Newt Gingrich: Democrats bear some responsibility for threats, anger over health care
Former peaker of the U.S. House Newt Gingrich answers questions about the federal health bill during a press conference. (Associated Press)
At a press conference in Atlanta on Thursday, former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich said he was happy to condemn the use of personal threats rising out of the health care debate, but added that Democrats must bear some of the responsibility.
Said Gingrich:
“Just as there was no place for the kind of viciousness against Bush and Cheney, there’s no place for viciousness against Democrats.
“I would condemn any kind of activity that involves that kind of personal threat.
“But look, I think there’s something very disingenuous about the Democratic leaders who attacked the tea party movement, who refused to hold town hall meetings, who refused to go back home, who kept the Congress locked up in Washington, and are now shocked that people are angry.
“I think the Democratic leadership has to take some moral responsibility for having behaved with such arrogance, in such a hostile way, that the American people are deeply upset. So let’s be honest with this. This is a game that they’re playing.
“People should not engage in personal threats. I’m happy to condemn any effort to engage in personal threats. But I think the Democratic leadership has to take some real responsibility for having run a machine that used corrupt tactics, that bought votes, that bullied people, and as a result has enraged much of the American people.”
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
138 comments Add your comment
Dan
March 25th, 2010
3:55 pm
I love it how the liberals start screaming and foaming at the mouth when a Republican (whether it be Newt, Boehner, Cantor, Palin, et al.) make a statement or hold a press conference. And then they get on the message board and start the name calling, finger pointing, blame Bush, tossing profanity game they always play. What is it about these people that makes them delirious? Is it the fact that the Republicans have said something that they know is true and don’t want to admit it/believe it/accept it? After all….when you don’t have something substantive to say, or they say something that you can’t make a decent argument against, just shoot the messenger.
Guess What
March 25th, 2010
3:56 pm
Dear Newt-
Thank you for your concern. I am not upset at all. Now, please go away.
Bill Orvis White
March 25th, 2010
3:58 pm
Mr. Newt has a point here. When Big Gov’t comes to take over your personal life, some folks feel they need to do something to protect themselves. For me, I stocked up on my weapons and food cache while strengthening my bunker. I also protected myself my buying gold.
Dan
March 25th, 2010
4:00 pm
And for all you people frothing at the mouth accusing right-wingers of being the only ones to incite violence, perhaps you should read this article.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mithridate-ombud/2010/03/24/medias-myth-right-wing-violence
It seems that people on the left are just as bad and just as much to blame. So before you accuse the Republicans of being hostile and violence-prone right-wing radicals, you might want to take a look in the mirror. You just might be a hypocrite. Or is it “pot calling the kettle black.”
AF
March 25th, 2010
4:10 pm
Newt’s reason for existence is to fight against something, anything. And he is self-righteously smug. Great intelligence but puny creativity. He is still creating the founding of the US.
Maybe, if he lives to be 300, he can start dealing with the world as it is today.
jimbo
March 25th, 2010
4:13 pm
Newt is a genius and probably the only person who will be able to get this country out of the marxist progression that barry has it on the way to. barry is an idiot who can’t even hold a press conference? or produce a birth cert.? or stop lying that he doesn’t associate with chicago mobsters? or, well I don’t have the time to type any more except this: Bush broke barry’s promise to hold healthcare negotiations on C-SPAN, at least that’s what barry will say when someone finally kicks his a*s!
jimbo
March 25th, 2010
4:15 pm
@ Bill Orvis White
Bravo, me too. Send those angry little dems on over, I’ll show them my rights personally.
Newt Rocks
March 25th, 2010
4:16 pm
God I miss having him as house speaker. I miss having someone who studies history, hates teleprompters, and gives and honest answer. He had true leadership based on conservative principles. You can see the change in government after he left. Republicans lost their direction and conservative principles. We need another leader like him. Then we could discuss issues that could help our country like balanced budget admendments, welfare and entitlement reform, term limits, tax reform, real energy solutions, real job creation, true healthcare reform….
