"I don't know what will happen if the bill passes," said Heather G., an East Bay member of the Tea Party Patriots, who was protesting outside U.S. Rep. John Garamendi's Thusday. "It's going to get really, really ugly."
Garamendi, the Democrat who represents the 10th congressional district, was a strong supporter of the legislation and one of 219 casting a yes vote.
Heather G. is an Alamo mother and realtor who said that she became politicized following the election of President Barack Obama. Concerned about the direction the country is going in, she has helped organize other protests over the past several months.
She said her group has held peaceful demonstrations and does not advocate violence.
But things got pretty angry and ugly over the weekend among other Tea Party protesters demonstrating outside the Capitol building Saturday and Sunday.
A Newsweek blogger described it as the gathering as the "prototypical angry mob," with some people in the mostly white group shouting the N-word at African-American Reps. John Lewis and Andre Carson, spitting on Rep. Emanuel Lewis, and hurling a homophobic epithet at openly gay Rep. Barney Frank.
Heather G. said that "a lot of people" are fed up and angry and suggested that passage of this bill could make things even more divisive and ugly than they already are. She believes that health care reform--or at least this Senate-passed bill that the House was voting on Sunday--would be disastrous for the economy, and would amount to those in power--the Democrats--hijacking control of our country from the will of the people.
The Democrat-controlled Congress approved the legislation, handing Obama a major victory for his top priority. The legislation, which is designed to extend health care to millions of uninsured Americans and crack down on insurance company abuses, awaits his approval.
Republican Party leaders and Tea Party organizers tried to distance themselves from the slurs Sunday. Still, the Kansas City Star reports, "some Republican House members spurred the protesters on, appearing Sunday on the south balcony of the Capitol with signs spelling out each letter of one of the main Tea Party chants: "Kill the bill. ...
"But as it became clear Democrats had won the votes of key anti-abortion lawmakers, the protesters lost their enthusiasm, and their numbers shrank."
71 comments:
I'm planning on doing everything in my power to make sure the republicans gain a super majority in the house and senate and reject this bill that turns us into pinko commies.
That's right dems you guys are pinko commies in my book.
9:45, I love it! Archie Bunker in blog comments. Made my night. Thanks.
What’s ugly to me is the attitude of these "patriots" who think that some people (primarily minorities and poor white trash, I guess) don’t deserve access to health coverage. What’s ugly to me are the companies who have adopted a business model of seeking to get paid for doing nothing (offering insurance ONLY to those who are unlikely to ever need it, for example).
The pinko democrats and social welfare do-gooders never would have taken up health care reform if the insurance industry hadn’t failed the country. So who is unpatriotic? If the "patriot" movement had stood up against corporate outsourcing, financial sleight of hand and golden parachutes – if they demanded that the insurance industry actually provided a SERVICE to the country, not just a quarterly dividend, we never would have gotten to the place we’re at.
Now that Obama has gotten healthcare passed, he can move on to granting citizenship to all illegal aliens, thereby extending healthcare coverage to them. That will also insure a permanent Democratic majority.
Then he can move on to pass cap and trade, which will destroy what's left of the American economy.
Pretty good effort, I'd say.
Thank you! It is only a start things will not change that much. I am a health practitioer in the hospital, and the system is broken.
Medicare is goverment run but no senior would give it up. The U.S. ranks 37th in life expectancy, so where is the care?
People will complain with no facts to back them up.
The bill has passed so go find chicken little to say the sky is falling.
The US will still be the greatest country, unless you can find one of the other 36 with better healthcare for all.
Too bad we can't find something constructive to interest the Republicans in.
I think it's a shame that the moderate Republicans have been virtually elimnated by the strident ones.
The media only highlights the fringe as it makes a story.
Most on either side don't know enough about the issue past the word historic. This include tea party types and those against them.
Mr. Independent
I am absolutely mortified that I voted for Obama, I'd imagine they will be trying to sway people like me into voting their way in November.
Anon 7:25AM
That is the problem with you teabagers, you are just not very bright.
You really want us to believe that you voted for Obama and are now absolutely mortified?
Because you voted for him believing he would resist any health care reform?
By the way did you notice that European stock markets are down on Greece and the Indian interest hike, but the US stock markets are up? I guess investors don't believe that the passage of this bill is the end of the US economy?
I was angry and fed up when the last Republican President was elected. I certainly didn't go out in public and have a tantrum. It may be the fringe that is spreading this ugliness,and it is their right to protest, but the birthers and tea partyers are very ugly. They need to grow up. THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA - YES WE CAN!!!
People's reactions on here crack me up, 8:14 went straight to assumptions and name calling. Also, if you want to bring stock market reaction into it, check out the health care sector - up over one %. Why? Because this law is delivering more customers into the system without fixing what's broken.
Same thing with the financial system, has anything substantial changed?
ahh.. 8.48 poster about the stock market, you are wrong. Both insurers, well point and United are both down. So if you think spending $1 trillion dollars is going to fix anything, I doubt it. History will made come november, when all these dumbasses who voted yes get booted from office. Im soo happy about paying lazy actors and unemployeed bums who leach of the system and cry about how they dont have healthcare. Get a friggin job. Im ok with spending $500 billion on the people who have been denied healthcare because of pre existing conditions or basically who get f'd by the insurance companies.
You still have to pay co-pays, deductibles, and now if you dont get insurance, you will be fined... so for for our constitution and the process of how a bill becomes a law. Healthcare is screwed up, but this just crossed the lines to borderline socialism how the government handled this. Absolutely the wrong way to go about anything.
I am still mystified at the amount of hatred and ignorance this debate has brought forth. The bigotry that was exhibited this weekend by the Tea Party/Republican Party as Congressmen walked up to the vote was quite a wake up call (and no, I do NOT believe the statements made by the "leadership" of both parties that they do not condone this sort of thing- this is exactly what they have been explicitly condoning ever since the election). As one Congressman explained, this is what happens when one group resists giving basic civil rights to a group that has no power.
I agree with Anon 8:20- when Bush was elected I was angry, bitter, and disgusted by this election. But I did not go out and spit on people. I did not go out and scream racial slurs at people. I did not suggest a "revolution" or, like Mr. Beck, tell people that they should leave their Church based on political views. It is time for those who disagree with the current administration to get active in a non-violent, proactive way. And for all those who claim that this weekend's behavior, and that of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh and Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin do not represent what they (or the Republicans or the Tea Partiers) stand for, then I ask you... why do you let them represent you? Stand up and take back your party and tell the rest of what you actually stand for. Otherwise, we will assume that the aforementioned do, in fact, speak for you.
You do not even know who these people are in the crowd that shouted slurs at the democrats. For all we know, the democrats planted these people in the crowd, just as they planted doctors in the debate for healthcare.
Cant trust everything you read and hear on tv and radio.. but it makes you wonder right?!
Since when in AMERICA has the government FORCED anyone to buy a good or service?
Now they FORCE you to buy health insurance, it sure sounds like North Korea to me. Our DEAR LEADER must be proud.
Hey Einstein at 10:16
Who do you suggests pays for services such as education, Police protection, fire protection, National Security (Armed Services) etc.? It is all payed by taxes and yes you are forced to pay your taxes.
I guess your 1040 comes with little boxes where you can opt out of these services?
I don't remember a time when there was so much ugliness or devisiveness over a national issue. I have seen film clips of the civil rights movement and this reminds me of it.
It may come with a big price tag but at least Obama is trying to save lives and allow all Americans preventive care. While you Republicans and Tea Party-ers get all wound up about health care let my children and I thank you for the trillions of dollars that America has been spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Are we really safer from those terrorists? Your all knowing Leader., Mr Bush, was such a gem. He couldn't put forth two sentences without a blooper and never got Osama Bin Laden either. I think health care is a much better investment in our country and where we should put our focus. The boomers are not getting any younger and the uninsured costs are paid by the insured in the end.
To Anon 1016,
Most states including Ca. require car insurance if you wanna drive. And just as Anon 10:38 said, we all pay for Education, Police, Fire, Parks..
Hey guess what: we also pay for Medicare, Social Security, and Disability -- Programs provided by our government, by the way.
The Tea Baggers think the healthcare bill is hijacking control of the country from the will of the people? A bill that was voted in by democratically elected representatives?
I think they need to go back and dust off their high school civics textbooks and bone up on the basics of government.
I agree wholeheartedly with 9:43 a.m.'s excellent comments about the hatred, bigotry and divisiveness being displayed by the right-wing fringe.
I'm hoping those are a tiny percentage of the Tea Party and GOP forces, captured on camera for the drama of it, but the rhetoric one sees online about the president and the health care reform bill is so completely over the top, one has to wonder.
The scaremongers need to calm down. Other countries have national health care programs and are the better for it. This isn't exactly a new or radical concept. In fact, it's really watered down, compared to some of the earlier plans for it and compared to the plans in some other countries.
There is an excellent piece on the Kunstler blog today. Small extract follows:
"The most striking element of so-called health care in America these days is how cruel and unjust it is, and in taking a stand against reforming it the Republican party appeared to be firmly in support of cruelty and injustice. .... At least this once, a workable majority in the government has stood up to the forces of cruelty and injustice, and whatever else happens to us in the course of this long emergency, it will be a good thing if the party of fairness and justice identifies its adversaries for what they are: not "partners in governing," or any such academical-therapeutic bulls**t, but enemies of every generous impulse in the national character."
http://kunstler.com/blog/2010/03/the-party-of-cruelty.html
The last thing this country needs is ANOTHER FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM.
Social security is going broke, Medicare costs will skyrocket (thanks baby boomers!), and now this social welfare law put forth by the Politbur.... erra Demcrats and the Annointed One.
Companies offering benefits will no longer have the incentive to keep your current coverage because it will be cheaper to pay the fine and FORCE you to buy into the socialist democratic party's health care program.
Obama said "You can keep your coverage". That's half-true. But you can't keep what will not be there!
i watched various vids and didn't hear the N word used nor apparently did any representatives of network news present, some people hear what they wish to hear.As a user of a national healthcare system I can only worry about what your future holds.
Well now this must settle it. Thud watched some videos and did not hear the "N" word. Thanks for clearing this up Thud.
Someone take away the baby boomers' keys, they've crashed again.
Anon at 10:16 you make me laugh out loud at the gov. forcing you to buy anything. You do realize that it is the LAW in Calif that yo have auto insurance right? You do realize that it is the law to pay taxes right? Those taxes buy you goods and services provided by the state.
For all you other "we are now a socialist state" knuckleheads that post here, we support schools, medicare/medicade and a whole bunch of other programs through the laws of the state and Fed. We are already socialistic in this way. Geez get a clue already, quite watching/listening to Hannity, Beck, Rush or your gossip monger friends who are uneducated but emotional on the issue.
For everyone who thinks that this will be the end of the Democratic majority think again. There are numerious elements of this bill that were taken straight from Republicans since the era of Reagan. Republicans will now be forced to explain why they didn't support the bill when it contained many of the ideas they put forward. They will be painted simply as the party of NO and hypocrates. Novemnber is not going to turn out the way you think it will.
"In 1776, the American Republic boldly announced its birth with the Declaration of Independence. In 2010, it quietly expired with a declaration of dependence -- on government, on entitlement, and on the Democratic party."
-Matt Patterson
Where is Leafblower now!
Today the health insurance and pharma stocks led the stock market in gains. Just another D.A. with no facts
anon 2.35 my pleasure,I'm always ready to help those less fortunate, but if by chance you have evidence to disprove my point I'd be happy to listen and watch.An open mind is a wonderful thing to behold.
Thud -- actually you did not prove a point to the contrary you were trying to disprove a point by your personal lack of evidence. Obvioulsly, something which can't be done and and served as my basis for mocking you.
One more thing, the part about the open mind -- would that be the same open mind you display so artfully in your blog?
The media were ashamed to produce documention of people yelling "Kill the Bill, N____r" with disrespect to our duly-elected President. I don't blame the media for not broadcasting bigots' messages. That would let the minority government nonsense proliferate.
People, can't we just get along? Most people don't want their health care cut off by excuses from profit-maximizing insurers when they most need it.
We are more like North Korea every day. I hope our Dear Leader is proud.
Anon 8:12 see at least you are now dropping the part about how unprecedented it is the government to force you to buy services.
Now work on this North Korea thing, maybe one day you might even understand the difference between a democratic vote and a totalitarian regime.
The people that think single payer health care is communist or that people that are in favor of single payer health care are pinkos are themselves bigots. They are ignorant, small minded a-holes and they should be ashamed of themselves.
I am a Libertarian. As such I believe in minimal government. Despite this belief I know that certain functions of the infrastructure must be provided for.
The government must pay for police/fire protection and health care for those that cannot pay for it themselves for legitimate reasons. If you think differently then you are selfish and inhumane.
I'd bet that most of the "conservative" a-holes that are against universal health care would call themselves "Christians." If you are a Christian and you do not believe in all people having health care then you are a hypocrite. Hypocrites will be judged harshly.
Enjoy your karma, you hypocrite.
We shouldn't be surprised by the teabaggers. We knew them in high school. They haven't changed.
Where do I sign up to get my Obamamoney?
Work harder, you fools.
I want my government cheese...NOW!!!
"Most states including Ca. require car insurance if you wanna drive."
Uh, driving is an optional activity. Living is not.
"we all pay for Education, Police, Fire, Parks.. Hey guess what: we also pay for Medicare, Social Security, and Disability -- Programs provided by our government, by the way."
And most of that is bankrupt so your point is?
10:41 we are also forced to pay for National Security and as we all know much of it is provided by independent contractors such as Blackwater.
For some reason I did not see the Tea Party'ers object to this?
You know the kid. Always trying to cause a distraction in class for his/her own entertainment, begging for attention, even negative attention. Yep. Now they do to our country what they did to our classes back in high school. Luckily they will always be a minority but I do wish they would go away. Maybe Rush will find a nice trailer park in Costa Rica and they will follow. Oh well, on to environmental efforts and producing more jobs!
Anon at 10:41 that must be the new conservative marching orders from Beck because I see it popping up everywhere. The point as usual is being missed, the government is telling you what you have to buy, mandating it by law actually, so it is still the govt. forcing you to buy something. I assume you walk everywhere now btw. If you aren't well then you are a hypocrite.
Also at 10:41,
They are all broke? So what is your point? We should do away with them? You want to privatize them? That statement you posted basically means you have nothing but emotion on the subject, have spent no time learning about it other than what others are feeding you.
And most of that is bankrupt so your point is?
March 22, 2010 10:41 PM
Umm, I have to agree with LeftCoast; what's your point? Private companies that deliver education, prisons, security struggle just as much or even more finanically, without the promise to deliver to all residents, regardless of their ability to pay.
And kids are made to go to school, by the way, it's called cumpulsory education, and it's paid for by you and me, and taxpayers.
Do you plan to collect social security to help you live when you're 70, 80, 90? Oh, guess what? It's paid for by you, and the rest of us tax payers. Would you wish poverty on your mom, dad, grandparents, or yourself in old age? Or do you think ya'll should work for your living until you drop dead?
