Rep. Pete Olson Booed For Suggesting Baby Would Die Under Public Option (VIDEO)

At a recent town hall meeting, Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) was booed for suggesting a baby would have not been born if we had a government-run health care option.

Olson told the story of Britney, a pregnant woman who couldn't find a doctor who would treat her unborn child's heart defect. After being turned away by several, she hunted down a specialist in Detroit who was willing to perform the procedure. Britney is convinced that her son would not have been born if there was a public option then, and she wouldn't have had the choices to find the doctor that she wants.

Over applause, a number of audience members audibly groan. "Oh Jesus Crist, that's terrible," says one attendee. "That's not true," says another.

"For those of you who say it's not true, don't talk to me, talk to Britney," Olson responded.

"The insurance company turned her down, not the government," an audience member says. "The private insurance turned her down, not the government." Others shout back that if there was government-run insurance, she would have been turned away. As the meeting devolves into shouting back-and-forth, Olson just says, "I want to thank you all for coming."

Watch, via Crooks & Liars:

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Comments

[pantherjad]

10:15 AM on 09/24/2009

Wow, the comments on this page are astonishingly misinformed.

Public option = HMO = Doctors “recommend” your care. This lady’s doctors would not “recommend” the life saving treatment her baby needed. She had to “hunt down” a specialist who would do it. Under a public option, the doctors are no different and would likely not recommend this treatment = baby dies. Insurance company is not mentioned in this story. It is all about what her doctors would or would not recommend and how SHE had to HUNT DOWN a doctor who would do it. The public option is NOT going to do any hunting for you, instead it is going to limit your care to what doctors and bureaucrats SAY you need, this is the idea of cost saving and efficient (no "frivolous" or "elective" care will be given if not recommended by a doctor). This is the whole criticism of the managed, rationing nature of a public option.

[Imitor]

11:49 AM on 09/02/2009

Disgraceful...

[Melina45]

12:19 PM on 09/01/2009

After catching Pete's performance on TV last night, I decided to visit his Web site to read up on him. I clicked on the video gallery link - no town hall coverage there.

http://olson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=70§iontree=21,70

Also, if you check out the Photoshopped images of the Houston skyline at the top of the splash page, you'll notice some small airplanes doing barrel rolls. Too bad the planes are about to crash into some trees...seems symbolic of the site's owner if you ask me.

[KLordsha]

10:29 AM on 09/01/2009

This has got to set the record for the fastest crashAndburn of a talking point in history...

[mmgbizgirl]

10:19 AM on 09/01/2009

More scare tactics from a desperate party. Don't let the limping wolf scare you. Steer around it.

[armadillo]

09:08 AM on 09/01/2009

Anyone catch the old bitty on the front row telling the nay sayers to be quite at 1:59. Wonder how she felt when the meetings were disrupted by the folks in oppostion to health care?

[MaxChampion]

09:01 AM on 09/01/2009

I visited America in June/July this year and, obviously, it's a great country.

But, man, I watch videos like this and read what otherwise intelligent people have to say about political matters in your country and I thank the Lord I live where I live.

In my country, healthcare is free. If it's urgent, it's dealt with quickly. If it's not urgent, I have the option to go on a waiting list or to pay for it.

In my country, if any state or federal politician came out with the kinds of lies and fear-mongering about health care that so many of your politicians are guilty of, they'd be shown up for what they are - liars or fools.

I'm sorry but, for all that America is great, there's a strand of fear and another of greed and a third of manipulation - all present in every nation - that binds America and has held you back from even greater heights. The fear of government in the US is hard for me to fathom.

I pray you guys get your health care reform.

[FastMovingCloud]

09:57 AM on 09/01/2009

Thanks, MaxChampion. I hope so, too.

[jag97PC]

10:22 AM on 09/01/2009

What country is that? Maybe we can learn from it...

Thanks for your post.

[quiver366]

09:00 AM on 09/01/2009

I agree with the posters who call people out on the definition of Socialism. The word "Socialism" was thrown at the Democrats from the Republicans during the election to create fear.

If you really believe that the health care proposal is "Socialism," then I hope you don't take advantage of your Social Security, Medicare, Medicade,Unemployment Benefits, Public Transporation, etc...

If you do, then you are hypocrites. I didn't realize how stupid Americans are until this. They just repeat what they hear without researching the issues. No wonder the rest of the world perceives us as fat, lazy sheep. Some of you just have racial issues that you can't get over.

[poas]

08:59 AM on 09/01/2009

This man is not an awful man, he is a bought man. He is in office to represent us but is owned by the insurance corps. I have a heart condition and diabetic. I cannot get health insurance, nor can I be a candidate for a heart transplant because of my age. This is not because the government refused me it is because the insurance companies refused me. My wife and I now live in Coasta Rica where a recent friend had brain surgery which ran 20 thousand instead of 200 thousand. An ambulance is free, but will accept donations. Everyone has Health care! And it cost me $61 dollars a month.

[LisaLisa1234]

10:33 AM on 09/01/2009

Wow. Thank you for sharing your story.

[kathy001]

10:48 AM on 09/01/2009

Thanks for sharing this but I disagree with you. Rep. Olson is an awful man. He ran for office on the promise that he would serve the people and instead is serving only the big business interests that line his pockets. His constituents voted for him under the impression that he would help to improve and safeguard their lives and their livelihoods. Instead he has lied to them and cheated them and is only working to keep them deprived of the basic necessities. Rep. Olson is one of the most awful men in the country.

[tiredofit10]

08:58 AM on 09/01/2009

that is one thing about republicans, when you present them with facts and logic, they want to shut it down, they can't argue logic and facts. It is like showing a cross to a vampire, they go cower in a corner somewhere.

[annis]

08:56 AM on 09/01/2009

That was awful. Awful. Awful.

[luling]

08:56 AM on 09/01/2009

The man is a zealot, with no common sense.

[rich3324]

08:52 AM on 09/01/2009

"Britney is convinced that her son would not have been born if there was a public option" Then Britney is a m0r0n. She really should not be breeding.

[kitkatborn]

08:45 AM on 09/01/2009

It appears that the tide may be turning. When people at a town hall start saying the truth isn't what you are saying & place the lame where it rightfully belongs, private insurance co's., that is good news.

[AnthonyVolpe]

08:59 AM on 09/01/2009

Indeed. Let's keep up the pressure.

[deneufeldt]

08:11 AM on 09/01/2009

What an awful man. Twisting the truth. Notice how fast that ended the meeting.

[Soulsurfer]

08:37 AM on 09/01/2009

Has anyone noticed that the fear mongers just speculate what would happen? Where's the proof, or any type of example citing a government run health plan turning people down? Oh, that's right, there isn't any............

[LisaLisa1234]

10:35 AM on 09/01/2009

EXACTLY!

What a ridiculous argument to make. "If, then"...where's the proof?? Otherwise it's on the same level as gossip.