Medicare doesn’t produce million $$$$ executives and they don’t pay for continuing education seminars at golf courses in Bermuda.
Scout
December 17th, 2009
9:17 am
The truly sad thing is that Ms. Tucker grew up in the only country in this world where she could go from what she was (and I’m sure she suffered some discrimination – we all do in some form or another) to what she is today and she doesn’t even appreciate it. I repeat …….. no other country in the world ! Heck, she could even have done that in the country of Alabama !
Otis
December 17th, 2009
9:20 am
Ah yes, more white people bashing from Cynthia “the race baiter” Tucker.
Cynthia, how about reporting on black churches that preach hatred towards whites like Obama Hussein’s Chicago church?
You guys/gals celebrate your skin color over everything else right?
sam
December 17th, 2009
9:21 am
scout,
that is a completely false statement…
Otis
December 17th, 2009
9:22 am
Cynthia Tucker, also, why not report on the churches that pray to MLK?
How insane and retarded is that? The man is DEAD!
sam
December 17th, 2009
9:24 am
thats tomorrow’s blog otis..
Beowulf
December 17th, 2009
9:27 am
lovelyliz,
“So much for the LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION AND ENDS AT BIRTH, Christians.”
???
My life as a zygote?
As for everyone else – is it possible, seriously, that there is another option other than the Frankenstein Dem plan we have now or the status quo? There are other ideas out there, I have heard several, that make more sense and will not throw our national debt to unrecoverable levels. Something has to change, agreed, but rushing into a crap piece of legislation is not the answer.
Scout
December 17th, 2009
9:27 am
Sam:
You have your opinion and I have mine. Isn’t it a great country ?
Otis
December 17th, 2009
9:30 am
Cynthia Tucker, ever think about writing on topics that the general public would want to read?
sam
December 17th, 2009
9:32 am
like churches who pray to MLK. now thats what we should be talking about
today
December 17th, 2009
9:36 am
Lovely liz said:
Many have the assumption that private insurance pays so much better than Medicare. As someone who knows someone, that’s not the case much more than people think. Insurance companies loves squeezing doctors and hospitals as much as they do the consumer. There are doctors out there that won’t accept certain health insurance plans for this very reason.
Thank you! My company switched to Aetna this year. We had one plan offered take it or leave it! I had to change all of my doctors, my husband’s specialist, and my kid’s pediatrician. I questioned a couple of them and they said Aetna doesn’t pay propmtly when claims are filed. (Sometimes it can take as 6 months!!!) Also, Aetna will refuse to cover many neccesary services. If they do pay, the discounted amount is barely enough to cover the cost of the procedure.
My company has switched to United Healthcare for the upcoming year. It had better be worth it as the premium rose 16%. A total of 34% of my gross pay now goes for insurance that my family uses maybe 4-5 a year.
kayaker 71
December 17th, 2009
9:37 am
Cynthia,
Close to 1.3M potential Americans die every year from abortion in this country, 92% of which are from “social reasons”, ie, we don’t want this child and we are using the most convenient form of birth control. In most cases, this is totally elective on the part of the potential parents. You are so concerned with the 40K people who die in this country who didn’t have insurance….. how many of them would have died anyway, health care insurance or not? Your logic escapes me.
Scout
December 17th, 2009
9:45 am
I guess Cynthia or no one else wants to try to answer my 8:50am huh?
Well, I’m off to the mall. Check when I get back ………….
not a CT fan
December 17th, 2009
9:47 am
CT, you call yourself a Christian. Can you show me scripture that supports abortion?
Ifind it intereseting that you start your column with the slavery issue. I find it interesting that this administration is moving the middle class closer and closer to bondage to the government. And they are using a charismatic African-American to accomplish it. This health-care is a major step towards it,
Grumpy
December 17th, 2009
9:47 am
Religion is a sham. Suckers.
Recovering Demoholic
December 17th, 2009
9:49 am
ping
Dem4Life
December 17th, 2009
9:49 am
Govermint need to put komputer chips in white babies head to send a signul to Obama when dey think racist thoughts. Den we could put them in jail and end racism!
Recovering Demoholic
December 17th, 2009
9:52 am
Largest denier of health care claims is Medicare
(tried two posts with URLs, but awaiting moderation for over 45 minutes. huh)
Otis
December 17th, 2009
9:58 am
Dem4Life, LOLOLOL
samuel
December 17th, 2009
10:03 am
In the entire history of America, there has been no religious group that is more immoral than Southern Baptists. They have been on the wrong side of every moral issue since the abolition of slavery. How any right thinking person can take them seriously as moral arbiters is beyond me. If Southern Baptists really believe there is a heaven and a hell, where do they think their ancestors are? Health care reform, like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, is a moral issue, not a financial issue. Morality is about how you treat your fellow human beings. It’s not about how much money you have or how much things cost.
mom3
December 17th, 2009
10:03 am
I find it interesting that CT says “The Senate’s health care bill takes very little away from anybody while providing access to health insurance to millions more Americans”
Hell, the Senate doesn’t even know what is in the bill, or how much it will cost. Is CT psychic these days?
jconservative
December 17th, 2009
10:03 am
Let’s see if I got this correct: the Family Research Council wants to use the police power of the state to end abortions because they believe life begins at conception; but they refuse to use the police power of the state to care for the child after it is born. Is this correct?
This is one I agree with Rick Warren on, lets take care of the kids after they are born.
ctucker
December 17th, 2009
10:04 am
Dear Not a Fan,
Can you cite the verse that opposes or prohibits abortion?
Dem4Life
December 17th, 2009
10:04 am
yall dont know, but in r churches the devil is white!
smashsmeesha! how u ben girl?
Dave S
December 17th, 2009
10:08 am
People of faith can differ on secular matters and the “religious right” does not have a monopoly on the “Christian” viewpoint. God does not have an opinion on health care.
www.nflteamstoday.com
December 17th, 2009
10:08 am
In a FREE country, NO one is FORCED to buy ANYTHING!!
allen981
December 17th, 2009
10:08 am
I’m white, Southern, and conservative, but Cynthia’s right when she says, “southern church-goers were also likely to oppose full citizenship for black Americans, using the Bible as backup for their beliefs.”
On the day MLK died in 1968, I was working at a very Southern funeral home just outside Atlanta. A Baptist minister, attending a visitation, was speaking to a group of about 10 or so, and I will never forget his words:
“This (MLK’s death) was ordained by God. We will be far better off now without him.”
I was 16, couldn’t say a word without losing my job, and I wanted to punch the guy. He was a racist idiot, and it was prevalent in the South in that era.
That said. no other region of the country has come as far in moving beyond its past than the South.
DAVID-.....AJC's Truth Detector
December 17th, 2009
10:09 am
CT………..Health Care legislation is NOT about people’s Health……………It is about controlling the lives of all Americans……It is about Socialized medicine….It is about RATIONED CARE…….
DAVID-.....AJC's Truth Detector
December 17th, 2009
10:12 am
Might be politically incorrect…………..but the Black family was was more traditional than it is today……..There are few normal black families today…..Prisons are populated with black men…….