For you liberals who will always hate him please remember that he got in trouble for teaching a class at a University that had so much demand they put it on TV so anyone could watch his class. They said he could not do it with PAC money. Wonder how many lawyers made millions trying to come up with that gimick to bring this guy down.
jj
March 25th, 2010
4:17 pm
RetiredSoldier: What does naming Pelosi or Code Pink have to do with anything. I could go on and on naming names, but it’s not solving the problem. The point I was making was that we as a nation have some serious problems to overcome and to succeed in solving those problems we need to work together. United we stand, divided we fail.
Dagnabbit
March 25th, 2010
4:20 pm
@ Dan
Well spoken. And it has nothing to do with representing the people. Greed and Power comes to mind.
jimbo
March 25th, 2010
4:21 pm
@ jj
no crap, but barry is bent on dividing the nation by plying his agenda no matter what – need to dump the fool and get on with fixing those problems you allude to.
JB
March 25th, 2010
4:24 pm
NEWT Who!!!! He is Noboby!!!!!
jj
March 25th, 2010
4:29 pm
Jimbo: Unless I missed something an election was held recently and the people elected Barry as the President. I think he ran on an agenda to to clean up a lot problems facing America. He is trying to do that now.
Dan
March 25th, 2010
4:30 pm
I wasn’t really “old enough” (in terms of following politics) when Newt was Speaker of the House, and I don’t really know much about him, but there is something about him , from what I’ve seen on TV, that I like.
Either or, Democrats and Republicans can both be blamed for “inciting violence.” And violence definitely does not have it’s place in politics.
JB who
March 25th, 2010
4:30 pm
Newts the only guy to balance a federal budget in 40 years? What have you done in your life JB.
jimbo
March 25th, 2010
4:46 pm
jj:
barry ran on the premise that he would:
end earmarks
keep unemployment from rising above 8 %
close Guantanamo in the first year
end hiring of former lobbyists into white house jobs
end no compete gov’ment contracts
“new era” of bipartisan cooperation an ALL matters
chose a home church by Easter of LAST YEAR
no increase in deficit spending
etc, etc, etc
What exactly is your point?
RetiredSoldier
March 25th, 2010
4:51 pm
JJ, Bulling and civil behavior, Nancy bullies her own folks, Code Pink and Act up are uncivil on the left side.
jj
March 25th, 2010
4:55 pm
Jimbo: The President won the election. He is implementing the agenda he ran on. Bi means two. It takes two or more to negotiate. When one side says “no” to everything, that’s no negotiating. That’s called obstruction.
jj
March 25th, 2010
4:57 pm
RetiredSoldier You’ re sure hung up on Code Pink and Pelosi. Is there a problem there. Are you afraid of them or what they are saying or that they are women/
Cheryl
March 25th, 2010
5:07 pm
And Retired Soldier, you asked earlier on another thread for anyone to state where the constitution gives the Govt the right to mandate health insurance. I gave you three REAL places, and you still go on about it being unconstitutional. Apparently it is unconstitutional to you because you say it is, not because it is. …..That is exactly why trying to help some people is beyond futile, it’s an exercise in suicide. Some people apparently cannot be learned no matter what…..Question, your name is Retired Soldier, do you by chance get any military retirement, VA benefits?
RetiredSoldier
March 25th, 2010
5:07 pm
JJ in reference to the post @4:55, the reps weren’t invited into the “transparent” room that all the deals were cut.
Yes there is a problem, I can admit that “my side” behaves poorly sometimes, the problem is you can’t admit your side does too. In my mind that makes it worthless to debate with you.
If you were ever in the military you’ll understand this: RetiredSoldier out!
RetiredSoldier
March 25th, 2010
5:10 pm
Cheryl, I work for a living so I can’t read everything all the time. I’m sorry if I missed your response. If you would like to tell me again or direct me to your post I’ll be happy to respond.
Yes, I appreciate your tax dollars which help pay my retirement. VA, have never used any.
Whatever
March 25th, 2010
5:12 pm
The last time Newt was in a hospital he served his wife (who was recovering from cancer surgery) with divorce papers. And yet you STILL listen to this jerk? PLEASE.
