Sanchez Asks What Tom Coburn is Going to Do About the Other 46,999,999 Who Don't Have Insurance
Rick Sanchez shows some footage of a woman pleading with Tom Coburn to help her at a town hall meeting because her husband has had a traumatic brain injury, and they can't get insurance for him. After Coburn says he'll help through his office that that we "as neighbors" ought to help each other and the idea that the government is here to help is inaccurate. Gotta' love Sanchez's response here.
What's interesting about that is that Sen. Coburn just essentially said the government is not the solution, but then you have to ask yourself. He just told her to come and see him, isn't he the government? By the way after helping her, what will he do about the other 46,999,999 who don't have insurance, and the thousands upon thousands of Americans who say they do have insurance but like her, they're not getting covered? We'll ask those questions.
Exactly.
courage to ask the tough questions on CNN.
How long will THAT last?
Some stuff you can't make up!
probably until Coburn comes on the air with him...lol.
put him on a list for immediate liquidation.
I actually saw this video last night on Greta van Susteren's show....I was really quite shocked to see something like that on Fox. Coburn was on briefly talking to Greta about it.
(not that I watch Greta with any regularity....I was just flipping channels and saw it.)
He at least asks the intelligent questions and does not let the liars get away with the BS...
finds it odd, that the media spin is almost 50 million people WITHOUT INSURANCE. Not without access to healthcare, nosiree Bob, but they don't have insurance. Here in Canada, we call it healthcare. Period. We never discuss those who don't have insurance. What the hell is insurance? Insurance is giving money to a corporation, in the hopes that they cover you when you need them. Why is that even part of the healthcare equation in the US? Guess apparently, if you a citizen of the United States of America, your health is equal to your car or house. Why else would you need insurance?
No other industrialized nation in the world calls their healthcare "insurance". Just goes to show you what the priorities are in America!
like cars, they should reform their insurance to no-fault insurance! Then everyone wins! Change a heart operation, to minor fender bender.....what a bizarre system.
But, but, but, if I am to treat you for your amputated fingers, you have to prove first that you are paying premiums to ********Us United Incorporated. Like, wtf?
in the USA has a price tag on it. Including your own body. Listings of rates for what's paid for a lost limb, for example, are S.O.P. In this country you have to pay to play and part of that includes paying an insurance company a surcharge for being alive. If one's employer doesn't provide some cheap ass insurance package for you, then you have to cough up nearly as much as your rent per month to buy a policy that has a $2500 deductible on it.
If you met the deductible, the insurance company can still deny claims over and above that amount. If they pay it's anywhere from 50% to 80% of the total, not the whole thing. So in the end, anyone with a major illness is forced into bankruptcy and they still may not through all their needed treatments.
BTW, I own my own biz (home based), pay all my bills on time, yet don't have any health insurance. I make too much money to qualify for public assistance yet don't make enough to pay a health insurer for one of the piece of shit policies. Plus, I'm nearly 60 years old and you can damn well bet any insurance company in the USA is going to call me a "pre-existing condition" because I'm nearly a senior citizen.
Thank whatever stars are aligned for me, because I've been healthy all my life. But what if . . .
Hell, I'll take what I need and just file bankruptcy. WTF. At the moment, that's the only option open to people like me.
"By words the mind is winged." - Aristophanes
on my insurance for my car and home. My health? Nope. What the hell is that all about anyway? It's ludicrous.
"Ok sir, with this new policy, you are covered for everything except payment of the first $500".....what the heck, are you replacing a windshield?
Sad. Really friggin' sad
How easy is it nowadays for an American to move to Canada?
Here's a link, General Jack:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp
Thanks, CalgaryLady.
If things get much worse here, I'll strongly consider it. I do have two aging parents, though, and my father's not in the best of health.
I have been to Montreal a couple of times and Toronto 3 times, in addition to Vancouver once.....not much of a time in Canada, but all very nice cities. I'm quite sure Calgary and many many other places are quite nice....plus, if I went to Calgary, I'm a big ice hockey fan and I'd certainly "convert" to a Flames fan!
I've lived in "socialist" Europe (The Netherlands) for 4 years....sure, there are problems, like anywhere else, but I thought the health care system there was fine....my Dutch friends couldn't complain much.
I'm just so sick of the hate and lies that the right in this country is spewing. It's ok (well, somewhat ok) if they disagree with me, but to openly lie and spread hatred makes me sick.
I'll look again at that link because it sure is mighty tempting!
Thanks again.
is different from immigrating to the USA. Both Canada AND Britain use a Point System to determine if you are acceptable. Canada also requires a thorough medical exam prior to acceptance, just to make certain that you will not be an unnecessary burden to their Health Care system.
I've looked into immigration to Canada, and I am apparently not welcome (except as a cash-carrying tourist). I am screwed.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
Knock on wood...
I knock on wood just about every day.... (no health insurance here either).
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
Google "Homestead Exemption in Bankruptcy."
When I saw this video last night, I sent Coburn a scathing email, and this was one of my points. I told him it was a "sin" that we are the only industrialized nation that doesn't have some form of universal healthcare.
Maybe if I used the word "sin" it would get through his religious right thick skull. Doubt it. It's too thick and full of a dredge of crap.
Maybe Coburn is going to treat her husband with some of his doctorly knowledge he acquired while being an OBGYN and practicing almost every other Monday.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
I am sure Dr. Coburn will ask the good lady to see if her parents will pay the mistress off.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
Only the desperate seek the good doctor's counsel. Then because he is a deacon in his church, his advice is protected by the laws of bubble gum or something. No matter what he tells the poor lady regarding how to get help, she can't repeat it.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Will he "practice his love"?
Tasering must cause flashbacks like acid.
Of course Sanchez could have said it more concisely:
"Gee, Senator. What total bullshit."
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
Perhaps they should hire Sanchez for the 10 o'clock hour.
A woman with a husband in the hospital? I think it's obvious Coburn is going to introduce her at the next C Street mixer. Don't worry, fellas, thanks to Tom's "pastor's privilege," what happens at C Street stays at C Street.
Sure! That woman should go door-to-door and beg her neighbors for donations in between changing her husband's feeding tube! Perhaps her Republicant neighbors will volunteer their precious time for her husband's round the clock care. Tom Coburn is a pig. If he has so little faith in OUR Government, then he should get the HELL out of the way. WE the people have work to do!
Republicans say they don't want the government involved with health care, as that that would be 'intruding on individual rights'-
YET when the Bible thumpers want to force Christian lunacy on people and take away a woman's right to her own body, or keep people ignorant about birth control, they then want the full power of the government at their disposal....
This woman's heartache is an all too common national disgrace-
We can spend trillions of dollars on illiegal wars to kill people, but we can't help AMERICAN citizens with health care. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder how many right wing vermin started mock-crying, like the woman who said 'Heil Hitler' to an Israeli, and did mock tears at his tale of a $6,000 hospital bill?
There is a seperation of church and state until we get to the parts covered by our bathing suits. The naughty parts are up for grabs by the church and state.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Hey, what do you expect? Coburn and Inhofe.....
And I wouldn't have been surprised if the woman had been booed.....
Inhofe has to be the absolute stupidest SOB ever to hold office in DC. Either he's stupid or he is insane.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
For those who recognize inclusive disjunctions.
A couple of years ago, I sent Inhofe a long, scathing email on his view over global warming.
To his credit, he actually replied.....about 8 months later....with some bullshit about how so many scientists believe it is a hoax, some bullshit about how he wants his children to grow up in a better world than he has grown up, blah, blah, blah.
I replied to his delayed email......no response to that email.
I think he is stupidly insane.
Coburn and Inhofe are two of the worst in my book.....but, then, again, that's a big book.
He forgot to include...
"as long as I am part of it"
Grassley and Colburn and Palin and Kyle and the rest of these Republican liars and thieves keep propagating the "pulling the plug on grandma" bullshit but it is they who are pulling the plug on grandma's sons and daughters and grand children by not doing anything to help people who are not insured get insurance. They are refusing to help the millions of people who are under-insured. People who think they are insured but when they actually need it find out that they are not covered. The crap about death panels should be thrown at them when cases like this come up because the Colburn death panel lets these type of people die slow deaths with no help from the government insured congress people.
of government healthcare, they should berefusing to accept the totally socialized healthcare package that they receive. Funny, but not a one of these hypocrits has volunteered to do that. I should think that they'd be terrified that they are on some kind of death list. Look a Grassley...he's a walking cadaver. Can't be long for the world.If things are as bad as he claims, then he's due to get a cyanide pie courtesy the U.S. Government Death Panel for his next birthday, assuming he lives that long. Colburn, he could be next. If I were them, gees, I'd only feel safe after fleeing the country. To some ultimate GOPer dream nation like Somalia.
applauded after the helping your neighbor comment. I really wonder how many of our neighbors can afford to pony up 10, 20, 50 thousand dollars to help out with a catastrophic illness. I'd bet you a trillion dollars that not one of those heartless bastards stayed to offer her any assistance after that meeting.
What a bunch or moronic assholes.
"Helping your neighbor" is a complete oxymoron in America.
My wife IS helping our neighbor.
She is feeding her dogs(pl)while the lady next door goes out of town on vacation.
So right now private insurance is not a solution and govt isnt also solution . so what is solution ?
Thats seems to be the Republican solution...
They feel the End Times are a-coming, so why bother having long term health care, as we'll all be dead soon anyway?
they have hellscare
.
people in countries with universal/single payer/government maintained healthcare are healthier and living longer than us.
Private ins adds 33% to the cost of healthcare in the US.
You tell me, why is govt not a solution?
me-oww!
a false dichotomy.
. . . but I doubt my health insurance covers it.
Also, I think the OP was sarcastic.
...the solution; go around to all your neighbors and beg for money.
I see a lot of this kind of thing in my area where families have a catastrophic illness and insurance either doesn't exist or doesn't fully cover it. You see the little container at a convenience store asking for help but that won't ever amount to a drop in the bucket.
I've played in volleyball tourney's that were organized to raise money for people in similar circumstances. It's just fucking crazy and these assholes could give a shit less. As long as I got mine, I'm good.
Only thing I can hope is that they are among the thousands who are having to declare bankruptcy because they didn't have any or adequate insurance; that's the only thing that will open their eyes.
in every precinct? Maybe they'll be able to come up with a deliciousm quasi-nutritious Soylent White®©™ made from the corpses of all the dead oldsters that the government plan exterminates.
applauding someone who is basically advocating for the death. You want to talk about death panels, how about politicians who make the argument that neighbors for care for brain injury. This is the Right's plan.
To every person who applauded Coburn, do you know what you are supporting? Do you actually understand the meaning of your ignorance. Can you think for yourself. Your senator just told a woman whose husband has severe brain trauma that he should be cared for by you. How many among you applauders is going to stop working, get a PhD or MD, get the requisite training and actually care for this guy in lieu of taking care of yourself and your family? Who among you is able to do al this in about a week so he can get the expedited care he needs? Who? And this is one guy.
Fucking make me sick to my stomach.
We're all neighbors. My state probably borders yours. We're certainly sharing some part of the same continent.
So when Coburn says government can't (translation: Republicans don't want government to help) I guess the victims of Enron, Madoff, etc. are plum out of luck? Well maybe Coburn should quit his job and do his part to help shrink our failing government. And while he is at it: he should refuse all the medical care perks he gets because of his job.
Got a horrific health problem? Ask your neighbor for help, but when I am up for re-election please give me your vote. I want to be in government to help people like you find the right neighbors.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Who the hell goes to a heartless doctor?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
He must tell his patients, hey your SOL!
