You have to give some opponents of health care reform their due: they’re unashamed of lying through their teeth. Apparently, the lies aren’t the possession of one political party, either. That’s being proved by Democratic Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina’s 7th District, which covers the southeastern part of the state including Wilmington and Fayetteville. McIntyre is part of the Blue Dog Coalition of conservative Democrats, and he’s been telling everyone who’ll listen that he’s against the health care reform proposals being hammered out in Congress. Two of the reasons McIntyre gives for opposing reform are simply wrong — as in incorrect, mistaken, not true, bullshit.
He told his hometown paper, The Robesonian of Lumberton, “This bill provides medical benefits for illegal aliens. I can’t say it any more directly. That is absolutely unacceptable.” McIntyre followed up one error with another, telling the newspaper that reform will mean cutting many Medicare benefits for America’s seniors. As we detail in this week’s CL cover story, the bills under consideration clearly prohibit undocumented immigrants from receiving any federal funds to buy health insurance from either a public or private plan. And as for “cutting” Medicare, the House bill proposes savings — not cuts — in Medicare by reforming how doctors are reimbursed and creating incentives for coordinated care. There are no proposals on the table to cut any services to seniors. None. You know, Mike, it’s bad enough having to push back against lies about health care reform from the GOP, but … (sigh), oh, never mind.
This article appears in Aug 18-25, 2009.
Frank, under current law, nobody can be denied emergency treatment at an emergency room. This applies to illegals and American citizens alike.
That law would not change with any reform being proposed now.
So what’s better? Providing emergency care to anyone who needs it, but denying real health care to 40 million Americans? OR… provide real health care to all Americans, and only emergency care to illegals, as we already do now?
There are other challenges about health care reform that we could be talking about, like how to pay for it, instead of fanning the flames of immigrant-phobia.
Its unfortunate that one would argue against a subsidy only because it would appear to benefit an “illegal”. Reminds me when whites getting FHA loans didnt want blacks to get FHA loans back in the day. Duh, its still welfare! Can we not drop the whole thing? Nope.
A much better argument is “why is government involved in healthcare anyway?”
Unfortunately our one party government does not want that argument to see the light of day.
I’m voting with my feet and calling those who advertise in the Creative Loafing to share my opinion regarding Mr. Grooms article. Unfortunately, he has phrased the “Lies” so that he can share why they are incorrect versus playing it down the middle fairly.
Michael, why would we argue about how to pay for it when we don’t believe it should be paid for int he first place? I don’t want government to figure out how to pay for health care reform, I want them to get out of health care almost entirely: less regulation of health insurance companies, less regulation of health care service fees thanks to Medicare, etc. The more the government gets into things the worse things get.
Fannie and Freddie gave people cheap mortgages and the economy almost died. What will happen when the government does the same thing to health care?
As for the lies, the most lies I have heard in the entire debate have ceom from the mouth of the President. Everything anyone else says is truth just by comparison, which is real sad.
Karen, if you’re calling Creative Loafing advertisers, wouldn’t you be voting with your finger or voice rather than with your feet? Bill Maher is right, most Americans are stupid!
The only lies are coming from the left. There is nothing in the proposed bills that exclude illegals. Da nada. Unless someone read the 1,000 pages.
When I had private health insurance, premiums $6000 a year with a $2500 deductible, why did I have to pay $3700. No one helped me. I had to get a loan. If people cannot take 12 years of free education and make something of themselves, why must the people who did carry their ass?
Now that I get Medicare I don’t want anyone screwing with it. When I had private health insurance I’d get a bill within 7 days and with Medicare I have been waiting 5 months. “Cash for Clunkers” anyone?
That’s how government operates except for the IRS. I feel for my kids and their kind because when they get to be my age they will have zip.
Thank goodness none of you are in office. (Please say none of you are in office.)
Our health care system is sick and dying. It needs CPR.
If you don’t like the solutions that have been presented, stop bitching and trying to come up with solutions that will work better.
If all you can do is bitch, moan and groan — you’re part of the problem. STFU.