RetiredSoldier
March 25th, 2010
5:13 pm
Can’t be learned? Now you kinda pissed me off Cheryl. I have an A.A., B.A., M.A. graduated from Command and Staff College, basicly = to another masters. No PhD like retirdds, and your qualifications Ms. Cheryl?
jj
March 25th, 2010
5:23 pm
RetiredSoldier Are you clairvoyant? You know that no reps were invited into that room. You also know what side I’m on. And if you knew everything, you would know that I was in the military. A great tour of duty in Vietnam. I don’t understand the point you were trying to make about being in the military.
draftee66
March 25th, 2010
5:26 pm
Cheryl and jj you can’t win any aarguement with a lifer like soldier. they know everything.
RetiredSoldier
March 25th, 2010
5:38 pm
JJ and draftee- One of the things I learned along time ago was I don’t know everything and to know the difference in the army between officer and nco business. Whatever success I had was due to outstanding NCO’s and later also to junior officers.
JJ- Name a time in the 11 months prior to the Blair House joke republicans were invited to participate or what republican positions from the Blair House meetings that included in the bill.
Some times you guys are so short sighted.
RetiredSoldier
March 25th, 2010
5:39 pm
Gone for the day, soldier out
A disappointed American
March 25th, 2010
5:43 pm
I am at a loss as I read this blog. It would appear that no one here values the constitution. It would appear that no one here recognizes the hate speech, the bigotry, the arrogance, and the disdain for the United States Constitution displayed by the Democratic/Socialist Party. Is it safe to assume that none of you work, that you all want to receive benefits that someone else pays for? Is it safe to assume that none of you value freedom, or, American exceptionalism. Some left wing nut job above posted something to the effect of, “we’ve got problems and some people are trying to fix them” . . . if Obamacare is fixing a problem then I’d rather have the problems. Georgia cannot afford nor sustain the costs this bill inflicts on it. Neither can we as individuals. I will never consider voting again for a democrat. I do not see how any citizen who values their freedom can. Nor can I see how any Christian can either . . . if this bill did not provide federally funded abortions why couldn’t the executive order language be actually in the law? I am disgusted reading this blog, disappinted to see our Constitution being torn to shreds, and, amazed that the media (who won’t cover the violent threats to conservatives and moderates leading up to health care becoming law) is camping out of the gross actions of a very few fringe people. Sixty percent of this country hates this socialistic bill. Blog all you want, lie all you want, I’m not going to reply. I’m going to vote, against all the incumbments I can who voted for this legislation. And, I’m going to donate to others. Oh yeah, I’m going to pray as well . . . that somehow, someway, my tax dollars won’t be used to keep unborn children from seeing the country I love so much!
draftee66
March 25th, 2010
5:43 pm
Soldier: With all your education, you sure have trouble communicating. Didn’t understand anything you said in your last post. Just a lot of talk speak.
Cheryl
March 25th, 2010
5:58 pm
Update on Cantor’s Political consultant’s office shooting…….It was a bullet, which was fired into the air, and upon coming down, it penetrated the office window and landed on the floor. No suspects have been identified……per Richmond Police Reports….. I’ll keep you updated, but it does not sound like the office was attacked…..So nobody can say I’m not telling all the facts in the case…..
Cheryl
March 25th, 2010
6:15 pm
@ Retired Soldier, I apologize for offending you, It was my intent, but It was wrong. I thought you had read my response on the Baker thread, and I jumped to the conclusion that you asked a question but didn’t really want the answer. For that, I humbly apologize. To respond to your question, I am a long and seasoned journalist from the days when Journalists really did investigate and report using real sources, not innuendo, talking points, rumors and blogs for real information. I am also a former retired journalism professor. Reading, researching and then reporting the findings, not opinions is the craft that used to prevail. It kills me when I read and listen to so many now who just insert their opinions or scripted talking points into things and then blast them out to unsuspecting listeners and readers as facts, and they do it because it sells! Don’t be mistaken, the news business is BIG business just like any other nowadays, and it’s a shame; because of with all of the deception going on today, with the stakes as high as they are, the citizens of this nation, need a real press more than ever. Without it, without a Real and Free Press, we as a nation can expect to continue on the path we are heading down, and can expect for things to just get worse. Ben Franklin is turning in his grave as we speak……Propaganda, really is one of the tools used by the REAL Nefarious forms of government in history, and these days, A HUGE amount of propaganda masquerades as news from both sides. And the truth is today, more of it than not happens on the Right. It is over-run with propaganda and most Americans don’t seem to be able to tell the difference in what IS and what is NOT Real News. That is why I take the time to give REAL facts, not so much my opinions, my opinions are only worth…..hell we barely use ink anymore, so I can’t say the page used to print it on. Again, my apologies Soldier!
Brian
March 25th, 2010
6:15 pm
“if Obamacare is fixing a problem then I’d rather have the problems. ”
-and that pretty much sums up the logic behind the position.
It is not safe to assume I don’t work, and I do value my freedom. No one has explained how making pre-existing conditions illegal (or any of the other reforms) amounts to citizens losing freedom. No one is after your freedom. Repeat, your freedom is safe. All this talk about the constitution…..where in the constitution are does it say that the speed limit on I-75 shall be 55 mph? What the hell does the constitution have to do with health insurance regulations that give consumers at least a fighting chance while enriching the insurance companies (which I’m sure you think is going to trickle down your way) at the same time?
50% of the country disapproved of this bill a week ago (before it passed), and at the same time 55% of this country didn’t even UNDERSTAND the bill. Let’s see how it polls (since that means so much to you) in a few months.
When you are praying, remember that blessed are the meek. 32 million people who otherwise would have no health insurance (not because they haven’t tried but because this country is a very uneven playing field right now) will now have the ability to get it. Imagine what that means for them, and then try to get past the idea that someone is going to come after your little money/guns/bibles/babies in order to pay for it, because they aren’t. You are going to be OKAY. STOP BEING AFRAID.
JL
March 25th, 2010
6:23 pm
Dan, When the site mentions folks like Amy Bishop, it discredits itself. Unless you think that upon arrest, it’s necessary to tell who you voted for.
Since Newt has authored a book where his health reform ideas call for individual mandates, maybe it’s time for a new spokesman.
Cheryl
March 25th, 2010
6:24 pm
Act Up began back in the days of Pres Reagan, because thousands of people were dying from an unknown disease, horrible death and the President would not address it, nor allocate any funding to research the cause and try to find a way to stop it’s spread. All anyone knew was that it was called AIDS, and apparently Gay Men were dying of it. So they took to the streets to cause public discomfort until that somebody paid attention to the fact that people were dying. Good thing they did, millions have been saved because we found out what was causing AIDS and how to prevent it. Protest is one of the greatest rights of being an American. Moving from Protest to violence, or threats of violence, no matter who is the perpetrator is NEVER what protest is about. It defeats the purpose and closes the ears of those who the protesters are trying to reach. Blacks didn’t get Voting Rights by advocating violence, or scaring or intimidating people. Dr. King and Ghandi gave us the model, anyone can use it.
A disappointed American
March 25th, 2010
6:36 pm
Brian, you’re watching too much NBC if you believe those numbers. Before this bill passed 60 plus percent of this nation opposed it. Stop lying about the numbers. A CBS (obviously liberal) poll states that after it passed 58 percent still oppose it. David Gergen (CNN and Democrat Consultant noted that polls indidcating otherwise are nothing but propoganda)
There are ways to help those who can’t help themselves without issueing an unconstitutional mandate (and it is unconstitutional to force me or you or anyone else to buy anything, as it is to force a state to pay for something its citizenry didn’t approve and can’t afford).
You are incorrect, our freedom is NOT okay, Obama is a Socialist, and you can laugh about guns, and bibles, and babies all you want. I, personally, don’t think any of this is funny. Actually, I find it rather sad!
BTW, does it not bother you when your leaders lie to you? When they lie blatantly?
The constitution protects STate powers, individual powers and the commerce clause does NOT grant the fed any right to mandate what I might or might not purchase. The Consitition protects states from unwanted and unasked for federal debt and unsustainable federal mandates.
