Many of us already knew that Alan Grayson was a fearless champion against the rich and powerful. His notoriety this week for comments about the Republican plan for health care therefore did not come as a shock. His floor speech and his unwillingness to back down afterward have set a new standard for how Democrats deal with Republican hissy fits, where they get all offended by some comment or another and demand an apology and ritual humiliation. Their goal is to control the narrative and put any Democratic use of moral language out of the bounds of acceptable political debate, a standard that doesn’t apply to them.
Grayson DEMOLISHED this tactic. And he did so by continuing to tell the truth and never backing down. And by the end of the week, many were joining him. Yes, they said: why does the GOP have no plan for health care? Why have they allowed thousands to die for a lack of coverage for years without articulating any strategy to deal with the crisis? Why would Republicans try to make an example of Grayson when their members have been using vile language for months, slandering the health care legislation with lies about “death panels” and rationing and people “being put to death by their government,” in the words of Virginia Foxx? How could Republicans think there is no crisis in health care when so many are dying?
In a second, this has become the narrative of the week on health care. And Alan Grayson led the way. He just might lead the Congress to a better bill.
Brave New Films celebrates Alan Grayson’s contribution to the debate with this video.
Let Rep. Grayson know you have his back. And join the I heart Grayson Facebook group. He really deserves the attention he’s getting.
Is the issue, about a GOP health care bill, or is the issue about the very bad Democratic health care bill? Are Rep.Grayson's remarks germane, or are they intended to deflect criticism of the bill the Democrats are trying to get passed without popular support?
texasconservative not popular support? 65% of Americans want reform isn't that enough or are you still using the poll done by a health care provider.
Latest Rassmussen poll says, 56% of Americans are against the health care bill.
59% of seniors are against the bill.
Where did you get the 65% number?
nyt CBS Poll
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/25/poll-p…
The whole world has seen it except you my friend.
NO, the NYT/CBS poll is not excepted by all on both sides! Where the hell did you come up with that little bit of nonsense?! NO…really…where!
1) pollingreport.com = 52% OPPOSE HEALTH CARE BILL.
2) lifenews.com = 53% ” ” “
3) NBC poll. = 53% ” ” “
4) quinnipiac poll. = 55% ” ” “
5) assoc.press poll. = 52% ” ” “
Even the White-House under Bill Clinton discounted the NYT/CBS polls because they were so biased!
The health care bill in it's present form should be scraped, as polls indicate. It's not about what Congress wants, it's about what “we the people”, want!! It's obvious to everyone that health care reforms are needed but, those reforms need not bankrupt this country. And more importantly, the government should not be involved other than in tort-reform, removing inter-state regulations that stifle national competition.
Regulation of insurance companies should be at the state level where they can be more closely monitored and regulated.
An American Political Hero.
Hey “texasconservative” why don't you get a life instead of posting to the same comment area 10 times? Bet you are using Medicare and sent your kids to public schools! (The horror – SOCIALIZED EDUCATION!)
its about what “we the people”, want?….. yeh, right.
Keep dreaming.
I'm afraid you my be right. This government has done it's level best to exclude the people, and they are succeeding at an alarming rate. But, on the other side I see a growing number of people so pissed off they are willing to take whatever measures it will take to take back the government. That's why we are seeing a new assault on the 2nd Amendment.
Good luck with that, I have seen busier funerals than those tea parties. Me thinks that the establishment in America has things all wraped up.
They even have reservations set aside for troublemakers complete with government sponsored private armies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjFZPF-oB_U
Despite our frequent dissagreements, I am on your side and wish you luck. Interesting times over there, I hope your revolution is velvet and peacefull.
Again your wrong! Doesn't it embarrass you to assume, and then be made to look like a fool?!!
My kids went to private Christian-schools so they would receive an education. It's obvious, you DIDN'T!!
