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Rep. Joe Wilson Lied

robert — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:35:31 +0000

I just wrote the following letter to Congressman Joe Wilson:

“Dear Representative Wilson:
I’m a proud American. It’s bad enough that you blurted out your insult to the President during a major speech. But your insult tonight is inaccurate. Nowhere in the bills now making their way through Congress, is there mention of Illegal Aliens getting coverage. In fact, the bills specifically exclude illegal aliens. Only LEGAL aliens would be covered under the proposed legislation.

Your “death panel” comment in the newspaper a couple of weeks ago is also wrong. In the past, Medicare didn’t cover end-of-life counseling by physicians. The proposed legislation mandates that medicare pay for this kind of counseling FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT IT every five years.

If you’d bothered to read the bills being considered, you’d know the above two points to be true.

The problem with your behavior and your misinformation is that not only do your constituents see it, but the rest of the world does, too. You make our country appear like a “banana republic.” Your behavior embarrasses our country in the eyes of the world.

I share your disagreement with parts of the proposed health care reform now on Capital Hill. But rather than spread lies and create fear, I propose that we present alternative proposals. If all you can do is blurt out insults and participate in fear-mongering, please get out of the way of legislators that are serious about making our health care system more effective for all of us.

Respectfully,
Robert Lehrer”

Response to President Obama's Speech

robert — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:39:52 +0000

I would’ve liked to hear more specifics, but at least Mr. Obama offered more clarity to what he wants a bill to include. His ideas sound are very similar to what Senator Max Baucus of the Senate Finance Committee has proposed. Obama also included some ideas proposed by some Republicans, most notably, Senator John McCain.

Bill O’Reilly of Fox News criticized some parts of Obama’s plan. O’Reilly railed against (government) bureaucrats deciding what tests/treatments insurers must cover.

Mr. O’Reilly, the state of California has required many procedures/treatments to be covered for years. This is nothing new.

Health Reform: Take It Slow?

robert — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:09:08 +0000

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle hit the road this week, hosting campaign-style events across the country in a last-ditch effort to promote their messages before returning to Washington. Senators from the GOP, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-TN) and Sens. John McCain (R-AZ), Kit Bond (R-MO), Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Richard Burr (R-NC), hosted events that emphasized the importance of a go-slow approach to President Obama’s health care reform push.

I recently learned that Republican President Richard Nixon first proposed an overhaul of our nation’s health care system back in the early 1970′s. His ideas were well received in Congress until special interests flexed their muscles and put an end to that conversation. Sound familiar?

The same thing happened during the Carter and Clinton administrations. How much slower should we move Senators?