Conservative Black Bishop Calls Universal Health Care 'Reverse Classism'

A hat tip to Jon Nicosia from Eyes & Ears' Media Monitors for this scoop.

On Tuesday, Conservative Bishop Harry Jackson from Hope Christian Church joined the ranks of those making incendiary and inaccurate claims about health care reform, labeling it 'reverse classism.'

Jackson, who survived esophagus cancer three years ago, said the following in his speech at the National Press Club in Washington:

If I'm going to have to lessen the care of some folks and people who are worthy of service, worthy of care don't get served, we have a real problem. In other words, my life is not worth less because I'm worth more financially...There's a reverse classism in this whole issue.

Bishop Jackson continued by picking up on a common misnomer that the right invented and then railed against, spending tax dollars to pay for abortions. "It's absolutely immoral to say that you're going to pay for an abortion," said Jackson.

Claiming it would increase abortion rates especially among the Black community, he continued on a two minute tirade against government sponsored abortions despite the fact that politicians have not proposed spending tax dollars on abortion procedures except for instances of rape, incest or when the mother's life is in danger.

Bishop Jackson did not mention the 47 million Americans without health insurance. Instead, he ended with a bold call for obstructionism, which has been the cornerstone of the conservative strategy for the health care debate. "We hope that everything that has to do with this health care program grinds to a slow halt," he declared.

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Comments

[Simone Hill]

05:55 AM on 08/25/2009

on what planet does he spend most of his time?

[Freesia2]

12:37 PM on 08/21/2009

Shame on him.

And this plea against discrimination of the wealthy (??) reminds me of the recent plea to pity the poor oppressed white man. (??????)

Republicans get more ridiculous by the day. I don't know how I could have ever voted for anybody from this party.

[RecentRetiredVet]

06:19 AM on 08/26/2009

Boy, I am so glad to see the "FOG" of the Republican Party starting to come to light. It started 40 years ago, when I didn't have a clue of what politics mean't to me in my live.

[Opygollopy]

10:39 AM on 08/21/2009

The reason this guy is a preacher for the conservatives is because apparently he is not intelligent enough to get another job. The insurance company must have told him, we will pay for your medical bills if you shoot down Obama's plans. Follow the money.

If that is not the scenario, this man needs mental health care. (Most preachers do)

[gettingitright]

09:47 AM on 08/21/2009

His rant is beyond ridiculous, especially if he is supposed to be a man of the cloth. Is he kidding? Some people are worthy of affordable health care and some are not?
We have to worry about how reform will harm the wealthy? This "bishop" is basically saying that helping the lower classes at the expense of the upper classes is reprehensible. What Bible is he reading? What happened to the concept of WWJD? The WWJD concept has been commercialized to the point that it has been stripped of its meaningfulness.
And people like him don't realize the conundrum they create by being so rabidly against abortion, yet rabidly against health reform which would affect the unwanted children and their families.
Furthermore, I find it obscene for this cancer survivor to be railing against healthcare reform while others are suffering with cancer and cannot, for whatever reason, afford to be treated.

[Flavor]

09:11 AM on 08/21/2009

I have to get in on this one, I don't like abortions, but neither do I like men who, lead people wrong with lies or to satisfy their greedy appetite of lust, money, power. You see bloggers, jesus came for the sick and sure enough there were the sad-usee and the fair-usee waiting right there with there whip in hand saying, how be it that you sit with, taxcollectors, strippers, women who have had abortions,murderers, thugs, ect...... you see if he came down today the people are the same, just different faces, someone asked flavor recently do you think that they would let jesus in the church if he walked in in a long cloth that was not pants, I said , honey jesus have been trying to get in some churches when he sends people who are hurting, downtrotten, raped, abused by a spouse, depressed, oppressed, thugs, and they come as they are and can't stay because of the way they dress. This is the bottom line, as a follower of christ i've seen people hurt by the very one's who are to help, are there perfect people(no!) but we are to (love), does it mean you are walked over (no!) but you give to the poor. I am not speaking ill of the bishop, thats how he feels but what he stated ain't about help. There are some good churches that do good,and give at all times to the poor.

[Opygollopy]

10:48 AM on 08/21/2009

The theology being taught today at university and college is one-sided. It is misinterpreted and the problem grows. The religious right do not preach the bible, they preach their own interpretation of the bible. They only use quotes that are beneficial to them, not the ones beneficial to the people.

This has been going on for almost a century in the world. People buy this hook line and sinker and look where the U. S. is today. Battling religion/government talking heads who are power and fear mongers. It is in all factions - Catholic/Protestant/Jews/Muslims - everywhere. Its the translation, not the book.

Republicans are using it for all they are worth for greed and corruption and power. "LETS TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY" - from what??? They were the ones that almost destroyed the country. Sure give it back to them so they can finish the job. AMERICA - FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, OPEN YOUR EYES. These people are out for themselves, they dont give a damn about you. They never will.

[RecentRetiredVet]

06:38 AM on 08/26/2009

I think the majority of Americans understand what has been happening, but there are still the lost people who think GREED is all that matter, and to HELL with the rest. For our sake, they are losing, and will keep losing. Its not about laziness or other non-sense, its about fairness and prosprerity for all, "not just a few".

[RecentRetiredVet]

06:39 AM on 08/26/2009

I think the majority of Americans understand what has been happening, but there are still the lost people who think GR_EE_D is all that matter, and to HE_L_L with the rest. For our sake, they are losing, and will keep losing. Its not about laziness or other non-sense, its about fairness and prosprerity for all, "not just a few".

[southwestque]

05:58 AM on 08/21/2009

"Tom"

[Diomedes374]

11:21 PM on 08/20/2009

Lies, hypocrisy, selfishness and deception make baby Jesus cry!

[Beegood]

08:56 PM on 08/20/2009

Good grief!

I for one do NOT have problem with abortions being paid for - after all they are LEGAL and have been for 39 years. Burns me up that we still have to tapdance around the men in this country willing to tell women what to do with their bodies. How dare he!

Denial of the law is no excuse. Abortions are legal & no one is forcing this guy to get one. What right does he have to try and force women to become mothers?

[BlackWidowPilot]

07:06 PM on 08/20/2009

A *BISHOP?* Guess you missed the following passage during your instruction at seminary:

"Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."

- Matthew 25:31-46

Did the good bishop also miss what Jesus said about the *rich:*

"It is easier for a rope to pass through the eye of a needle, than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!"

Hypocrisy and mendacity are neither "family values" nor Christian virtues, "Bishop."

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

One of the 47 Million

[Shellly]

02:41 PM on 08/20/2009

and who is gonna take care of all these wanted babies???... never mind, there is always prison!

probably getting all his money from his poor members.

[LaPoesie]

12:29 PM on 08/20/2009

sorry if this has already been said in one of the 1000+ comments but:

who is this guy? why is he getting so much attention? why and how does he even have a forum to spew his hatred?
and i love how he wants to talk about classicism when he pretty much just said that there are those who are worthy of heath care and those that are not.
i guess its lucky for him he's not one of the 47 million uninsured or he probably would have died of that esophagus cancer three years ago

[Cryostatic]

02:35 PM on 08/20/2009

He's black, and he's a conservative.

And feel free to disagree with the guy, but at least get his message straight. He's against income-based class warfare. If he can afford a higher level of care than the government option permits, he feels he should be able to attain that level of care.

You know... nevermind. I just realized that a lot of people here actually think that a government run healthcare system would provide instantaneous access to every possible medical proceedure or medicine in existance, for free, with no restrictions. I'm all for a government option, mabye even single-payer, but I'm not quite ready to drink your particular brand of kool-aid just yet.

[RecentRetiredVet]

06:48 AM on 08/26/2009

Look, no one is saying free HC, just affordable. What is point of having a Farrari in the garage if you can't afford to drive it. Then, it is only for rich and privledge. Who bennefit from that. HC is a right.

[comicpro]

11:31 AM on 08/20/2009

The funny part is the right wingnuts are using this guy and laughing behind his back as he takes up their cause. The GOP is so outwardly racist its scary and to think my hero Colin Powell is one of them makes me beyond sad.

[Cryostatic]

02:46 PM on 08/20/2009

If it makes you feel better, the crazies on the extreme right don't consider Powell to be a Republican.

[comicpro]

11:30 AM on 08/20/2009

Oh man a BLACK GUY who has fallen under the spell of the voodoo priests speaking against healthcare reform. I am sure his mother if she is alive is getting a switch off the backyard tree as we speak to whip his stupid as_!!!!!!!

[RecentRetiredVet]

06:53 AM on 08/26/2009

Ha! I feel you on that. LOL

[mharg11]

11:09 AM on 08/20/2009

With 46 M+ Americans without health care and M's more who are under insured, we have these nuts talking about reverse classism. Yes, the reverse is to change the situation and make it affordable to all and improve the insurance for those who are under insured. The Haves always talk like nothing is wrong, because they totally ignore the Have Nots. It would also be great if they forget those talking points and research the Bill themselves. That way he would know what he is talking about.

[globalcitizenlinda]

11:03 AM on 08/20/2009

we are used to these kinds of people : Keys, Thomas who gamed the system by taking advantage of al that it offered to all of us minorities but once they have got theirs, they are out to deny others the same opportunity

[RecentRetiredVet]

07:00 AM on 08/26/2009

Have you notice how cra_Zy all these kinds of people are? Ke_ys is scary. Tho_mas is an i_di_ot.