Still waiting……
It's bothering you isn't it. Not being one of the sheeple on this blog really upsets your preconceived Liberal-nonsense, doesn't it!
Yes, our socialized school system is a pathetic joke, as witnessed by the lack of cogent arguments posted, and your right of the top of that list!
Your “socialised school system” theory doesn't hold water, its only you guys in America that are having trouble. We in Europe are doing just fine, indeed the highest ranking countries in the world regarding education are ALL socialised.
My kid goes to school to learn literacy, mathamatics, science, engineering… I am not interested in classes on the magic invisible man who lives in the sky, I bet you that is one of the major contributing factors of why American kids are so clueless.
Do me a favour old chap, use your superior education and try and find the US on these tables. All I can see are countries who opporate “socialised education” programmes.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1571445/…
Maybe you could ask Jeebus for help,
Our public education system, k-12, is a joke. There are many reasons why one of the best public school systems in the world has degenerated into a baby-sitting service. It don't take much research to know that the Liberal/Conservative agenda for the las 30 years has been to cater to the business interests who wanted to import legal/illegal immigrant workers to give them higher profit margins at the cost of lost jobs for American citizens. The vast majority of imported legal/illegals being poorly educated. They have overwhelmed our education system and forced our children to stagnate while the schools tried to bring the illegal/legal immigrant children up to par. They have failed, miserably, and our children have had to suffer for it. Instead of maintain the high level of achievement required, they have lowered the requirement to graduate, year after year, until we now have students who can't read their own diplomas!
This idiocy has been going on so long, the teachers now teaching, are products of that system, so you can imagine the level of educational standards now in place. It's for that reason many people are opting out of the public school system in favor of private schools or home-schooling. There are so many kids being home-schooled in CA. that the public school administrators are trying to get home-schooling outlawed, even thought the home-schooled children consistently have far higher test scores than children in public school.
There is a clear problem, but as the above tables show it has nothing to do with socialism.
It is hard to see what it could be, it could be something to do with the culture, yes?
Yes, culture plays in big role in education in the U.S. The amount of legal, and especially illegal aliens that flooded our school systems have brought their culture with them, and in many instances, it's in direct conflict with the estblished culture of this country.
“Is the issue, about a GOP health care bill, or is the issue about the very bad Democratic health care bill? Are Rep.Grayson's remarks germane, or are they intended to deflect criticism of the bill the Democrats are trying to get passed without popular support?”
Was there a gop health care bill? All I heard were “death panels” and “government wants to kill your grandma” talk from the right.
With all the loud talk (ussually from the right) of “death panels” and “killing grandma”, it's nice to finally give due to the thousands of uninsured people, who are dying because they have no insurance, or they can't get insurance because of pre-existing conditions. Yes, health care needs to be reformed. NOW!
Shouldn't this be a bi-partisan effort to address the health care issues that need attention? Destroying an entire health care system seems foolish when 85% of the population that is insured is saying fix only what is broken and leave the rest alone.
This isn't about health care, it about this government trying to impose even more power over our private lives. Instead of growing this intrusive government we should be demanding they do what only the Constitution allows them to do.
You'd have to be completely naive to think this government cares about your health care! This is about forcing us into a socialistic system of government.
“Shouldn't this be a bi-partisan effort to address the health care issues that need attention?”
Absolutely! Some from the Republican party mentioned tax cuts, which is an option I suppose. But a lot of it is being drowned out by “death panels” and “government wants to kill your grandma” talk which doesn't sound bi-partisan to me.
“Destroying an entire health care system seems foolish when 85% of the population that is insured is saying fix only what is broken and leave the rest alone.”
Another scare phrase from the right – it's the INSURANCE MONOPOLY and their abuse (obscene profits and the ever expanding list of denying people with pre-existing conditions) that needs to be fixed. A public option would do that.
“This isn't about health care, it about this government trying to impose even more power over our private lives.”
