Lawrence O'Donnell, Anthony Weiner Rip Joe Wilson For "Idiotic" Health Care Proposal (VIDEO)

Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) had an epiphany about health care legislation while he attended a "luncheon" at "Enchilada's Mexican restaurant" with some senior citizens on Hilton Head island. They helped him come to the conclusion that if the Democrats in the House are so enthusiastic about passing a public option, surely they would be rushing to join said plan. And they aren't, so there must be something bad about it.

However, the Congressman does not quite have his facts straight, as "Countdown" guest host Lawrence O'Donnell and Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) both point out.

O'Donnell notes that members of Congress already have health care that is paid for by the government, and that the public option is for people lacking employer-provided health insurance. He then offered Congressman Wilson some advice: "It's your staff's job to talk you out of introducing idiotic amendments. Try talking to them once in awhile. If this happens again someone's got to be fired, and we know it can't be you, so give your staff fair warning."

Weiner attributed the Wilson's confusion to a bout of schizophrenia that is afflicting the GOP:

He seems to be one taco shy of a combo himself. Congressman Wilson is demonstrating a weird schizophrenia about this. Is he saying that not enough people are getting access to the public option? Does he want to extend it to all six million federal employees? I'm open to that idea! . . . Or is he saying he's against the public option, and therefore when he turns 65 he's not going to accept Medicare. This is part of the schizophrenia that is going on in the Republican party.

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Comments

[expired]

02:46 PM on 11/06/2009

Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy dems ride again.

The big House health care vote is tomorrow. So we've launched a new online calling tool to reach out to MoveOn members in key districts and connect them to Capitol Hill. Can you make calls?


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Dear MoveOn member,
After months of build-up, tomorrow is THE big House vote on landmark health care reform. But according to news reports, Democrats don't yet have the votes to win!

This is crunch time. We have to win this vote. Right now, it's all coming down to a key group of moderate Democrats who are on the fence—and we hear they're getting inundated with calls from health care opponents.

They need to hear from progressiv­es now—so we're asking MoveOn members from all around the country to help.

How? We have a great new online tool that lets you call other MoveOn members in these key House districts and connect them directly to their representa­tive's office on Capitol Hill.

Can you drop whatever you're doing and call a few fellow MoveOn members in these crucial districts right now?

Yes, I'll help make calls.

[Judy Buss]

10:29 AM on 11/06/2009

If this is such a good plan, then all government employees s/not have a problem accepting this as
their health care plan and if it's not good enough for them it is not good enough for the rest of
the American population­.

[Cye]

10:02 PM on 11/08/2009

I don't understand your post.

The point of the public option is choice. If you're happy with your current healh care provision, then you can keep it. If you're not covered, the public option provides a basic level of affordable coverage (as opposed to none). Why should *all* goverment employees have to accept this as their health care plan? Forcing them onto it would remove choice. This is not the intention behind the public option.

[AllShookUp]

04:01 PM on 11/05/2009

Wilson has an epiphany in a Mexican restaurant - alert The Washington Post!

[psychodog]

02:54 PM on 11/05/2009

Let me preface this by saying I can't stand Joe Wilson...

However, taking his idea into considerat­ion... how much better, and more comprehens­ive, would the public option be, if those in the Federal government were required to purchase it?

This was an idea I had some time ago... I have the feeling we'd end up with the Medicare +5% rates, and coverage for the majority of the population if those in government knew they were crafting, and voting on, their own healthcare packages.

Plus it would probably get done faster... since the fastest legislatio­n to get through government usually is that which covers provisions for congressio­nal pay raises. This would be almost the same thing.

Please don't beat me up too much... I actually think his idea has some merit, but not his intended consequenc­es.

It could actually work FOR us.

[JRGris]

12:28 PM on 11/05/2009

Joe Wilson lies most of the time so it is always difficult to keep the story straight.

[dobriyden]

11:51 AM on 11/05/2009

Is this the same Weiner who wanted to increase visa's for foreign fashion models by 1000. Hmmmmmm.

[wizegeye]

10:51 AM on 11/05/2009

Rep Weiner is really preoccupie­d with comparing people to fast food. First he accused Rep Grayson of being "one fry short of a happy meal," and now the taco comment.

[poobah]

11:34 AM on 11/05/2009

Well, when the shoe fits that well......

[wizegeye]

03:48 PM on 11/05/2009

Maybe it's when the bun fits.

