UPDATE: Grayson Doubles Down

Rep. Grayson should apologize right after Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) apologizes for her numerous hate speeches from the well of the House.

I don’t think the Republicans deserve an apology, because that is their plan. Since they choose to put politics above the health care needs of every American citizen, they deserve to be called out for their inaction. Americans are dying because of lack of insurance or being denied benefits when they become seriously ill. If the shoe fits, wear it.

wow I am ashamed of my Congress

To quote from the Republican Bible
“Isn’t he just expressing his right to free speech? Why is the GOP trying to muzzle him? Our founding fathers gave us the freedom to speak our mind and Congressman Grayson should be allowed to do so. Why it is unamerican to suggest otherwise and it is the GOP who should apologize for demanding an apology!!!”
See also, Joe Wilson.

No, if the Replicans thinks that is was OK for Joe Wilson to show such disrespect for the President of the United States and not require him to apologize or even support a vote on the matter, then they are getting what they deserve.
The real thing that we should be discussing is whether or not Rep. Grayson is correct. I am afraid that there is a ring of truth to the statement.

Yes, but they’ve still come a long way since the days when members of the House pulled guns on each other in session.

This is yet again another example of how divisive and misleading BOTH parties have descended in an attempt to gain traction for their respective positions. Whatever happened to the true intent of intelligent and engaged debate to identify the correct course of action and answers? Doen’t anyone in our political system truly understand the concept of servant leadership and integrity anymore? What a disheartening display of poor intelligence if not downright dishonesty

No apology needed. There is a HUGE difference between an “after debate” speech and an interruption in someone else’s speech. But wouldn’t you know that the Republicans (who asked for an apology) would not be intelligent nor discerning enough to know the difference !

The extremism on both sides is getting really frustrating. And even more is how much it is affecting average US citizens.
How can one honestly believe that the republicans are OK with letting people die who don’t have their own insurance??? That isn’t even close to their intention.
Both sides have the common goal of doing what is best for our nation (with some influence from lobbyists on BOTH sides). They just have different beliefs about what they think will work as well as different beliefs of how bad our situation is right now. Additionally, they both have different comfort levels with how much we should be adding to our deficit at this time.
Don’t allow it to get any more distorted than that. Don’t stoop down to the level of several members of congress and quite a few others in politics who are using extremist scare tactics. Instead lets focus on the actual issue and seriously look at what is going to be best for all of us in the long run. Otherwise nothing will get done.

“How can one honestly believe that the republicans are OK with letting people die who don’t have their own insurance??? That isn’t even close to their intention.”
What is the republican intention then in preventing people from getting insurance? If my husband lost his job and thus his employer coverage, we could not get full coverage insurance with the republican supported system for our family because all three of us have pre-existing conditions. The limited coverage we could get for anything that doesn’t involve our pre-existing conditions would be too expensive to purchase without Universal Healthcare and a public option.
The republicans support the current pro-big business/money insurance company death panel system that we have that is allowed to deny coverage. To me, their stand is allowing people to die. That is exactly what they are saying when they spout that insurance is not a right and that if you don’t have it, too bad.

You lie!

“What is the republican intention then in preventing people from getting insurance? If my husband lost his job and thus his employer coverage, we could not get fu;; coverage insurance with the republican supported system for our family because all three of us have pre-existing conditions. The limited coverage we could get for anything that doesn’t involve our pre-existing conditions would be too expensive to purchase without Universal Healthcare and a public option.
The republicans support the current pro-big business/money insurance company death panel system that we have that is allowed to deny coverage. To me, their stand is allowing people to die. That is exactly what they are saying when they spout that insurance is not a right and that if you don’t have it, too bad.”
Now let’s look at in the other way. With universal health care (and we can look to other countries with it for examples or we can look to Medicare), we will be dealing with long waiting lines (because a lack of enough doctors to support the increased numbers as well as because of the lower pay doctors will receive even as medical school costs increase), coverage that doesn’t cover as much as many insurance plans do now, and people dying because they can’t get into their doctor soon enough.
And in my experience (at least in my part of the country) insurance companies do not deny you coverage for lack of pre-existing conditions UNLESS YOU allow a lapse in coverage. If you or a family member loses a job it is your responsibility to go out and find coverage.
I’m not saying the system is perfect but when comparing it to other developed countries (especially countries that have gone the route of universal health care), we have quite a great system.
But again, my whole point in my previous post had nothing to do with what I feel is right but instead that both republicans and democrats (excluding the extremists) really are trying to do what is best for the country. They just have very different ideas of what is best. So we need to drop the scare tactics and the extremist comments like that of Rep. Grayson or the Republican comments of “death panals” and focus on the actual issue.

Maybe George can enlighten all of us – what is the Republican plan? Or more precisely, why should Grayson apologize? Seriously, why?