Ummm, if it's bankrupt that means there isn't enough money to pay all the benefits that have been promised. That's why my spouse and I have saved throughout our married life so we can provide for ourselves in retirement...we're not counting on S.S. payments since the program is bankrupt.
Wishing something doesn't make it happen. Wishing that we could provide retirement, healthcare, etc...to everyone doesn't mean we can afford to do so.
By the way, "cumpulsory" should be spelled "compulsory"
Anon 2:55 -- "That's why my spouse and I have saved throughout our married life so we can provide for ourselves in retirement"
That is a wonderful story .... now imagine that your spouse get's diagnosed with cancer, and the health insurance you paid into all your life decides to drop your coverage .... Under the current system you might face the question whether you want to wipe out your savings for medical treatmant or let your spouse die.
Yes that is a great system, fixing it really sucks
I agree that we needed to fix the catastrophic illness situations. Those cases could have easily been covered by a government sponsored high risk pool. We did not need the massive federal bureaucracy that has just been created to handle that one problem.
Anon 6.03...still no evidence?...I thought as much and as for an open minded blog well yes it is but perhaps a bit beyond your abilities.
Anon 4:34 a government sponsored high risk pool, that is your solution? That really sounds great, have the insurances keep the low risk people and let them dump the high risks to the tax payers.
That's Republican socialism, dump the losses on the government but keep the profits private.
Whereas the Democratic party solution is to create massively inefficient government bureaucracies to administer cradle to grave hand-holding.
FYI..."catastrophic" is different than "high risk".
Please study up on the economics of insurance.
What really kills me is how eagerly you all are to throw away your liberty which, once lost, will not be easily regained.
"To be governed," Proudhon wrote, "is to be watched, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, regulated, enrolled . . . by creatures who have neither the right nor the wisdom nor the virtue to do so. To be governed is to be at every operation, at every transaction noted, registered, counted, taxed . . . . It is, under pretext of public utility, and in the name of the general interest, to be placed under contribution, drilled, fleeced, exploited . . . then, at the slightest resistance, the first word of complaint, to be repressed, fined, vilified, harassed, hunted down, abused . . . and to crown all, mocked, ridiculed, derided, outraged, dishonored. That is government; that is its justice; that is its morality."
Anon 5:22 so you are then saying the catastrophic illness patients should be handled in the government sponsored "high risk pool" and you would thus be fine to keep denying any health care coverage for patients with pre-existing conditions since these high risks would not qualify for your government sponsered high risk poool?
Anon 5:52 and where was your Tea Party protesting the Patriot Act?
UH OH,
It looks like our dear leader is going to get challenged in the supreme court on this one.
Everyone needs to calm down,
Look here are the facts:
1. Obama will end up being our generation's Jimmy Carter (full of hope and change but out after one lackluster term).
2. The dumbocrats will take a huge loss in Congress and it will take years for them to attempt another crazy idea.
3. The republicans will gain control of congress and "fix" the health bill.
4. Last to you crazies out there, we do indeed need to change the current way the health system works. We just don't need the government to be the controller.
Here is another famous quote by Poudhon:
"Capital"... in the political field is analogous to "government"... The economic idea of capitalism, the politics of government or of authority, and the theological idea of the Church are three identical ideas, linked in various ways. To attack one of them is equivalent to attacking all of them . . . What capital does to labour, and the State to liberty, the Church does to the spirit. This trinity of absolutism is as baneful in practice as it is in philosophy. The most effective means for oppressing the people would be simultaneously to enslave its body, its will and its reason."
Anon 5:47
1) We will see about that
2) It's spelled "democrats", why is it so hard for your Tea Party'ers to keep it civil?
3) Didn't the republicans just have eight years to "fix" the health care bill?
4) If not the government is the controller who else? The insurance companies, sure that worked well for the last hundred years.
"Anon 5:52 and where was your Tea Party protesting the Patriot Act?"
I'm Anon 5:52. I'm not in a Tea Party and I don't support the Patriot Act.
So many assumptions on your part...you know that they say about assumptions.
Anon 5:57,
Believe me it's the dumbocrats. I'm not a tea party member. I'm a dyed in the wool republican. I'd like you and the rest of your hippie dippie dumbocrats to give me my country back.
Anon 6:10 your lack of civility is striking and speaks volumes about yourself.....
Anon 5:47 said " Obama will end up being our generation's Jimmy Carter (full of hope and change but out after one lackluster term).
2. The dumbocrats will take a huge loss in Congress and it will take years for them to attempt another crazy idea."
Oh, I wish it were so. But, the Big O and Bella Pelosi are only beginning to roll out their master plan. Once "comprehensive immigration reform" (i.e. granting amnesty and immediate U.S. citizenship to all illegal aliens) is passed this summer, O will have hordes on new Democrat voters.
Then they will move on to "climate change" legislation (i.e. the government running a huge carbon trading scheme) that will gut the U.S. economy, that is what's left to gut.
Anon at 6:17
Unfortunately you died in the wool Repubs were so busy selling off our country to the highest bidder that we had to take over the gov. to start to make it work again. Oh and you will lose more seats in November.
Why is it you think health care was so great up until now? The party of NO messed this one up royally. There are actually a ton of Rethuglican elements to the bill which you will see the democrats start to use as talking points. Rethugs actually voted against their own ideas. Get ready for WATERLOO 2 the great Republican demise in November. No singel payer, no Fedarally financed abortion, no insurace trust busting regulations. All gone, all demanded by the conservatives and they voted NO. LOL, you are so screwed. You better start getting info from places other than Fox news.
I just can't believe what sheep you are. If you stop listening to Beck and Limbaugh for a minute you would note the the current health care bill is pretty similar to the one introduced in MA by the conservative darling Romney.
Gutting the economy ..... it is actually slowly recovering after 8 years of conservative leadership in the White House. Look at the stock market, the indices are up....
But facts of course don't matter, you want your country back, because what it really boils down, is you have a back president and you can't stand it.
oops sorry typo should of course read "black president"
I am reporting all the republican and conservative comments to Flag@whitehouse.org
Just wait till they come to pick you up, you won't be so uppity then.
Oooohhhh...you used the word "uppity".
I'm going to have to report you.
"the current health care bill is pretty similar to the one introduced in MA by the conservative darling Romney."
I hate to mess up your little tirade with facts, but the MA health plan is broke.
From the Boston Globe, Mar 19, 2010-
"Massachusetts is potentially facing a new budget gap of up to $295 million this year, a grim forecast that state officials said could spell yet another round of painful cuts before the fiscal year ends in June.
Patrick administration officials blamed the gap on rising demand for the joint state and federal health care program for low-income residents known as MassHealth, increasing demand for homeless shelters, and on below-projected revenue from state fees and federal aid."
I am so sick and tired of hearing every single republican politician claim to be speaking for "the American people." They do not speak for me, nor to any of us who actually listen and care about what's happening to what's left of the middle class in this country.
Does anybody besides me wonder what percentage of those "American people" they refer to still believe Iraq was responsible for 9/11? I'm sure the number is much higher than the percentage who have a clue what's actually in the health care bill.
There are now more people in this country covered by public health care than private insurance. It is against the law for a hospital emergency room to refuse treatment to anyone. Something had to give. The republicans want this to fail simply because they don't want the democrats to take credit for solving a huge problem. Too bad.
Anon 10:18,
Oh please. All Nan Pelosi talks about is what "the American people" want or need.
Anon 10:18
It does appear that many Rebulican politicians wanted the health care bill to fail because it would be a failure for Obama. Republican Sen. DeMint said "the failure of this bill will be Obama's unraveling". A great lack of statesmanship has been exhibited in this debate and most of it seems to be from the Republican side.
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