Enzi Cites Town Hall Disruptions As Evidence Health Care Reform Should Be Weakened
Despite growing pressure from President Barack Obama that health care reform negotiations in the Senate FInance Committee bear fruit by September, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) isn't giving an inch--and he's using the angry town hall disruptions as cover.
Enzi--who has played a key role in weakening Democrats' health reform proposal, and whose support for the final product is far from guaranteed--said Democrats are in for "some nasty, nasty town meetings," implying that the public disruptions are a symptom of liberal over reach, not of conservative rabble rousing.
He will soon participate in a meeting with Obama and five other members of the Senate Finance Committee to discuss their progress writing health care reform legislation. Hard to imagine this message will go over well with the White House.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Ooh... "nasty town meetings."
Booga Booga!!!
The threat of angry hired agitators with misspelled billboards is suspiciously like the sheriff in Blazing Saddles holding himself hostage.
August 6, 2009 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
"The Sheriff is a ni...Oh, I'm sorry Sheriff. Lamarr, can I see you over here?"
August 6, 2009 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
why do people give a shit about wyoming's senator? people need to just tell this guy to sit down and STFU -- he represents about 17 people and his state has the minimum 3 EVs. he's a nobody.
i swear ... that state turns out nothing but fucking disasters as far as national politicians go.
August 6, 2009 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Put him on the record if he supports the RETHUGIANS! and their disgusting tactics.
August 6, 2009 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Overreach THIS, Congressman!!
He's playing Dems for a patsy, has been all along. It's time to write the bill our guys think is best.
August 6, 2009 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. Reconciliation is the way to go. This is beyond absurd. Grassley and Enzi just want to stop any reform and keep the money flowing to criminal insurance companies and the pharma industry. It is beyond disgusting.
August 6, 2009 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is beyond absurd. They shouldn't have tolerated the bad faith, delay-and-kill tactics this long, it would seem to me.
August 6, 2009 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Keep in mind, Republicans are not the problem.
There a 60 Democratic Senators and an overwhelming House majority.
If they would nut up, they could do just about anything they wanted.
August 6, 2009 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Republicans are trying to destroy this president, and Democrats are helping. Great job, people!
And FU Senator Enzi.
August 6, 2009 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wrong conclusion, Enzi. Here's how it works:
You cheer on the thugs who are trying to keep Democrats from explaining the health care reform bill to their constituents. You and the thugs are working on behalf of the health insurance companies to make sure they don't have to compete for our business and risk taking a revenue cut.
So, there are two very strong incentives for the Democrats in your committee to just abandon any efforts to have a bipartisan solution. 1) Their fellow Democrats are being harassed, threatened, and even physically abused by a bunch of nuts that your party gleefully supports, and 2) the insurance companies who have been working the Dems to get them to water this bill down are funding and vigorously promoting those mobs who are harassing the Dems. For that they don't deserve dick. You just don't reward that kind of behavior by giving them any consideration whatsoever in the final bill.
To put it simply, the insurance companies have resorted to gangsterism. Repay them in kind with a big fat "fuck you and fuck bipartisanship."
August 6, 2009 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink