Americans are coming across to the rest of the world as a bunch of loud mouth incoherent babbling babies. Keep showing these town hall forums they make great comedy entertainment.

Hey Rick, that letter that was sent to the Con. Scott is how some whites feel. This isn't over health-care at all! They were yelling "kill him" at GOP rallies during the election. When whites are yelling "we want our country back" they are upset and afraid that a black president will finally create a level playing field and that their white supremcist control is withering away....

Hey Rick, you show those clips of those angry, unmannered, people all day long, over, and over, and over, portraying these people as if they are the majority of Americans , and spend 10 minutes show a clip of decent people having a open respectable debate, yea really balanced!!!

LA

I am a Canadian and would like to say to the great people of America, I wish that these town hall meetings were utilized to their potential, to ask questions in a rational manner and get answers to help you gain an understanding of these proposed bills. I cannot say enough about our health care system, it the best part of our country and I am proud that I can say healthcare is not a privilege but a right for EVERY citizen in our country. Americans need to start taking care of their neighbors and make sure that everyone is healthy for a successful future.

I am so embarrassed by the wild, uncivil behavior of people that is being aired to the world. It is causing Americans to be portrayed to the world as almost as wild and radical as what we see of other countries. All news medias are not depicting what is normal in their county. Only wild radical behavior is news.

We need to see all sides of what is going on? Please don't tell me that every gathering is behaving like this. I know we are polarized in our feelings over all kinds of issues.. but I pray we have not become so self centered that we can not discuss them and work out a compromise. That is democracy.

Not all Americans are that way Joanne! Every country has nut jobs =)

Thanks for the video Rick.

Rick
I remember seeing footage of the desegregation of Little Rock, of mobs of hostile white people, throwing rocks, cursing, and all around terrorizing a couple of black kids. We are seeing similar seens enmass today. I do believe that a virulent strain of racism undeniably runs through todays debate of healthcare and will run through any mandate the Obama administration puts forward. People screaming they want their country back, conservative commentators telling people the country they grew up in is dying, and the more overt threats and nazi symbols thrown at black congressman. During the campaign, my Aunt hollered in the car one night, "Can you believe we are going to elect a Muslim...a MUSLIM!" I didn't know if I should ask which one was the muslim, or what is wrong with being muslim. I remember a term I leard in Political Science class, Ethnocentrism. It is what Hitler invoked to to stir up nationalism in Germany with a campaign against Jews and more recently Milosevic incited to rally Serbs against take your pick of break away republics. My point is two men history has judged as the worst of mankind, and there are forces in this country using their model to attempt to shape our current debate. They cannot win for they would willingly take away the liberty they so deviously claim is in danger.

Rick,

I want to complement you and Sanjay for being the intelligent and caring individuals that you are – and therefore not condescend to you like you two have done to others on the healthcare debate – besides I started out in my youth as a big-hearted liberal myself. But as an economist, though, I have been studying macroeconomics policies for over 30 years and one thing I can tell you for sure is that in EVERY single major policy or govt program ever passed, there has been the law of unintended consequences. Let me repeat: there are ALWAYS unintended consequences of government policy, especially when it affects such a large number of people. So for you to be SO sure you know what this proposed healthcare change is going to do for Americans down the line is just unbelievable coming out of the mouths of people as educated as you two. I don't like the wording of "death panels" either, however, your condescension that it is a 100% off is even MORE ridiculous. As an economicst, let me remind you, we live on a planet where we have scarce resources that are ALWAYS . For you two liberals to not be sympathetic to the fact that Obama has been shoving expensive programs down America's throat before they can be fully debated – which leads to understandable confusion, misinterpretation, anger, etc. etc. – and you treat that understandable confusion and fear with derision, frankly shows you two to be the biased people that you are.

At 9:28, immediately after your piece with Dr. Gupta on Death Panels, CNN ran a commercial sponsored by 60s Plus Association using supposed quotes from LA Times and others to push what appears to be very misleading or untrue positions. How about drilling down through this commercial & its quotes and reporting on how it holds up against a truth-o-meter. Does CNN have any responsibilty for screening paid advertising for truth or accuracy before airing them?

Rick,

Lets give a good example;

I took care of my Mom with Parkinson's Disease. She made no living will nor health care proxy, only a will. I took it upon myself to take her to an atty. to make out her Health Care Proxy, & I made advance pre-funeral arrangements knowing she was not going to be here on earth very long. In the end, pneumonia set in & she passed on. Mom was given a beautiful memorial & funeral.

I made out my own Living Will, Health Care Proxy & Will long ago. My arrangements are all set when I leave. My children will carry out my wishes.

In this new Health Care Bill, NOTHING HAS CHANGED FOR END OF LIFE PREPARATION, ONLY THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN OPEN DOOR to have the OPTION every 5 yrs. to see if WE would want anything changed for end of life .
In this present Health Care Bill you are given this OPPORTUNITY to choose. WE ARE NOT FORCED TO TAKE THE ADVANTAGE, ITS OUR CHOICE.

I do not know where these people out there are coming from at these TOWN MEETS with their questions....they are absolutely ABSURD, MIS-LEADING, & MIS-INFORMED...it seems they CAN'T READ, BUT ONLY LISTEN TO SCARE TACTICS FROM THE ULTRA RIGHT THAT IS GIVING OUT THE WRONG INFORMATION.

I have seen the e-mails passed out on the webb sites from the activists who are MIS-LEADING THIS WHOLE BILL , ALL TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXTS. & I TAKE EXCEPTION TO THEIR FALSE MIS-REPRESENTATIONS & SCARE TACTICS THAT ARE COMPLETELY INACCURATE.

I'VE HEARD OF DUMB-DOWN....GULLIBLE FOLKS....APPARENTLY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SCHOOLED RIGHT IN THEIR READING ABILITIES, MOREOVER, THE REPUBLICANS ARE FANNING THE FIRE, OR THEY CAN'T READ THEMSELVES TO EXPLAIN THE RIGHT ANSWERS.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THESE FOLKS THAT ARE ATTENDING THE TOWN MEETS ON THE HEALTH CARE BILL ARE SOOOO STUPID AS TO LISTEN TO MISLEADING INFORMATION & INACCURATE INFO BEING FED TO THEM BY THE REPUBLICANS. THESE FOLKS ARE BEING USED AS PAWNS BY THE ULTRA RIGHT.
I'VE SEEN THE ULTRA RIGHT'S E-MAILS.....WHAT IDIOTS!!!

Sorry Rick but you have ben anything but balanced in your political coverage. Now you have this congressman coming to bellyache about the swasticas, well, some people may believe we have nazis in control, and while I do not agree, I know that nazis were socialists.

A quick read through some of the preceding posts on this subject:
*PEOPLE SHOULD NOT ASSUME THEY CAN SPEAK FOR "THE WORLD". AMERICANS ARE JUST TICKED OFF THAT THEIR COUNTRY IS BEING STOLEN BY THE RUNAWAY STATE.
* THIS IS NOT ABOUT RACE AT ALL AND ALL ATTEMPTS BY SOME TO PORTRAY US AS RACISTS ARE ONLY PROOF THAT THEY HAVE NO ARGUMENT. THE ALLEGED "KILL HIM' SHOUTS AT RALLIES DURING THE CAMPAIGN ARE DEMOCRAT PARTY FICTION.
* THE REASON PEOPLE ARE YELLING AT THESE MEETINGS IS THAT WHEN THEY ASK QUESTIONS, THEY HAVE BEEN IGNORED.

It's quite simple: in order for the Republicans to have embraced scare tactics, they first had to come to the conclusion that Americans scare easily, like cattle. They must think that, since they have been using scare tactics for years and years.

That is what they think of us, this is how they see us. So at the town hall meetings they should just ask the public if the Republicans' assumption is right, if Americans are easy to scare.

Say it loud and clear!

Rick,
I think you have mistaken the TV with your sitting room.
could you
1-sit straight
2-roll your sleeves down
and
3-don't get over friendly on camera.

That's right, we're stupid rabid right -wingers, and racists, to boot! This Scott fool, is he the same one that screamed at a doctor at one of the meetings? I'd say there is a better than even chance that he had his own people put the signs up (it's happened before). By contrast, there is actual video of union thugs beating the protesters, of congresspeople ignoring or insulting protesters and of priceless Sheila Lee taking a cellular phone call while A CANCER SURVIVOR was asking a question. There is also video of Obama telling people that he did not favor single payer, and videos of same Obama saying he does. Maybe the Obamabots who are posting here are the ones who are being misled. If so, the media is leading the way.
PS BTW, I'm attempting to read the bill (or at least what they're letting us see, as there are at least three other versions in the works) and so far, every concern of the protesters is true, including the potential death panels.

I just saw mr. Scott's outburst on video. The only honorable (if he knows what that word is) thing to do is resign inmediately

Rick, you keep saying you don't know where all the "misinformation" on national healthcare is coming from. Listen and watch CNN's own commercials paid for by special interest groups....all the misinformation is right there!!!

