Nurses’ Union: Cheney Would Be Dead By Now
EmailUSA Today’s ‘On Politics’ Blog Reports: Newspaper ads published yesterday in Iowa said Vice President Cheney would "probably be dead by now" from his multiple heart attacks if he didn’t have federally funded health care that most American’s can’t get. Even before they were printed, they’d been labeled "outrageous" by Cheney spokeswoman Megan Mitchell.
Showing no signs of backing down from its controversial ads, a spokesman for the California Nurses Association and the National Nurses Organizing Committee tells The Washington Post’s The Sleuth blog that it’s Cheney and the Bush administration who are outrageous:
"What’s outrageous is we have an administration that sits on its hands while we have 47 million people who are uninsured … This administration has ignored this health care crisis," says Charles Idelson, spokesman for the California Nurses Association and the National Nurses Organizing Committee. "They’re indifferent to pain and suffering."
There’s more about the unions’ claims and its ad campaign here.
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Don’t under-estimate the power of the dark side! Darth Cheney probably has a robotic heart, not human!
Posted by: Uniblogger | December 11, 2007, 9:04 am 9:04 am
The average American Taxpayer should have the benefits such as healthcare and pension that our politicians have voted for themselves…when you’re poor it’s welfare when you’re rich and/or powerful it’s called being entitled.
Posted by: Lee | December 11, 2007, 9:19 am 9:19 am
This is the unfortunate truth. He would be dead. Is it 45 million or 47 mil. now without health insurance? You cannot hide from this problem. You may be lucky enough to have coverage, but does the sick guy fixing your lunch at some restuarant have insurance? Wake up America!
Posted by: 4cryingoutloud | December 11, 2007, 9:30 am 9:30 am
THANK GOD I’M NOT IN A UNION!
Posted by: Democrats are such loosers | December 11, 2007, 9:34 am 9:34 am
I am 63 yr. old with no health insurance, so I guess If my ticker gives out then I’m a dead duck! I work part time in a health care facility and insurance is not offered to part time help. And insurance rates are so high theres no way I could afford It, and I dont believe I’m the only one in this boat in america.
Posted by: Jeanette | December 11, 2007, 9:46 am 9:46 am
I think it’s true. I have my own individual health insurance that has a lifetime payout of 2 million dollars. If Cheney had to have this same type of insurance, he would have been kicked out of the hospital long ago for exceeding this amount or he would have been deemed uninsurable b/c of his existing heart issues.
Posted by: Amy | December 11, 2007, 10:16 am 10:16 am
Good for these nurses groups. Begging, pleading, application of common sense–none of these things have motivated our lawmakers on either side to make the drastic changes that need to be made. Maybe shame and “outrage” will do it. I doubt the message of the nurses will have much impact on our “comfortable with their own situation, so why worry about others” lawmakers, but I wish them luck.
Posted by: Michele | December 11, 2007, 10:31 am 10:31 am
cant you just feel all the love,,,,
Posted by: rick | December 11, 2007, 10:51 am 10:51 am
That’s what’s so great about america, You can pretty much say (almost) anything. And wether anyone agrees or disagrees with you, you won’t get thrown in jail for it…..(yet)…And yes, I agree with those nurses…
Posted by: g | December 11, 2007, 11:09 am 11:09 am
To “Michele” — perfect response! Thanks you!
Posted by: I Love It!! | December 11, 2007, 11:10 am 11:10 am
Support the Nurses Union! They’re more important than the Writers Guild Of America.
Anyone who crosses a picket line in America is scum!
Posted by: PaintDiva | December 11, 2007, 11:19 am 11:19 am
Ah, the republican compassionate conservatives – how they do care about the common, ordinary American citizen. In a pig’s eye they care. All they care about is stuffing their own fat mouths, living in luxury, and having all the great healthcare money can buy and to hell with the rest of the country. Sounds something like Tsar-controlled Russia in the 19th & 20th centuries.
Posted by: Ron | December 11, 2007, 11:39 am 11:39 am
The American tax payer keeps Cheney alive. However some tax payers, 47 million, don’t have the money to keep themselves alive.
Posted by: newz4i | December 11, 2007, 11:51 am 11:51 am
This health care thing is serious enough to require our full attention
THIS YEAR! Rather than accusing and demeaning anyone we could be about sharing, making reasonable healthcare expenditures (with NEW money) as it will require. We will need to spend less elsewhere (hint, war stuff) which is an appropriate segue to Chaney.
Posted by: Mary Gilbert | December 11, 2007, 11:54 am 11:54 am
THATS IRONIC…. We keep him alive with our hard earned tax dollars while we suffer through the wars he starts wars, the economy hes destroyed, his lies, and the stealing of US funds through Haliburton, disgusting!!!
Posted by: Squierghia74 | December 11, 2007, 11:55 am 11:55 am
It is amazing that President Bush boldly asks for 50 Billion Dollars to Have Americans Killed in Iraq, but Vetos a Bill that would Provide Health care to save Americans.Go figure
Posted by: Andrew | December 11, 2007, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
I think it is sick that a draft dodger has the best of health care,while my vietnam vet hubby cannot afford to go to the doctor for his plavix.His stroke like symptoms have been scaring me for awhile know.But oh so nice to hear Cheney is doing well.GO NURSES.I wanna see the ad :)
Posted by: whistleb4dawn | December 11, 2007, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm
Um, these people are stupid. Hello!!! He’s rich!!! He’d have the same (or better) healthcare whether or not he worked for the government. DUHHHHHHHH!!!!
Now, why aren’t they saying anything about one of my coworkers works about 30 hours a week at her “full-time job” and has 4 children in 5 years, but has no husband and always complains that she doesn’t have any money. She uses the same government sponsored insurance that Mr. Cheney does yet I don’t hear anyone complaining about her using the system.
Hmmmmmmmm. Oh yeah, I forgot that all abuse was heaped on the republicans.
Posted by: Michael | December 11, 2007, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Whistleb4dawn:
Remember that Clinton is a draft-dodger and he has the same healthcare.
When are you going to complain about the healthcare that Mr. Clinton receives and did nothing about while he was in office?
Sorry, I’m bringing too much common sense into this group.
Posted by: Michael | December 11, 2007, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
WTG my fellow nurses-tell the truth. The truth can be painful!!
Posted by: E.S. | December 11, 2007, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
Republicans, the party of the corporations and the rich, will NEVER
give this country free health care. It
was Nixon(R) who gave big corporation the ability to make the health care system a business insted of a non-profit.
You cannot have a functional system if
there is a middle man. I love my country, but we aren’t NUMBER ONE at any-thing except our great military. Not
health care, educating our kids or rebuilding a city(NO,La). We should do
better or stop being so smug and arrogant.
Posted by: blackie | December 11, 2007, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
Cheney is probaly afraid to die knowing where he will be going, he has to do what he can to keep breathing. Poor sucker when he does go, but i guess he will be with all his friends.
Posted by: Patty | December 11, 2007, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
These nurses are only looking out for their own jobs; the more uninsured only = less people who could enter their facilities without being thrown out due to lack of coverage. Less people = less need for nurses (despite what many claim about a nursing ‘shortage’, perhaps there are just too many nurses in the wrong places– like California)… To wish death (as they apparently do) on any one is disgusting; and those that agree with them are even less ‘compassionate’ than their caricature of the ‘Compassionate Conservative’. The California Nurses Association IS outrageous; this shows their true lack of caring for the people who they claim to serve; this organization should be forced to renounce its corporate charter and disband at once!
Posted by: Shawn | December 11, 2007, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
we’re not even number 1 in our military
Posted by: osipov | December 11, 2007, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
Nurses union? Excuse me? If there was one that functioned, there would be better working conditions; not on a dead run, passing meds out two hours behind,just trying to keep people alive ’til next shift. Oh, please…
Posted by: Heather Tew | December 11, 2007, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
Cheney couldn’t get health insurance after his first heart attack. It would all have to be paid for out of pocket. It’s a shame that he as money, in that case.
Posted by: bob | December 11, 2007, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
If Cheney had an actual heart he might care for the poor and middle class American. Since he’s heartless he only cares about himself and his rich Neocon friends. The most evil person in America: Darth Cheney!
Posted by: AJ | December 11, 2007, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
Michael: um, because Clinton isn’t in office and it’s no use placing ads to sway his opinion? A little common sense, as you say…?
Posted by: jeremy | December 11, 2007, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
“Outrageous” Megan Mitchell? Talk about inconvenient truths hurting! It`s about time the Dems start giving the neocon Bush Republicans their come uppance. Don`t imagine Romney`s illegal immigrant grass cutters had insurance coverage either though, as Bush would, “say they can go to the emergency room.”
Posted by: Luke | December 11, 2007, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
Since the VP is truly rich, I would suspect he would do the honorable thing and pay for his own healthcare. That way the thousands of dollars spent on him will go back into the military healthcare budget. Building 18 at Walter Reed was due to lack of funds, not lack of good leadership.
Posted by: cac | December 11, 2007, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
I take care of my 84 year grandmothers finances. Her health care costs takes up nearly 1/2 of her monthly income. $100 for medicare out of her SSI, 200 for Sr. Blue Cross. $150 for medication and she’s in GOOD shape, just blood pressure pills and eye drops. it is DISGUSTING that this administration ignores the needs of the people while lining their pockets with profiteering from their ‘special interests.’
Posted by: BigT | December 11, 2007, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
Go Nurses, you rock!!!!!!!
Posted by: Troy | December 11, 2007, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
How ironic but they have a very valid point. Health insurance, even some of the best, has it’s limitations and putting things in your heart for “Preventative” reasons usually are not covered. So if he were the usual Joe, who didn’t have $500,000 hanging around for elective surgeries to prevent another heart attack….uh…yeah, he’d probably be dead, or at least he would have had another heart attack by now. Interesting. Ironic.
Posted by: D Manning | December 11, 2007, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
Here’s a wild thought: Maybe Dick Cheney put more money into his health insurance than the rest of you, and so he gets more out of it. Let’s be real, folks: You’re all just looking for hand-outs. “Federal insurance” is just someone else paying your bills.
Posted by: Debra Congram | December 11, 2007, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
Gimme, gimme, gimme.. That’s all you libs know how to say. Why don’t you leeches pay for your own healthcare. Stop trying to mooch off the government. Stop sucking off welfare and you won’t be a hypocrite when you complain about the evil Republicans.
Posted by: Lex Soleus | December 11, 2007, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
I’m sure Cheney gets top-notch care and we taxpayers foot the bill. He even has a doctor accompanying him when he travels. None of us could expect this level of care, but the nurses are right. Cheney also made millions indirectly from the taxpayers as CEO of Halliburton, so it’s okay for fatcat Republicans to sponge of the taxpayers but the rest of us are screwed. Good for the Nurses Union!
Posted by: jude | December 11, 2007, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
I can not believe that anyone would want the government to get involved in our national health care. There are people coming here from Canada and other countries to get our great health care. Before my child died, we had to go to the Mayo Clinic and I could not believe the people there from other countries. Libs want everything free! Just who do they think will pay for this health care? Taxes will go through the roof and then they will complain about that. Keep the gov’t out of health care. I wonder if they complain about the health care the dems in power get. Just a thought.
Posted by: Bonita | December 11, 2007, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm
Some of these nurses “would probably be dead now” from an Islamic terror attack if not for Vice President Cheney’s role in the war against terror.