How ironic that Huffingtonpost also is running an article that says employer health care plan premiums will increase an estimated 10.5% over the next year.
Not only will Coburn have to have to decide what to do about the uninsured, he will also have to explain to his backers why their paychecks are going to get a lot smaller. I want to be around when he tries to explain that one.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/25/empl...
46,999,999 cases! If one of those cases should happen to die: 46,999,998 cases in the ER. C'mon folks it's sing along time!
Hasa Diga Eebowai
Damn, we have got to start screening these people better before we let them ask a question.
I would have respected Colburn more if he had asked security to esort that screaming, disruptive woman out.
Asking that mother fucker for help is like asking the Devil for a glass of ice water.
if she was black.
Of course, "asking your neighbor for help" is PRECISELY what single payer is, the larger group of neighbors helping the smaller group of neighbors, with teh government as the facilitator.
Jiminy H. Cricket, sometimes I wonder...
like politicians collecting paycheques from the taxpayers as a whole?? Or having insurance coverage themselves, again paid for by the taxpayers collectively?
.
If my well off neighbor gives me money to pay my doctor's fee, isn't that a redistribution of money? Those with more giving to those with less. OMG, it's socialism. Coburn is calling for Beck's most dreaded word.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
First of all, "the government" is US.
Secondly, We the People ALL know that insurance is simply responsible risk sharing; and that the bigger the pool, the lower the risk; and that We want as many pennies as possible from every premium dollar to go toward medical care (minimal administrative costs, no profits, no advertising). That leads us to single payer, Medicare for all.
"But Medicare is losing money," the teabaggers cry. Yes, because as large a pool as it represents, that pool is now the costliest demographic in the population. If we follow Rep. Weiner's plan and gradually lower the eligibility age for Medicare, it will quite naturally become more cost effective.
The solution isn't complicated, but it IS being thwarted by mindless ideologues.
there are death panels in america, and they are situated in the home offices of the big insurance thugs. yet, neither the media nor most elected officials are willing to state that fact.
coburn is a fucking slug. and a creepy looking one at that
Finally, someone at a townhall meeting that is presenting a true picture of the health care problems. I feel terrible for her. We need more stories like hers at these meetings not the crazies that talk about Nazis. Too many Americans are scratching and crawling trying to take care of the own families to help this women with her husbands extensive health care issues. Maybe Coburn will change the feeding tube. I know I am going to Jan Shakowsky's meeting on 8/31 and tell her what my insurance will not cover!
Obama has stated that he doesn't want government between you and your doctor and he also has stated he doesn't want insurance execs between you and your doctor either.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
...the number should be closer to about 55 million people without insurance, maybe higher: One guy loses his job, his whole family loses insurance.
The number needs to be updated to reflect all the newly dis-insured in the last year.
Beware Coburn. Coburn is anti-government. That says it all. He wants government to close and the gates of heaven to open up. He is another diluted, dangerous, bush-cheney-Regipizan-Zombie, agent of cruelty and chaos.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
representative offering her help with health care, he is offering her government help with health care!
I'm sure a great many people who have no access to health care whatsoever would take the public option or single payer any old time!
(Personal Note: Some of you may remember my concerns for my mother, who I look after, and her having no access to health care. Well, a miracle came in the mail the other day, an application for Medicaid/Medi-cal. Evidently someone thinks she can be enrolled. I'll defintely make sure she gets access!)
I've never seen change without a fire
Coburn seems quick to claim that government should not help us with health insurance.
I guess his next step will be to turn down the insurance provided for him BY THE GOVERNMENT!
Senator Coburn,
If you hate government so much, why do you insist on being a member of that government as a Senator from the State of Oklahoma?
Election 2012: Be Educated! Be Active! Vote!
www.phoenixjustice.com
Tom Coburn, as an alleged legislator and "Family" member (part of the C street mob) doesn't care, especially outside of Oklahoma, what happens to anyone except members of the "Family"... he won't help the woman he tried to cuddle during the town hall either now or if she actually shows up at his office. He lied to her at the town hall..track it and watch...
AND one of his pals, Sen. McSame who had his town hall in Sun City, AZ televised today did him one better in genning more lies than he ever could during his whistle-stops last year with Graham and Liberwocky...What a hoot to watch this fool...
You know, people should turn off the MSM, with a few exceptions, and spend that time with their local representatives and city hall, until the Republiscum is dead.
That would actually work.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
I have been pondering this and I can see no way out other than health care reform. If the health care system remains as is, given the current high unemployment, layoffs, pay reductions, a rapidly aging baby boomer population and poverty rates continuing to increase the situation will only get worse.
More and more people will fall back onto a aleady overburdened and underfunded government program like medicare. Other government programs like food stamps, welfare, will also increasingly be used. Credit card companies and banks will continue to take more losses as people can no longer use lines of credit as means to pay off their sky high medical bills because they are unemployed. Home forclosures and personal bankcruptices will continue to increase and crime rates will rise. Auto loans will go into repossession and every company that was recently bailed out will be right back to square one. The difference the next time around, the situation will be much, much worse.
Health care reform, in my opinion will occur. Its just a matter of when.
it is sooner rather than later!
The only reform plan that can really resolve those issues by actually lowering costs is "single payer". I think it might take many years to translate the public's will into political action though - years filled with suffering.
This is like one of those old TV shows where someone come on to describe the horrible conditions under which they live, and the host gives her a refrigerator.
Looks like the woman's husband is facing a big insurance death panel.
Maybe Coburn will sacrifice his socialized medicine he gets in congress and give it to her husband. That would be neighbors helping neighbors wouldn't it? And I'm sure since Coburn is against socialized health care he will give his up in a heart beat.
And I hate to say this but if that woman and her husband voted for Coburn then....well, I hate to say they got what was coming to them because I would sound like a "compassionate conservative".
And those idiots in the crowd clapping when Coburn says neighbors should be helping neighbors. But I didn't see one of them open their wallets to help her out. Mouth breathing fucktards the lot of them.
They'll all go to church and Jeebus will forgive them.
1. Pray to Jeebus as often as you can that you'll be healthy.
2. If you get sick, and have insurance, you're all set.
3. If you get sick and don't have insurance, repeat step #1 until you are better.
4. If you don't get better, it's just God's punishment for you not fitting in to the American game of health insurance musical chairs.
and when you vote for the Confederate Party - they'll make damn sure that government doesn't help people.
Corporations, yes!
But FUCK YOU and remember, we Confederates have family values.
Thank you for your vote, SUCKERS!
That damned Coburn.
In one way, he's right in that people should help their neighbors.
But in another way, that was an awfully stupid response. How many neighbors are going to have to help other neighbors in similar types of situation? And, isn't that just like taxing those neighbors anyway?
What about someone who lives in a town of 20 people?
What about someone like me who just recently moved back to St. Louis and who lives in a neighborhood primarily filled with college students that I don't know?
What about someone who might have a lot of friends in a neighborhood, but that neighborhood is very poor?
Yes, it's nice to help your neighbors.....I'd probably even send a small donation to that lady if I had her address....I feel so sorry for her.....
But that's the wrong, stupid answer, Coburn. It doesn't guarantee anything in all cases, idiot.
Coburn is secretly telling Christian Republicans that socialized health care is the moral thing to do. Just ask him, I'm sure he knows what he's talking about.
here in the UK (or in France, Germany, Spain, Japan, Belgium, Italy, etc etc etc)
Shame, thy name is 'The Republican Party 2009'
But, haven't you heard of American exceptionalism? We're exceptional in all things! We're the best!
everyone without health insurance, or facing coverage issues, should ask for his help. I think he wouldn't mind geting a few thousand assistance requests inthe next couple of days.
I just checked Coburn's Wikipedia page, and he and his wife belong to a church affiliated with the Southern Baptists, an organization that represents itself as Christian. So I'll assume that Coburn would call himself a Christian, too.
So let me ask you Tom, do you know what question Jesus is asked when he answers with the Parable of the Good Samaritan? Did you consider that in your answer? Are you a believer, or is it all just for show?
Coburn is a big-time Fundamentalist. They have their unique interpretations of the Bible and what it means to be a "believer". Your questions would be lost on them.
So, are you telling me the crowd wasn't cheering to hear that their son Sen. Coburn had come home from his dissolute life consorting with prostitutes? I was sure that they were about to kill the fatted calf to celebrate!
"Governments can err, presidents do make mistakes, but the immortal Dante tells us that Divine justice weighs the sins of the cold-blooded and the sins of the warm-hearted on different scales.
Better the occasional faults of a government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."
--FDR, July 1936
Is there a counter for how many are uninsured, like the national debt counter ?
How many more minutes will pass before some republican asshole comes out and says this lady was a plant?
Hell, the repugs have been planting people in townhalls across the country so it's only a matter of time before they accuse liberals of doing the same thing (even though no liberals would ever allow themselves to be used in such a way as the repugs do allow.)
I won't sit around waiting for CNN to start dogging Republicans about something real, like America's crooked health care system and the bribes these corporations rain down on national politicians.
So a government by the people, for the people is here to do what again? Oh that's right, bailout banks and make business rich. Not help the people, guh, I'm so stupid.
NO MORE TIN CANS ON THE COUNTER OF THE SEVEN ELEVEN!!!
... because of advanced, modern medicine, but recovering in the long term is a nightmare because of Private Health Insurance policies that shy away from the responsibility of caring for individuals that aren't "quick fixes." I wrote a research paper on the legal treatment of head injuries in the U.S. and want to point out two things:
1. A CDC study conducted in 2002 reveals disheartening statistics on long-term rehabilitative services for TBI patients: (66%) of patients
were discharged without subsequent health-care assistance; (17%) were discharged home with health services (e.g., outpatient rehabilitation) or to rehabilitation facilities; (3%) were discharged to an acute care hospital; and (1%) left against medical advice.
2. "The sequence of events goes something like this: the brain gets damaged, and two months later, the insurance policy is depleted and the patient is shuffled out the door with a shrug of shoulders. A course of treatment that should have lasted years is cut short before it even starts. Bereft, the family starts mining libraries and websites and social service agencies for anything and anyone who can make sense, who can act. Meanwhile, the TBI survivor gets bumped from nursing home to psychiatric ward to emergency room to homeless shelter to group home and elsewhere. They subsist in medical purgatory." *** taken from MICHAEL P. MASON, HEAD CASES: STORIES OF BRAIN INJURY AND ITS AFTERMATH (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2008).
Interesting, but very sad information, el_che.
I think you ought to forward this type of information to the likes of Rick Sanchez, KO, Rachel, and even the right wing nuts at Fox. Maybe there could be more coverage of these types of issues.
We have neighbors. Perhaps we don't need to continue purchasing health insurance. I wonder what ails my neighbors. I bet I can fix them right up!
......I'm sure my neighbors want to discuss their medical problems with me (a teacher)rather than a doctor. Perhaps this woman and my neighbors should just consult Web M.D. There is great information there! We need to see more people like this woman at these town hall meetings.
I have a new neighbor. He's a 1st year law student from South Korea with a wife and 3 young kids. I'm sure he'll give me thousands of dollars to help me cover my next surgery if my insurance doesn't cover it.
Sen. Coburn has declared Himself the Savior for people who need help with their Insurance Companies !! Why not post His office number all over the Web so that He can -SAVE- others ?? Tommie27---Lord knows We can use all the Saviors We can get right now !!!
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