Steele Says He’s Tired of Congress ‘Flipping a Bird to the American People’
EmailABC News'Teddy Davis reports: Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele says he is tired of Congress "flipping a bird to the American people." His comments, which were made to reporters on Monday, were triggered by Senate Democrats advancing health-care legislation on a strictly party-line vote. "This is a bad bill. It's bad law. It's bad for America. It is bad, certainly, for individuals. Enough is enough," said Steele. "I'm tired of the Congress thumbing their nose and flipping a bird to the American people. "I'm tired of this Congress thinking it knows better than me and my family how to provide for our health-care now and in the future." Steele's "flipping a bird" comment has caused a little bit of a stir among senators on both sides of the aisle. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., apparently took umbrage at the remark, and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., told the Fox News Channel on Monday afternoon that Steele's comments “certainly could have been stated in a much better fashion.” Steele made his remarks on a conference call with reporters. He was joined on the call by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas. For more coverage of the call, click HERE. ABC News' David Chalian contributed to this report.
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Obama likely knows that the Constitution does not mandate Americans be forced into a contractual agreement with a private party for health insurance as he was “a senior lecturer but not a constitutional professor so one assumes he at least has some knowledge of the principles of the Constitution.
“Nowhere in the Constitution is Congress given the power to mandate that an individual enter into a contract with a private party or purchase a good or service,” and No decision or present doctrine of the Supreme Court justifies such a claim of power.
Is it possible Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and this new gang of sixty Senators, have not read Article I of the Constitution? It states that the government’s rights are limited. Article 1, Section 8 reads, “The Congress shall have Power … To regulate Commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes.” It does not say a word about health care. The federal government only has the power to regulate trade between itself, foreign governments, and the states. NOTHING MORE.
History will record this gang of sixty Senators as the treasonous bunch of politicians who themselves succumbed to accepting 30 silver pieces and blindly following the orders of paid political special interest groups, unions and lobbyists, indirect opposition to the voters and in violation of the constitution they all have sworn to uphold, but apparently have not read.
Final passage of this structural reform health care bill will be yet another violation of the Constitution but it will be the most egregious one to date and a further circumcising and castration of the Constitution of the United States of America. God help us all.
PS. The USA Federal government was already bankrupt before this draconian piece of legislation was introduced and if passed will make a bad situation even worse!
Posted by: peterclarke | December 21, 2009, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm
I don’t think that the Dems are flipping us the bird ….. neither party gives a da mn about us to flip us off.
Posted by: Robert | December 21, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
That is exactly what they are doing! Just like they will do the when you need cancer treatment. Don’t believe it- read up America. No country operating government health care ever has enough funds so care gets rationed. Babyboomers- the possibility of seeing “Cash for Codgers” is more real than you think.
Posted by: smac761 | December 21, 2009, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
Most states like Pennsylvania will see state taxes go up because of the unfunded Medicaid expansion and they’ll also see premiums increase as much as 300% for some individuals. This legislation rewards people for living unhealthy by charging healthy people up to 300% more for their coverage. Only liberals will think you should reward wrongdoers by punishing those who do the right thing. 1 out of every 3 Americans in OBESE. Not just fat or overweight but obese. We as a country spend $90 billion a year to treat cancer but over $140 billion to treat obesity related diseases. Obesity is a very fixable problem but liberals rather punish the healthy who eat well and exercise. Only in America where we elect a guy who never ran anything as is over matched in just his first year. Good thing he has all those people who never worked in the private sector in as his advisors.
Posted by: WishThisWasABadDream | December 21, 2009, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
Better get use to it as this is the Chicago way.
Isn’t Chicago about bankrupt as well?
Posted by: david | December 21, 2009, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
RNC Chairman Michael Steele has great health insurance so why should he give a hoot about the more than forty million Americans with zero health insurance. It’s the Republicans that are flipping the bird at the uninsured Americans. They are the ones that are for the status quo. It is pretty apparent that if they cant do anything to make President Obama fail, they are certainly not going to do anything to help him succeed even if it means hurting American citizens that are uninsured. Americans should remember when the elections roll around that we have a Republican party that are willing to use politics to destroy American citizens if it also means hurting President Obama politically.
Posted by: johnnylee | December 21, 2009, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
Another incisive and constructive narrative from the official head of the Republican party. Of course, Steele can always blame that paragon of intellectual honesty and integrity, D. Armey. Why was he on the phone conference, again?
Posted by: B. Bear | December 21, 2009, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
He only needs to look at the size of his own party to find out who the Americans people have flipped the bird at. I’ll be there to support the democrats coming 2010. I will be a little more selective. The republicrats need to go to. It’s time this country goes single payer. We all pay more than enough in taxes to cover it. If you work in the health care insurance market you might want to start looking for a real job. The phony baloney market needs to die.