I lost my job about five months ago, waited five weeks for my unemployment stressing over paying my rent and car payments all the while loosing my health insurance. Yes I recieved a letter from cobra, yes I could keep my insurance but it would cost me $1,300.00 a month . I chose to pay rent instead of health insuance. Now I am still looking for a job daily putting out my resume, The kind of work I do ive been doing for thirty years, when I do get an interview the job pays less than I would make on unemployment and know health insurance or im over qualifed. Im affraid, stressed out and at my whits end. All my life ive worked hard raised my kids, pay my bills. Now I just don't know what to do. So I say to people who have health insurance great ! But I need health insurance too. I want a job, I want to live.

Hey Rick,

So surprised you are covering this stuff so heavily. What happened to "fair balance"???? I was personally at the RNC (republican National Convention) and had to walk through a line of National Guard in full riot gear due to the Moltov Coctails, the breaking of plate glass windows, and riots put on by you liberals. Can you believe this??? How could they do that???? There were felony charges and convictions. Why can't you liberals just be civil? Clearly the Pee-Bo plan is dividing the country. and whatever happened to the great community organizer?? I guess he is the great community divider, eh Rickey?

I truly believe there is such an undercurrent of racism in this country that health care reform has brought a lot of it to the surface. The fact that so many of these people disrupting the town halls are screaming about everything else but health care reform. I am embarrassed to be an American sometimes. I had such high hopes when Obama was elected,finally ,maybe, we have moved beyond race.

As an American I am embarrassed that we live in a country with the most expensive health care and so many people don't have access to it. When people in other countries see and hear the comments that people at town hall meetings are making, they must think we are the most stupid people on earth and its just as well we have shorter life spans than other western countries.

I believe most of the legitimate anger expressed at some town hall meetings about healthcare is because of job and home loss and not health care reform. I view this as misplaced anger. Nothing has changed for a lot of people still out of work with home mortgages in danger or already resulting home losses.

Our president must rethink his approach to convincing the American people to feel better about our health care reform. Drop the town hall meetings and go tostraight t.v. ads spread over the airways like confetti. Pretend you are addressing a third grade class, the first indpendent level in regular schools. List in simple sentences, the first 10 positive things the reform will accomplish. Then, in simple statements, tell us what th plan is not, in 10 simple sentences, as well, listing some of the statements out there, like, death panels.

Too many adults cannot read and, therfore, are lmited in how to handle "big" words. They need a teacher they can trust! What does our president favor? List 5 things, simply.

Summarize: in positive, calming words. I ask our president to be careful abot exposure. Mad gun carriers are out there! That's it. Makahalady

This is very sad
I don't understand why this is happening.
I understand that some people are scared and afraid of change but change is needed! Maybe not for you but look around!!!
Lisa in Wheaton, IL

Is it me or does this remind us of 50s and 60s Civil Rights Movement.

Yes, other countries are looking at us, they have the same access to internet, facebook, twitter, etc., the same as we do. This shows about America is the second racist country in the world Next to Africa. Go to the library and read and learn. Education should not stop at High school diploma. Other countries continue education after high school, it is the law. In South Korea, when a man reaches 18, they join either the ROK Army or join as a KATUSA helping the United States, this is similar to our selective service, we have choices, they do not.

I must say I feel the need to apolize for the rude cazy people who have attacked you .Imust say there is much to be said about health care

Hello Rick I love your show.
After seeing an ad knocking our Canadian health care system I'm compelled to say something. We have a healthcare system in Canada it is not perfect, but we are working with real solutions not misconceptions. Your system is crippled and flawed. It is based on greed. Not what is best for your country and its citizens.
Last year my beautiful daughter started complaining of headaches. As a concerned father I drove to her apt. took one look at her and drove her to emergency.
When my daughter explained the symptoms at admittance. Our healthcare system kicked in. The immediate CAT scan discovered she had a bleeding aneurysm deep in her cerebellum. no one asked how I was going to pay. or if I had insurance. They just took care of business. The next level of our healthcare kicked in My daughter was hospitalized for over a week with more experts than I have ever seen in my life. After MRI's and several CAT scans, Medication and a fantastic team of professionals, she was discharged
Total bill just over $600.00 Canadian. The doctors told me that I am very lucky that my daughter is still alive. Most people wait until its too late and end up arriving in a state of comer when its too late to do anything. I still have my home, and my life but most important I have my beautiful daughter and she has a future. Next year she will be married. I am looking fwd to this. Just think under your system I would be a finical wreck. and my daughter could be dead.
I have watched the lies and miss information streaming across the border and shake my head. We have lost lots of fine doctors form this country loured away by the type of money they can make in the American system. Our system might not be perfect but it works. Every civilized country in the world have some kind of a system to help the poor. Yet I have heard these systems labelled liberal and socialist.
Statements like "give me back my America" and "hands off my Medicare" sums up the type of problems Americans must solve before real progress on healthcare reform will move forward in your country.
Warm Regards Harry

Rick
People are not going to stop questioning Obamas birth, till they change the word hospital to plantation

I am a British woman who has worked in the NHS for almost 40 years. My son is married to a US Citizen and they live in NJ.
I would like to defend the British NHs and to say that , if our son and daughter in law lived in the UK they would get the very best care during their first pregnancy and never once have to worry about insurance or whether they could afford care should they or their baby require special care following delivery.
Our British system is not perfect, but everyone is treated equally , irrespective of whether they have money or not.
there are many untruths being perpetuated by folk in the US who do not fully understand how our system works. I love America and her people, but for a Christian country they appear tohave forgotten one of Christ's most specific commandments, to care for the poor, sick, and disadvantaged.

Lesley Napier

I am listening to a grilling at the press conference on how individuals received emails, from David Axelrod, I forwarded some, as I am sure other responsible Americans did as well. We, the public, are so tired of listening to the lies and mis-information being spewed and forwarded to us that we decided to do the far right a favor and let them know where they could gain the truth. Mr. Gibbs did not know of this at the time of his press conference and I just want him to know what the answer was and he can use it for any future questions on the subject.

I teach third grade. The behavior of the chilren in my classroom would shame the behavior in some of the town hall meetings. There are rules for participating. All who follow the rules are given opportunity and time to speak. Those who shout out are ignored.

As a Canadian, I always considered guests on Jerry Springer to be atypical of the average American. However, based on your current townhall news, "THEY" are your typical average American. The world is watching the collapse of the USA, morally, fiancially and politically.

Here we go again, any pushback to this administration's strangle on the private sector is now "racist". Give me a break, I for one am sick and tired of hearing / seeing more government involvement in the private sector. You want to see how this style of government works? Take a look at cities like Detroit, New Orleans, Atlanta, etc. God help us!

Rick you accused congress woman Sheila Jackson of poor etiquette while responding to a phone call during a convention, without knowing the details; however, you constantly interrupt Mrs. Maxine Johnson every other second instead of letting her address her point!
This is a serious incident, and the media tried to down play the racist white gentleman's actions, as usual, as was the case with Dr. Gates and the racist white police offer. We need to remember that we've had a treachorous past in this country between blacks and white prior to the civil rights movement! We're so concerned with immigration reform and we haven't even resolved the issues that have plagued our nation for nearly 300 years between blacks and whites. Former Sec. of State said it best; "we have an inherent birth defect in this country!" to paraphrase...

That lady need to sue the police department because they acted very stupidly toward her , I have been to Kansas city mo. and was asked to leave a bar , a lady there told me it was because I was black.That was in 1994,why did"nt they drag the man out for violently taking her property.how long will it be before one of these hate groups hurt or kill someone because we have a black president.

Antonie, I FULLY AGREE!

Rick, thanks for getting to the truth.
Our citizens must wakeup.
We need health care reform and
it has to be paid for in some manner.
Those with triple digit incomes must
be taxed at higher rates..
Those of us who have to get by
on minimum wages cannot help
foot the bill.

Rick
Can you show or read the full text of Hilary Clinton's speeh on elections in America. Everybody else played the soundbite about the election in Florida. I only heard her other comments about accepting the results of an election and about the fact that she is now working for the man she once ran against on your show

WOW! THIS IS WILD, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE ALL OF AMERICA IS ACTING THIS WAY. ONE THING IS VERY CLEAR, FOR SOME THIS IS NOT ABOUT HEALTH CARE. THEY MAY START TALKING ABOUT HEALTH CARE, BUT BEFORE THEY'RE FINISHED, IT'S ABOUT OBAMA. HE'S THE REAL PROBLEM FOR SOME, NOT ALL.

Rep Scott's frustration over his meeting being moved off subject lead to his anger. The American people's anger over Congress trying to rush to a Health Care Reform vote before getting input from constituants lead to their anger. Perhaps Rep Scott can now identify at least in a small way with the people he is supposed to be representing.

Rick, what Pitino did was not illegal so comparing it to Michael Vick doesnt make sense. Less commentary, more news.

