"The Republican Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry."
That's what I said on the House floor this afternoon.
The Republicans squealed like pigs and immediately demanded that my words be "taken down" as they say in the House. But they can't say it's not true.
House ethics rules prevent me from posting video here, but you can see the whole thing over at Firedoglake.
I have never met a single Republican who is not a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry. But as for me, I'm not owned by anyone.
To prove it to the Republicans and special interest, I'm organizing 2,000 grassroots donors to stand up and show them that we won't back down, and they can't silence us.
I've been saying this all along: We have to stop making concession after concession to win Republican votes. We haven't won over a single person from the other side.
That's why I'm so pessimistic about tomorrow's health care summit. We know the Republicans won't bring any real ideas for reform.
But just in case the Republicans thought they could tap dance their way through the summit without getting called on their baloney, I'm going to be live-blogging all day at Daily Kos.
Vote out the current incumbents making a career of ruining our country.
Vote the bums out !
Send letters and e-mails to your representatives that the gravy train for Corporate Welfare recipients is OVER ! ! !
Thank you, Congressman Weiner, for your vociferous indignation and self-sacrificing righteousness, even though it likely a great deal of fun.
On behalf of the citizens in OUR country of like mind, it was an act MOST appreciated!
For the first time in American history, politicians are using the coercive power of the federal government to force every American -- simply by virtue of being an American -- to purchase the products of a private company. In effect, this represents an historic defeat for the type of American idealism represented by the New Deal and the Great Society, and marks the ascendancy of a new type of 'corporatism'.
The question is not: " Why should we trust the politicians ? "
The question is: " Why do these politicians NOT trust US ? "
=> Polling still shows overwhelming support for real HCR + PO, and even 'single payer' solutions. After all, we're not dumb; most of us care more about policy, than just the politics of "OMG! pass ANY bill, or we'll look like fools!" to whom? in the eyes of the minority party Republicans and ideologue media pundit entertainers? or, "OMG! pass ANY bill now, or we never will!" as if We, the People's Will would be any different, or diminished, by legislation that damages US?
either KILL THE BILL : elect Democrats who trust US !
or DISTILL THE BILL : Medicare for Everyone !
Both parties are owned by the financial and health sectors in subtly different ways. Many Democrats are owned by the insurance industry or the pharmaceutical industry or various health care industry lobbying organizations including the AMA and AHA.
The no votes on the Republican side are somewhat ideological but primarily political. They don't want any bill to pass (unless they can take all the credit). But there are no votes on the Democratic side, and those are primarily ideological. They, or more likely their contributors, don't approve of the policy.
"First, we'll take on the drug and insurance companies and hold them accountable for the prices they charge and the harm they cause... And then we'll tell the pharmaceutical companies, 'Thanks but no thanks for overpriced drugs'. Drugs that cost twice as much here as they do in Europe and Canada and Mexico. We'll let Medicare negotiate for lower prices. We'll stop drug companies from blocking generic drugs that are just as effective and far less expensive. We'll allow the safe reimportation of low-cost drugs from countries like Canada."
Rather it's the art of diplomacy.
You're right, but are we not overlooking that many of the so called Democrats are also owned?
In fact, according to OpenSecrets.com, it seems the Democrats have received more than the Republicans in the past few years.
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=H03
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?cycle=2010&ind=H03
And the Pharma industry too:
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=H04
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?cycle=2010&ind=H04
And in 2008, then Senator Obama was the biggest recipient of many industries, health and pharma included:
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?ind=H03&cycle=2008&recipdetail=A&mem=Y&sortorder=U
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?ind=H04&cycle=2008&recipdetail=A&mem=Y&sortorder=U
Your bold, truthful comments armed me with exceptional talking points when I called my state representatives on Friday to demand their support for extending Medicare to all.
We are behind you -- please don't stop the charge!!!
Your bold, truthful comments armed me with exceptional talking points when I called my state representatives on Friday to demand their support for extending Medicare to all.
We are behind you Mr. Weiner -- please don't stop the charge!!!