Posted by: Jonathan Willis | December 11, 2007, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
The CNA followed the Cal. gov around and were successful at making their point with him not long ago. Way to go CNA FOR DOING SOME FABULOUS PATIENT ADVOCACY. The ad is once again pointed and in their face. It needs to be.
Posted by: Siren | December 11, 2007, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
I’ve talked with people who have lived in Sweden, the U.K. and Canada, and everyone of them has been very pleased with the government sponsored healthcare in those countries. It’s about time we had universal healthcare for all. The fact that we don’t have it makes us look like a backwards, third-world country. BTW, I don’t think Cheney has made the world a bit safer–he’s just make a lot of Corporations richer through profiteering on the so-called war on terror!
Posted by: Judith | December 11, 2007, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
Where has this Nurses union been for the past fourty years. When the democratic party put this insuranece program in place.
Posted by: William F. E. | December 11, 2007, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm
I’m moving to Canada!
Posted by: trw | December 11, 2007, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm
You libs are such losers.(1) Cheney wouldn’t have to worry about health payments because he earned enough cash to give himself, his family and all his friends the best. I get sick and tired of hearing about these so-called 47 million without insurance. I repeat, some don’t want it, some, because they of entitlements, don’t have to pay for it and some, because they can’t read, don’t know where to go to get it. Oh yeah, and 20 million of them are illegals.
Posted by: mj loehrer | December 11, 2007, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
Some of these nurses “would probably be dead now???
Some nurses ARE dead now. They died in the wrong battle when too few troops were sent in.
Posted by: newz4i | December 11, 2007, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
copy/pasted from a poster, “Why don’t you leeches pay for your own healthcare.”
Say that to Cheney.
Posted by: newz4i | December 11, 2007, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
SHAME ON C.N.A./AFL-CIO
To my former colleagues — shame on you, for your sickening class-warfare tactics.
If the system is so terrible — why is the U.S. paying millions for this illegal alien?
Shame on you, CNA
Posted by: R.P. | December 11, 2007, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
You said some of these nurses “would probably be dead now” if not for Cheney? Let me see, how many deferals did Cheney have to use to get out of serving our country. And you call him a hero? ANYONE who still defends Cheney must be brain damaged.
Posted by: Tom | December 11, 2007, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
What the *@!? is wrong with this country. Politicians say they want to fix health care when none of them realize that the main problem is the fact that the system is based on profit. What the hell ever happened to the doctors that did thier job because they care about people not the money. Why is the system based on dealing with the sick and not keeping people healthy.
I read in a health magazine that I recieve. That when the president of the American Medical association was asked what his main concern was. He replied that the AMA is a business and his biggest priority was to make a profit for his shareholders. What is wrong with this picture. This is why healthcare is so screwed up. Because all these people care about is money and if everyone was healthy they would be out of business. So its is in the medical establishments interests to keep the sick sick. Just not dead. Then they lose too.
To top it off after all the medical advancements we have made over the years. And there have been alot. Doctors still really dont know squat. Why do you think they all run practices. Maybe because they are still practicing?
The only thing that people can do is fallow the tried and true things that keep them healthy of which most of have been known for hundreds if not thousands of years.
The bummer is the fact that these things are really not that profitable so the medical establishment tries to hide them and the media is so tied to money that they wont tell the puplic about them. I still think this is the greatest country in the world but we have surely screwed alot of things up because of GREED. And we are headed for a huge fall if we dont pull our heads out of our BUTTS.
Posted by: Ctell | December 11, 2007, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
Sorry Ctell- your deceptive attempt to discredit the AMA won’t fly; the AMA is not like other businesses, sells no stock, and has no shareholders- your statement is a flat-out lie.
If “free health care” is so great, why did the prime minister of Canada come to the US for surgery??? Asking healthy Europeans/ Canadians if they like their “free” health care is like asking a homeowner if he likes his earthquake insurance coverage before he has a chance to file a claim.
Nothing, including health care, is free; wise up.