OK she should have known not to answer the phone, What about when Obama"s press sec. was talking and was interupted by phone calls ,there more important stuff going on lets not blow this up like someone was wrongly put out of a townhall meeting . Now that need to be discussed !

If the was an actual event, and not a very pathetic attempt by the congressman Scott to deflect from his own hate-filled rants from the night before, then it is a horrible crime and the person or persons involved should be punished. If, however, this is another "phantom swastika", like Nancy Pilosi's, then its just another sad example of trying to paint anyone who opposes the democrats as racists.
If, this was a true hate crime, then where is the FBI? Why haven't the "stupid cops", as Obama calls them, gotten involved? Hey, I'm just glad, that Mr. Scott didn't try to paint the swastika on himself, like Morton Downey jr did a few years back (ended up reversed, making it clear that he had drawn it on himself in a mirror).
Is there racism still in America? Of course. I'm a Jewish person living in Memphis, and I've seen it amongst blacks and whites, here. Are there minority people who are quick to play the race card, as a way of pushing their own agendas? I don't know. Ask Obama, and the "stupid cops" of Cambridge.

ok she cleared it up ! lets go on WHY WAS THIS WOMAN GRABED SO ROUGHLY AND PUT OUT BECAUSE SOMEONE TOOK HER STUFF. RICK LET IT GO SHE CLEARED IT UP.

I wish the photographer would come forward with the picture that she took of the poster that the lady had @ the town hall meeting. This way the gentleman that tore it won't be able to lie about what the poster contained. This man was really playing with his life, tearing someone's personal property. HE WAS NOT AN OFFICIAL TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS!!!! She should never have been thrown out, but he should have.

I think the congresswoman explained her phone call very well. If she was indeed getting an interpretation of a health care issue, I see no problem. If she was ordering lunch, that would be rude.

Rick, I think the problem with these town hall meetings is that people are simply confused. Congress and/or the president should come up with a solid debatable plan and then have town hall meetings. The fact is the gov't has in place welfare,medicare, and the debacle at the Veterans Administration. People are fed up with the situation,lay offs, large corporations outsourcing work, we can't afford to get sick let alone buy prescriptions. All the while the big wigs are getting million dollar bonuses and " we the people" are losing our homes.

I have never seen a clearer case of disrespect for you the woman she disrespected and everyone that elected the Black woman to office !!!!!!!!! Talk about arrogant !!!!!!!!!! It seems that she was possibly a racist ? Myself as well as many others I speek with have had about enough of these blacks feeling that thhey are owed something by the whites.

Your interview with Sheila Jackson Lee was brilliant! She tried everything in her power to avoid your questions about her cell phone use during the town hall meeting. Her continuous attempt to talk over you and avoid your question was indicative her sheer arrogance and disrespect towards her constituents and the American people. This demonstrated arrogance is why the American people are utterly fed up with Congress.

Bill,
Clarksville, TN

Rick, Don't try to make an issue out of nothing. Rep. Jackson-Lee was trying to do something right and you were trying to slip her up. Thank God she stuck to the ISSUE of Health Care Reform and didn't buy into your one-minute controversy of her being on the phone. It wasn't rude but misunderstood.

@ricksanchezcnn Sheila Jackson Lee is one of the hardest working U S representatives in the House! Give her a break! Its called multi-tasking!

Rick,

If you had listened to Congresswoman Jackson Lees's explanation, as oppossed to trying to portray her as an a hot-head, you would have heard her state, (admittedly, not clearly,) that she had placed the call in effort to provide an accurate answer; she did not answer a call in the middle of a question.

I'm actually at work now so I can't say much but I appreciate CNN's and other Media outlets for giving us a public forum to voice our opinions. My input today is to state a fact that I see all around me here in central Indiana. My friends, neighbors and fellow employees are all very concerned about "Government Spending" this has no political face, no color and no bias for any party or individual. The government is out of control with it's past, current and future proposed increases in spending. It is simply insane to think we can continue down a path that is not sustainable. Our wages could be taxed at 100% and still not cover the proposed spending plus interest on debt. You can't spend your way out of insolvency.

Don't harass Shelia. She's just trying to do her job and , like she said, get answers. She obviously has some connection with her constituents so leave her alone and let her do her job. Thanks!

Rick,
It seems to me that Congresswoman Jackson explained herself clearly about her being on the phone! Why the concern? She said she was on it to get an answer to a question the woman had asked her, pure and simple! let it be...
Like your show...

R/
Lance Lindgren
South Dakota

Rick,

I've watched the nonsense on cable news long enough. For Pete's sake please stop it! Today you wasted my time and Sheilah Jackson Lee's time with completely superfluous fodder about her being on the telephone at a town hall meeting. This has become agonizing to the point where I am now completely annoyed. Talk about health care insurance reform with some veracity. I mean what's actually in the legislation that's going through the Congress, and not the outright lies that are coming from the ever growing lunatic fringe of the right wing. I don't want to hear about "death panels" that are not now and never have been in any bill. Please inform the public and stop this lunacy. I don't want to see people shouting down members of Congress anymore. For God's sake be the journalist I know you to be and ask your colleagues to do the same.

Rick Sanchez's Aug 13 interview with Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a sad example of a wannabe journalist trying to score a gotcha moment.

It's pathetic to see CNN news readers act like they are covering the healthcare reform in any depth. I rarely watch CNN anymore and witness Mr. Sanchez's condesending attitude as Ms. Lee explained that she was using her cell phone to verify information before responding to her constituent's question.

Considering the effect of rising cost of private healthcare, the dirty tricks that being used by the insurance industry and their lobbyist, what's Rick grill the congresswoman on such a trivial issue was infuriating.

Why not ask about substance not trivial issues. People have lost homes because their insurance companies have left them with hundreds of thousands of dolalrs in debt folowing catastrophic illness leading them to bankruptcy...but Rick just wanted to score points, not help his viewers understand this complex issue. I will no longer watch CNN at this time of the day and will be contacting your sponsors to let them know that I do not appreciate them helping to fund this sort of "reporting". Watching Rick's evident scorn was disrespectful to the Congresswoman and to the viewers like me.
You can count me out as a viewer.

IT IS VERY SAD THAT SOMEONE HAS THAT MUCH HATE ,IF IT WAS THE OTHER WAY AROUND GUYS LIKE RUSH AND GLENN WOULD BE TELL THEIR STUPID LISTENERS TO GO OUT AND KILL BLACKS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. THESE HATE GROUP NEED TO BE BROKE UP . IF THE BLACK PANTHERS COULD NOT FUNTION WHY SHOULD THEY , VERY SAD THAT THESE HATEFULL PEOPLE CAN;T TAKE A BLACK MAN BEING PRESIDENT ! !

Follow-up after reading some posts... I didn't see your interview with the Congresswoman Jackson, but I did see the clip on the news last night. The people at the town hall meeting were all commenting on how rude it was for her to be on the phone so any excuses she may have don't really matter. What counts is peoples perceptions at the meeting and it sounded very negative in the clips I saw. Shame on her. Just like so many others in our Government today. They are all "SELF SERVING" and deserve to be voted out of office.

Rick, imagine your talking on a cell phone and someone videotaping you and then claiming you were rude and ignoring them. You were browbeating the Congresswoman and demonstrated a total lack of respect. You may fancy yourself a prosecutor in the way you order your guests to answer your questions–but prosecutor you're not–persecutor is more accurate. Also,you are the weakest link on the entire CNN lineup. Maybe they'll take you back in Miami where you seem to have been recognized for your shallow reporting and insights.

Congresswoman Lee, stated she was calling to get an answer
of correct material for the lady waiting.
She said they have a hot line to phone in a question if necessary to get correct information.
YOU IGNORED THIS INFORMATION AND OWE HER AN APOLOGY.
I HAVE NOTICED YOU OFTEN RESPOND BEFORE REALLY LISTENING AND MAKING STATEMENTS FROM YOUR PERSONAL INTERPRETATION

Rick, you were very rude to the Congresswoman. You claim to have taught your children something you obviously don't possess, manners. You decided what her answer should be before she even arrived and when she refused to allow you to speak for her; you all but called her a lie. Gentle man you are not!! She does an excellent job of speaking for herself, you are not her publist

Rick,
I was very shocked to see your behavior with Shiela Jackson, you made her look like she committed the "unpardonable sin". It is extremely disgusting watching the town hall meetings with people who are clearly rude, and disrespectful. Please do not forget them.
What about the women who was dragged out of the meeting because another man took her rolled up sign, that was disrepectful, I did not see you harp on this behavior. What about the sign that said "Nigger Obama" why are you so upset with Sheila Jackson. Look at yourself and see how you made this more news than it needed to be.
The people who are making disruptions at town hall meetings are clearly having a "Racial Breakdown" it is not so much about healthcare it is about "Obama".

I suppose that, since I criticized Mr. Sanchez in my comment, the moderator has decided not to post it. Perhaps this site should give a warning not to write anything which would offend the Host.

