House Republicans Face Backlash At Home Over Medicare Vote

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans returning to their districts on Monday faced harsh criticism for voting to turn Medicare, the federal health care program for retirees, into a voucher system. GOP lawmakers faced this same constituent ire mere weeks ago when they first voted to support House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) budget plan, which would lower tax rates for corporations and the wealthy while replacing Medicare with private-insurance subsidies for those under 55.

Speaking in his home state of Arizona Monday night, freshman Rep. Ben Quayle (R), son of former vice president Dan Quayle, took heat from constituents who demanded to know why he supported turning Medicare over to private insurers.

WATCH:

Congressman Quayle Takes Heat for Medicare Decision: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

Quayle isn’t the only lawmaker who, after voting in favor of Ryan's plan, faced anger at home this week. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) faced a similarly boisterous crowd at her first Vancouver town hall, while Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) weathered disapproving audiences in Worcester County.

A town hall meeting held by freshman Allen West (R-Fla.) on Monday night degenerated into a shouting match, with one person having to be removed from the meeting by police.

A recent speech by Ryan, meanwhile, was met with dozens of protesters marching outside a hotel in downtown Chicago and carrying signs that read: "Hands off my Medicare" and "Paul Ryan plan: Let them eat cat food."

The most recent round of backlash comes just days after former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican presidential candidate, called the Republican plan to end Medicare too "radical" and "too big a jump" for Americans. He also referred to it as "right-wing social engineering."

Comments

[SisterAnn]

10:05 PM on 05/19/2011

Too many of our republican leaders have the morals of an alley cat.

Medicare is a pillar to the elderly and we have paid for the right to have it for years and continue to pay premiums after we retire. Medicare and Social Security is all we have to show for all the payroll taxes we paid.

If the republican leaders had values they would talk down the costs charged by their rich companies (their base) that are ruining medicare. They have probably talked up the cost to ruin Medicare.

They want it all and want the rest of us to die penniless.

[TedEjr]

09:43 PM on 05/19/2011

Posted---A town hall meeting held by freshman Allen West (R-Fla.) on Monday night degenerated into a shouting match, with one person having to be removed from the meeting by police. (END)

What isn't stated here, but was on tape on Maddow tonight, is that West said--I will take my hands off Medicare when there is no more Medicare.(END)

Can anyone who does not live in someplace like Bellevue still convince themselves that Republicans are bound and determined to destroy any semblance of a social network? Can you really convince yourself that, unless you earn one million or more, or you are a major corporation, that Republicans care absolutely nothing about your needs. Nor do they care about creating paths to enable you to reach that one million goal.

If you don't have it now, the money, Republicans will never allow you to obtain it. Rand Paul was projecting, when he talking about Obama having his boots on necks. The truth is, Republicans have their boots on YOUR neck.

[braytjr]

03:29 PM on 05/19/2011

What you see happening is the last gasp for the republican party. They have played every trump card in their deck of lies and deception. Now, they stand naked and shameless..

Their only mission is to protect the wealthy and the corporate elite from paying any taxes to the federal government. They used race, gender, fear, religion and guns to divide the electorate, so they can continue their mission of distributing large sums of wealth to their corporate overlords.

The Citizens United decision and the 2010 elections convinced republicans to drop their veils altogether and move to destroy the middle class. Their arrogance has led them over the cliff of reality. They have been exposed by their own action for all to see. The people, who voted republican over the last 40 years, have awaken to the lies of the GOP. They now see that they are the final targets in this plan to return us feudalism.

Medicare was the answer liberals gave Obama during the health care debate. If we just lowered the age to 50 now and gradually over eight years, we would have single payer health care. It was obvious that even the Tea Party people like Medicare and it would be foolish to attack it. This would force the GOP to attack people 40+ who would now be on Medicare.

Republican arrogance to the rescue. It is nice to once see republicans act like Democrats and snatch defeat from the Jaws of Victory.

[poppie0144]

10:23 AM on 05/19/2011

I guess it's better to just let medicare go broke and everyone lose.the dem's use adds to make anyone trying to do something about it look like they are hate old people.it is really sad to misuse older people like they are.

