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Rep. Anthony Weiner

Rep. Anthony Weiner

Posted: March 1, 2010 03:57 PM

Don't Tell John Boehner

What's Your Reaction:

I said it on Wednesday, and I'll say it again: the Republicans really are just a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry.

Thursday's summit proved it: They want to destroy Medicare, shovel money to insurance companies, and screw over the American people.

First we let the Gang of Six make the rules, then we let Olympia Snowe and Joe Lieberman have their turn. It got us nothing!

We need to let the majority make the rules. The public option passed in the House and it's time to force a vote in the Senate.

I liveblogged the summit at Daily Kos to make sure a strong pro-public-option voice was heard. Thousands of netroots activists joined my call to action and I want to thank everyone who took part.

Click here to read my liveblog of Thursday's health care summit. Don't tell John Boehner what I wrote about him.

A majority of Americans support the public option. The President supports a public option. A majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives support the public option. And thousands of supporters--from red and blue states--are standing with me at countdowntohealthcare.com.

So why are we negotiating with a bunch of obstructionist Republicans and trying to appease Joe Lieberman? I can't count a single vote this strategy has brought us.

It's time to govern like a real majority and get things done for the American people. I hope you'll join my call to action.

 
 
 
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10:33 PM on 03/07/2010
We'll never be rid of the health insurance companies, and here's why. These companies are cash-flush; they ought to be with the massive profits they've been posting lately and they're using that cash for things besides buying politicians. They are the single largest bloc of investors on Wall Street and if their profitability suffers, so goes the stock market. Giving Americans single-payer health insurance will eventually kill the insurance companies, and nobody wants to risk political suicide over the deaths of a paltry 45,000 uninsured Americans per year.

Congress and the President have spoken and as far as they are concerned, their political careers are worth more than our lives.
03:13 PM on 03/10/2010
American wars and police action conflicts could have been much less bloody and costly if we killed politicians and spared ordinary citizens. Think of the millions of lives that would have been saved. Six hundred thousand from our 19th century civil war alone—not counting 1812 or the arrogance associated with Manifest Destiny. I mean, look! Our Constitution has three more amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) after wiping out hundreds of thousands of people. Personally, I can’t figure out why mindless conservatives wouldn’t jump on the idea of plugging a liberal politician. Jeez, we’re only talking about a little violence to protect their base.
When was the last time anyone witnessed an egotistical liberal politician being confronted by pissed off conservatives willing to take a bullet or jump on dynamite for republican values and beliefs? I don’t mean to single out dead politicians either; but it’s a hoax when these slime-balls assert Americans were ever united. My message here is ordinary people need to hate ordinary people, and only by maiming or destroying each other can we affect meaningful, real change.

Finally, my argument is this: America demonizes its politicians, but it’s each other we should hate. So have at it; whack all the politicians you want! Another of like kind, or even more reactionary or progressive, will replace them. Therefore; ordinary citizens, not politicians, must die.
It’s the death of ordinary salt-of-the-earth citizens that put politicians out of work. Now, that’s real American change.
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10:22 PM on 03/07/2010
Keep it up. Wish you were my Congressman. I am going to Google you and find your Web site and contribute to your reelection.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
deridaa
09:36 PM on 03/07/2010
Everyone is missing the big issue. Nobody wants to go into medicine. Study and work like a dog for 20 yrs to graduate with no life, lots of debt, lawyers on your back dictating your every move and salary- in order to try to survive making less then a manicurist or hair colorist unable to pay for staff trained to run a medical legal office so you can hang on to your license. No wonder everyone is going into law- easy- unregulated- plenty of options and part of the brotherhood forever protected by legal industry driven congress. It doesnt matter anymore because the future of medicine is finished like so much else in this country destroyed by the legal industry. Politiicans and lawyers take no responsibility for their actions and decisions but expect perfection for pennies. Why would anyone give up their life, family and security to practice a profession driven into the ground. Doctors have been renamed by Lawyers/Congress -the health care providers. Saving a life in the ICU is paid 38 dollars and it takes months to be paid by insurance companies. Why would anyone want to pay their doctors less then their hair colorist???? You will get what you pay for- thank Congress everyone- the folks who spend our money with no consequence for their gross errors!!
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William1950
everything I say could be wrong
10:15 PM on 03/07/2010
oh right.. lobby for the poor doctors of america... the middle class doctors.. the doctors who make over a million dollars, the ones who merely make half a million... my heart goes out to them. ......