Hey Antoine...Wake up....We've been bending over backwards in this country for 40 years to give ethnic minorities an equal opportunity, and a "level playing field"...The days of the Old White Racists are long gone...They've been replaced by Young Black Racists now and encouraged by professional racists like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Jeremiah Wright and others of their ilk who make their livings from racism..Or should I say "perceived racism"?...I'm a 60 year old white guy who is sick and tired of listening to negros whine about being treated unfairly, and illegal immigrants from Mexico demanding stuff..healthcare, education for their kids, a say in how we "protect" our borders, and whatever else happens to have them upset that week.....They've ALL been getting special treatment for long enough. Time for the minority folks to stand up and be "equal" and recognize the sacrifices made on their behalf by the citizens of the United States for over 40 years..And yeah, The WHITE citizens....No more free rides subsidized by the tax dollars of the mean old fat cat, middle class white racists. No more bussing, no more affirmative action, no more allowances for racist organizations like the NAACP, United Negro College Fund, Black Chambers of Commerce, Black Fraternities and Sororities, and the list goes on. You're right Antoine...We DO need a level playing once and for all....I'm a white man and I want some free stuff and special treatment too for a change. I want my grandchildren to get preferential treatment for college admissions, and financial aid too....You think that will ever happen? NO it won't...because they're white. Yes, you are right Antoine...We DO need a level playing field...No more pandering to minorities.

I was so upset at your interview with the woman holding a town hall meeting who was on the phone. I wish that you would listen to the answers from your guest before telling them that they are being disrespectful to you. She answered your question by saying that she was on with the Hotline that had been set up to make sure that she was giving the proper answer. She said that at least twice. You should watch your own interviews and maybe you'll report the right answers. You act all pious but I remember you from Miami and the Joe Robby stadium incident. Do you teach your children not to drive after drinking and hitting someone and killing them. Then you drove home supposedly to get your drivers licence. Get off your high horse and listen. It's not you we want to hear.

Rick,

You should have asked Sheila what question she had for the hotline, and what was their answer. She was not telling the truth.

Hi Rick, You know what:Iwish the many Americans who complain about this and that to you on a daily basis would pack up their belongings and leave this country. No one is perfect,we live in a world of imperfections.Ourslave Fathers realized the imperfection of Man and worked around his shortcomings to survive.We need to keep an eye on people coming into America insiting that we change our laws and constitution just for them,when they come from countries that give them no rights!!! I feel that the emigration laws need to be changed. Too many foreigners are entering into America with too many demands!

I agree with Ishma. The man who got out of his seat , crossed the aisle, and grabbed the poster should have been thrown out. He was causing a disturbance. She wasn't waving the poster, it was flat on the seat and opened because the reporter asked to see it. I don't know what the "phantom swastika" comment was supposed to mean. People have been showing up at the town hall meetings with swastika signs and pictures of Obama as Hitler.

Rick,
I have watched your show a few times, and I can see why CNN’s ratings are going down.
Most of us are tired of having our earnings taken away so that the “well fare” of others can be taken care of, or the government can bail out failing businesses. Like most Americans, I am more concerned about the well fare of my own family (kids, parents, friends) than of others. If we all took care of our own, then we would not be a burden on anyone else and we would not need all these hand outs from the government. I am tired of paying for others that are irresponsible in their own lives. People who choose to have a ton of kids they cant’ afford, and then stretch out their hands to take my hard earned money. Money that I earn at the expense of seeing my own kids. As for the angry people showing up at these town hall meetings, these are the ones footing the bill. The working class. The looters and the moochers don’t show up at these meetings they are at home, hoping Obamacare will pass and they will live on the backs of others. By the way, I am not only an emigrant (legal one who pays taxes) but also an independent not a right wing nut job, and I am getting tired of all this racist stuff being thrown around when people disagree with Obama. It’s not about race, it’s about his policies which are leveling the playing field dragging us all down to the lowest denominator and where I come from that is Communism.

I just called Congresswoman Lee because of Rick Sanchez's report. He didn't listen to her. She said she called a hot-line so she could answer a question, either that one or one before. He acted like she said nothing. I have not called it yet to see if it was only a talking points line, or staffers with copies of the bill, or doctors and insurance experts to give opinions on healthcare and finance. You should do that and get copies of her phone records to see if that was the call that she made then. Her staffer said the number was 202-226-6582. Then judge if the call was appropriate, not until then.

Personally, I don't believe in the proposed healthcare plan. There is too much need for second opinions, extra tests (often botched the first time) that are NOT unnecessary, and there ALWAYS is a panel, whether you call it a death panel or not. A single doctor can refuse to give you a treatment due to his philosophy or experience, even when you are requesting something cheaper or less invasive. It's not his money. He doesn't care, but he will still refuse things out of pride sometimes. HMO's can often refuse to pay. We don't need bureaucrats to add their monetary and political interests to the mix. And we do need other doctors, hospitals, and labs to go to even if we must find ways to pay for it ourselves if the insurance refuses. And this plan can put them out of business. We must have them available immediately since diseases can progress quickly. We don't have the time, energy, money, or mental ability when we are sick, to wait for government bureaucrats, appeals processes, etc., no matter if euthanasia is their philosophy or not. These decisions affect limbs, senses, and many more things than death. It has been a long standing "joke" that Social Security disability benefits take so long to get because they are stalling you hoping you will die. And that's just for monthly benefits, NOT actual medical procedures.
Please think about these things, too.

Flhunter,

As a native, caucasian-Floridian that has recently earned a graduate degree from a Florida University, allow me enlighten you: you are the racist! I do not know who you "talk to," but you are doing yourself, your family, your community and OUR country a disservice when you limit your associations to other like-minded racist! It's obviouse that backward, ignorant white men, like yourself, are pissed by fact that your hard work no longer posses value, however you are misdirecting this anger at minorities when you should be directing it at the deregulation and tax breaks of the last 30 years! They are responsible for the current state of the economy, inflation and everyting else wrong with our country, not the fact that minorities occassionally have an opportunity to compete!

Congresswoman Jackson Lee is one of the hardest workers in D.C., to imply that she wants something for nothing is an insult. Nobody is suggesting that we provide free health care, the idea is to proved an affordable option!

Apparently, neither Rick, nor yourself listened to the Congresswoman- as she attempted to state 3x: she placed a call so that she could provide an accurate question that had been asked.

Rick Sanchez shows his bias in this piece with the congressman from Georgia by entering race in the issue. Race has nothing to do with any of this healthcare bill issue. Why didn't you show both sides of this issue at the town meeting by contacting Dr. Brian Hill and have him give his side of what happened. I saw an interview with him where he had contacted the congressman a number of time to speak with him and received no response. He is a constituent of the congressman's and had waited til everyone else had spoken in the hall. If you want to make it racial then was he treated thusly because he was white?
Of couse, what can you expect from CNN as they are in the white house pocket as are most of the media. I watch you to see what the enemy of this country is trying to tell the citizens, thankfully most of use don't believe you !!!

There is NO Proof any protestor sent threats to congressman Scott. For all I know he made this up himself to get attention or a SEIU member! How can he complain that the Republicans are out of control???? It was the SEIU union members who beat up the poor out of work black man and call him the "N" word several times and who got arrested!!! It was an Obama supporter who broke the rules and caused the disrupted at the Jefferson County Town Hall, because like all Democrats, she felt she didn't have to follow the rules – You complain about Republicans???? It was the democrats protesting the Iraq war who had HUNDREDS of signs calling Bush Hitler in as many ways possible!!! Why is war not bad now?? Why is it ok to be killing more civilians than ever before in Afghanistan??? Where are the LIBERAL protesters!!! You complain about ONE Republican characterizing Obama as "The Joker"???? It was Time Magazine or Newsweek, who try to pass themselves off as "NEWS MEDIA" that had Bush made up like the JOKER ON THEIR COVER!!!! Which is worse???? It was Democrats who had an effigy of Palin Haning from their house during the campaign! Americans are MAD – Republicans, Democrats & Independents!!!! For you all to rant like a maniac – saying stupid, hypocritical comments – MAKES ALL DEMOCRATS look bad!!!

Rick,

I normal don't mind your broadcasting TOO much but I think you were being a real JERK with Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee. Are you reporting news or are on a witch hunt? So what if you think she was being rude... say that and get off it !!!!

It looked like you were badgering Congresswoman Jackson Lee. Who the heck are you to demand an apology for something based on a u-tube video? Must be ratings week.

Rick:

I was listening to your interview with a congresswoman this afternoon (8/13) and you apparently have a hearing problem, because she tried explaining that she was not being rude by picking up a phone while chatting with a constituent, but rather, she was using the phone to obtain an answer that the woman was seeking. She said that at least twice to you, but, you kept trying to elicit an apology where no apology was due. And you kept on and on. You need to listen to the people you interview and stop trying to press a point unnecesarily. I finally, changed the channel to HLN.

