Scarier To Whom?
(AP) - 4 hours ago
WASHINGTON -- A Republican congresswoman said Monday that people have more to fear from Democratic health care legislation than from terrorists.
Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina made the comments in a speech on the House floor Monday.
"I believe that the greatest fear that we all should have ... to our freedom comes from this room, this very room, and what may happen later this week in terms of a tax increase bill masquerading as a health care bill," she said. "I believe we have more to fear from the potential of that bill passing than we do from any terrorist right now in any country."
The Democratic-controlled House is expected to vote later this week on the sweeping health care overhaul legislation that would extend coverage to millions of the uninsured. Foxx said it was scary because it would raise taxes, increase the power of federal bureaucrats and force people to buy government-mandated coverage -- among other things.
The Democratic National Committee denounced her comments.
"It is outrageous that anyone would compare the action of terrorists to efforts to help American families get secure, stable and affordable health insurance," said DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse.
Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, shrugged when asked about Foxx's comments and said lawmakers had their own opinions.
It is scarier for Republicans Fred. Terrorism has been a great boon for entrenched American big business, while healthcare reform threatens the profits of the same. That's scary if your interests are confined to the well being of corporate coffers.
November 2, 2009 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
IE: rape, murder and pillage (in foreign lands that most can't find on a map) is less 'scary' to war profiteers and their teabagging zombies than universal health care.
November 2, 2009 11:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, why not scare and distract the teabaggers by raising the Homeland Security Terror Alert Advisory say to Ernie Level, on information a couple years old like Bush used to do before elections, keep it there at least until a health bill passes. We know they need to be afraid of something.
November 3, 2009 12:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Brilliant!
November 3, 2009 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
The whole point of the present health care proposals is to guarantee profits for the health insurance industry by forcing Americans to buy their product.
November 3, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does it cost anything to be as ignorant as you are? Because if it does, you got gypped.
November 4, 2009 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's banal to say it. But it is still amazing that the party who ran the country on frantic terrorist panic for the better part of seven years now says that whatever policy they happen to not like is worse than terrorism.
November 3, 2009 1:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
.....heh, heh, heh, heh.
November 3, 2009 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is hard to imagine we would ever have one of our two major political parties become as ideologically, morally and ethically corrupt as republicans have. Not a day goes by without a jaw dropping declaration offering us confirmation of the reality of this occurrence. My guess is people will read of this in history books but will have difficulty digesting it.
November 3, 2009 2:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
She's playing to those who are looking for reasons to keep their hatred on a slow, steady boil.
November 3, 2009 7:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your comment makes me think of the folly of hatred as sustenance. Knowing we, humankind, are this messed up is a bummer.
November 3, 2009 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Foxx is a pip, isn't she? I have some suspicion that she may actually believe the toads and snakes that erupt from her mouth; that's the scariest part.
November 3, 2009 7:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
So a legislative bill created by the political party controlling both Chambers is a terrorist plot? And any tax increases, regardless of the need for such, is also a terrorist plot too? What's next? Voting for any candidate other than a Republican be an act of treason?
November 3, 2009 7:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with her. The deadweight loss to the U.S. economy from any and all health reform proposals in Congress dwarfs the losses from 9/11, let alone any other terrorist attack.
The point, beetlejuice, is not that Democrats are terrorists, but that well intentioned Democrats may well do more harm than malintentioned terrorists.
November 3, 2009 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Uhhhh . . . More hot smoke and mirrors . . .
You wish to provide the community with some solid statistical data to back up the claim you've raised. Or are you simply running on anecdotal observations that have no basis in facts?
Be afraid ... Be very very afraid . . .
~OGD~
November 3, 2009 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gee, I wonder why that didn't happen in countries that have Universal Health care? Care to explain?
November 3, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
And ... also . . .
Can't you just see all the "...harm" that has transpired over the past 45 years from the Medicare benefits system "...that well intentioned Democrats" foisted upon an unsuspecting public.
Sheesh ... With the fallacies and outright lies that the teabagging right-wingers and pseudo-libertarians put forth you'd swear that the majority in our country have been terrorized all these years by supporting the care of our elderly.
These spin masters are absolute boneheads.
~OGD~
November 3, 2009 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because universal health care on a single payer model bears no resemblance to the nonsense currently being foisted upon us by Congress. Don't get me wrong, I am against single payer.
But at least single payer has a rationale. There is no justificationwhatsoever for the current "reform", other than the continuing efforts of the administration to pay off their political backers in the unions and finance industry.
November 3, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK. We know that you're against single-payer, and all other proposed health reform. Is there anything that you are FOR?
Let me guess...you have a great health insurance policy and you hold everyone who doesn't in contempt because they didn't land the same job you did.
Well. You and the rest of the self-satisfied (and the scared to death of change that might benefit someone other than you) are what is wrong with our country.
November 4, 2009 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure.
I'd be for Federal preemption of state health insurance regulations sufficient to allow insurance companies to compete nationally and break up local monopolies. I'd be for ending the tax benefit for employer provided insurance, and for ending "group" coverage that makes small business and individuals unable to buy reasonably priced health care. I'd be for simplified insurance regulations designed to allow new entrants access to the market.
I could go on, but I bet everyone tuned out after the word "compete".
November 5, 2009 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah I saw this and KeithO of course went off on it along with Ed and Rachel.
When Dems talk like this they are gutted by all the conservative pundits as being traitors.
I am attempting to deal with my anger, my rage at such statements by this dingy broad as well as the right wing pundits.
There are, evidently, tens of millions in this country who believe as they do, who speak as they do.
I guess the only thing that can be done on the positive side is simply to point out their idiocy.
We live in a democracy/republic.
It is the fact that this type of talk, these perspectives end up causing such pain and suffering and even death to so many members of our population. That is why I get so angry.
But most of the rich and powerful people are repubs. Too bad really.
November 3, 2009 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not sure that Foxx's statement should be greeted with outrage. I noticed in the AP story that John Boehner, when asked, passed up the opportunity to endorse her remarks. Maybe he knows something about the public reaction to these things that should cause us to thank her.
November 3, 2009 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now maybe if we can get the AP to interview our commenter above, El Presidente, we'll have a "twofer".
November 3, 2009 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
The sad thing is that they could be making a case against the bill on its merits and we might all learn something from an honest debate. We might even decide it's a bad bill.
November 3, 2009 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink