Everybody has seen this already, but for my own records here are video clips of Representative Barney Frank, Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, at a town hall meeting where he holds his own against some attendees unhappy about health care reform. After the first video completes, a second automatically loads and is also worth watching.
The first video sets the tone, but I particularly enjoyed Rep. Frank’s handling of the exchange about illegal immigrants and their status in the bill:
Frank: Illegal aliens are specifically excluded from getting any assistance in the bill. Section… Mob boos. Somewhere in the exchange some people yell, “read the bill!” Frank then finds the section of the bill and reads it.
Frank: It’s right in the bill. I will be glad to show it to you.
Some people apparently refused to believe the bill itself, and Frank responds with this zinger:
It is a little odd to be accused of not having read the bill by people who object when I do.
Most of my life has been spent in Iowa, and although I no longer live there, I still follow parts of Iowan politics with some interest.
Yesterday, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley perpetuated misinformation about the current health care bill in the House saying it includes provisions for the government to, as Senator Grassley eloquently put it, “pull the plug on grandma[1],[2].” Amazingly, he makes this leap to euthanasia from the House bill having “counseling for end of life”.
I have no expectation of always agreeing with elected officials, but I have the right to expect civility in debate, especially from a U.S. Senator (not that I often see it). The Senator’s false comments do nothing to strengthen this country, do not contribute positively to the health care debate, and are simply meant to frighten people.
This is not Senator Grassley’s first questionable statements regarding health care recently. In late June when a constituent asked Senator Grassley why the Senator’s insurance is so much less expensive and better than his own, Senator Grassley deflected by recommending the man get a job at John Deere[3],[4]. When pressed further, the Senator ultimately recommended the constituent get a federal job. See the full exchange below.
In terms of American healthcare, Jonathan Alter sarcastically asks What’s Not to Like? The piece is directed against the belief that nothing is wrong with American healthcare, but avoids commentary on the big challenge: how best to address the problem.