I agree with Carolyn. As a white American I am simply embarrassed.
However, I blame the media for their distortions and depictions of these events. Not ALL of us who disagree with the healthcare proposals are VIOLENTLY ANGRY, sending incendiary emails to or assaulting other Americans. In fact, I believe the majority of us are civil. However, civility is not newsworthy.

We're supposed to be world leaders; however, if the dialogue from my recent trip to the far east is any indication, we're frankly giving credence to the assumption we're a nation of undereducated over gluttonous buffoons.

Mark from Boston MA

Hi Rick I'm proud of you standing up to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee!!!
It doesn't matter who you are or what you doing...One should never be disrespectful and talk on the phone when a person is taking to you!!!! She knows that!!! Its called manners 101!

Amen Harry from Canada!

I'm a US citizen, and I came down with pnuemonia while in British Columbia a few years ago....I was running a pretty high fever, and walked into a hospital to see a Dr...Filled out the neccessary paperwork (a form that amounted to a 4X6 size index card).. I was called back to the Dr.'s office before I even had time to find a magazine to read in the waiting room, and I actually saw the Doc in his office where he talked to me, examined me, gave me an antibiotic injection, and wrote me a prescription for oral antibiotics which was filled for me right there in house at the hospital pharmacy...My total bill for the office visit and antibiotics was $35 USD (it would have been free were I a Canadian citizen), and total time spent was 45 minutes from the time I walked in the door untill I walked back out the door. ...If I came down with pnuemonia here in the USA I'd have filled out reams of forms, waited for hours, and been socked with a bill for a couple hundred dollars when it was all done...Then I'd have made a trip to a pharmacy and stood around there for awhile while they filled my RX... and socked me for another $100 or so..I don't pretend to be an expert on healthcare, but my experience with Canadas' system was very positive...Even for a non-citizen....I was and still am thoroughly impressed with Canadian healthcare. We should be so lucky here in the US...
You're right..As long as private health insurers are involved in our process here, greed is going to drive the quality of care. The bottom line is the bottom line, and it's what they're all about...They are profit driven entities...It's in their personal best interests, and the best interests of their shareholders (the owners) to take in as much as possible in premium dollars, and pay out as little as possible for claims.

I like Canada...I'd move there if it weren't so cold in the winters!

Rick,
I have wondered for years how it is that people these days take less and less responsibility for their own actions. Congresswoman Jackson answered a call while the woman was asking a question, she did not make a call as she claims. I now think it is very clear that if our government leaders do not have to answer for their actions (or refuse to in this case), why should the general public.

Thanks for at least trying to make her accountable!

Obama has and continues to undermine everything that AMERICA stands for, democracy, freedom of speech, and freedom of choice. He can and should take responsibility for the militia, the racial unrest, and the protesting voices. Each and every citizen should find out what their representatives in the senate, the congress, and representatives in general did to preserve the RIGHTS OF AMERICANS. If these people did not act in our best interests, they SHOULD BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE at the next election(s). CNN SPONSORS should be BOYCOTTED. CNN is BIAS in FAVOR OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. Their reporting is ONE-SIDED. CNN chooses what it will and will not broadcast and/or cover. If anyone is paying attention, CNN mostly reports on the plight of the blacks, hispanics, latinos, and illegal aliens. They run segments that only deal with these groups. Has anyone seen anything on CNN that favorably reflects WHITE AMERICANS? I have not! CNN reported UNFAVORABLY ABOUT PALIN'S DAUGHTER, but CHOOSE TO REPORT THAT THEY DID NOT THINK IT WAS "RIGHT" THAT THE ADs ALLUDING TO OBAMA'S DAUGHTERS WERE SUITABLE. IS THIS ONE-SIDED, I THINK SO! Why is this racial unrest being blamed solely on WHITE AMERICANS? If CNN would read its OWN BLOGS, THEY WILL CLEARLY SEE THAT RACE IS BROUGHT INTO THIS BY BLACKS, HISPANICS, and LATINOS AS WELL. Frankly, I think WHITE AMERICANS are THROUGH WITH TAKING THE BLAME FOR THIS! OBAMA AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ARE TO BLAME AND CNN IS TO BLAME. CNN continues to have people on who talk about healthcare, BUT THERE ARE NEVER ANY ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. The people brought on to CNN to answer questions HAVE NO ANSWERS. None of them have said THIS IS WHAT IS PROPOSED. THEY SIMPLY SAY, "NO THAT IS NOT IN THERE." IT APPEARS THAT SOME AMERICANS ONLY SEE AND HEAR THAT "THIS IS FREE," and OBVIOUSLY ANYTHING THAT IS "FREE" IS APPEALING. I PERSONALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANYTHING IS "FREE" AND QUESTION THE VALIDITY OF THIS STATEMENT. TO USE THE TERM "FREE" BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS A LIE. THIS HEALTHCARE PROPOSAL IS NOT "FREE." IF IT WERE, THEN AFTER IT IS IMPLEMENTED, THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER WOULD NOT BE PAYING FOR IT. THE AMERICANS WHO WORK WILL CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THE ONES WHO DO NOT and FOR THE ILLEGAL ALIENS. SO WHEN OBAMA SAYS "CHANGE," WHAT HAS CHANGED? THOSE WHO WORK HAVE ALWAYS PAID FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT. WHAT I WANT IS TRUTH AND NEITHER CNN OR OBAMA HAVE PROVIDED THIS. THIS ADMINISTRATION, SENATE, CONGRESS, and CNN ARE A DISGRACE, ALL OF THEM.

I BELIEVE THE SWASTIKA IS A FORM OF EXPLAINING HOW SOME AMERICANS SEE THIS ADMINISTRATION. IT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LITERALLY, BUT RATHER FIGURATIVELY. CNN SHOULD BE ASKING THE QUESTION, 'DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS IS A WAY TO GET THIS ADMINISTRATION'S ATTENTION,' NOT FUELING THE FIRE THAT THEY (CNN) CREATED. CNN NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY HERE. CNN CONSTANTLY ADDS FUEL TO EVERY FIRE. THEN THEY PROUDLY ANNOUNCE THAT THEY ARE AMERICANS NUMBER ONE NEWS CHANNEL. WHAT A WAY TO GET RATINGS. MY WISH IS THAT CNN LOSES ALL OF THEIR VIEWERS WHEN THIS MESS GOES AWAY. CNN DOES NOT DESERVE THE SUPPORT OF TRUE AMERICANS, WHETHER THEY BE WHITE, BLACK, HISPANIC, OR LATINO. CNN IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE UNREST AND FOR WHAT...RATINGS? QUESTION: IS CNN A SWASTIKA-RUN STATION? CARE TO COMMENT, SANCHEZ?

Mary why dont you just go watch glenn crazy scared beck !!!!

I would be ashamed to have Sheila Jackson-Lee as my representative, she sounds like she has a third grade education not to mention lack of common sense. The woman is clearly lying, and let's face it, if she read the bill, and did her homework why is she calling a hotline to get the answers??? This woman does not deserve to represent anyone.
I did not see any of the other senators/representatives doing this. She was giving shout outs to her peeps! Come on people!

I too, notice how reporters do not wait for their questions to be answered. They do not hear the answer they want to hear so they keep pounding whoever has the misfortune to be seated at the moment. Disgraceful, to Congresswomen Lee. She stated twice that her blackberry was being used to retrieve a fact for a constituent. Her time was so limited at the meeting and she was attempting to be thorough with facts. While she was monitoring the blackberry for, facts to a previous question, she was listening to the individual that was speaking at the time. She can multitask and in today's world we should expect to see our leaders as they multitask and not cut them down for doing a great job!

Christine,
Kent, OH

Mary- Would you care to enlighten the rest of us on how Obama is undermining everything America stands for ? What has he done to take away democracy, freedom of speech, and freedom of choice ? I need to know soon so that I can make some swastikas and rush to a town hall meeting.

TO YOU MARY...

I received a cartoon caricature of our President. Dressed as an African Medicine Man. Sent to me by a right wing nut..not by CNN.
Rick how can I send this to you with the graphic intact? I want you to see this disgraceful, hate email.

They are all around us and disgracing our nation. Same as you have done by the comment you posted.

All you nuts...sit down...shut up... AND LISTEN...no one wants to hear you...they want to hear sane individuals ask intelligent questions.

We now their choice and we do not care to hear them anymore. We have a right to our choice and that is what this debate is all about.

Do not choose for us we are adults and where smart enough to elect..BARAK OBAMA.

Side Bar and in short order! If those unAmerican Hitler Loving racist rednecks think that Black people are going to be intimidated and retreat or be subjugated, again, then I tell them to get off that moonshine. I bet most of the uninsured, for whom this healthcare bill takes into consideration, are mostly white folks. If the "Red Necks" or so called "militia", who are also republicans, hate and despise the President because he's half Black then can you imagine the hate they have for Steele (Token full breed Black Republican). Even more serious, what is an intelligent Black man like Steele doing helping them to promote their bigot cause? Steele may have an honorable intention to help change the republican party but unless he starts speaking up against these types of bigotry then one day he himself will be the victims of their petty bias, and the party remains the same- A fast dying group that America has outgrown. Right now Steele is looking like that Chapelle Character who's a Black Blind KKK member who epitomises their hatred for Black folks and who's unaware that he's Black- funny but sad irony.

Mary, stop the madness. It is the first we have a Black President but not the first we've seen them use the "SWASTIKA" to try and intimidate, frighten, scare, bring about fear, and send signals that they (racist rednecks) are around. The "whiggers" who formed the Republican party were supposedly abolishionists- what happened? The Republican party is the party of Lincoln- what happened? The republican party is filled with bigots and hate mongers, and people who would do anything to destroy this here democracy if it doesn't allow them to abuse the minority. They roll under the matra of conservatism but it is clear that they are far beyond being conservative-they are outright racist, and don't mind the government spending a fortune on war but are ready to rebel against a bill that would give access to other Human Beings (mostly white folks) who are unable to afford such necessities. They say they are the sleeping giant but i beg to differ- Obama would never be President if they were. The sleeping Giant supported obama and that's why he's Prez, they are a diminishing force as America is out growing these types of petty biases (prejudice and racism).

FL HUNTER YOU OWE BLACK PEOPLE A LOT. THANK GOD YOU DIDN'T WRILE THEM UP HARD ENOUGH FOR THEM TO JUST TAKE WHAT YOU OWE.

WHY ALLOW PEOPLE LIKE FL AND MARY TO POST BUT MY POST ARE NEVER ALLOWED? WHY, cnn?

HARRY, i'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR TESTIMONY. THEY CRY NO TO "SOCIALISM" BUT QUICK TO EMBRACE, WHAT i CALL, "HITLERISM"- WHITE SUPREMACY. WHY NOT SHOW A SUPERIOR HEART INSTEAD OF A SUPERIOR MIGHT. THE CONGRESS LADY EXPLAINED TO RICK THAT SHE WAS ON THE PHONE GETTING INFORMATION TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS, WHY NOT JUST BELIEVE HER OR DO YOU THINK BECAUSE SHE IS BLACK SHE CANNOT BE TRUSTED AND THERFORE TELLING A LIE? AND, WHY DIMINISH THE HEALTH CARE REFORM DEBATE WITH PETTY ISSUES SUCH AS SHE BEING RUDE BECAUSE SHE IS ON THE PHONE WHILE A QUESTION IS THROWN AT HER, RICK. wHY NOT USE THE VALUABLE TIME ON CNN TO EXPOSE MORE ABOUT THE REFORM, RICK? AS FAR AS I SEE IT YOU WAISTED VALUABLE TIME WITH A VALUABLE PERSON WHO COULD HAVE GIVEN MORE/BETTER INCITE TO THE CURRENT ISSUE. START REACHING FOR THE MEAT AND POTATOES (HEART OF THE STORY) RICK AND LEAVE THE FRINGE ALONE.

Shame on any American who dares to deface property or person with a Nazi symbol; to those who would do so, have you forgotten the sacrifices of your own men in WWII? There is little understanding in America at large as to what modern 'socialistic' ideals really are.....i think your Congress would be serving the American public well to pass a law that forces all Americans to have an indepth lesson on the true nature of political ideology, so they can stop making themselves appear to be so ignorant to the rest of the civilized world, who understand the difference between political manouevering and machinations, and true tyranny.

WHY DO SOMETHING IF YOU CANNOT STAND BEHIND IT. WHY PUT A HATE SIGN IF YOU WILL NOT OWN UP TO IT? I'LL TELL YOU WHY, THEY WERE BELIEVING THEIR OWN HYPE (REPUBLICANS). tHEY BELIEVED THAT PEOPLE OF GOOD CONSCIENCE WERE BUT A FEW AND AS THEY CAN SEE WITH THE OUTCRY/OUTRAGE THIS IS NOT THE CASE- THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WILL NOT PUT UP WITH BIGOTS.

@Harry from Canada: thank you for your thoughtful explanation of our health care system, and thank goodness your daughter is alright. I am personally infuriated every single time I see an ad or hear a republican pundit spouting off about our so-called 'socialism', and stating that we have terrible results with our system. I have a daughter with dwarfism, and infant twin babies and had the best care I could hope for from panels of doctors both during and after pregnancy. Members of my family have been treated and cured of cancer, and while others eventually died, there was never a private insurance company with their hands on their wallets, making life and death decisions regarding their ultimate care and treatment......those decisions were all made by savvy, super-qualified doctors whose only concern was the welfare of the individual concerned.

As a sidebar, you never see any pundit or negative ad mention the fact that we are also one of the most highly regarded nations in the world for medical research, and development, with dozens of teaching hospitals that are sought out by the best medical students the world has to offer!

@Mary: are you kidding? CNN has constantly showed the conservative and even ultra right wing views hundreds of times during this national debate. It is not the fault of CNN or any of the anchors or correspondents that right wingers such as yourself spout off ridiculous, inaccurate, nightmare scenarios using offensive language and symbols to deride those who are at least attempting to provide to those in your nation who NEED HELP. Those individuals are making fools of themselves, and do not think for a moment that the world community at large, does not look at these people and feel that they are as indoctrinated with BULL as any of the poor children featured in Amanpour's feature on Generation Islam. Pull off the blinders, read a book, and stop the bigotry, classism and hatred.

This is the congressman who had a tantrum and berated a constituent who happened to be a doctor. At the end of the town hall meeting, the constituent had the nerve to ask his elected representative about the health care bill. When the incident was shown on TV, the congressman was exposed as an arrogant, self-centered politician. He sees his constituents as subordinates that he can reprimand. The swastika? I think this is a stunt perpetrated by the congressman.

@Mary: by the way, if CNN was really as biased toward supporting health care reform, they would spend a whole lot more time featuring the medical horror stories that are widely found among both the uninsured AND insured in your nation. Personally, I think they should host a 24hr telethon showing only children and mentally and terminally ill people who cannot get care in your country; 47 million uninsured and millions more who are not covered despite spending thousands on private insurance.........who WOULDNT support change that means less greed and more results? Oh right, that would be YOU. Super-smart!

I just volunteered to join the "Enemies List" (copyright B. Obama). It's true. See, I just wrote a blog comment to Cnn.com/ricksanchez, and was critical of the administration. In fact I'm pretty sure I just made TWO lists. See, I'm an enemy of the state (because I dared to question the Administration), and I'm a racist (because I dared to question the administration).

I Rock TWICE!!!

Now, if the Obama admin has not already registered me for "The List", and if they have not fulfilled my request of getting a seat next to the window on the train to the extermination chamber (Auschwitz jokes ROCK, too), then PLEASE help me out here.

PLEASE send my name to the government, and my email, to our Glorious Leader (the sun rises for He says so, and sets for He says so ...all praise be to Him). See, if enough of you, reports me to the regime, then I will be sure to get to the front of the line (I hate having to wait, even to meet my Lord). But, oh, the company I shall be in...

Just think of it...

See, I'm a Jew, and a camp survivor from the last "Messiah" who made a list (my grandfather), was good enough to raise me. A great man, and a good man, he spent all those years at Aushcwitz, Berkenau, and Dachau. Yes, my grandfather was on that list. His "list number" was tattooed right there on his arm. My grandmother, my three uncles, my four aunts, and 31 other family members of my immediate family were on that last list, too, but I don't know their numbers: seems they were killed and turned into dust before I could memorize the numbers ...oh, well. No doubt it was their own faults, after all, what do you expect from a "mob" of Jews who didn't agree with the regime?

If you can't get a hold of the White House (whitehouse.gov), in order to report me, then call rep Sheila Jackson-Lee, of Texas (for she never gives up the chance to answer her phone). I'm sure she will pass on my name, and email. If she puts you on hold, don't worry, just call Georgia congressman David Scott, and if he is not too busy washing the swastika that he painted off of his own door, then he can forward my name for you.

Still, before you report me, please get it right. I'm an immigrant who became a LEGAL citizen, two days after my 18th birthday. Be sure to report that, as it's kind of important to me (as it is to all true new citizens). Be sure to point out that I paid my taxes and served for Jury duty for seven years ...FOR NOTHING... especially when ALL I had to do was wait for the General Amnesty that was given during the mid 90's (think of all the money and time I WASTED, when all I had to do was hide out and wait for the American Government to make me a citizen by default).

Oh, and also make sure to point out that I spent TWELVE YEARS as a schoolteacher, supporting the regimes that came before our Glorious Leader (peace be on Him). Also, and this is just a selfish request I know, but please point out that I also spent 5 years in military and medical service in war torn regions from Africa to Bangladesh, as a doctor and a representative of my adopted nation, saving, succoring, and giving "health care" to others (mostly darker than me) while others just argued about it. I know, that none of that matter, for after all I spoke against the regime and I MUST, therefore, be reported to the government!

I am a danger!!!

Imagine, just imagine, "its easy of you try". (John Lennon, that radical right winger with his Astroturf ideas).

Imagine, just imagine, if millions of people like me started to think they could openly question the government? (Thomas Jefferson, that radical right winger with his astroturf ideas).

Imagine, just imagine, if millions of people like me asked not what their country could do for them, but what THEY could do for their country? (John Kennedy, that radical right winger with his Astroturf ideas).

Imagine, just imagine, if millions of people like me started to think that their elected representatives should represent them? (John Adams, that radical right winger with his Astroturf ideas).

My G-d there would be CHAOS (Democracy) in the streets, and therefore it (and I) MUST be stopped!!!

You can report me to the following people:

Whitehouse.gov

Jocksonlee.house.gov

Davidscott.house.gov

Do it NOW, before its too late, and Democracy is running RAMPANT, across this Nation.

As a TRUE citizen, I thank you...

"...And when they kill me, then, I will raise my glass before you in Hell"

-Omar Bradley, the "Citizen" Soldier, Congressional Medal of Honor Winner, the Last of the Great Generals, Hero of D-Day, and hero of WWII ...aka... that radical right winger with his astroturf ideas.

ANN GASMAN, YOU DON'T WANT A COMMUNITY ORGANISER. YOU WANT A YES MAN.

TO COUSIN ART, HERE SOME PERSPECTIVE FOR FREE: NAZIS WERE NOT SOCIALIST. THEY WERE RACIST. SOCIALISM IS TO PROVIDE BASIC HUMAN NECESSITIES TO THE LESS FORTUNATE/ LESS PRIVILEGED CITIZENS NO MATTER COLOR, CREED OR RACE. NAZIS HATED EVERYONE ELSE AND PROMOTED AND COMMITTED GENOCIDAL CRIMES AGAINST HUMAN BEINGS ALL BECAUSE THEY WERE OF A DIFFERENT RACE. iF THAT'S SOCIALISM THEN SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS A SAINT, AND IF THAT'S THE REPUBLICANS IDOL THEN THE REPUBLICANS ARE JUST AS ANTI-AMERICAN AS ALQUAEDA.

TO MAC:yOU HAVE NOT ROLLED OVER ENOUGH YET. IF WE CAN STILL BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS IT SHOWS YOU NEED MORE ROLLING OVER. THOSE PEOPLE YOU MENTIONED ABOVE FIGHT AN HONORABLE CAUSE-THEY FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF THOSE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE LIKE THEM, AND ORGANISATIONS (NAACP, ETC) AS THOSE YOU'VE MENTIONED WHY BLACK PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT IN CHAINS. LEAVE IT UP TO PEOPLE LIKE AND BLACK PEOPLE WOULD BE CRAP UNDER YOUR FEET.

TO MARIA, AGAIN: STOP HIDING BEHIND THAT CONSERVATIVE MANTRA. JUST COME OUT AND SAY "WE DO NOT LIKE BLACK PEOPLE AND WE WANT TO KEEP THEM UNDER OUR FEET". END OF STORY. NO ONE COULD HATE YOU FOR THE TRUTH. PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE GIVING A BAD NAME TO CONSERVATISM AS YOU USE THE TERM TO DISGUISE YOUR RACISM/BIGOTRY.

MICHELLE: i KNOW WITH YOUR ATTITUDE OF FAIRPLAY/FAIRNESS YOU WILL REACH FAR AND DO A LOT OF GOOD IN THIS WORLD. BLESS YOUR HEART.

Rick:
Let's have a little lesson on what Nazism really was: a FASCIST system based on ethnocentrism, anti-semitism, eugenics, anti-communism, racism, and totalitarianism. What those 'isms' all add up to is a systematic exclusion and decimation of 'undesirables'. To suggest that Democratic representatives and President Obama are Nazis when they are clearly trying to INCLUDE all, not exclude some, is simply a lie. In fact, being a largely far right wing ideology, it far better suits being applied to those who are hurling these insidious insults, than to those at whom they are being hurled.

What is amazing to me is that Government now is more transparent and open then ever and all I am hearing is that certain people actually believe that this means it is Socialist aka Nazi like.

This lack of responsibility and respect for the current Administration, the House and the Senate by those who did not vote for the Majority is nothing short of ignorant. I am sure that the groups that still have Hitler as their white supremacist role model probably do not appreciate the picture of Obama with mustache, so these pictures must be the idea of mystery groups in the wings.

And the very fact that elderly people willingly jump onto Medicare and Social Security which are Government Programs much like the proposed Health Care Program will be, is proof that either people are really stupid and do not realize these are Government Programs, or they are being directed by well paying lobbyist on the right wing. I prefer to think the later.

I just think there is really no kleos in putting up a hate sign and not owning up to it.

Misha, what are you rambling on about? This is no time for nonsense. put down the bottle, take a seat and get out of adult conversation!

You can see why we are in such a mess just by reading these posts.
Is there racism in todays America? You bet there is, they have just gone "underground" to spew thier hate. Are the people that are "disrupting" town hall meetings helping or hurting? They are hurting, and are only interested in themselves. If the only thing you can do is to show how stupid you can be, then better off staying at home. It is NOT your RIGHT to act like a child, sorry kids, you all do not act this way, and prevent others from expressing their concerns.
As for the congresswoman on her cell: Give me a break. This is just pure disrespect to all those who were there. It would have been a great moment if everyone just got up and left her there alone!

smartwhitelady that should be Wise White Lady.

Mr. Rick
payed mobs and extremists to mislead ,confuse,disorder and disrupts debates that's not democracy in action, to have a peaceful debates you must send in the troops and tanks to control chaos.

OH MY GOOOOOODNESS!

Ok, for all you Sheila Jackson Lee supporters – now you're looking REALLY bad. Guess what has been revealed today???? Apparently she planted a so called "spontaneous question from a doctor in the audience" giving the doctor a big hug and saying how spontaneous it was....and it turns out that NOT ONLY WAS THE WOMAN A PLANT, BUT SHE WASN'T A DOCTOR EITHER!! SHE WAS A DEMOCRAT DELEGATE AND IT WASN'T SPONTANEOUS! I had no opinion on Sheila Jackson Lee until this happened and boy does she and all you supporters look really bad now. In fact, this now makes me wonder if the comments about the swastika at Rep. Scott's office being fake is now true. Oh my goodness, if Lee can be THIS pathetically deceptive, unprofessional, and stoop THIS LOW.....I guess other Congressmen with her philosophies can do it too.

Oh my gosh, this has got to be a new low.

Misha,

I just read your last comment. What a breath of fresh air you are! You're looking like a visionary these days. What a fascinating lady you are! Thanks for being someone who actually goes out and has expended a lot of energy and commitment serving other people (not like some of these people TALK about doing) , has made huge sacrifices, and is an amazing living history. Wow!

Misha are you sure you dont want to ad anything else to that unbelievable story. You can put that bottle down now go outside and breath!

To willfightanddielikeaman. You have no understanding of what socialism is. Before you start (again) calling anyone who disagrees w/ Obama a racist and a far right winger, here is some truth for you. The party of Hitler was called the National SOCIALIST Party. It spoused statist "solutions" for just about everyhing (sound familiar?) In this tthey were joined by major companies who put their best interests before those of ordinary germans (much like the drug companies signing on to ObamaCare). Their genocidal treatment of the Jews was out of greed and to feed the lower instincts of what I'd call their "base". They needed someone to demonize, which makes me nervous about the way some in these pages demonize the protesters at these townhalls. EVERYWHERE that socialism has gone, they've done w/ the same song-and-dance about the rich/jews are oppressing you blah blah. EVRYWHERE it's been tried it's failed. EVERWHERE it has been put to use it has resulted in repression, torture and death, because it's the only way they can hold on to power once the people figure out what they're up to.
We better wake up before we piss away the best country in the world.

David Scott needs to resign! And as far as him coming to cry in your program, I have two words for him: Tawana Brawley.

Well stated Cousin Art.

Cousinart, I do not have to re-state history. Go read a book, Hitler was no socialist (maybe to his friends, close allies, and people who are "rednecks"). Germany's population included all of those and more, most famously the Jews. I can bring any Jew to testify right now that Hitler's "...National Socialist..." party was not socialistic, and was more nationalism, as the name may imply.

If you consider, what I call, "Hitlerism" a socialistic idea, and you hate socialism so much then why hold Hitler as your idol? If this is the case (Hitler was a socialist) then Republicans should not revere him so much and use symbols from his regime to identify themselves, and to frighten other ethnicities.

You said, "EVERYWHERE that socialism has gone, they’ve done w/ the same song-and-dance about the rich/Jews are oppressing you blah blah.", and I do believe that this was Hitler's complaint and what may have led him to try and destroy these poor folks (JEWS).