Posted by: rightbehind | December 21, 2009, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm
This is the most corrupt congress in history. Some states making deals that will cost other states in tax dollars. The bill is nothing but huge pork laden, difficult to understand piece of legislation. $100 MILLION to Louisiana – negotiated for a vote. Nebraska, Vermont and Massachusetts getting federal help with Medicaid that will be paid by those of us in other states to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. This is simply WRONG. This corrupt Congress needs to go. If this is as one Senator put it, “the way things are done in Washington” then I can’t wait until 2010 and 2012 so we can get rid of them ALL. Why didn’t they look at the polls? When 60+% of the people do NOT WANT THIS HEALTH BILL – why the urgency to push one through? What are these crooks in Washington REALLY doing to America?
Posted by: sickofit | December 21, 2009, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
I hope by congress, Steele lumps in the republicans too. Most of us realize that the US is in serious decline because of our wonderful lawmakers.
Posted by: Huh | December 21, 2009, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
the dems are flipping us the bird? what about the republicans, all of whom are doing everything in their power to prevent the passage of a bill that the majority of americans support (or at least they did until the gop started scaring them with tales of ‘death panels’!)
Posted by: justsane | December 21, 2009, 7:59 pm 7:59 pm
justsane-Agreed. Pass it already. If it bankrupts us faster, good. We will stop bombing people sooner.
Posted by: Huh | December 21, 2009, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
Must be the perv wants to them to flash something else. Is there any end to the perversions of the Gop?
Posted by: Bubbabasher | December 21, 2009, 10:25 pm 10:25 pm
Ah, Steele – always good for a laugh :-)
Posted by: NovShmozKaPop | December 21, 2009, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
I’m going to agree with Robert. Neither party gives a d**n about any of us. They’ve got theirs and the less benefits we get the more they get. Welcome to capitalism without rules, laws or restraints; aka the law of the jungle.
Posted by: jan | December 22, 2009, 2:21 am 2:21 am
Here’s an example of what Steele is talking about. At Alcee Hasting’s ticketed (supporters only)townhall event this summer, peaceful protesters (mostly retired) showed up in the parking lot. Mr. Hastings bussed in a local HS band, dressed in OBAMA T-shirts to drown out the “noise”..How’s that for flipping the bird at your constituents? (PS, look him up, he’s a crook too!and I still want to know who paid for the school buses.)
Posted by: cindy | December 22, 2009, 6:42 am 6:42 am
Steele is the same guy that is going around the country making paid right wing speeches. It is to his economic well being to say the things he does. No one can be sure as to what he really believes in. The RNC is welcome to him.
Posted by: Bob Ramos | December 22, 2009, 7:37 am 7:37 am
Steele called it like it is. Corruption abounds in Washington. With control of the Executive branch and both Houses, he Democrats had the ability and the responsibility to do as the President promised during his campaign. He promised his administration would be the most transparent, bipartisan, and accountable administration. Instead, he has stood behind a corrupt Democrat led Senate and House, just to place a “health care reform” feather in his cap. This is sickening.
Real Clear Politics indicates that the American public does not want this type of “reform”.
Poll Date Sample For/Favor Against/Oppose Spread
RCP Average 12/1 – 12/20 – 38.7 50.9 Against/Oppose +12.2
CNN/Opinion Research 12/16 – 12/20 1160 A 42 56 Against/Oppose +14
Rasmussen Reports 12/18 – 12/19 1000 LV 41 55 Against/Oppose +14
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl 12/11 – 12/14 1008 A 32 47 Against/Oppose +15
Associated Press/GfK 12/10 – 12/14 1001 A 36 44 Against/Oppose +8
Gallup 12/11 – 12/13 1025 A 46 48 Against/Oppose +2
ABC News/Wash Post 12/10 – 12/13 1003 A 44 51 Against/Oppose +7
Pew Research 12/9 – 12/13 1504 A 35 48 Against/Oppose +13
FOX News 12/8 – 12/9 900 RV 34 57 Against/Oppose +23
Quinnipiac 12/1 – 12/6 2313 RV 38 52 Against/Oppose +14
Americans do not want this type of health care reform.
Posted by: Rob | December 22, 2009, 7:48 am 7:48 am
Is it constitutional for all the states to pay for the medicare increases of 2 or 3 states? Just to get a few Votes on a Bill?.What happens when all of a sudden there are 10 to 20 states, the rest of us have to pay for medicare increases just to get their vote?
