Steve King Invokes Babies 'In Garbage Cans' To Argue Against Health Care Reform (VIDEO)

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) used some extreme imagery Thursday to argue that last year's health care overhaul was unconstitutional, appearing to suggest that babies being left "in garbage cans" proved health insurance could not be regulated by Congress as interstate commerce.

During a debate with Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), the Iowa Republican first claimed some people would live their entire lives in a specific state without receiving health care. King said that because this was possible, insurance provisions should not be considered interstate commerce.

"There have always been and likely will always be, babies that were born, lived and died within the jurisdictions of the individual states who never cross a state line, access no health care and therefore do not impact interstate commerce. Therefore, to compel someone who fits that category to buy an insurance policy cannot be defined within the confines of the interstate commerce clause."

Polis disagreed with King's contention that there are individuals who would go their entire lives without accessing any sort of health care.

"You find the baby that was not born in a hospital or with a midwife who did not receive inoculations," Polis countered. "You find that baby and identify them and I'll be happy to have that discussion."

At that point, King seemed to reach for the most extreme example he could find.

"I hate to tell you, but they show up in garbage cans around this country, sir," King said.

WATCH (via Political Correction):

Comments

[mirandaphd]

08:22 PM on 01/18/2011

He can afford to marvel at babies in garbage cans because he has access to socialized medicine. Let him be taken off the socialized medical plan he is on, and let him fend for himself and his depends on the open market. He sure has a pre-existing condition.

[R Davis]

01:33 PM on 01/18/2011

We are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to get people trained. They want to go to work but they can't because they are sick, can't get health care. I have a friend that had a respirator­y infection. Couldn't get work. Couldn't afford to go to a doctor. Couldn't afford to by the antibiotic­s if she had the prescripti­on. She'd go to job interviews coughing and hacking. Couldn't get a job. We all suffer because of people like that. They don't have work, aren't paying taxes, aren't spending money they could have. The benefit far outweighs the cost of just enabling people to go to the doctor and get healthy. The Republican Party doesn't care because the rich who pay for their campaigns don't have a problem getting health care and don't want to pay for the common people to stay healthy.

[benney44]

01:09 PM on 01/08/2011

Unfortunately full term babies in garbage cans will also be the unintended result of most elected Republicans abortion policies. Get used to it Congressman or stop blocking progressive health reform.

[Vincent Gormley]

05:06 PM on 01/07/2011

Common sense would say that the 'trash mouth' of Rep. King and other Republicans is as good an argument in favor of healthcare reform as one can make. Especially for Women's health, prenatal, postnatal, pediatric, preventative not to mention the mental health care that these depraved individuals appear to be in desperate need of. Oh yeah they have their healthcare no matter what! Foolish voters.

[dollbaby]

12:45 AM on 01/09/2011

exactly.

[odaat52]

04:45 PM on 01/07/2011

So newborns who are dumped in garbage cans and have a lifespan of minutes or hours are his examples of people who "live their entire lives in one place and never access healthcare"?? And for this reason healthcare shouldn't be considered a part of interstate commerce?

Brilliant. Not.

[onegandolf1]

04:31 PM on 01/07/2011

Fine Steve, then let's go back to the original idea- insurance provided by individual employers.

The mandate for individuals was a republican idea, anyway.

[ldcbl]

02:45 PM on 01/07/2011

hopefully mr king can be as clear of his position when he tells us about his JOB ideas. a more on is he

[idisVA]

01:51 PM on 01/07/2011

Here is a Congressman who does not know the meaning of the word 'mendacity' yet he stood as usual before the House and used the word wrongly.

[onegandolf1]

04:35 PM on 01/07/2011

He's sorta like the Right Wing talk Show Host who called Obama an "appeaser" but had no idea what an appeaser was.

[onegandolf1]

04:38 PM on 01/07/2011

Of course, we now know that he was right. He's an appeaser of Wall Street, Health Care Companies and whack job republicans.

[TheIndependenceParty]

01:50 PM on 01/07/2011

In his neck of the plains, ... they bury them in cornfields.

[Duane Green]

01:11 PM on 01/07/2011

Worst congress(man)? ever.

[Gaylord P Farqua]

12:28 PM on 01/07/2011

King will make a wonderful addition the 2012 GOP candidate showcase. Just imagine a debate dais featuring Rudy and his slides from 911, the Grizzly Mama with action shots from her wildlife kills, Rev. Huckabee can speak in tongues, Mitt can explain the finer points of Mormon plural  marriage like on "Big Love" and try to talk his way out of his support for Health care in Mass. Maybe even an appearance by Jeb Bush with the family photos where brother Neil is airbrushed out because of his connection to the S&L scandal along with McCain, and, of course, Newt who will lecture the nation on how the "trickle down theory" is still viable if we only have patience. The rest of the GOP hopefuls like Carl Paladino,  and Michelle Bachmann and whoever else is plan less, will form up as the second string eligible for VP only.

[riversideliberal]

12:16 PM on 01/07/2011

Some individuals will be born, live, and die in one state.
But if they lack health insurance, and get an incapacitating illness, they will live on social security and medicaid, both federal programs paid for with the taxes of people living in other states.
The health and welfare of people in Arkansas and Minnesota and Oregon affects me in California.
Their poor health costs me money. Their lack of access to health care costs me money.
Their access to preventive care saves me money.
As a taxpayer, I have a vested interest in seeing them given access to health care.
As a compassionate human, I have a strong personal interest in seeing them given access to health care.

(And yes, I'd prefer a real public option. Obamacare as it now stands is only a start toward the social justice and economic practicality represented by real public option insurance for all.)

[wvmarv]

12:28 PM on 01/07/2011

Well stated, and absolutely true.

[Hoc Equidem]

04:31 PM on 01/07/2011

Great post and my feeling exactly.

[JimR]

11:03 AM on 01/07/2011

That wasn't a baby, that was Snooki.

[blueplano]

02:56 PM on 01/07/2011

HAH! F+F'd..............

[iridium53]

11:00 AM on 01/07/2011

Perhaps someone could explain the causal connection between "babies in garbage cans" and insurance?

Is King suggesting their is some proximate link between the insurance company and the acts he describes? If so, perhaps the Congressman can introduce some evidence of it.

[Ioan Lightoller]

02:25 PM on 01/07/2011

He thinks that women should not have control of their bodies and if no health care is available there will be no abortions. No, Mr. King, all that will happen is that women will find a way to get abortions if they need them and possibly both women and fetus will be terminated. But of course, Mr. King, you don't care about the fetus once it is born, do you? Nope. Just that a woman is forced to give birth to it. After that, they're on their own.

[jcarterla]

10:59 AM on 01/07/2011

I had forgotten all about The Garbage Pail Kids. I used to love them.