Arianna Defends Alan Grayson, Discusses Urgent Need For Health Reform On "Countdown" (VIDEO)

Arianna was a guest on MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" tonight and she defended the remarks made by Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson (FL) about the GOP and health care reform, saying he has the truth on his side. She also stressed that the need for fundamental reform is urgent because the lack of health insurance is killing thousands of Americans every year.

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Comments

[krocklin]

Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh etc. command the public stage and we liberals criticize the word "holocaust". I think it was an appropriate and courageous and forceful term for Grayson to have used. How else are you going to get through to a population that doesn't even realize it is on the verge of collapse?

[lescargot]

Both Olberman and Maddow went sideways on his choice of the word holocaust and many others have as well. Not to put too fine a point on it, but he did say "this holocaust must be stopped" and made no direct reference to "The Holocaust" and though it might seem picky to point it out, the general term pre-dates WW2 by quite some time. i.e. The Middle Ages.

Was it an unfortunate choice of words? Possibly. At first I certainly thought so until I looked at the definition again and found one to be:

"any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life."

If that doesn't describe Republican indifference to 44,000+ American CITIZENS' deaths from want of health care I don't know what does. Because of the horror of The Holocaust are we no longer able to use this word in any other context?

Check it out:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/holocaust

[Chopin]

lescargot, you are quite right. Thanks for the clarification. I never knew there're so many general meanings to that word, . . . and by extension, NOBODY and no group of people should feel they OWN that word for their exclusive use only, that is, monopolize the dictionary.

Just to make the general meanings indisputably clear, here are the dictionary meanings of the word "holocaust" (thanks to your reference effort):--

– noun:
1. a great or complete devastation or destruction, esp. by fire.
2. a sacrifice completely consumed by fire; burnt offering.
3. (usually initial capital letter) the systematic mass slaughter of European Jews in Nazi concentration camps during World War II (usually prec. by the).
4. any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life.

Synonyms:
1. inferno, conflagration, ruin, havoc, ravage.
.

[jaglon]

I am so glad that Rep. Grayson said what he did on the house floor. It is about time that a Democrat had the guts to actually put the republicans on the defensive. But Rep. Grayson only got it half right, it is the health insurance companies who want you to die if you become sick especially if it is something like cancer.

When I was under going treatment for my cancer I told that to the case nurse assigned to me, who worked for United Healthcare. She, of course, was deeply offended by that. But it is true. It is cheaper for them if you would just die. Now I wish some representative or senator would get up and announce that on the floor!

[annie g]

What is the Right (and some on the Left also) so afraid of when it comes to everyone in America having healthcare? What do they find so disturbing about it that they will lie and use fear based rhetoric to literally condemn those that want good and affordable healthcare?
Having and keeping good health is not just a simple thing of eating right and exercising. Some are faced with health issues through no fault of their own. Military men and women who have been injured, many who worked at the 9/11 site are having health issues and some have already died, those that work in coal mines, different types of cancers and heart disease passed from one generation to the next, air pollution and the list goes on.

Healthcare should be available to all regardless of their situation.

[ankjack]

Oh, joy. Absurd hyperbolic statements are now commonplace in political discourse. It was one thing when it was just pundits, another when Republicans started echoing all the white noise. Apparently, it didn't push the envelope enough to compare our first black President to Hitler, because now, death by natural causes can be compared to the Holocaust.

The brilliance of his demonstration of "the Republican Plan" and his defiant rebuttle to GOP demands for an apology cannot be extricated from his final word, "Holocaust­." It was no more simply a "poor choice of words" when Alan Grayson invoked the horror of the Final Solution than it was "a spontaneous outburst" when Joe Wilson shouted, "You Lie!" at President Obama during his speech to the House.

With all of the allusions to Nazis in the current discourse, we've lost sight of the real cautionary tale of the Third Reich: theirs, like ours was a deeply divided society and it was a such a simple thing for Hitler to exploit Germany's hatred for itself to gain power that he could scarcely be expected to resist such a temptation.

Can we?

[Artemis34]

There is a difference between " a holocaust" and "The Holocaust.­"

Webster says:

1 : a sacrifice consumed by fire
2 : a thorough destruction involving extensive loss of life especially through fire
3 a often capitalized : the mass slaughter of European civilians and especially Jews by the Nazis during World War II —usually used with the b : a mass slaughter of people; especially : genocide

The sick US system involves "extensive loss of life" which makes it appropriate use under definition 2.

Some estimates are as high as over 100,000 lives lost needlessly per year. So, in the last 10 years that is over 1 million human lives lost in the US needlessly.

If you accurately use a word and reflect the situation, it is not hyperbole.

[annie g]

Thank you for your informative response.

[ram1952]

Laydeeeeez and Gentlemen,

I think we have found the successor to President Barack H. Obama!

[goodog]

He makes a great first impression­... and from Florida, too. Representing Disney World, no less.

How Americana can you get, but I would bet the birthbaggists will take issue with his name sounding suspiciously Scandinavian.

Such rare, solid support on this story.

Where are all the GOP apologists for the insurance companies?

Is Thursday the day they help out at the insurance rescission phone banks?

[hollygirl]

I'm loving this guy. I wish I lived in Florida I'd vote for him!