This is a sad day in our country . . .
JL
March 25th, 2010
6:40 pm
A disappointed American, I think that you are using numbers that want the bill to do more. Brian was using the numbers for folks who do not want any coverage at all.
A disappointed American
March 25th, 2010
6:41 pm
Two new polls Brian, from Quinnipeac, just came out . . . shows a nine point spread between those who favor this and those who don’t, and more don’t than do. Also, 55% say bill should be repealed. Yeah . . . its a real popular bill . . .
A disappointed American
March 25th, 2010
6:44 pm
Enjoy your hope and change folks . . .
I just hope you wake up before November, and, especially before Obama runs for re-election.
Vote the dems out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheryl
March 25th, 2010
6:48 pm
@ Disapointed American, Sorry to tell you, but the Constitution gives the power, It does if your purchases or non purchases affect the Economy. with Health care costs almost exceeding 17% of our entire economy, the Federal Govt does indeed not only have the right, but is compelled to act. That is according to the Constitution. Also, the state powers (10th amendment) does have areas in which it can assert states rights, but it is not automatic, and in this case the Federal taxation regulations rules over the states rights. The lucky thing is If the state wants to opt out and create it’s own health care system that includes all, it can, that’s in the new law….. so nobody has taken anything away from you. Call Sonny and tell him you want GA to develop it’s own health care system. (Don’t believe me, look it up, Empowering States to be Innovative Amendment) As for you, You either get health insurance or you don’t get the tax credit to pay for it. If you do purchase it, then you get the credit, its that simple. It’s not a fine it’s a tax, and you decide if you want to pay. The Federal Govt does have the right to levy taxes against the citizens, and this is one of them. So either get with the program or pay the tax. Either way, its completely constitutional, even if you don’t like it! Those ARE the facts…….
Military brat
March 25th, 2010
7:10 pm
Retired soldier: I am a military brat – my dad fought in WWII and brother in Vietnam. At 92 (dad) and 64 (brother) they both receive military health benefits – they are lucky to have them and are thankful for them. I find it hard to believe that if you are truly retired military that you don’t use any of the military health services.
If your children or grandchildren did not have health care and had a to forgo medications or treatments because of financial constraints how would you feel.
And by the way, just be cause you have a lot of education doesn’t mean you have a lick of common sense!
mp
March 25th, 2010
7:34 pm
Cheryl, you are the sweet voice of reason amid all the clamor. (My own included.) Thank goodness there are still cool heads out there, and cool heads posting on these blogs– that often deteriorate into mud slinging. Good on ya. Keep up the good work. I am a fan.
john Barth
March 25th, 2010
7:37 pm
Newt, I agree wholeheartedly with all you have added to this current media exchange.
A disappointed American
March 25th, 2010
7:40 pm
Cheryl, you have your facts wrong . . . that is a liberal, and, quite pitiful interpretation of interstate commerce clause. I happen to have a copy of the constitition handy should you need to know what it actually does say. I’ll admit that liberal courts have issued political verdicts over the years, and, that there’s nothing to say this court won’t do the same, but, this is an unconstitional mandate. If this bill taxed us, then provided insurance services, it would fall under the federal govt’s right to tax, but, as it doesn’t do that your argument falls well short. The government has never had the power to force you or me to buy anything. It is not a tax credit if you buy insurance, its a fine if you don’t, a misdeamonor with a fine that will be inforced by 15K plus new federal agents. You also failed to mention that the states this bill imposes the gap created by medicare cuts to be met with state funds. Many believe this too is unconstitutional and will fail to pass the state sovereignty clause. I don’t know how that one will play out as I can see either side, but, whatever the legal results the real results are bankrupt states. You are right that a state can opt out, but, you didn’t tell the whole story. It can opt out if it creates a matching, or more liberal/socialistic single payer system. The House and Senate in SC has bills in committee right now which will put this on the November ballot as a referendum, letting the citizens decide whether or not to abide by this new law. That is a case that will test the state rights clause. So, Cheryl, your FACTS fall short, you need to read the bill. A “fine” is not a “tax”. I would suggest you get with the program, and try to defend an unconstitutional bill without misrepresenting it, whether YOU like it or not . . .
