Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell Delivers Weekly GOP Address on Health Reform Costs

[hermitcrab8518]

Get McConnel gone right now.

[Roph58]

This turtle head is the biggest jerk off scum bag known to man.

[guywalker29]

The Repugnitcans don't care about the little guy, they are in the pockets of big business. They are union busters. They send kids to die in wars for Dick Cheney and Haliburton to make blood money. Roy Cohen, Senator Joe McCarthy, J. Edgar Hoover, The Christmas Bombings and Nixon Kissinger, Watergate Break-in, Carl Rove and Ken Starr. These people alienate. Abe Lincoln embraced a Union Of States, these people let the sick die on the streets. You think Orrin Hatch cares about NYC or Chicago?

[callouschristian]

How sad that the American People can expect nothing more from republicans than the status quo and roadblocks to progress. Republicans seem to be worse than a terrorist attack on democracy and our Constitution with their abuse of power. Where is it written in the Constitution or Bill of Rights that Americans' health should be in the hands of greedy profiteers??

[Doughnutchef]

Mitch keep up the good work!And by the way that idiotJohn Yarmouth the socialist ideolog received huge millions from the big 3 health insurance companies.Don't take my word for it,go see!

[jensen1901]

Mitch is full of shit. He doesn't care about the American people. He only cares about making sure insurance companies can continue to make billions. McConnell received more than 3 million from the Health Industry since 1989. He is now returning their favor. The GOP had 8 years to reform health care and they did nothing.

[1961arnie]

there is no free lunch ladies and gentalmen weither we pay a littlle more in taxes or the business owners .but what we need is a program that makes health care assessable and affordable a single pay plan

[cgymno]

You guys should just join Canada!!! We have a great country. I could go to the doctor at anytime and not pay a cent. That's true, despite what the lobbiest (lining their pockets) tell you Americans. How could your problems be even worse in the US.

[jkeene53]

What! You say Canada has a better system? What an idiot. I knew two people who died because of Canada's shitty healthcare system. So who are you to boast.

[cgymno]

Not only did they die, but there was two of them?? Who are you trying to fool. I guess it is very hard for Americans to believe that there is a system out there that is better than the one in the US.  Your politicians have fooled you guys for so long. They are laughing all the way to the bank. I had two knee operations performed within 1 weeks of my injury. I paid NOTHING. My health care tax cost me about $8000 per year. The same surgery in the US would have run me $40000 per knee. $80000

[cgymno]

The sooner you come to grips with the lies your government has been feeding you, the sooner you will be able to move on with your life. The hardest thing as an American is understanding that your shit does in fact stink.

[jeangrey65]

I know more who died because their paid insurance refused them coverage! Have you even looked to see that Canada ranks higher then us in healthcare AND life expectancy? Look up facts don't just go by hearsay. We are 37th! This so called "man" voted against the Franken amendment which would allow a women who has been raped to take a tax endowed company to court, namely Halliburton/KBR AND it's been proven that the stimul"us" package is working AND the Cash for clunkers helped our economy as well

[prettyhawkz]

Maybe the government should fix the medicaid problem to make it better and succeed instead of sitting on this one and waiting for another failure. And the US citizens want the government health care reform....PLEASE!!??

[prettyhawkz]

Why are people so into this health care reform? Do you really want the government handling everything for us as US citizens? Doesn't bother you what some canadian people with deadly illnesses have went through with all the horror stories of their health care system? WAKE UP people!!! This is another tactic for the government to take over and be the dictators of this country.

[avibard]

mitch is another freaking tool in the not-so-sharp-box in the shed. why do these guys think that we believe them? and how do their constituents believe their bull? this guy is like watching paint dry.