Two words, Tex: Patriot Act. The silence from the right was deafening…
“Instead of growing this intrusive government we should be demanding they do what only the Constitution allows them to do.”
ALL U.S. citizens should have access to health care, period.
“You'd have to be completely naive to think this government cares about your health care!”
And you'd have to be completely naive to think the insurance companies are going to fix this debacle by themselves.
“This is about forcing us into a socialistic system of government.”
One question, Tex. Do your parents have social security or Medicare? Very socialistic programs, I admit. And both WORK!
The “death panel”, was in the initial draft of the health care bill but, as I understand it, it has been removed. I'm not so sure, an end of life panel-like discussion of your options is a bad thing? As long as the final binding decision remains with you.
The Patriot Act, was rushed through Congress with the use of strong-arm, and scare tactics. Bush got the bill passed with little discussion. The same tactics Obama is using to get his health care bill passed. Only this time, enough people stood up and said, wait a minute, let's take a good look at this problem before open the door on boondoggle we may never be able to close. There may be better ways of fixing this problem than handing over 1/6 of our private-economy to the government. A government that has demonstrated over and over again they cant' efficiently run anything.
Your right, the insurance co. will not, on their own, correct their dismal practices. This is where the government steps in and passes regulations stopping that trash.
Insurance co. were actually on board with Obama until they found out Obama was going to allow people to opt-out of buying insurance by paying a ridiculously small fine, and allow them to buy insurance only when they need it?
Medicare and Medicaid, two socialist health care programs that are nearing bankruptcy. Medicaid is destroying state budgets, and that's just covering children! Medicare is rife with corruption the estimates of theft is between $50 and $150 Billion annually! Doctors are opting out of the Medicare program because they are being paid below the national standard.
Medicare and Medicaid are NOT working!!
The answer is the free-market. Remove the regulations stopping inter-state competition, tort reform, and promote transparency in costs, and billing. The governments job should be that of a referee, not a player.
texasconservative, you are an idiot or a holder of health insurances stock.
America is the only developed country in the world that does not have a universal health care. The health care in USA is the most expensive in the world, but ranks #37. If you don't consider health care is a moral issue (human right or a privilege?), would you mind to realize that system is broken and finally going to bankrupt the country.
In “Never Never Land”, (Obimbicile-land) everybody has enough to eat, and no one ever gets sick, and everyone has enough money to buy everything they want…don't they?!!
The problem, Mr. Name is, we live in the world of REALITY, where none of that exists! The best we can do is, do the best we can for those who CONTRIBUTE, by working, and paying for themselves (personal-responsibility).
Universal Health Care has to be paid by someone (guess who) ? According to the U.S. Treasury, in 2007 the U.S. had a NEGATIVE-OBLIGATION of $59 TRILLION….TRILLION!! That's more than the ENTIRE WORLD COMBINED!! By the end of 2008 that NEGATIVE-OBLIGATION, will reach $65 TRILLION….that's…$65 TRILLION!!! For all intense and purpose, we're in BANKRUPTCY…and this IDIOT-PRESIDENT, and some in Congress want to push us farther into a debt by passing another entitlement that will cost $TRILLIONS, and adding that bill to a bill we CANNOT-SUSTAIN?!!
This isn't rocket-science Mr. Name, it's just dollars & sense!!
1. Name was being sarcastic about you putting your children through public schools. 2. You misspelled sheep 3. The bankruptcy is due to deficit spending from the previous administration.
Hi, I immigrated here at the age of 8. I am currently a 4.0 student at an University. Its been my experience from working with future teachers that the reason our education system is lacking is that many of these would-be teachers have a C's get degrees mentality. They do the bare minimum because they really just want 3 months of vacation. In turn some parents encourage their children to get good grades by paying them. The no child left behind act leaves little room for innovative teaching techniques and forces teachers to practically teach students what is necessary for them to pass a test. Add these to the American mentality that everyone has a right to an education and you have your public education system. I agree that everyone has a right to an education. But, children who are brought up with this mentality often fail to see that it really is a privilege that will escape them at any moment. Believe me my parents never let me forget that they didn't have that privilege: my father was forced into manual labor when he was 8 years old to help support his family and my mother was never allowed to go to school because she was a girl. I never really understood this until know that I have to work two jobs to pay for my education.
