Obama on Congress: 'I'll whup 'em' (positive discussion)

In the midst of all the negative Obama threads, I thought I would start one that is more positive and I found quite humorous.

At a rally Obama was presented a gift from a 95 year old man.

(CNN) - Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee, signaled Thursday that he really means business when it comes to health care reform.

An elderly African-American man presented Obama, the first African-American to secure the nomination of a major party, with a gift. Charles Edwards, who told Obama he was 95 years old, gave Obama a long maple walking stick.

"It's beautiful," Obama told Edwards. "And, if members of Congress don't pass my health care bill, I'm ready," Obama said wielding the stick as supporters laughed and cheered.

"I'll whup 'em," he joked. "They better not mess with me. I'll have that stick."

Obama on Congress: 'I'll whup 'em'

You may have to scroll down to find the article, and there is a video clip of the exchange that just made me laugh. You have to see it.

Health care reform is something that is disparately needed, which anyone paying monthly premiums already know.

Here is a link to Obama's website with his proposals on health care.

www.barackobama.com...

I am not sure if it is the perfect plan, but I hope that something is done to reduce health care costs. Having coverage for everyone is a start, because not only is it the humane thing to do, but when someone receives services and can't pay, the cost is spread out to the rest of us that do pay. So in sense we are already paying for it.

edit: Let's try to keep this as a positive discussion.

[edit on 6/6/2008 by Hal9000]

mod edit: link updated

[edit on 6/11/2008 by Gools]

My only question is...How did this man manage to make it to the age of 95 without Nationalized Healthcare? I think we need a Congressinal Investigation into this. This is not suppose to happen. 95 years old and still healthy enough to participate in community activities all without Nationalized Healthcare.

Opponents of Nationalized Heathcare should use this man as their posterboy.

Well Mr. conservative, maybe you could take off your stereotype glasses for a second and consider maybe he worked for living and had decent health care coverage all his life. In that case yes he would make a good poster boy for health care.

The problem now is that health care is becoming so expensive that now we are paying more and getting less. The cost of health care has been rising over 10% annually, and I feel soon it will no longer be a benefit that is provided by employers and we will all have to pay for it ourselves.

One of the reasons are the hospitals are required to treat any patient even if they are not covered. Because the cost of even one day in the hospital is beyond what most people can pay without insurance, the hospitals won't get paid and to cover the cost it is spread out over other services which drives up the price of health care insurance.

For those that don't want Universal Health Care (UHC), doesn't it bother you that we are already paying for this in the form of higher premiums?

When the State of Ohio passed a mandatory car insurance law requiring everyone to have car insurance, everyones premiums were reduced, because the uninsured portion of the policy was reduced. I think the same thing would happen if everyone had to have health care insurance.

reply to post by Hal9000


Humor should have no place in politics.

I am proud that this country can nominate a black man - because it'll prove that white people arent "all" racist

but Barack obama is a sly talking politican like any other. Any time a politician makes a joke, i cringe. Doesnt matter their party

That is a job to be taken seriously. And he didnt direct his comment at CONGRESS, he directed it at members of congress who would oppose him.

If congress has a lower approval rating than president bush, and the majority of congress is DEM, then what does that say about our current congress?



[edit on 6-6-2008 by ybab hsur]

Sorry you all missed that joke. It really was funny.

So back on topic.

reply to post by ybab hsur

I don't know. I think there is a place for humor in politics. People found John McCain's "bomb Iran" joke distasteful, and maybe their right. I don't think it was a big deal. I think humor makes them more human. If they were serious all the time, they would be seen as uptight.

I just found the whole thing funny. I also think congress needs a little "incentive" to get something done.

I was also impressed by the old man giving him a walking stick. I thought it was quaint and personal. That is one of those gifts that you keep for a lifetime.

But its also a gift that Obama will get rid of. he doesnt care about that man, or you, or me, after he's elected.

Humor has no place in politics, adn i can prove it.

I've heard a lot of people say what you just said (and while im not flaming you, please think about what im saying)

"It makes the politican more human"

Nobody wants a "human" politician who makes mistakes.

I can prove that to.

George W. Bush is a human politician who's made mistakes and people hate him on a personal level for it.

Its one thing to dislike a man or woman fro the political ideologies

but to personally loathe someone for them, is the text book definition of ignorance and hypocrisy.

Originally posted by Hal9000
Well Mr. conservative, maybe you could take off your stereotype glasses for a second and consider maybe he worked for living and had decent health care coverage all his life. In that case yes he would make a good poster boy for health care.

Well isn't that ironic. You may think I'm one of the ones wearing "stereotype glasses" but I came to the same conclusion that you did. He "WORKED FOR A LIVING" and earned his health care. He's from the generation that was willing to work as hard as necessary to provide for one's family. He's from the generation that wouldn't even consider taking a handout under the most dire circumstances. He lived in a time before our borderline socialist government created a whole class of people who are tied to our welfare programs for this and all future generations.

Everything the government touches costs 3x as much as it should and takes twice as long. Let's give them control of our healthcare!!

Originally posted by Hal9000

Everything the government touches costs 3x as much as it should and takes twice as long. Let's give them control of our healthcare!!

I'd rather have to wait to be treated than not be treated at all.

[edit on 6/6/08 by Kamikaze X]

Mod Edit: BB Code.

[edit on 6/6/2008 by Mirthful Me]

So then why don't you go apply at a job that offers healthcare?

"Free" healthcare will be paid by people like me who have jobs and work hard

it'll be no different than welfare. Thats why it must not happen.

Thank you for the positive thread about Obama, and Good Luck with it staying positive though. The gloom and doomers have been out in full force lately. I think many Obama supporters on ATS are taking the path of "Do Not Feed The Trolls". So you might get a few comments of support... but mostly it will be the same old impotent ilk that is everywhere on the boards lately... and it's always the same few! lol

They remind me of little ankle biters... lol They make lots of noise, but they are more annoying that dangerous. Probably just too much starch in their bed sheets




edited to remove words at OP's behest.



[edit on 6-6-2008 by yankeerose]

how, exactly, by your narrow-minded definition of racism

is not liking barack obama racist?

im very curious, please U2U me an answer as to not throw this thread off course.

Originally posted by ybab hsur
how, exactly, by your narrow-minded definition of racism
is not liking barack obama racist?

Well duh...he's black so if you don't like him you're a racist! It's just a weak attempt at throwing the race card. Just ignore it and keep throwing facts at them. They'll eventually realize that the race card isn't working and actually argue about something that matters.

Back to the thread at hand...should I be thrilled that Mr. Obama is waving a stick in the air and saying he's going to use it to browbeat Congress?? I think we already can tell from recent actions that his opinion on any issue is going to flip flop based on the current polls and to what group he's currently speaking.

For the record, I couldn't care less what race he is. It's pretty ridiculous that Obama supporters tend to throw out the word "racist" whenever anybody has something negative to say.

Edit: Corrected typo.

[edit on 6-6-2008 by BlueTriangle]

reply to post by ybab hsur

I think you have it all wrong. People want a person who is a real leader. Someone they can respect and relate to. They want to have a leader they can look up to and be inspired. That is where GB lacks and Obama excels.

reply to post by BlueTriangle

I agree that there are some who take advantage of a system that provides for the needy. But there is also a portion of the population that cannot work for various reasons and they are the ones that need the help. We shouldn't let a few people ruin the program for the many.

Economically, I think this argument is penny wise and pound foolish. If the uninsured were given the proper treatment, it could prevent someone from becoming more ill and having to be rushed to the emergency room where some of the most expensive treatment is, and save money in the long run. Because if they can't pay for it, we will in higher health care coverage.