We deserve an apology form YOU, George. You’re not a journalist. You’re not a reporter. You’re a DOORMAT for the Republicans. And you can’t stand it when a REAL public servant like Grayson speaks the truth.

No they don’t deserve an apology. They deserve much much stronger language than this, which is basically an accurate representation of the GOP plan for those who cannot afford or get insurance.
But if course, strong languangue is OK if you’re a Republican, right Georgie?

Stephanopolous, what the heck is the matter with you? On Newsmax, a right wing columnist is writing about how great it would be if we had a military coup. The Republicans’ top health care negotiator has said repeatedly that Democrats want to kill grandma. Other Republicans accuse democrats of setting up death panels for seniors. Palin said Obama “pals around with terrorists.” During the last administration Republicans REPEATEDLY said in various ways that Democrats hated America and loved them some terrorists. And you want Alan Grayson to apologize for this FACTUALLY TRUE STATEMENT about the fact that the Republican Party has no health reform plan? Are you NUTS? Good grief, you are stupid.

Get off your frigging high horse, George! Did you call for an apology when Repubs spouted their crap about Death Panels and forced abortions? How about when they went on and on about taking Medicare away from seniors? No/ Didn’t think so … so what’s with the massive double standard, then? Where’s your integrity?

We have had death panels for years. They are called insurance companies. They decide whether a person can have a medical procedure or take a medication, not the person’s doctors. Almost a quarter of insurance claims are denied in this country. Add that to all the people who can’t afford the unregulated private insurance rates or are declined for coverage because of pre-existing conditions, that is appalling!
I don’t know of any state individually in our country that prohibits insurance companies from excluding pre-existing conditions. I have been victim of that a number of times through out my years. Coverage was given because it was through a group plan, but none of my claims that involved my diabetes were covered. With type 1 diabetes, insurance companies can twist almost anything you would go to a doctor or hospital for to it. If you have a sore throat and a doc asks and writes down what your blood sugars have been while you are sick, no coverage for that visit. It is diabetes related. I learned to answer “I am here about a sore throat, not my diabetes” so it wouldn’t get written in the file. That is not right and it very well could have cost me my life over the years.
Current;y in Illinois, there is a 17 year old girl who was diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects a person’s small intestine when they consume gluten. Treatment? Don’t eat gluten. Not as easy as it sounds, mind you, but there is nothing for the insurance company to pay for because they haven’t invented a drug to treat it yet. Almost all celiacs have the disease for quite some time in this country before a doctor diagnoses it. Her parents’ insurance company canceled her coverage after diagnosis saying that it was an undeclared pre-existing condition when they purchased the policy. It hadn’t been diagnosed yet at that time, so how could they have declared it? Now she has no insurance and her family has to pay back all the medical claims for her from the time her coverage began. That’s not right and it could cost her family their home and at some point, the girl’s life since she won’t receive medical treatment for any problem without health insurance.
Republicans do not want health care/insurance reform. They and the insurance lobbyists have fought it every time a democratic administration has tried to make changes. Knowing they support the insurance company status quo death panels, doesn’t that speak for itself? I felle that supporting the insurance company death panels leaves resulting deaths in republicans hands.

Looks like Stephanopoulos just earned himself an extra cocktail weenie at the next Village swaree.
Well done George! Now, roll-over! Good boy!

I hope he apologizes right after all the republicans apologize for all the vile things that they say and George, apologize for being such a right wing tool.

George: No they don’t deserve an apology. Where were you when the Republicans have been doing this for months?

What a joke. The GOP has a lot to answer for before they can expect any apologies from anyone. Review their remarks about Democratic plans and then tell me they are not the biggest hypocrites ever. Seems their time is spent practicing fake outrage, in between comparing Obama to the nazis and taking huge amounts of money from the health care industry. Oh, and I believe that Grayson’s remarks were an accurate representation of the results of the Republican plan.

Hey George, how often did you call on Foxx, Grassley and Palin to apologize for their lies.
And that doesn’t even address the point that Grayson WASN’T lying.

No George they do not deserve an apology. Did Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite apologize for saying in July: “Last week, Democrats released a health care bill which essentially said to America’s seniors: drop dead.”?
Or Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), a doctor, who reviewed the public health insurance option in July and diagnosed that it is “gonna kill people.”?
Or Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), who has suggested on the House floor that the Democrats would “put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government.”?
Did Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) apologize for saying: “One in five people have to die because they went to socialized medicine…I would hate to think that among five women, one of ‘em is gonna die because we go to socialized care.”
Or how about Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa:) “They’re going to save money by rationing care, getting you in a long line. … People die when they’re in line,” he said on the House floor in July.
Come on George, don’t be a shill.

Unfortunately, the GOP’s insurers have told them that a fit of the vapors is a pre-existing condition, so they won’t get treated.
Stephanopolous’s gullibility here is an embarassment.