I know one FACT, I’ll never again vote for a democrat. This is a disgusting bill passed against the will of the American citizenry! Spin, lie, do whatever you like, that is a FACT you can’t deal with!
Brian
March 25th, 2010
8:05 pm
@Disappointed American – after re-reading my post there I’m not really happy with how it comes across as it sounds condescending and preachy. Sorry about that — I’d rephrase a lot of it if I could, but my point would be the same. I think it is fair to say that the country is split on this issue, but if we wanna say the country is against it 60-40, that is fine. The current popularity of the bill, given all the false rhetoric (from both sides) doesn’t mean much to me. I was thinking about these numbers: http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/8058.cfm. The one that jumped out at me was that 55% of Americans believe that the CBO said that this reform would increase the deficit, when they in fact said the exact opposite. 55% of Americans…is a big number to have such a fundamental misunderstanding of the facts. If you understand that number and the plan and are still against, that of course is fine as we are free to disagree in this country.
That 55% number tells me that in the coming months or even years many Americans will come to have a more factually correct understanding of the health reform that has passed, and once that happens, I believe many more will support it. I may be wrong about that, and maybe republicans will win big this November and we can get back on Reagan’s track of destroying the middle class in favor of the aristocracy.
You seem very disappointed, as am I, though for different things. Hopefully we will both be pleasantly surprised in the end. You mention how I’d feel about leaders lying to me — when I hear that the first thing that comes to mind is WMD in Iraq, Death Panels, etc. I feel like one side lies a whole lot more than the other and with greater consequences (though both parties lie — this is politics after all). I’m disappointed with all the rhetoric the republicans are using to scare people, and if the numbers are accurate, I’m disappointed that 60% of Americans would be against what is a very watered down and conservative/free market-beholden health reform bill. As Ezra Klein notes, this is reform that “maintains private insurers, private doctors, private hospitals, private medical device companies, private pharmaceutical manufacturers, private nurses, and doesn’t even have anything to say about the insurance that medium and large employers provide — and doesn’t “annex” anything”. I just can’t make the leap to calling that Socialism, so I can’t get my little brain around what you are disappointed in. Anyhow, we’ll see how it all plays out in the end. Sorry again for being a smart-ass in my first post.
Aldo Rey
March 25th, 2010
8:16 pm
Who cares what this little lizard…newt…whatever thinks?
What a pitiful little twerp, desperate for any attention.
Cheryl
March 25th, 2010
8:16 pm
@ Disappointed, I do own a copy of the constitution, the Bill of Rights, and have for the better part of the last 40 years, and I consult it often for my job, it is imperative that I understand what the law is. There is no need to convince you that you dont’ know what you think you do, for we shall see how this plays out on Television soon. I am not a liberal, I am a real American, I have the duty to know what the laws of our land are and how it works. I look at both sides of the debate and read what the laws say about what they are saying. The Government has had the power, just because you think it hasn’t used it is another thing. The enforcing agency for the “Fine” is the IRS, the IRS collects Taxes and levies fines for non payment of taxes and penalties. It is however a tax, for which you can receive credits to offset the purchase of. If you do not, you will be taxed (fined) at an increasing amount each year starting in 2014 when the requirement to purchase kicks in. The fine will be $95 per individual up to $285 per family or 1% of taxable household income. by 2016 that rate raises to 2.5%. And the Government DOES have the right to do it under the Taxation Laws. It’s not a matter of my opinion or yours, it is what it is. I am simply pointing out what grounds it will be ruled constitutional when and if it ever goes before the Supreme Court, I could be wrong, but I’m not. but then hey, If I were, you could get your way. I have health insurance already, so this bill does NOT matter to me right now, in the event that I no longer have it, for some unforseen reason, I will be glad it’s there.
That portion of the Bill, the Empowering States to Be Innovative, if it’s socialist, then your Republican Senators who co-sponsored that particular amendment are Socialists. Perhaps labeling people isn’t working. There is no one side who is making these laws, the entire bill was co-mingled with Republicans and then they didn’t vote for it, the “Liberal” bill was Universal Care, Medicare/Medicaid for everyone no matter who you are. This is a far cry from that, precisely because MANY (over 200) Republican amendments were added to the bill, and much of the Liberal plan was deleted. That is why it is such a ruse that you all are calling anyone socialists, when if that is true, then they all are! And if you support them, by your reasoning, then that makes you one too. Right, if you know one, support one, “pal around with one” then you Are One! That is the precedent which has been set, and so we can either stop the madness, or you can consider yourself one since the people who you say you will ONLY vote for forever wrote this bill too! That is also a fact.
A disappointed American
March 25th, 2010
8:29 pm
Brian, thanks for your post. I do believe that 60% of the nation is opposed to this bill. I believe fifty oppose it because of the reasons I do. I believe ten percent oppose it because its not liberal enough. I am not opposed to helping those who cannot help themselves. I am opposed to a completely unconstitutional bill crammed down our throats against our will, using “budget” procedures when they don’t apply. And, I am opposed to the federal gov’t mandating that I purchese, or don’t purchase, anything. I am opposed to the gov’t involvement in my healthcare, or that of my family. I am opposed to the debt this will impose on me, and my children. And, I am opposed to federal tax funds being used for abortions (despite an executive order that has been praised by pro-abortion groups for its “worthlessness”–if Pres. Obama wanted it in the bill, it would’ve been in the bill). I’m glad we live in a society where we are free to debate, choose, etc. I respectfully disagree with those who claim the left lies less than the right. The Obama propoganda machine (Including AJC and MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, etc) has no scruples. I’m sure people on this blog, like Cheryl, despite their good intentions, are simply misled by the blatantly fasle information being touted by these propoganda machines. I wish every American had copies of the Constition and knew what it said and what it meant. While I did not vote for Obama, until the passage of this bill, I actually respected him. His story is an amazing American story and I like his passion. He has proven however that his agenda is one, in my opinion, that will strip us of the freedoms our forefathers recognized as provided by God, and of the freedoms men like my own father fought for. I did appreciate your last post and I extend to you the same apology . . . I hope nothing I said came across as condenscending. This is a contentious issue. I am not a redneck, nor am I illiterate. I actually have one graduate degree and am working on another. I am not a racist. I’m tired of being called racist, stupid, redneck because I believe that our rights come from God and are protected by our law. I have only once in my life pulled a straight party ticket. I’ve always tried to vote on the person and not the party. The democrats however have lost any consideration many like me may have granted them. I hope this bill can actually be corrected, after repeal, and provide for Americans who can’t help themselves affordable healthcare. I pray for our nation and our president daily . . . I hope everyone bloggin on here will as well.
Cheryl
March 25th, 2010
8:33 pm
@ Disappointed, I missed this part of your argument:
“If this bill taxed us, then provided insurance services, it would fall under the federal govt’s right to tax, but, as it doesn’t do that your argument falls well short.” As a matter of fact, that is the NARROW article they will be able to argue just as you have done so well, but that argument is what falls short, because, (as I wrote to Retired Soldier earlier) The third basis on which to uphold federal power over health care insurance is the extent to which the federal government pays health care costs. Between Medicare and Medicaid as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs, estimates are that the federal government already pays over 25 percent of the nation’s $2.5 trillion health care bill. It is by far the largest payer of health care costs. That argument cannot be overcome. That is also why they are not only right to reform the system, they are compelled to. Currently the American taxpayers are paying a disproportionate amount of the Health care bill, but not all are receiving the benefits, worse, 33 million or more are going without any at all and it is having a negative effect on the economy. This is not sustainable, which brings us back to the commerce clause. If 17% of our economy is Health Care costs, and the amount we spend is unsustainable without making the pool bigger, then bringing all into the pool is what make sense. The how is where we bump heads and that doesn’t make anyone a socialist, it makes us capitalists! .
robert
March 25th, 2010
8:35 pm
And since she wore a mini-skirt, she deserved to be raped, too.