I am glad for those who enter into the medical profession.. don't get me wrong, but when the average wage is forty two thousand, the average salary of a doctor is close to two hundred thousand... like i said, I am glad they are there, and they deserve to get paid well... but who is suggesting to pay them less than a hair colorist?..
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
dylbud
10:34 PM on 03/07/2010
The Govie should be providing free education for doctors.
09:16 PM on 03/07/2010
Thank you for being 'that voice'.
09:15 PM on 03/07/2010
Obama meets with members of congress and the insurance industry. When does he ever sit down with representatives of the average American patient? There are many groups for patient rights etc. , but I never see Obama meeting with them.
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09:03 PM on 03/07/2010
First - We love you for standing up for us and will not forget when you need help.
Second - Did you know Sarah Palin got socialized medical care from Canada? Yes, and she never lived in Canada either.
The vocal opponent of health care reform in the U.S. steered largely clear of the topic except to reveal a tidbit about her life growing up not far from Whitehorse.

"We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada," she said. "And I think now, isn't that ironic."
http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/canada/2010/03/06/13136476-cp.html

Fun stuff huh? Well, Thanks Again for sticking up for us. We are dying out here.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Nomccain
07:26 PM on 03/07/2010
If Americans didn't know know this before, they should now! Nobody seems to wonder why the Republicans didn't do anything about rising health care costs during the eight years that they controlled everything in Washington, and now it's clear why. They are "in bed" with the major health insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies and their lobbyists control Republican representatives in Congress. There are a few democrats as well, but nothing like the Republicans. They're an incompassionate, selfish lot and have never demonstrated that they care anything about anyone but the giant corporations, the wealthy, and the powerful and I defy anyone to point out something meaningful that they've ever done for main street America because I've been watching them for over 50 years. They'd love to destroy medicare, social security, and any other program which benefits the average american and none of these programs were their idea or a result of their actions. They deem every unemployed american as either lazy or worthless and any program which benefits main street america as "socialism." I hope to God Americans research their voting records and send them home next election.
dessertsfirst
because life is too short!!
07:11 PM on 03/07/2010
Right on, Congressman! Keep on keeping on... we need your voice in DC. Now if we can get the leadership to listen and actually LEAD for gawd's sake. That's what the majority of voters voted for... get the lead out and LEAD.
06:08 PM on 03/07/2010
Thank you Congressman Weiner - I wish you lived in Arizona. We need someone like you here. First of all the PO could actually put the Health "insurers" out of business - clearly because the PO would represent big savings as it does not have to make billions in profits. Of course that's assuming ANYBODY could participate in it. How would the lobbyists allow that to happen ? There are too many investors in HMO's that would lose money. Ain't gonna happen. Sorry to say but it's true. We have let this monster loose for too long. Too powerful, too late. I can't see the Government winning this and we should not be mandated to buy one of those ridiculous "insurance" premiums. Seems like a vicious cycle, does it not ?
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local21
33% recall rate, Walker is next
05:59 PM on 03/07/2010
Keep up the good fight Mr. Weiner, you have my support.

Anthony Weiner & Debbie Wasserman-Schultz--- 2016

Dream ticket!
05:52 PM on 03/07/2010
It doesn't really matter what happens, because we are not willing to fix this problem. No, we'll just keep the status quo and watch our economy stay where it's at or get worst! Until the health insurance industry ( which is run by Wall Street) is taken out of health care we will never have a strong, vibrant, healthy economy again. That's the bottome line. Take the profit out of health care! I know this would be disruptive, but what's the alternative?
05:20 PM on 03/07/2010
You got it right! Go man!
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StevenWells
Objects in the avatar are larger than they appear
04:26 PM on 03/07/2010
Get back up on the House floor, say it again, and this time, don't back down! In fact, why not invoke the same rule they used against you every time someone across the aisle opens their mouth about "government takeovers," "rationing" and "death panels."
04:16 PM on 03/07/2010
Yes!...Yes!...Yes! Congressman Weiner...couldn't agree with you more!
President Obama has the clear majority support in the biggest opinion polls in America across all political spectrums...and has the majority in the Democratic Party to pass 'strong' health care reforms now!

the problem lies squarely in the lap of a President that is struggling with using his Will power and 'bully pulpit' from being more aggressive in acting upon his 'gut reactions' to move foraward on an up and down vote in the Senate...and unless he doesn't take the risk and show more fortitude and push his policies with more 'fighting spirit'...he will continue to lose the respect of his friends and foes alike!...learn how FDR did it during the 'great depression' of the 30's and Bush did it in the first decade of the 21st century...time is running out!
03:48 PM on 03/07/2010
Hey, don't tell us. Tell the President. For some reason he's obsessed about making the bill crummier and crummier to appeal to the same idiots who wrecked the country as they keep on moving the goalposts.

It's almost as if... he doesn't care if the bill actually solves the problem, as long as it saves face for him. Gasp.