THIS GUY IS SPOT ON!!!
Speaking of cognition and cogency, Texas Con: do spelling and punctuation count?
Only, if you didn't get the full intent of the message. I've noticed, that only becomes a problem when the opposing argument lacks substance, and there's nothing left to attack.
If you'll notice, I said my “children”, went to private school.
Speaking of cognition and cogency, Texas Con: do spelling and punctuation count?
Only, if you didn't get the full intent of the message. I've noticed, that only becomes a problem when the opposing argument lacks substance, and there's nothing left to attack.
If you'll notice, I said my “children”, went to private school.
44,789 Americans died without insurance. I must admit that when I heard the number I was shocked. That seems like a lot of people. After playing the video, I proceeded to research mortality rates that are cataloged on the CDC's website. Whenever I hear a fact that shocks me, I always check it out to see where exactly it fits within the big picture. Just so you know, 2,415,000 deaths occurred on American soil in 2007. Huh……
That mega number totally makes the first number look stupid. Double check my math, but I keep coming up with 1.8 percent. I also realize that the 2 numbers are for different years, but if you check the data it is almost the same every year (2006 = 2,416,000). I'm not sure, but I don't think you can call it a crisis when it is less than 2 percent. It is unpleasant and it is unfortunate, but it is not a crisis. This is a small taste of what Washington meant when he told us “not” to elect politicians as leaders within our government. All of them do this garbage. Little bity facts of information, taken from all over and presented to us in a particular order that is misleading and biased. These people don't care about us, all they care about is keeping their jobs and making their political party look better than the other one. Quit voting for these clowns, they are lying to you. Wake up and think for yourself. We do not need them, they need us. Its time for a revolution and its time for real change. Be patient, its coming!!!
Might as well go for 3 out of 3: This time health care!
For somebody who complains about taking facts out of context you sure are hypocritical. The fact is not that 44789 Americans died without insurance (as you state), the fact is that 44789 Americans died specifically because they didn't (don't) have any insurance. This is actually much worse than it seems because almost everyone who dies after age 65 already does have insurance because they are on medicare. The 44 plus thousand that die every year because they don't have access to insurance are by definition almost all under age 65 and experiencing death long before the average person should.
Every Wisconsin child custody lawyer knows that this is one of the cases where people are likely to do things that they have not done before or thought they are not capable of. With divorce and child custody issues cases not having the satisfactory results that they should have, parents turn to desperate means of getting their children back.
how many people here have left the US? im guessing not many after reading the comments. We are the joke of the world when it comes to health care. They can't figure out why we dont have universal health care. There are no lines or death panels in thier countries.
Alexa Rae Narconon Specialist
That's an excellent piece by Digby that I had missed.Grayson is showing Dems the way on how to counter the Republicans' hissy fits.Just lose the holocaust metaphor, please, and Grayson would be perfect
http://commodityconsultant.com
Hi Adam….the total of nearly 45,000 came as a result when justifying the huge cost of the “war on terror” at approx. 300 million dollars a day since day one….and the cost of providing a comprehensive universal health care plan that would save the lives of the 45,000 that died needlessly. It was a comparison to money spent that kills lives in stupid wars….versus money spent that saves lives that could have been saved had they had access to affordable healthcare. I agree…most politicans do give a rats behind about us….100% right on!!
Alan Grayson has been a breath of fresh air, saying what many of us progressives have thought, but lacked the platform for expressing. It's only tragic that he lost his election if he leaves the national scene. As long as Grayson continues to speak out, far-right conservatives will have to confront reality. Go Grayson!