Maybe with the proper medication, a person can manage a health issue enough to go back to work. Unfortunately, a lot of employers are now not hiring people with pre-existing conditions so they don't have to pay their health care.

reply to post by ybab hsur

Health care costs are so high now with no sign of slowing down, I think in the near future employers will no longer have health care benefits. And as I said previously a lot of people will not be hired because of pre-existing conditions.

Easier said than done.

reply to post by yankeerose

Thanks for the support. Believe me I could hold my own if the mods would let me, and please refrain from calling others racist in this POSITIVE thread.

Come on people. Do we need a moment of Zen?

[edit on 6/6/2008 by Hal9000]

OK, moment of Zen is over.

Originally posted by BlueTriangle
Back to the thread at hand...should I be thrilled that Mr. Obama is waving a stick in the air and saying he's going to use it to browbeat Congress?? I think we already can tell from recent actions that his opinion on any issue is going to flip flop based on the current polls and to what group he's currently speaking.

Browbeat?

Give me a break. He was joking and you know it. Do you really think that you are convincing anyone that he was threatening them?

Browbeat?

That sounds like something from an old episode of Adam 12.

I also see your ready to whip out the flip flops again this year. Do you really want to do that? I hear John McCain's closet is full of them.

what is inspirational about obama? Im curious

beacuse he's black and "fighting" for the presidency?

PLEASE! He's getting it handed to him because white people are too afraid to be labeled racist, and black people are responding the the bugel blow

its all about race in this one,and its not because i said so

if it wasnt about race, then why would obama give a speech on race, throwing his white grandmother under teh train, and putting his black racist reverend on a pedestal?


"Vote For Change"

but he never defines "change"
ill define it for you

Barack Obama will change his mind so many times on every debate, that you will be forced to change your mind about him


is being clearly unpatriotic against your country inspirational the "new thing" to do these days? I swear, i have such a hard time keeping up with today's youth...

Change? Yeah, he'll Change. He'll change this country so that every man woman and child is living in a 3rd world, and we're all at the mercy of big bad terrorists.

that is change you can believe in




[edit on 6-6-2008 by ybab hsur]

Here is some Inspiration for you...

This is the video from the first time I ever saw Barack Obama... four years ago.

Barack Obama - Highlights from the 2004 Convention


youtube.com...

And just in case you need more inspiration...


www.youtube.com...




[edit on 6-6-2008 by yankeerose]

Originally posted by BlueTriangle
He's from the generation that was willing to work as hard as necessary to provide for one's family. He's from the generation that wouldn't even consider taking a handout under the most dire circumstances. He lived in a time before our borderline socialist government created a whole class of people who are tied to our welfare programs for this and all future generations.

Au contraire. Social Security was enacted in the 1930's, under Roosevelt. This man is a beneficiary of both social security and medicare (enacted in the 60's, under Lyndon Johnson). He probably did work hard during his lifetime, though his resume isn't included in the article, and maybe he had good insurance through his union and/or employer. Fewer and fewer people have that kind of coversge today, no matter how hard they work. It's wonderful that he's 95, though that doesn't prove there should be no national health care coverage. Plenty of people of his generation have already died and you could just as easily argue it was due to poor health care.

Consider that he was giving a gift to Barack Obama, who he probably supports. That should give you some idea of his own position on "borderline socialist" national health care.

Originally posted by ybab hsur
what is inspirational about obama? Im curious

How about that since he has become the Democratic nominee and leader of the party, The DNC now will no longer be accepting any campaign contributions from lobbyists on his order.

In a political quagmire worse than Iraq, that is Inspiration!

beacuse he's black and "fighting" for the presidency?

PLEASE! He's getting it handed to him because white people are too afraid to be labeled racist, and black people are responding the the bugel blow

its all about race in this one,and its not because i said so

if it wasnt about race, then why would obama give a speech on race, throwing his white grandmother under teh train, and putting his black racist reverend on a pedestal?

And you wonder why some might call you racist?

Please rush baby, you are making this too easy for me. I will not be drawn into political baiting. Come up with something substantial. Try defending Bush or something. The more you type, the more you show your desperation.