George, why the double standard for Democrats vs republicans? Good gosh, repubs have said things ten times worse and we haven’t heard so much as a peep of disapproval cross your lips?
Why, George? Because you are the Captain Renault of the Sunday morning political talk shows, except without the charm.
You are “Shocked, shocked I tell you!” when Democrats do anything other than passively capitulate in the face of republican lying.
You wouldn’t pass Journalism 101 George.

I think that Grayson should apologize once all the GOPers who talked of death panels from the floor of the House do so.
Hey, George! I have agreat idea!
Why don’t you invite Sen. John McCain (R-Media) on your show to discuss it?

I’m totally amazed and dazzled. Yes, George, it ia necessary.
Someone (yay, Alan Grayson!) stood up on the House floor and SPOKE THE TRUTH. And Jay Rockerfeller (D-WV)has been astonishingly blunt and direct lately. When push comes to shove, “Don’t get sick” and “Die quickly” is exact result of the Republicans’ words and actions. The third leg of the stool should be “Insurance companies before constituents. ALWAYS. (Except under MY Congressional health plan. ”
And the so-called Blue Dog Dems and Baucus and Conrad are almost as bad.
Once again, here’s Stephanopoulos in full Villager hissy-fit mode. Please explain the constant double-standard of what’s allowable for Democratic pol public discourse vs. the cynical-to-demented Repug pol overt lying that’s been going on.
Hey George, why weren’t you clutching your pearls, when Republican Senators and Reps were bragging about killing health care reform and slinging flat out lies to howling near-morons. (“I don’t want the Gov’mint touching Medicare!”) I love my country, but Lord God, we’ve got some dumb citizens.
There should be no apology. Instead, Republicans should give real world examples of ANYTHING positive in the effort to minimize the number of people who die from illness in this country. The list will fit on the back of a postage stamp.
As a commenter on the Digby blog put it: “If they don’t consciously want people who get sick to die, they have displayed no will to want to save them either.”

I must be missing something obvious. How exactly is Grayson wrong? This is the system we have and Republicans are 1) blocking its reform and 2) failing to come forward with a plan of their own besides “status quo for insurance companies.” Which has worked how so far?

Grayson should not apologize. Why should someone apologize for stating the plain truth?
The Republicans dispensed with “bipartisanship” long, long ago. Finally, Democrats like Grayson might be starting to wise up to this fact. Good for Congressman Grayson, I say!

Wait . . . did George’s Bottom Line ever call for an apology about Dems wanting to kill Grandma, Palin’s death panels, etc.? Or is Georgie boy really that obtuse?

When do the nut job Bachmans of the world ever apologize? Grayson’s comment was right on the money.
GOP are evil, evil people who could care less about doing anything positive for the
American people. Bipartisan. Any one watching the GOP and saying they are capable of any decent bipartisan agreement is just plain stupid

George has been a traitor to the people who brung him to the party for a long long time.. when does ole George challenge all the whackjob GOPERS.

Give me a break. The republicans have been hysterically putting forward claims about killing granny, dying in the waiting lines, death panels; before the 2004, 2006 and 2008 election Cheney was saying that if we elect Democrats we’ll all die from a terrorist attack.
Did you call for any apologies then, Georgie Porgie? No, like a good little Villager you acted like it was all serious debate.
Now, the Village narrative is that a progressive Democrat like Grayson is a dirty hippie, all unhinged, and a danger to our national discourse. You’re pathetic, George. You should be ashamed. It’s like you don’t remembe what happens 2 weeks ago. It’s really depressing that people like you are in charge of the most visible media in this country.

I don’t think Grayson said anything that wasn’t true. No reason for him to apologize.

Shame on you GS. Health care is a life and death matter. Health care is a moral issue. The insurance companies have been on the side of death, and that needs to be said overtly.

has anybody ever considered that healthcare debates are just a smokescreen for other issues that are being discussed or ignored behind closed doors? There are other social systems in place…medicaid for one that can be utilized, medicade is also in place, hospitals can not turn down a sick person (it’s against the law)health departments have programs that can be used. COME ON NOW!

George,
Your disdain is both repugnant and disgusting. When will you admit that you’ve switched sides and are now clutching your pearls because the man with the money is calling the tune. You’ve sold out and it is quite evident. What did you twit when…
Take Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.), who said in July: “Last week, Democrats released a health care bill which essentially said to America’s seniors: drop dead.”
Or Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), a doctor, who reviewed the public health insurance option in July and diagnosed that it is “gonna kill people.”
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), not one to pull punches, suggested on the House floor that Congress “make sure we bring down the cost of health care for all Americans and that ensures affordable access for all Americans and is pro-life because it will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government.”
July was a busy time for House floor death sentences. Also that month, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), noted: “One in five people have to die because they went to socialized medicine…I would hate to think that among five women, one of ‘em is gonna die because we go to socialized care.”
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) had a similar assessment. “They’re going to save money by rationing care, getting you in a long line. Places like Canada, United Kingdom, and Europe. People die when they’re in line,” he said on the House floor in July.

