Pete Stark: "I Wouldn't Dignify You By Peeing On Your Leg" (VIDEO)

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), told an anti-reform attendee at a recent town hall meeting that he wouldn't "dignify" the man by peeing on his leg.

The elderly citizen had gone on a long diatribe about the failures of government-run health care, to much applause and enthusiastic shouting from the crowd. He concluded with: "Mr. Congressman, don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining."

"I wouldn't dignify you by peeing on your leg, it wouldn't be worth wasting the urine," Stark shot back. There was a mixture of cheers and boos in the audience.

The incident was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Here is video (with a healthy dose of editorializing from the conservative who posted it):

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Comments

[Balzac]

Pete Stark is cool. I wish he'd said this last time they demanded an apology. It would be even funnier as a non-sequitor, supposing the guy hadn't said anything about getting peed on. Great to see these guys going at each other with such nastiness.

[Arrech]

Water sports, anyone?

[nikio1975]

That is why I say these people's problem is not government run health insurance. Their problem is their President is black. If they didn't like their government run insurance(medicare) so much they medicare offices and phone lines would be flooded with people trying to drop it.

[nikio1975]

He doesn't want government run healthcare. What do these people think medicare is? All jokes aside I don't care how old you are, they have to know by now at least that medicare is government run healthcare. OMG

[wizegeye]

People are under the impression that Medicare covers all of their healthcare expenses. It does not. Many seniors have supplemental insurance for which they pay additional premiums to cover the costs not covered by Medicare.

[DrCardio]

If Glenn Beck peed on this guys leg and said it was raining he would have rushed for his umbrella..

[Bongborg]

If Beck peed on him, he'd never wash his leg or change pants again.

[robbyJ]

Old people need to learn when to step aside.

[bahamamamma]

Imagine a world where insurance companies made life and death decisions. Where all services were privatized. You live in a high crime area, sorry, no police insurance for you. Your child has educational special needs, pre-existing condition, sorry, no school insurance for you. You built your house in the hills of California, sorry, no Fire Department insurance, you knew about the chance of a fire.
Health care is a social issue, just like having schools a police force and a fire department. Any sane person would see how crazy it is to have insurance companies running these services, but to have them run Healthcare is OK? I just don't get it. If other countries can pay half the price to the Govenment for Healthcare than the amount Americans pay to private insurance companies and still get better services and no denial of services, then what is wrong with that? Everyone pays taxes for services, so what is wrong with paying taxes for Healthcare?
How can this nation survive paying for two wars and not a penny rise in taxes? How can we bail out banks and the auto industry and not pay extra taxes? How can we get good Healthcare for all and not pay taxes? It's cloud cukoo land. Take some responsibility and pay more tax, or have everything run by private companies if they do such a good job....I don't think so. You can't have it both ways.

[antonebraga]

"-will the insurance company put limit on my claims? -will the insurance company try to find a reason to reject my claim? -how do I deal with an insurance ..."

This should help understanding:
What do you expect in case of an insured loss? Are You Disaster Ready? (hurricane, tornado, earthquake, flood, fire, etc.). President Obama affirms government's laissez-faire policy with his telling response: http://www.disasterprepared.net/whitehouse.html

[motherforpeace]

The woman who thinks you should prove your citizenship before receiving ER care for life threatening situations is probably a pro-lifer too. The unborn must be protected, but those who aren't here legally here deserve to be treated less humanly than stray animals that wonder over the boarder. This woman probably also says that she is very religious. Hypocrisy at it's highest.

I suppose only those who don't look white would be the ones who would have to PROVE they are a citizen. It's painful to hear the ignorance and racism in these town halls.

God Bless the USA and protect it from people like you.

[robbyJ]

Yup,

Republicans = Pro-life until born.

[wizegeye]

As much as Rep Stark thought the man deserved the comment, it's another example of the lack of civility on the part of our representatives in government. Rep Stark should have taken the high ground and responded in a more appropriate and courteous way. Instead, he lowered himself to a level where he is no better than those ranting and raving. Unfortunately, Rep Stark is no stranger to inappropriate comments, so this isn't much of a surprise.

[Decipherer]

There are occasions when in order to get the attention of a balking mule, you hit is upside the head with a 2' x 4'.

This appeared to be one of those occasions.

Keep in mind it was the old timer who raised the "issue" of peeing on someone's leg.

[wizegeye]

I understand, but dealing with irate citizens/voters is part of the job of a Congressman. He's been in Congress for years and should know how to deal with people like this. Lowering himself to that level makes him look petty and no better than the person who made the initial comment. When Joe Wilson yelled out "You lie!" should the President yelled back "Shut the eff up!?" I think not. Pres Obama handled the situation with dignity. Why shouldn’t we be able to expect that from all of our elected officials?

[mom2luke]

later in the video (last clip) Stark DOES show restraint /humor/courtesy when a jerk asked, "And I say this respectfully...Were you lying THEN or are you lying NOW?"

WHY do people think they contribute anything to the debate by calling people who disagree "liars" ... so much is just opinion.

[katekid]

Stark was much too kind.
This social security, medicare grubbing, town hall numbskull
doesn't realize he's being used
by the billions of dollars for profit health care industry.

[robbyJ]

Very true

Economic greed has entranced the America we once knew.

[IcedTee63]

If it helps maintain the peace...I'm willing to pee on him.

[saveal]

The problem here is that none of you apparently have ever worked for anything and wanted to keep it. The government was not designed to fix social problems like laziness. To many people have their hands out or in our pockets.

[Decipherer]

What the @#$% are you talking about? Where was it ever written or said that the government was out there to "fix social problems like laziness,' which is a personal problem?

You sound like a person who is lucky enough to have a job, and everyone else who can't find one or is working three to survive be dam.ned.

Now, put your own hand back in your pocket and relinquish any claim you have as a U.S. citizen to anything involving government funding or support. That includes Social Security, Medicare, VA benefits, and all the rest.

Have a nice life, you selfish do.uc.he.bag.

[mom2luke]

"none of you apparently have ever worked for anything and wanted to keep it. "
what a completely idiotic thing to accuse your "fellow Americans "of... methinks you've hit upon the problem with the U.S. economy (not 2 wars, wall st. meltdown, housing crisis, profit incentive in healthcare): NOOOOOOOOO! it's that everybody in "this great country of ours" (except you) is LAZY! That's why they can't find jobs and lose their healthcare, THAT's why they want a govt handout....it's laziness!
brilliant my dear Watson. thanks so much. now promise that you'll not accept ONE penny more in medicare/social security than you paid into the system. don't forget to adjust for inflation. don't forget to deduct for those highways, police, fire , ed, library services you use. And please line up a job for yourself when you're in your 80s, 90s if you live that long. you wouldn't want to betray your conservatie ideals and take more than you've earned and --as FDR, LBJ envisioned w/ SS and Medicare -- don't spend your golden years in some degree of comfort after a "lifetime" of work...please keep up the good work, don't get lazy--not even when your health fails....use your wheel chair to roll to work on those ramps that the ADA mandated that conservatives opposed. Bah Humbug!

[IcedTee63]

Saveal, the circus left DC when your 912 March ended all (1.7 million or 1.5million or 700,000 or 70,000) of them! And don't think we don't know why your hands a in your pockets either...get a room!

[Arrech]

i will do it on his open mouth

[wizegeye]

You're a class act.

[wiccawill]

how about that. a woman in a wheelchair who supports the President gets shouted down by the opposition while trying to explain her situation. An old man goes on a tirade against the President's plan, gets cheered, and those who support the President's plan let him finish without interruption.

[LBA7895]

This guy epitomizes the ignorant old white men who make up the Republican Party nowadays. Their slogan is "keep the government out of my Medicare!".

Because they are so ignorant, they don't know the history: That the Republican Party was as solidly opposed to Medicare (socialized medicine, according to Ronald Reagan, their spokesperson) as they are to health care reform now.

The Republican Party should be re-named the "Anti-people Party"

[saveal]

The OLD MAN paid his social security and his medicare , apparently you don't have the prospect of either growing old or paying into anything.

[Arrech]

At this point in time WE are paying for his SS and Medicare.

[thundermummy]

I wonder what would happen when a good old boy arrives in the emergency room with a hunting accident wound and is asked to prove he is a citizen. "Got my hunting license right here" Not good enough. "Driver's license!" Sorry, illegals get those too. " But I'm white!" You crafty Canadians are always coming down here for our better healthcare, now get out and bleed in the street.

[Decipherer]

Probably would serve him right.

[motherforpeace]

My thoughts exactly. Doesn't appear that many of these individuals can see the forest through the trees.