[MyImago]

Bullshit Mitch

"According to the Economist the total US spend on health care is 15.4% of GDP including both state and private. With that it gets 2.6 doctors per 1,000 people, 3.3 hospital beds and its people live to an average age of 78.2. As a whole Europe spends 9.6% of GDP on health care, has 3.9 doctors per 1,000 people, 6.6 hospital beds and live until they are 81.15 years old. The US has the most expensive health care system that seems not to be effective, which is very bizarre indeed

[DrStimulus]

The democrats and the republicans are like two guys bouncing a ball back and forth between themselves. The taxpayer is the ball, but he doesn't realize it.

The ball, like the taxpayer has a pocket. Each time the ball is caught by the democrat a little money is removed. Then the ball is tossed back to the republican and a little more money is taken.

Eventually the taxpayer is cleaned out, never realizing he was caught between two shysters playing him like a bouncing ball.

[OldTomPaine]

Thank you BigRedMcCool. These jokers are the real problem in our country. Hiding under rocks, lurkingin the shadows and blaming everyone but themselves (all of them) for the financial turmoil in this country. But, their days or lying to people and trying to fool 'em may be coming to an end...

[BigRedMcCool]

We the taxpayers feed these parasites $175,000 a year salary, plus $500,000+ expense account, plus a $5000 year auto pay raise to tell us the democrats did it or the republicans did it, and that he / they have a "better plan".

Here's a "better plan" for these bums: Cut their salary down to 1/4 of what it is now. Cut their expense account to 1/10 what it is now and no pay raises for 12 years. Then limit their times in office to two terms. That's 4 years. Then boot 'em.

[BigRedMcCool]

Endorse S605 or the HR1207 equivalent or lose your job forever, pal.

[OldBenFranklin]

Mitch, do you support HR1207?

[9827349872]

Recent DOW JONES performance (by president), using inauguration date for ranges

------------------------------­----------------------

Clinton3241 to 10578 (8 years of progress)

Dubya10578 to 7949 (8 years of regress)

Obama7949 to 8540 as of June 19 (so far looks hopeful)

[bigpapi255]

Great, how about the unemployment rate of 9%, or the millions of Americans in poverty, or without health insurance. How about the millions of homeless. Fuck the DJIA and corporate profits. That tells me nothing of the suffering Americans are going through right now, and Obama doesn't have the balls to take on these corporate fuckers. Economic growth does nothing but create more landfills and pollution.

[9827349872]

Only a right-wing wacko would claim this is Obama's fault. As far as taking on corporate f'ers. Wasn't our last president literally in bed with them? If Obama is on corporate america's side, why does he propose gov't takes a bigger role in healthcare (NO not socialized medicine). I guess healthcare companies are totally on board with this. And don't you just love how he just rolled over when confronted by investors in the Chrysler bankruptcy. We haven't even gotten into his energy policies

[bigpapi255]

It's not Obama's fault, he inherited it from Bush, and Clinton was somewhat responsible. Let's get to Obama's health and energy policies though. He sold out on single payer healthcare despite it being the most cost effective system. He supports "clean coal", and his energy bill would reduce carbon emissions only 4% (we need 25-40% to avoid the worst of climate change). Oh and Clinton was a terrible president, better than that war criminal Bush, but just another corporate shill.

[9827349872]

You must be some hard-core Republican. Can't help but bring Clinton into the picture. He's only been out of office for 8 years, it must be his fault. So perhaps some policies that existed during Bush's presidency also existed during Clinton's presidency. The only difference, Clinton was competent. Bush was a retard. I do have to say, though, that Greenspan is one of the highest on my list to blame. But when it comes down to it, Bush brought in incompetent free market nazis to his cabinet.

[bigpapi255]

You should read Matt Taibbi's article in the Rolling Stone on Goldman Sachs and how they have ruled this country for decades, and how they've been cashing in on speculative bubbles. Goldman Sachs has had an ace in the hole in Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations.

[bigpapi255]

BTW, what's wrong with socialized medicine. Are you anti social? If socialized medicine was so bad, why would we give it to our veterans, and why does it work in England, France, Germany, and others. This really shows you how far the red baiting, and propaganda has gone into the American psyche. Socialized medicine is cheaper, more efficient, and better than for profit healthcare. Yeah there are longer wait times, but would you rather someone die than have to wait in line?

[9827349872]

"Free Market Healthcare" is a contradiction in terms. The people whose responsibility it is to care about its citizens is its government. Do I think the Free Market can have "things to do" within the healthcare system? Yes. Just like the free market can bid on government contracts. Do I think the free market can't provide healthcare? No.  But if Obama gets his way, the mandates will be such that Healthcare will never again be a profit center for greedy people.

[bigpapi255]

I agree that Obama's healthcare plan could be a step in the right direction if it's set up the right way. The public healthcare option is the key, if it can negotiate for lower drug and medical care prices, it will help bring down costs, and may weaken the insurance companies enough that Obama will be able to push for single payer. But, it's not happening unless people fight for it like we had to do for civil rights.

[nicknomen]

"The people whose responsibility it is to care about its citizens is its government." No! In socialist countries, but not where freedom is concerned. Responsibility belongs to the people. I don't like greedy people either, but not all businesses are that way. Still, they're better than the blatant waste and incompetence in govt. programs. Current interest on national debt is $100 MILLION / DAY. The greedy CEO bonuses, disgusting as they are, don't even compare.

[klyn83]

What many of you don't understand about the Democratic Healthcare plan is that it not only would it put a huge strain on the already weakened economy (weakened by relaxation of government regulations due to the Clinton administration....look it up, it is true) it would sacrifice the good healthcare americans already receive. Maybe if more people would buy health insurance instead of Cable TV (and leased/new vehicles) then they would be able to "afford" healthcare.

[9827349872]

I can't believe how misleading and out-of-context it is to believe that Clinton wanted to deregulate the way the bill you're talking about actually did. The bill, by the way, was written by a Republican house. And at the time, the Republicans were unrelenting because Clinton "got caught with his pants down" so to speak. A seriously minor offense given that his successor helped ruin the World's Economy by not giving a s**t and not paying any attention for the entire 8 years he was in office.

[ApolloRey]

Senator,

1. When I hear "reforming our medical liability laws," it seems to me that you're saying we should restrict patient access for reparations to grevious injuries and insure large banks and insurance companies (or both, as they are able to merge) have to pay less. Sounds like a bailout to me.

2. Tax and spend is better than Spend and No-Tax as was the system of the previous twelve years.

3. Most economists say that the stimulus package was too small to be significant. Thoughts?

[CaliBeach0007]

Apollo: Your interpretation of liability reform is totally inaccurate. It means allowing doctors to practice high-risk medicine (OBGYN, neurosurgery, orthopedics). These physicians pay up to $100K or more for liability insurance. It means moving away from defensive medicine, which requires doctors and nurses to perform 50 tests for a simple headache (a huge reason for costly bills). It means giving doctors and nurses--not trial lawyers and clueless juries--the power to make medical decisions.

[cagedtigersteve]

McConnell may appeal to the 60 year old, but to the 20 year old he doesn't. The GOP, if they want to survive, will keep these old men off camera...

[ochairball]

He may be old but the republicans are winning this debate because most Americans just aren't up on healthcare policy.

[cagedtigersteve]

Healthcare isn't like a game where Republicans wins and the Democrats loses. If nothing is done to reform healthcare it is the people who lose as they have been losing. Healthcare costs are out of control and out of reach to many people who aren't Republicans or Democrats but Americans.

[ochairball]

You just made my point. If Republicans win, we lose. It is a win lose situation but most Americans are falling for republican scare tactics because they don't know what a "public option" means. No one bothers to look it up or do research. Americans like a quick sound bite. If it doesn't fit in a sound bite, then we don't care.

Democrats are failing to do their part as well.

As someone w/o healthcare insurance, I'm fully aware who's on the losing end.