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Friday, September 4, 2009

Health McDermott Calls Grassley Un-American

Posted by Eli Sanders on Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 2:28 PM

E.S.

All the talk today of a health insurance reform bill finally coming out of the Senate Finance Committee reminds me of another remarkable moment from Congressman Jim McDermott's town hall meeting on Tuesday.

Remarkable because so far I haven't heard any of our state's representatives in Congress—even Senator Maria Cantwell, who sits on the Finance Committee—say what's been obvious to anyone paying attention: the Finance Committee's process has been infuriating to watch, and at times an absurd farce.

McDermott, breaking that silence, called one of the Finance Committee members "un-American" and suggested the Finance Committee was among the "problems" that could torpedo the strong health insurance reform bill that's likely to emerge from the House.

Here's how it happened: McDermott was asked by an audience member to name the single best thing that ordinary citizens can do to make sure health insurance reform passes this year. “I would tell you that one thing you oughta do is make sure your Senators know what you think," he replied. "You won’t have any problem with me, so you don’t have to call me… [But] this bill we have in the House is gonna go over to the Senate, and we’ve got lots of problems there.”

Later, in a reference to Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Finance Committee, McDermott said:

The people who are talking about these death panels make me so angry because it’s so irresponsible. Barack Obama wouldn’t do that. But everybody should have the right to think about this, and declare their wishes, and let it be known by their physician and they family. That's why it is so irresponsible—and so un-American—for a Senator from Iowa to suggest this.

Quite a quote, but here's the bigger question: Why hasn't Cantwell, who works with the supposedly bi-partisan Grassley on the Finance Committee, been saying the same things?

Comments (15) RSS

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Cantwell is infuriating. She pussy foots around instead of doing what's right because she is so concerned about big insurance. She is basically corporate in attitude. She needs to wake up and start speaking to what's good for the people for a change and start defending the president as well. The Senate is just so corrupt that it increasingly appears to be incapable of doing the people's business.

Posted by Vince on September 4, 2009 at 2:41 PM

you can try to pin this on the repubs but it won't stick.
this is hanging around obama's neck like a burning tire.

Posted by supermajority on September 4, 2009 at 2:42 PM

@1 - that's who she is. elect someone better, or lower your expectations.

Posted by rtm on September 4, 2009 at 2:43 PM

Since when is unamerican an INSULT?

"Hey! You're not fat, stupid and destroying the world because of your collective tiny dick! Take that!"

Posted by jnmend on September 4, 2009 at 2:45 PM

I have problems with Cantwell, but that she doesn't sink to the level of calling Republicans names back is not one of them.

How 'bout instead we replace McDermott with somebody who can pass bills? McDermott could get a radio show and spew red meat for the true believers.

Posted by elenchos on September 4, 2009 at 2:45 PM

Political cowardice.

Posted by The Amazing Jim

on September 4, 2009 at 2:48 PM

@ 5:

Until McDermott is ready to go, we aren't replacing him with anybody. Got it?

Posted by ivan on September 4, 2009 at 3:09 PM

Yes! this is how you fight Republicans. The opponents of health care reform are greedy heartless bastards who want Americans to die. That's how you win. Kick their fucking teeth in. Enough of this bi-partisanship bullshit.

Posted by matt! on September 4, 2009 at 3:13 PM

8
is this all you got?
our teeth are safe...

Posted by here kitty kitty... on September 4, 2009 at 3:39 PM

Poor widdle Republic party people.

They hate America but they don't like to be called out for their un-American unpatriotic actions.

Maybe they should grow a pair.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on September 4, 2009 at 4:09 PM

let's draft McDermott into the SENATE!!
cantwell and murray are such softball democrats... we deserve a progressive in the senate representing us!

Posted by montgomery sun on September 4, 2009 at 4:58 PM

Cantwell is a loss on healthcare. We should vote her out. Patty Murray is somewhat better. At least she seem present.

Posted by itsmarkmitchell on September 4, 2009 at 5:48 PM

No, Ivan, I don't got it. But your delusions of authority are always a source of amusement.

Posted by elenchos on September 5, 2009 at 9:45 AM

10

will, will...
you silly little man-
we've managed to do ok for ourselves, despite facing
a Congressional SuperMajority
and
a Landslide President...

I'm sure 'growing a pair' has been on your mind since we kicked yours off.
Maybe some kind single-payer government doctor can help you with that-
-whoops -
that's right,
there won't be a single-payer,
will there....

so sorry

Posted by The Pair we've got are doing fine, thankx! on September 5, 2009 at 12:16 PM

Why isn't Cantwell saying anything about this? It's because the US Senate is a fucking club and it's primary rule is "thou shalt not say anything bad about a fellow member of the club".

Posted by Wile E. Quixote on September 5, 2009 at 10:49 PM