Cantor Scoffs At AARP and AMA Health Care Reform Endorsements

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va) scoffed and downplayed the significance of two major health-care related interest groups endorsing Democratic authored legislation.

Calling the decision of AARP -- a senior citizens lobby -- to back health care reform "puzzling," Cantor insisted that it wouldn't affect a single Republicans vote

"I don't think the endorsement of a Washington-based group is going to sway members as much as what they are hearing from their constituents at home," the Virginia Republican told a crowd of reporters. "It is really puzzling as to why the AARP will endorse a bill that the CBO indicates will take almost 500 billion dollars out of Medicare. It is just, to me, something I can't quite understand why they would do that. I suspect that they will get a lot of push back from their members."

The House Minority Whip also teed off a bit on the American Medical Association -- a major doctor advocacy organization -- which also offered its support for reform legislation

"As far as the AMA endorsement is concerned," Cantor said. "I frankly do not think the AMA represents the wishes of the physicians in the communities throughout the ground in this country."

The remarks by the Virginia Republican position both he and the broader Republican Party against two of the most respected names in health care interest group industry. They also provide a reflection of just how far the debate over Democratic-produced reform has evolved. It was, after all, roughly five months ago that the AMA was raising concerns about the direction of health care reform -- in the process spurring critiques from progressive lawmakers and activists.

On Thursday, by contrast, Democratic lawmakers were eagerly touting the dual endorsements as the missing catalyst for passing reform. President Barack Obama, in a surprise trip to the briefing room at the White House, offered thanks to both organizations and urged "Congress to listen to AARP, listen to the AMA, and pass this reform for hundreds of millions of Americans who will benefit from it."

The president's message, in the end, was likely directed to only Democrats on the Hill. Hours later, while briefing reporters, Cantor all but etched in stone the number zero under the Republican vote column for health care legislation.

"We have 177 votes in the House and Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi is still not at 218," he said. "She will get no help from us in passing this gargantuan trillion-dollar overhaul."

Comments

[blues101]

Pay no attention...... that shpiel was his first homework assignment from that nifty and expensive speech coach. And he failed.

[msbeal]

Did anyone else catch Geraldo late last night claim AARP did NOT support the healthcare bill. Rather an odd statement from someone covering the healthcare debate where it was mentioned that they DID endorse the bill about a hundred times.

Wake the hell_ up Geraldo. After he found nothing in Al Capone's vault his career has been one downward spiral.

[MaryK2924]

Is it Mr. Cantor's belief that the AARP and the AMA don't really represent the people they say they do? My question to Mr. Cantor would then be, if the polls of the american people show support for health care reform and also for a public option, who does he represent?

[blues101]

um. himself, his party, the insurance companies. I don't think i missed anyone.....

[mancoff]

Hey Cantor, did you forget how the Repbublicans touted the fact that the AMA and AARP did not back the health care reform bill at the beginning of all this. Republicans seems to think that most of the people in this country are as ignorant and unaware of the facts as the tea bag "lemmings" are. The people, who love to hate, are willing to accept anything that promotes justification of their hate and fear. The right wing politicians are willing to say and do anything to promote their propoganda, truth be dammed.

[den1953]

The over all smugness of these Republican law makers is beyond belief i truly think they are still under GW Bush and the country is run under the idea they have to answer to know one when there confronted they have no way to respond with the ignorance of a three year old!

[H321]

He is pretty bad at his job. He can't even handle himself well against Chris Matthews. This guy is in over his head.

[OhComeOnNow]

The House Bill passed. Who's scoffing now?

[Marnie1]

And add the American Cancer Society to his scoff.

[doneflyin]

Tell me that picture doesn't look like Mr. Potato Head.

A'm jus' sayin'.

[blues101]

Hey thanks for that giggle - i was trying to figure out who he reminded me of, and why i wanted to add a moustache or something to him, and you got it!

[davidapollo]

What a CEEP!

[Lorifromky]

The only endorsement any Republican cares about is the head of the chamber of commerce. Reminds me of a Bob Dylan song..

[LightningJoe]

Translation service:

"puzzling" = frustrating -- understandable, for a blind, eighteenth-century conservative.

"AARP: Washington-based group" = unconnected with the real constituents -- unlike say, the pharma and insurance lobbyists, who are the Republicans' real constituents.

"..will take almost 500 billion dollars out of Medicare" = bad -- as if saving money were a bad thing, to be avoided -- and as if that so-called loss weren't more than made good in another breath of the Bill.

"I can't understand why..." = I wish they hadn't done what their members have been asking them to do -- "not understanding" the move is the only argument left for Republicans -- and the only believable one, at that.

"...frankly do not think the AMA represents the wishes of the physicians [who are its members]" = the world must be full of organizations that "subvert" the interests of their membership -- physicians are running around 75 % FOR the plan, and even the Chamber of Commerce has finally come around.

Poor Cantor. It must be lonely, being left behind by history.

[wordvarc]

Cantor may be right. 'Crazy far right' but right.

Only the remaining 22% of Americans
who identify themselves as Republicans
trust the RNC/GOP
more than the AARP and the AMA.

[gnomic]

the GOP does care about voters or Americans. it only cares about people rich enough to buy their votes

[ezwalker]

Short, sweet, and absolutely spot on!

[Lulubelle1]

I wonder what he would be saying about the AMA and the AARP if they agreed with him? Or endorsed him as an individual candidate?

Careful, Mr. Cantor. Our view of your judgment is being blocked by the great, big, blinking "BIAS" sign in front of it.