[SisterAnn]

10:12 PM on 05/19/2011

Who is trying to do something to save Medicare? Gutting it and making it worthless doesn't save it.

[spytheweb]

09:47 AM on 05/20/2011

Repubicans never wanted medicare.

Ronald Reagan - Medicare Will Bring A Socialist Dictatorship

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bejdhs3jGyw

[azdirk]

10:07 AM on 05/19/2011

I'm ashamed of my generation. "I deserve what I'm getting from the government, but nobody else does." No wonder we can't elect a functioning government!

[sanddc]

06:25 AM on 05/19/2011

If American's voter allows or trust the the three branches of government to fall in the hand of the Republicans party you can take your place inthe soup line'

They will passed the 15000 voucher program the first day they take office and wouldn't give a hoot what they old senior has to say once they vote for them.

I never met a party that so hypocrital and has no regards for the poor, or the elderly. This is so sad to me that it's a mystery to me as to how they can think the way they do.

[spytheweb]

09:49 AM on 05/20/2011

FANNED!

[AGammaRaye]

03:05 AM on 05/19/2011

These gop-ee people are in Oz and counting on voters to forget. I saw the t-party lady on Colbert who had 1 intelligent thing to say ...just 1...she looks like a femme version of Christie and just as arrogant. Nothing is going to change unless and until everybody in this game realizes we are at sudden death.

[antidemomarxist]

10:17 PM on 05/19/2011

Was that Rosey? Hard to tell lib females apart, they all seem to look like Janet Napolitano (AKA Kevin James)

[rccthatsme]

02:04 AM on 05/19/2011

I know I know ... lets talk about Obamacare waivers!

[spytheweb]

09:51 AM on 05/20/2011

Let's talk about single payer health care!

http://www.grahamazon.com/sp/whatissinglepayer.php

[rccthatsme]

11:02 AM on 05/20/2011

Lets talk about government efficiency.

[wagwag]

01:43 AM on 05/19/2011

This might not post, but I still say I have seen this guy someplace. OH! I know. It was on a cream of wheat box.

[lpcondon]

01:19 AM on 05/19/2011

He's a dumb as his dad

[petcraft]

01:06 AM on 05/19/2011

We'd better not hear of anymore pay raises to senators & other high ranking politicians while other segments, such as the senior population had to do without. If one section of society has to 'pull in its belt', so to speak, then we ALL should & work this out together.

[SisterAnn]

10:14 PM on 05/19/2011

Share the sacrifice doesn't mean the rich or the government. Just us-

[L I Beral]

12:20 AM on 05/19/2011

Scream as long and as loud as you can and they still won't listen because if they change their position they lose their funding. Look what's happening to Newt for being reasonable. They are not willing to lose face with the party and face and party are far more important to the right than the will of the people. That's been pretty clear since the days of Reagan.

[Patriot58]

11:42 PM on 05/18/2011

The chickens are coming home to roost Bobby Bushay!

[phylisa]

11:40 PM on 05/18/2011

They will find out in 2012 when they all get voted out. This plan to cut medicare and give breaks to the rich is terrible. They would love to see nursing home elderly out on the streets then the republicans would yell (LET THEM DYE). That is the true fact.

[jeanrenoir]

11:46 PM on 05/18/2011

Too bad it took Ryan's plan to destroy Medicare to get seniors' attention. Too bad they are so selfish that they were HAPPY to vote for people who would take away the safety net from the poor, but are now ANGRY when the same people they elected want to openly take away the safety net from the selfish voters' own kids. But at least it's a start.

[azdirk]

10:08 AM on 05/19/2011

Agreed.

[poppie0144]

10:26 AM on 05/19/2011

you are nuts

[ChicagoBob]

10:56 PM on 05/18/2011

The GOP base seems to be okay with being deprived of pretty much everything except health. Maybe these sheep are finally able to see how little their leaders actually care about the people of our once great country.

Take away my constitutional rights.
Take away my employment.
Take away the chance for my children to have a better life than I have.
Take away my doctor? I don't think so.

You get what you vote for.