[christopherflynn]

12:09 PM on 11/05/2009

"Oh, I wish I were an Anthony Weiner"...­no wonder he's always comparing people to fast food... :)

[IndieObama]

03:17 PM on 11/05/2009

A wiener shy of a stadium dog?
Couldn't resist.
I actually agree with just about everything he is promoting, especially Single Payer, HR676.

[VietVet67]

10:34 AM on 11/05/2009

http://cou­ntdowntohe­althcare.c­om/

Sign, sign, sign. Pass around!

[sixchair]

10:14 AM on 11/05/2009

This says it all....

Wall Street gets all the H1N1 vaccine it wants while pregnant mothers, children and hospitals stand in line!!!

http://www­.msnbc.msn­.com/id/21­134540/vp/­33651691#33651691

[RoadSkoller]

10:00 AM on 11/05/2009

Mr. Weiner, with a name like yours, I wouldn't suggest you hanging out with Barney Frank. Goggle-Gob­ble

[ivegotblisteronmefingers]

10:51 AM on 11/05/2009

hey
do not dis Barney Frank!!

[Poiks]

11:01 AM on 11/05/2009

Always elevating the discourse, huh?

[jsj20002]

09:53 AM on 11/05/2009

Actually, Joe Wilson, as a retired Army colonel, has a much broader array of choices than almost all of the other members of Congress from either party. He can enroll in the taxpayer-s­ubsidized Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and pay about a third of the cost plus the normal co-pays. However, Joe Wilson is, I have heard, currently enrolled in the military's Tri-Care Program that has a much lower cost to the former servicemem­ber and his family than he would have under the FEHBP. Because he has Tri-Care, I doubt he knows much about the FEHBP costs and benefits. And, when he becomes 65 he will automatica­lly get single payer coverage under Medicare Part A. The only downside he may face is that if he chooses to retain his Tri-Care health benefit package after he turns 65, he will also have to enroll in Medicare Part B, which currently costs $96 per month.

[poobah]

11:37 AM on 11/05/2009

You would think that with all those options he could have gotten his wife a swine flu shot.

[gray375]

09:29 AM on 11/05/2009

I can never get enough Weiner

[Elbrando]

09:21 AM on 11/05/2009

choice  /t­ÊƒÉ”ɪs/ Show Spelled Pronunciat­ion [chois] Show IPA noun, adjective, choic⋅er, choic⋅est.
Use choice in a Sentence
See web results for choice
See images of choice
–noun 1. an act or instance of choosing; selection: Her choice of a computer was made after months of research. His parents were not happy with his choice of friends.
2. the right, power, or opportunit­y to choose; option: The child had no choice about going to school.
3. the person or thing chosen or eligible to be chosen: This book is my choice. He is one of many choices for the award.
4. an alternativ­e: There is another choice.
5. an abundance or variety from which to choose: a wide choice of candidates­.
6. something that is preferred or preferable to others; the best part of something: Mare's Nest is the choice in the sixth race.
7. a carefully selected supply: This restaurant has a fine choice of wines.
8. a choice grade of beef.


Maybe Mr. Wilson is focusing on the latter definition­s regarding food and not the earlier definition­s when it comes to the health care bill.
Personally I think that his district needs definition #5 and vote him out.

[ivegotblisteronmefingers]

10:50 AM on 11/05/2009

I think you are right, as he got the idea at a restaurant
btw it must have been the loneliest trip that that particular idea ever took

[ariveria]

09:12 AM on 11/05/2009

lets put it another way. if congress is so happy with their health care lets give it to all americans.

"a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth"
glenn beck
informatio­n czar fox news
the view 5/20/09

[escomments]

09:33 AM on 11/05/2009

That would be "Idiotic"

[ariveria]

08:31 PM on 11/05/2009

huh????

"a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth"
glenn beck
informatio­n czar fox news
the view 5/20/09

[Reito Hikari]

09:36 AM on 11/05/2009

And you thought the current reform bill costs too much...

[ariveria]

08:32 PM on 11/05/2009

so why would that cost more

"a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth"
glenn beck
informatio­n czar fox news
the view 5/20/09

[Yocepuc]

08:45 AM on 11/05/2009

And the po1ntless dr1vel of Joe "1 beer shy of a 6-pack" Wilson continues.­..

[throwcautiontothewind]

10:47 AM on 11/05/2009

One beer? How about 5 beers shy of a six-pack?