Posted by: stormerF | December 22, 2009, 8:11 am 8:11 am
Thank you Rob
Without a shaddow of a doubt, the majority of this country opposes Obama’s healthcare bill. Pass it and suffer the consequences congress.
Posted by: Krissy | December 22, 2009, 8:12 am 8:12 am
Republicans, and Congress,in general, have been “flipping the bird” to americans for much longer than this one event.
Steele has no place to criticize and should look in the mirror.
I don’t think anyone like this bill in it’s entirety, but there may not be a chance in the future to get one passed as easily as this time around(this was easy?)…even if it’s not exactly what the people really need.
Posted by: Wayne | December 22, 2009, 8:34 am 8:34 am
The Governor of Nebraska should tell Senator Nelson, THANKS BUT NO THANKS. It would be so refreshing for someone to stand up and do the right thing. Maybe the Governor and the people of Nebraska have integrity. I have no respect for any of the politicians that are serving us in Washington (with the exception of Jason Chaffetz). If Obama had taken the last spending bill and took out all of the earmarks, I would have given him my support. People don’t understand that we would all like a health care bill, just not this one. When they start having to pay taxes for four years, they may understand why. . Instead of trashing the Republicans, they should ask themselves why the Democrats will not allow people to buy insurance across lines and why they will not support Tort Reform and why this bill had to be rushed through.
Posted by: Lola939 | December 22, 2009, 8:38 am 8:38 am
Its about time someone said it. They are putting the screws to us so they can control our lives. The federal employees are exempt from this health care program. WHY???
Posted by: Jim Rod | December 22, 2009, 9:33 am 9:33 am
People without insurance its your fault not mine. I’ve worked all of my life and took care of my own health care. I’ve raised three children and paid my own way , not expecting other people to pay for my family. Take the responsibilty of yourselves. Why should all americans have to pay for someone else health care. Why should my taxes be raised just because their are lazy people out there. Why are the DEMS. trying to sneak this bill through because they are all crooks. Starting with OBAMA, look at all crooked dealings going on just to get this bill passed. ALL CROOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jean | December 22, 2009, 9:39 am 9:39 am
Funny for an intelligent person like yourself to use such a phrase, however if anyone flipped the bird it was the republicans to our new president. It was a pact made early and has not changed. We will not support this president on anything and do all to help him fail. What abynch of sore losers and if anyone failed the public it was all of you for not getting on board with health care. We will not forget this.
Posted by: talmag | December 22, 2009, 9:52 am 9:52 am
Steele should realize he is the token black; the Republicans sad attempt to make the African American community think that they represent them. Fortunately, most African Americans look to the history of the Republican’s party interactions with them and have come to the conclusion, with the rest of us, that Republicans represent big business and the wealthy few.
Posted by: DaveM | December 22, 2009, 10:00 am 10:00 am
Sen. Bob Corker seems to lack the intelligence or care for the American people to understand why the remark had to be ‘off color’. The routine nice-bad comments of politicians are expected and are ignored. Guess Sen. Corker wanted Steele to say the democrats made a poor decision and let everything move forward without a whimper. Moron.
Posted by: James L. | December 22, 2009, 10:22 am 10:22 am
Steele is a blithering hypocrite!!! A Partisan Parrot !!!
Posted by: brian | December 22, 2009, 10:36 am 10:36 am
Its so funny to hear the GOP cry about how the Dems are not listening to American after their disaterous eight years of flipping off the country and the world. The status quo was killing Americans, something most anti-reform advocates seem to ignore. If the country is broke, it’s because of the conservative programs and conservative pork of the Bush years….another thing conveniently forgotten. They’re whining because someone with courage is cutting their fat so the country can live.
Posted by: alwriter60 | December 22, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am
Michael Steele ran so many underhanded and misleading commercials when he ran for Senate from Maryland that he knows about “giving the bird” to people.
For example, he was opposed to embryonic stem cell research but knew the public was not. He also knew most people don’t know the difference between “embyonic…” and “(non-embryonic) stem cell research”.
So he had his MS afflicted, wheelchair bound sister do a commercial where she disparages those giving false informatioin about her brother and says in a condescending tone: “Of course Michael is in favor of stem cell research”.
Posted by: The_Mick | December 22, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am
A not so eloquent way of saying the truth. The truth hurts these lunatic democrats.
Posted by: jonny | December 22, 2009, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm
Time to sharpen your pitchforks, patriots
Posted by: jdalabama | December 22, 2009, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
Congress has been flipping us the finger for many years.It is only becoming more apparent due to the health reform issue.It’s time to vote all of these incumbants on both sides out of office.They work for us,the taxpayers.They aren’t doing their jobs so its’ time to fire them all.
Posted by: Donna | December 22, 2009, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm