Sue Lowden Defends 'Chickens For Checkups' Proposal

Republican Senate candidate Sue Lowden on Tuesday defended her claim that a "chickens for checkups" barter system would be an effective alternative to the recently-passed health care reform bill.

She also said her original comments on the proposal were taken "way out of context."

Lowden, who is seeking to unseat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada, explained her previous statementin an interview with a local news outlet in Nevada:

"The truth of the matter is there is bartering going on in this state and in the country. It has been going on for years and it was a casual statement talking about the reality of what's going on, and not in a negative way by the way. This is something -- you know when I talk about bartering like you said it's also bargaining for the price, asking doctors if there's a different price if you're paying cash or paying by check. We know this is going on."

Lowden also blamed the Reid campaign for focusing too much attention on the comments she made about bartering during an event with voters in a rural Nevada town.

"The only thing that was taken out of that one-hour conversation was about thirty seconds was about bartering," Lowden said in the interview. "They took it way out of context."

Last week Lowden's campaign made a strong push for a chicken-for-checkups-style proposal as sound health care policy.

HuffPost's Nick Wing reported:

Lowden's campaign sent a letter to the Las Vegas Review-Journal Wednesday defending her stance and providing a testimonial of "Robin L. Titus, M.D." who claims that he has "bartered with patients -- for alfalfa hay, a bath tub, yard work and horse shoeing in exchange for my care." Her campaign has also been circulating an extensive background document explaining the perks of bargaining with your health care provider.

In light of Lowden's "chickens for check-ups" blunder, the Democratic Party of Nevada is having some fun with the Republican candidate's health care proposal at her own expense by holding a contest to highlight "how ridiculous the plan really is." Democratic supporters are being encouraged to submit funny videos to help make the case. Here's an excerpt from the announcement of the contest posted on the state party's website:

By now you've probably heard about GOP Senate candidate Sue Lowden's health care plan for Nevadans: bring your doctor a chicken or offer to paint his house. It's the revolutionary Chickens for Checkups plan, which has made Lowden a laughingstock across the nation.
...
But, if Chickens for Checkups, Cluckers for Chemo, or Hens for Healthcare doesn't seem realistic for your family - I mean, how many of us have livestock handy for trading? - then here's a contest that you'll love.
...
The Nevada State Democratic Party wants to see which supporter can make the best funny video highlighting how ridiculous Lowden's Chickens for Checkups plan really is.

Listen to Lowden walk back on her "Chickens For Checkups" claim here.

Comments

[Thomas Fellows]

01:45 PM on 05/05/2010

Well, even after having insurance coverage my doctor's office has billed me for $415.80. My wife's been out of work and money has been short so we've been throwing our money away on things like the mortgage, gas, electricity, water and food. I totally overlooked this bill forgetting my doctor probably needed to fill the tank on his boxster or buy that special something for his wife on their Jamaica trip so I just received their **FINAL NOTICE**. I think this may be the perfect time to try Sue Lowden's plan when I call to make arrangements. I do have a small problem however, I don't really own any "livestock" per se but I do have 4 cats. I love them all so much which one do I offer them? Perhaps I could use this as a threat when one of is bad, sort of like when your parents would say "I'm going to ship you off to weird Uncle Buford's if you keep that up!" I could tell the cat that sometimes misses the cat box and hits the floor, "One more time George and you're going to be Doc barter!" I could probably get a hold of some chickens, but I live in a residential area and I'm sure my homeowner's association would have something to say about it. I should probably negotiate the deal first then buy the chickens, a goat or cow would probably cost me more than the bill.

[dukeuch]

12:34 PM on 05/03/2010

Gosh Ms. Lowden, would it also be OK if I paid off my gambling debt at your company's casino with goods and services instead of money? Can I negotiate with you an amount I can pay instead of what I actually owe?

[LSP]

09:32 PM on 04/30/2010

I wonder how many chickens she had to shell out for the face lift. It looks so taut it could crack.

[american2008]

12:01 PM on 04/29/2010

Hey Lady, Go Pluck yourself!

