Congressman Rob Woodall gets called out on taking free healthcare at tax payers cost

With all this debate from Republicans over privatizing medicare, you have to wonder just how serious Republicans are in their belief that healthcare is not a right this country. Please watch the entire video, or atleast from the beginning toward 1 minute and 40 seconds, this guy totally gets called out over his double standards:



I commend this woman I really do, I commend her for standing infront of the complete tools in that
town hall. She got it right, why don't the Republicans lead by example? Many of thse retirees have worked most of their lives, they paid into medicare, it is their right to be covered. But yes, the hacks on th right hand side would insist we dump millions of americans in street in a "every man for himself" world. That's productive, we'll solve this nations issues by adding more folks onto the streets, broke, and sick.

His excuse is pretty funny. Cause its FREEEE.

What a mess everything is. Good job by that lady though.

reply to post by mayabong

The guy doesn't have to worry, he already gets a load of FREEEE benefits thanks to our tax dollars. Our government officials have the best health care system available paid by our tax dollars. Maybe our officials should feel what the majority feel and have their benefits cut to reflect the average Americans health care benefit.

If these slime balls didn't have all the benefit perks, pay into social security, and reap high salaries, maybe we wouldn't have lifetime politicians in office. Maybe if they lived like us, more laws would be passed to benefit the majority instead of ignoring the same people they're supposed to serve! What other private company would give a 10 year employee an outstanding pension like our government officials get? What other company would allow their employees to vote for their own raises? Give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Us ordinary folks have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and stop supporting policies that only support our government officials and the elite!

NONE of our government will give up there free health care. Do you really expect them to?

reply to post by Southern Guardian


S & F OP.

Rep or Dem, most are not worth the shot and powder it would take to blow them to hades.

They have lavish health plans, incredible salaries, have meetings at luxury resorts paid by us, and regularly vote themselves pay raises; yet the pampered SOBs dare to be condescending to us, their employers.

Two points:

1. I dont really blame him for taking advantage of the system in its current design. I would do the same thing. I once had a job that paid 100% of my medical insurance and I was glad to have it. I would like to see what his long term plan might be that counters the current healthcare plan, since he originally seemed to be somewhat passionate about it.

2. I also noticed that he quickly diverted the subject off of healthcare and on to illegal immigration and Anchor Babies. Political Spin to dodge a the perverbial bullet of a healthcare debate that he was losing.

Originally posted by mydarkpassenger
reply to post by Southern Guardian

 

S & F OP.

Rep or Dem, most are not worth the shot and powder it would take to blow them to hades.

Amen brother. You see the Republicans and Dems hold eachothers hands when they voted to extend the patriot act? At the moment there's ony 5 Democrats and 3 Republicans holding off the Patriot act extension, it is pathetic.

This move by the Republicans is political suicide, I think they are just touting libertarian values in time for the elections, I don't believe that they'll actually move to privatize it. It's all a show but nevertheless, it's good to get them called out on it. The fact is, medicare is a broken system as is other social programmes. There needs to be reform there just as there needs to be reform in our military programmes. Government is broken, but that doesn't give reason to handing everything over to the corporate fascists.

Bless that lady's heart!

"Because it's FREE"! It's free to HIM! We're paying for it! What a wad!

The GOP slant on this incident:

Woodall suggested that the woman concerned about vouchers might find the type of health care system she and her children approve of in Canada or another industrialized nation.
...
"We consider overall the town hall pretty good stuff,” said Jennifer Drogus, a spokeswoman for Woodall contacted by HuffPost. "Folks who were misinformed and guided by the scare politics of the left hopefully left better informed."

Source

It's a good thing the GOP are "informing" people of the scare tactics of the left! Oh, and telling them that if they want guaranteed health care, to move to Canada... Way to talk to your constituents, Woodall!

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


Folks - you don't understand this video at all (or at least you have put an interpretation on it that is questionable to say the least)

People will take anything, if its free. And they will take as much of it as they can get, if its free.

I live in Canada - we have socialized medicine. But its NOT free - I am currently paying over $8,000 per year for medicare. This payment completely cripples me in my ability to take care of my own needs. And if you look at how people use this benefit, you will find people showing up at emergency care because they have a cold and others who demand Vitamin D blood level tests at $425.00 (because they are worried).

But this health care isn't free. Take a look at smokers and how health care costs are used to charge crippling taxes in order to "pay for the costs of health care" and how often health care costs are used and are going to be used to control personal behavior.

Now - as a smoker - how long do you think I am going to pay the taxes for being a smoker and pay the medicare benefits for everyone else and still allow myself to be harassed, hectored, discriminated against and subject to the hatred campaigns of zealots?

Now - as a fat person - ask yourself the same questions?

Or as a person who likes to have a drink now and again?

Or as a person who likes to ride a motorcycle or climb mountains?

Do you know how to trap a wild pig? Well first you start laying out food in a particular location to attract the pigs. Then you build a wall at that location but continue to lay out the food. When the pigs get used to one wall, build a second wall. When the pigs get used to that - build a third wall....and so on.

If you are going to rely on the government for your health care, then you can't really rebel against that same government, now can you? Is medicare really worth your freedom and independence?

I know that people are rendered bankrupt by the diseases of old age but what these people are really asking is that taxpayers pay for their illnesses and allow them to preserve their savings for their children. Savings used for health care are being used exactly as they should be!!!

And when medicare is being paid by the taxpayers - you can bet that adult children will demand every live saving procedure be used on behalf of their 95 year old parents regardless of the cost - or for their malformed, retarded children to continue to exist as vegetables. When its free - get as much of it as you can!

I guantee you that if there was no medicare - we would watch the cost of health care decrease as hospitals and doctors fight for a living. But at the present time, they can charge whatever they like because the taxpayer foots the bill!

Tired of Control Freaks

Originally posted by TiredofControlFreaks
reply to post by Benevolent Heretic

 

People will take anything, if its free. And they will take as much of it as they can get, if its free.

I don't know why you think we don't understand it. That's kind of condescending, IMO. I understand perfectly.

My point is that the Woodall takes his insurance because HE said "It's free". He's the idiot that thinks it's free. I know it's NOT free. WE (the people) pay for it. And of course we would pay for a universal healthcare system, just as we pay for his ass.

But HE thinks he is somehow deserving for us to pay for HIS (top quality) medical care. But the average citizen (like myself) is NOT deserving of it.

I am sorry Benevolent Heretic if you think I sound condescending. I certainly don't mean to be and it is sometimes difficult to communicate fully in writing without all the facial cues and body language to observe.

I think your response proved my point - the politician gets medicare because its part of his pay package. In essence, he is paying for his health care (if we disregard the fact that we can probably both agree that he is likely overpaid). But for the average worker, when wages and benefits are negotiated between the employer and his employees (or the union, if it exists in the workplace). The average worker takes less money home in his pay packet but he does have medical benefits.

The lady in the audience doesn't have medicare because, as the politician pointed out, her employer doesn't care enough about her to provide it. So she takes home more cash money for the same job than someone who does have a benefits package. But she still wants the taxpayer on the hook to provide her with medical care.

Do you see my drift here. Socialized medicine simply lowers the cost of hiring an employee by shifting the cost onto the tax payer. And the tax payer is then beholden to the government for the "free" healthcare.

Tired of Control Freaks

My father is alive because of Medicare and Social Security....he paid into it his entire working life.

I dare...DARE the Republicans to privatize Medicare and Social Security....2 of the very few things this government does that actually HELPS THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.

You want to see a true Revolution???

Go ahead....do it...and you WILL see it.

Virtually every one of us knows someone who is on either program or has a relative on it. You hurt our parents and grandparents and I swear there will be a Revolution.

My father paid his dues. He worked his ass off. HE VOTES REPUBLICAN EVERY SINGLE TIME.

That's who Republicans just tried to screw...part of THEIR OWN BASE.

deleted

Why are the tea partiers not calling out their constituents over this outrage?? Your politicians! Your bachmanns! Rand Pauls! The lot them! They are all getting healthcare from your tax payer money! But you want to scream communism when the sick and the old use it? People need to be called out on their double standards.

This is the problem with the folks on the right, no consistency at all.

Originally posted by David9176
You want to see a true Revolution???

Go ahead....do it...and you WILL see it.

David I'm fairly sure the Republicans are smart enough not to take that step. I'm fairly sure that Paul Ryan knew that his budget would be shot down. It's all a show really, but never the less people need to called out on what they say.

Originally posted by Southern Guardian
Why are the tea partiers not calling out their constituents over this outrage?? Your politicians! Your bachmanns! Rand Pauls! The lot them! They are all getting healthcare from your tax payer money! But you want to scream communism when the sick and the old use it? People need to be called out on their double standards.

This is the problem with the folks on the right, no consistency at all.

She nailed him! That was pretty funny.

We pay their salaries but I can accept that his, and the other members of Congress, health care is part of their salary package. It's a price I'm willing to pay because, whether we think they are representing our interests or not, they are our employees in a way. We are their employers and any good employer provides a health care plan for their employees. Theirs is just better than mine!

I'm not, however, willing to pay for your healthcare (this is a general "your" and "you"). I have exactly 3 people I'm responsible for: myself, my wife and my son. I do not employ you and I resent anyone that is OK with taking the wages I've worked for and giving them to you. Those wages could be used for my own family. But they are used for someone else's. And that is wrong.

Originally posted by David9176
My father is alive because of Medicare and Social Security....he paid into it his entire working life.

I dare...DARE the Republicans to privatize Medicare and Social Security....2 of the very few things this government does that actually HELPS THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.

Why can't I have a choice to opt out? What if I don't want the government holding my money for me? Suppose I want to invest it, or spend it, or bury it under a tree in a mason jar? What is so wrong with freedom of choice? I am smart enough to do what I want to do with it but if I'm not, so what? So I screwed myself? Isn't that my choice?

/TOA

reply to post by The Old American


Yep, you're willing to get us to pay for the healthcare of the politicians in DC, but you want us to strip medicare of the seniors. Really good case you are making there. Let me guess, it's only socialism when it doesn't involve politicians too?

Originally posted by Southern Guardian
reply to post by The Old American

 

Yep, you're willing to get us to pay for the healthcare of the politicians in DC, but you want us to strip medicare of the seniors. Really good case you are making there. Let me guess, it's only socialism when it doesn't involve politicians too?

Can you please quote where I said I wanted to strip anyone of Medicare? I keep going over my post and for some reason I just can't find it.

I asked "Why can't I have a choice to opt out?" There's a big difference there.

/TOA

Can you please quote where I said I wanted to strip anyone of Medicare?

What do you think medicare is? It's socialized healthcare. It's funded by the tax payer. You clearly stated that you supported funding the healthcare of these politicians but not of the general population, including seniors.

So you don't consider medicare socialized healthcare?

Do you support the public option?

Do you support our right to opt out on funding the healthcare of politicians?

I asked "Why can't I have a choice to opt out?" There's a big difference there.

The OP is not about opting out of medicare. It is about a politician who opposes any public funding of healthcare.