Do Republicans deserve an apology for Grayson saying that their health care plan is for people to die quickly and quietly?
Well, what exactly do you think their health care plan IS?
Progressives have backed down from Single Payer to Public Option, i.e., they made a real and serious concession.
What have conservatives agreed to give up? What have they agreed to do without? What exactly did they produce during the eight years they were in power besides a gift to drug companies (Medicare Part D)?

Hey George,; how short is your memory?
The following Republicans were the ONLY Republicans that felt Rep. Wilson(SC) went too far.
Joseph Cao (La.)
Jo Ann Emerson (Mo.)
Jeff Flake (Ariz.)
Bob Inglis (S.C.)
Walter Jones (N.C.)
Tom Petri (Wis.)
Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.)
They rest of Republicans should not be supported by you but called out by you for their hypocrorightideas…

Earlier this year Republican Representative Virginia Foxx said on the House Floor that the Democrats had a plan to “put seniors to death by their government” and the mainstream press didn’t say they deserved an apology. Republican Representative Ginny Browne-Waite said the Democratic healthcare plan “essentially tells seniors to drop dead” and nobody sanctioned her. Why should Grayson be singled out for telling the truth when their lies were deemed perfectly acceptable?

Today, September 30, 2009, 5 hours ago | Dave
…Republicans DO want people to just die.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It’s not that they want people to die, but rather that they care much more about ‘money’ than people.
The net effect is that many more people die under their set of priorities.

Bless this man who speaks the truth. Lest you forget, Republicans are being counseled by “The Family” who believe themselves to come under different rules of God than the average man. I agree with Grayson, the love of the money far exceeds any concern of 122 people who die in US each day because they cannot thepresent day health policies. If the present bill goes thru the Insurance industry will indeed cover anyone, the problem will be the policies will so expensive without competition, that we will not have moved an inch. A healthcare worker

No, Grayson shouldn’t apologize. Clearly he was just pointing out the absurdity of the Republican “health plans” by exaggeration, and I loved it!

Why should he apologize? He told the truth. The Republicans have had every opportunity to put forth a plan but have failed to do so with each administration. Now that we have a President who is not backing down from this issue the Republicans decided they will try to derail his efforts at every opportunity, including using some of the most vulnerable, gullible people by lying to them about the healthcare plan. The sad part is many of those who have protested don’t get they’ve been used by the Republican Party, as well as the insurance lobbyists to promote their own agendas. Since when has the Republican party cared about funding any program that would benefit the citizens of this country when they single handedly helped former President Bush by providing billions of dollars to finance a war that we never should have initiated? Wow!! We can provide billions of dollars to help maim and kill our soldiers but we can’t think about healthcare for this country’s citizens. Apologize??? That’s a joke. Sit down George — we’ve heard enough.

Representative Grayson may not have given the most tactful speach in the world, but rightfully responds to the outrageous charges by the reform opponents, which allege that the reform plans include include early termination of elderly, among other things.

George – this is politics. Important issues mean hard debate and hard words. I voted Democrat and I want our representatives to fight hard for a fair America. The real issue for journalists like you should be “is is true?”, not “is it polite?” We think Grayson speaks the truth. Journos serve the public by exposing ‘death panel’ lies and the truth that reform-blocking politicians are paid by the insurance industry. Do your job and let Grayson do his!

I don’t believe the GOP is due an apology after a Summer of spreading the death panel lies.
Grayson is merely pointing out an essential truth: that the Republicans have no plan, and oppose the President only because they think it will fatally weaken him.
Nothing gets the DC establishment exercised as someone telling the truth.

Ahh… a Democrat with a spine!

You seem biased on this issue. When Republicans have said worse things (including lying), you just chalked it up to ‘passions running high’. See this page for a summary of your double standards: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/30/george-steph-wrings-his-hands/

You are way off base on this, George. Just look at all the Republicans who have said the Democrats want to kill people with their health care plan. Remember death panels? Grayson is just telling the truth. And he is not insulting the President during a formal speech. He had the floor during a Congressional session – big difference. I usually respect your opinion but I really disagree with you here.

The republicans support Rush L. and Glenn Beck calling President Obama a nazi and also support pictures of our president with a Hitler mustache. They support this despicable behavior. They deserve NO apology from anyone for anything! They are neanderthals who support the lobbyists not the American people.

What an immature moron. How did this guy reach a position of any kind of leadership. This is not speech representative of someone who governs in a sensible way. This accomplished nothing positive and apologies are becoming ineffective in these constant cases of ignorance of our elected officials.