[47songs]

I'm diszabled and not able to contribute monitarily, but I've sent him an email letting him know he has my support. I hope that helps.

[roudy]

I will be contributing to Mr. Grayson's campaign fund just as I contributed to Joe Wilson's opponent and will continue to contribute to both as I am able financially. I hope many others do this also because the repugs will put every effort into defeating these two in the next election.

[AirForce Vet]

I agree with Representative Grayson. He has more fortitude and perseverance than most Democrats in the political arena. He should stand firm and be an example for the spineless Democrats who serve themselves and not the people.

In respect to him using the word holocaust, please understand that the word also means “any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life.” Wasn’t this word used in reference to his comments about Health Care and the Republicans ideas about health care? Why are we hung up on this particular word? Are we saying that it should be only used in terms when speaking about the Nazi crimes against the Jews? Should slavery be only synonymous with American slave trade? Should genocide only be associated with Dafur? Should war crimes only be associated with other countries and not with the US?

A link to a Canadian Holocaust:

http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/


A link to a Canadian Holocaust:

http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/

[BlueDog1]

I completly agree with Grayson and Arianna as it relates his presentation in Congress his comment should be our new national bumper sticker...­­­­­......­.­.­.­.­..­..­."­Do­n­'­T Get Sick" " If You Do Die Quickly

[quidam56]

HOLOCAUST is pretty accurate..­.

As a former embalmer, I am concerned and have been concerned for over five years of MRSA ( methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureaus ) in these deaths from a flu bug. Hospitals in America are filthy bacteria breeding grounds and the very health care system we trust, believe and depend on to keep us safe and healthy is infecting our communities with a disease that used to be an only hospital acquired infection that is so common in our homes, schools, businesses. I really believe the mix of MRSA and flu will cause more deaths than AIDS. I watched my father rot for ten months because of the status quo http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 which I am not saying is medical malpractice, what I did for a living was legal mutilation. But what is deemed, defended and supported as quality health care in America is going to kill more and more innocent people, mostly children right now, but the vunerable elderly are the next target and I can only imagine what will happen when this affects the US economy and health care system.

[mbinKS]

I second this commentary. My family is presently watching a sister rot away after contracting MRSA when she was hospitalized for a lung ailment. Not only did hosp not stem the lung disease, she developed the MRSA to boot. The filth and carelessness are a national disgrace. Best advice: STAY OUT OF HOSPITALS. A retired dr friend has had a similar experience; hospitalization for a minor pneumonia incident has led to MRSA which he will battle for the remainder of his life. IS THERE NO RECOURSE?

[kcsmom]

We talk about deaths, but lack of public option affects soooo much more...

Years ago I was a stay-at-home mother with three children and my husband lost his job. My fourteen year old son had slowly become paranoid resulting in a psychotic break. At the time I knew very little about mental illness and up until then he had been a better than typical adolescent; successful in school, popular and a good athlete. He eventually was diagnosed as bi-polar.

We went to three hospitals and psychiatric facilities; no one would treat him because we had no insurance. My son was frightened, increasingly agitated and I didn't know how to deal with him.
If it weren't for supportive, able family I don't know what may have happened. My brother was finally able to get him admitted to a facility through his connections.

I shudder to think how many homeless, addicts, young runaways, that are out there suffering because of lack of insurance and knowledge. Many become incarcerated as a result.
When one is dealing with someone in crisis it is best for that family- and society- to know there will be no question that their loved one will be covered.

Shame on those not wanting a public option. America is 37th!!! in health care.
Where is the pride on this point? In this country, it would seem to be easier to get to the moon than for some to get the care they deserve.

[princeza]

At first I wasn't okay with the use of the word holocaust, but after watching the comments again on TRMS, I think he was using it in the generic sense which I'm more comfortable with.

A better choice of words? 44,000 people die every year because they don't have insurance. The politicians on both sides who aren't working to fix this, or who are openly trying to oppose this, are complicit in these deaths.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned was the segment following this about the new amendment that Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) will introduce. He said that it will make the companies receiving gov't subsidies spend 90% on actual healthcare, not bonuses, pay, overhead, etc. Nice idea, let's see how that vote goes.

[ramal]

Please call Rep. Grayson's Washington Office (202-225-2176) and thank him for his comments. Tell him to stand firm and keep fighting.

[Tulka2]

Your avatar is a great darling of mine.

[hippieforlife]

Unless you have access to all 44,000 health records you will have a tough time saying that "they all died for lack of health care".

[Jase84]

Thats all repubs have. Any reports that come out, that don't find it credible..­.without even looking at the damned thing.

Pathetic.

[Artemis34]

Yes. As Colbert said "Reality has a well-know liberal bias."

[Artemis34]

There are estimates that put deaths in the US for lack of care over 100,000 per year! This is a conservative estimate.

http://askville.amazon.com/lot-depends-tax-money/AnswerDetails.do?requestId=7365405&responseId=7401022

http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/1/58?ijkey=05uD000683MNE&keytype=ref&siteid=healthaff

"If the United States could reduce amenable mortality to the average rate achieved in the three top-performing countries [with public health care], there would have been 101,000 fewer deaths per year by the end of the study period."

[BlueDog1]

Only one comment...­­­­­......­.­.­.­.­..­..­."­Do­n­'­T Get Sick" " If You Do Die Quickly