[ron ray]

11:07 AM on 04/29/2010

somehow, I don't think a young doctor will ever be able to send the chicken I give him back to his med school to pay for his loans. what year are we living in?

[BeauRadley]

10:56 AM on 04/29/2010

Uh Sue, the world gave up the barter system, except in certain areas of the globe many eons ago. Another Repub with no sense of history or anything new to add the the US.

[IM4REAL]

10:46 AM on 04/29/2010

I guess republicans are just trying to change the face of the republican party (old white men), to young, hot, vibrate super stars! Sarah Palin, Micheal Steele, Scott Brown, Marco Rubio, Sue Lowden, and Kristia Cavere. Missing elements intellect, articulation, brains, knowledgeable about the issues, and skilled in use of technology (teleprompter).

[susankhbelen]

10:37 AM on 04/29/2010

let's go viral with videos on this chicken's chicken proposal
does this mean I have to develop a chicken coop in the backyard...will zoning allow this?
They BETTER or it is infringing on my small business and health and well being rights...

[chrisc918]

10:34 AM on 04/29/2010

Will you also be able to pay your student loans in chickens or other livestock?

[RSKaz]

09:43 AM on 04/29/2010

Defend away, Lowden. It's still an idea that runs "a fowl" with the medical profession.

[RiverCitySlicker]

09:35 AM on 04/29/2010

Give this idi0t a

PULLET SURPRISE.

[eyelashviper]

10:58 AM on 04/29/2010

AWARD WINNER! fanned.

[JimR]

09:32 AM on 04/29/2010

Colbert did a great bit on her proposal:

"All doctors go into medicine because they want to heal the sick and because they want chicken."

http://www.eatmedaily.com/2010/04/colbert-on-bartering-chickens-for-health-care/

[KrisLK]

02:09 PM on 04/29/2010

My question is how would a doctor pay his staff? A leg for the nurse, a leg for the billing clerk, and a breast for the secretary? Would your malpractice isurer accept payment in shares in you heretofore chicken farm? If you come down with avain flu, do you pay with a foul chicken?...LOL.

[JimR]

02:25 PM on 04/29/2010

Good point! Maybe they'll free eggs.

[KrisLK]

09:14 AM on 04/29/2010

It is beyond me why this women is ahead of Ried in the NV Senate polls with her wack-a-doo healthcare barter system, a chicken for every doctor's visit. This chicken policy speaks volumes to her stream of thinking and bodes ill for any other gov't policy she may espouse. It doesn't speak well of the NV voters either.

[redsongia]

10:56 AM on 04/29/2010

People move to Vegas because it's easy to get a job busing tables and sweeping casino carpet.

The population is not heavy into analysis and they're not terribly forward thinking.

[1GR8ToolMan]

07:52 AM on 04/29/2010

I finally get it, the reason you are trashing Ms. Lauden that is, you are afraid of her. She may actually be able to unseat Harry Reid and you don’t like that. Your run on the government tab will be over. No more slush funds discussed as bailouts for the needy, no more free trips to Europe costing over one hundred thousand dollars just for booze and so on.
Let me write a book detailing how to kill a Republican U.S. President and it’s a best seller, but killing Obama in three easy steps will land me in jail.
The TEA party movement drew in 30,000 people to Searchlight, NV, to protest our runaway government spending and to protest against Harry Reid. One week later Harry Reid couldn’t even muster 100 people at a rally in the same town.
If Obama’s health care reform was such a great law, why is it not taking effect until after his re-election? Why are Muslims and other Obama-friendly groups exempt from it? Why did they have to pass the law in the dark of night, bribe, threaten and force people to vote for it?
You band of hypocrites, yes November will tell where the future of this country is going. We will either see the lying socialists walked out the door or we will be put on the road to destruction and the last supper power.

[S-Man]

09:04 AM on 04/29/2010

A cuckoo for the chicken lady, I think the name says it all...tool indeed.

[nowpolitics]

10:17 AM on 04/29/2010

You are surely one he11 of a tool!

[Trebor65]

07:28 AM on 04/29/2010

Wow, first the statement is made w/o any consideration as to the backlash she would receive. Then she backpedals to try and clean up the statement.... What a tool!