Posted by: J.R. | December 11, 2007, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
funny how nobody mentions the added cost of malpractice insurance when talking about health care ‘profits’
. how many billions did John Edwards cost the taxpayers by driving up those costs with his lawsuits against doctors?
at least, those of us who actually pay taxes and not demand everything given to us by the nanny-state some think we need.
Posted by: blue | December 11, 2007, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
amended.. costs us both in health care costs for ourselves AND in footing the bill for the work deficient AND the illegals who cost the hospitals in CA so much they’re starting to close them
Posted by: blue | December 11, 2007, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
If Dick Cheney were a real man, he would stopping shooting those ducks that are uncaged a few feet from his gun, and start assigning his health benefits to a mother without insurance.
Posted by: Elizabeth Lee | December 11, 2007, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
Despite the blind hate of so many liberals, how can you wish the death or destruction of and American Vice-president? Whatever the healthcare, I am glad our Vice-President is still alive and able to carry out his duties. Mr. Cheney and Mr. Rumsfeld were the backbone of the national security of the US. I am thankful that they were in charge when our homeland was attacked. If any illness should befall our President, I would hope the same quality healthcare will be rendered to him, despite the malice from some of our “fellow Americans”.
Posted by: sumterala | December 11, 2007, 10:19 pm 10:19 pm
The nurses union at least has the guts to have an opinion. Cheney, if he were a private citizen, would have had out of pocket costs at this point. It has nothing to do with liberal or conservative. The healthcare system is at the breaking point. I work in ER, and I can tell you that much. If we ever face a major epidemic, or a disaster, the ERs will be overwhelmed, as they are already. That is because our President told everyone they can go to ER for healthcare. And that, fellow Americans, is just what many, many of them do. The hospital eats the cost, and I get paid $9.80 for a screening exam, if I determine they are medically stable to be sent to a practitioner. Guess what? They are next to none who will see them. And if a speciality is needed, say, gastroenterologist, what do you suppose the chances are that I can get one to come in for an uninsured? Now, I donate my services in a homeless shelter and it is full, full of families who have lost their homes, have jobs, but no insurance. I wish some of you worked in the medical field and had a clue about how much on the brink things really are. They are a lot of compassionate physicians and nurses out here who are donating services because the need is so great. Wake up America. We can’t take care of us and make war at the same time, forever. It just can’t be done. We need to fix this before before we lose more of our citizens.
Posted by: Theresa | December 11, 2007, 10:43 pm 10:43 pm
The amount of viceral hate from so many is incredible. This country will succed when we stop placing our hatred blindly on one party or the other. Cheney has great health care – so does everyone else in Congress – Dems and Repubs. Do we need to fix healthcare – yes – do we need to socialize it – no. 45 million Americans (about 15%) don’t have coverage. Why is it not a good idea to concentrate our efforts on programs that brign healthcare to these folks, but it is a good idea to change from the most accomplished healthcre system in the world to a watered down tax burden that provide substandard care to everyone? Think of it this was – our schools are public and are funded by taxes. How do you feel about providing everyone with healthcare that is equivelant in quality to our public education system? Socialized medicine IS NOT THE ANSWER!!!
Posted by: timothy mitchell | December 11, 2007, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
Ah yes, more righties crying about welfare. Someone correct me if I’m wrong here, didn’t the pubbies you so love have total control for 6 long years? What exactly did they try to do to fix the welfare system? Nothing you say? Suppose that has something to do with the fact that more southern white rednecks who vote republican are on the govt dole than northern minority libs? You people are so stupid it would almost be amuzing if it weren’t so damaging.
Posted by: dk | December 12, 2007, 1:19 am 1:19 am
I’m guessing Mr. Mitchell would have no problem using tax money for govt vouchers to send rich kids to private school to fix that horrible public system though eh?
Posted by: dk | December 12, 2007, 1:23 am 1:23 am
Cheney has a heart?????
Posted by: Joe MUrphy | December 12, 2007, 2:27 am 2:27 am