To tell the truth, I'm kind of confused about your ridiculous inference that Obama is like Hitler.

Let me run it for a second- Hitler was a soldier, and Obama is not; Hitler joined a group and turned it into an hate squad against Jews whom he considered an oppressive force in Germany, and Obama is a BLACK man (someone Hitler would not even entertain in virtue of Obama's race) who tries to bring everyone together, Blacks, whites, and the indifference; Hitler promoted, what I call, "Red-Neckism" (hate for others who are non-rednecks), and Obama is a non-Red Neck; Hitler came into power while Germany was a rich and powerful country, and Obama walked into an empty treasury.

I must say, CousinArt, call me dunce but I just don't see the parallel. I would equate Obama to a young Augustus Caesar who comes to power with a treasury emptied by Pompeii (BUSH), and must now rebuild the empire with little and nothing and with the people in mind. Not just a certain people but all people (Americans). I really don't think Hitler would give two rats tail if non-rednecks who are Germans have proper Healthcare. On the other hand, Obama's bill covers all, rednecks, blue necks, green necks, yellow necks and all the other necks.

to Cousin Art,

Glad to say you are not my cousin. People like you, those who always have something to say but actually say nothing at all, need to sit down and shut up. This is ALL ABOUT OBAMA'S COLOR. The email I received from the FAR RIGHT included a carton of OUR President Obama dressed as a African Medican Man. If you think that is not racist then you are further gone then your messages indicate.

Willfightanddie: Where do rednecks fit into all of this?...And since when is it OK to use the word "redneck" in a public forum? I happen to be from a rural area..and , as I said earlier, of caucasion ancestry, I'm a second ammendment advocate and I do on occassion wear a John Deere ballcap. I even chew tobacco sometimes. My political leanings are enough to the right of center to be called a "Right Winger" (although I consider myself a fiscal conservative and a social liberal.)...All of that said I resent your use of the term "Redneck" on this board....Keep the racial slurs to yourself please.
I'll bet if I used the word "wetback" in the same sentence as "illegal immigrant" you'd be accusing me of being a bigot and racist wouldn't you? Which illustrates my point in the post you responded to earlier...(you said that I hadn't "rolled over enough yet" where minority citizens are concerned)..You sound like you might be a bigot AND a racist yourself, willfightanddie...You seem to be a proponent of 2 sets of standards?. One set for the Priveledged Minority Class, and another set of standards for the white, redneck, cracker, nazis? ( Who also happen to pay for the priveledged minorty class' entitlements with their tax dollars), The ones that have been quietly making personal sacrifices in the name of "equality" for 40 years with not so much as a simple thank you from the black community...It seems no matter how much social progress is made, it's never going to be enough to suit Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Jeremiah Wright, and the others who have appointed themselves "black leaders".
The swastika painters in Ricks blog were most likely frustrated white people, with no way to vent their frustration. Sound familiar? Personally, I don't think it's cause for alarm...Just the usual tempest in a teacup reporting by CNN...Now, when people start the lynchings and cross burnings again it might be time to get excited but that will never happen here again....Will it?

Cousin Art, didn't you say,"...same song-and-dance about the rich/Jews are oppressing you blah blah", and this was the complaint of Hitler and his mob of RED-NECKS. The Jew supposedly owned most of the businesses and were rich while the rest, RED-NECKS, were poor.

So how can you now say "…they were joined by major companies who put their best interests before those of ordinary Germans (much like the drug companies signing on to ObamaCare)..."? This would be contradictory to your point if the Jews were rich and owned everything but then joined Hitler to destroy themselves.

You continued, "Their genocidal treatment of the Jews was out of greed and to feed the lower instincts of what I’d call their “base”...". I would agree with you to a certain extent and admit that greed was a part of their attempt (they are thieves, and stole from their victims) at genocide. However, any scholar would agree to conclude that Hitler's attempt was mainly due to his desire to rid Germany, of what he considered, inferior races (he really meant the guys -Jews- with the money).

KKK, Skinheads, and all the white supremacist groups are the base of the Republican Party much like Hitler's Nazis. Why have a second army unless you plan to use it at your will and time of choosing. Isn't the US military/law enforcement agencies sufficient enough to protect all of us? Cousin Art, I hope you and your colleagues embrace CHANGE and stop trying to destroy it all because you can't have your own way. Sounds like children throwing a tantrum-I don't want to share my toys kind of thing. Your supremacist groups need to disband.

Mac, I certainly understand your offense to willfightanddielikeaman's innuendo to the term "redneck".

This discussion is far to important to let it get off track by debating stupid labels.

Please get back to discussing the need for our government to be involved in protecting it's citizens against the Corporations and heads of our insurance industry.

The bonuses paid, to these individuals alone, would cover the costs of insuring the uninsured.

I, for one, do not believe there is any one on God's green earth who deserves (earned???) these amounts of money as a "bonus".

Their "contracts" are nothing more then "legal loop holes" which enable some in our Corporate structure to benefit from pyramid scams (schemes).

How do these sleazy cheats sleep at night knowing babies are dying so their bonuses can grow?

Chriss
"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25, NIV).

To everyone who is upset about the behavior at the townhalls – Open you eyes!!! During Bush's presidency there were paid protestors on the streets everyday – carrying Hitler signs, breaking city property and being arrested!!! Don't you have a memory??? How about the gays who protested in CA just this year??? They beat up a old lady and stormed a church, which they got arrested for doing!!! How about Pelosi telling HER crowd, she loves protestors, people who make a distrubance, just three years ago she was applauding protestors!!! What about Hillary who, with her shrilled voice, said it is Every Americans Right to Protest and I is UnAmerica if they don't!!!! What about Newsweek (or Time Magzine) who put a picture of Bush as the Joker ON THEIR FRONT COVER!!! Democrats have a very short memory!!! Very Hypocritical!!! They can do whatever they want, but when people don't agree, they make it personal!!!!

Come on Maria,

Peaceful protest is one thing.
BUT, attempts to shut down debates by shouting and screaming, so no one gets heard, is quite something different.
It disrupts our democracy and I liken it to treason.

The Right wing, Republicans attempted to SHUT DOWN town halls simply because they did not like were they are going.
These are not public protesters they are public nuisances.

Obviously, the majority want insurance reform and they want it yesterday!

Majority of Americans WANT government protection against the FAT CATS who want to maintain current insurance programs.
These programs benefit the insurance industry and the rich, who make money off investing in the pharmaceuticals and denying access to children and the poor.

People need to stop taking political sides and start looking at themselves as human beings.

Money is ruling our country and we must put a stop to this road we are on.
Human life should always be more important then money in the bank.
Take off your blinders and let your heart lead you.

Only non-believers love money more then God.
And they will answer for that at a later date.

Chriss
"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25, NIV).

Christine...I have seen the Obama/witch doctor picture that you've mentioned in your earlier posts, and I can understand how that could be upsetting to some people..I received it a few months ago when we were all busy worrying about how to pay for the bailouts of the banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies and auto makers, and I interpreted it as more of a satirical illustration of Voo-Doo economics than a personal jab at President Obama. Just another perspective on that for you.

I agree with you about the label issues too..It's trivial and meaningless really..."Sticks and Stones" . I made the redneck slur reference more to bait willfightanddie than anything else. Apparently it worked too, as I notice he is now using all caps to spell redneck . And, therein lies a BIG reason we have problems in trying to work through issues that effect every one of us in this country..We do need to change some things here and my hat is off to Prez Obama for taking it on. I not only hope that he's sincere, but also that he'll be able to move his programs through the Old Guard/Status Quo in Congress...He has his work cut out for him for sure, and I'm behind him and for him 100% even though I didn't vote for him. The problem that I see going on is simply division...We are ALL in this boat together and the best way that we can all help to see meaningfull change is to stop minimizing and denigrating people with differing views...That will be a good start anyway..We've made huge strides in race relations.We have a black President now, and a proportionate number of black and hispanic elected federal, state and local representatives after some major redistricting in alot of states...Clarence Thomas is a Supreme Court Justice, and we now have Sonja Sottemayor there as well. My point is that it seems to me that we focus too much on our differences and we let those difference color our thinking...We have the swastika sign painters..which for all I know may have been a bunch of kids with a can of spray paint and too much free time. It's an isolated case and not typical of the sentiment of the majority of lucid adults here. There are some misguided people though...like willfightanddie for example.. who just seem to have a need to fan the flames by promoting division instead of embracing our diversity...And that is understandable too..Alot of people look up to Jesse Jackson and his leadership...He does everyone of us , black, white or tan, a huge disservice by promoting division though. I personally lost alot of respect for the guy when he jumped in the middle of a schoolyard fight in Louisiana a few years ago. Maybe you remember that? Some white school kids got in a "turf battle" on the playground with some black kids, and here comes Jesse to the rescue screaming racism and pointing fingers at every caucasion in the state because he had a problem with a knot that was tied in a piece of rope. I personally think he did that more to get on TV and get some attention than to help anyone...Al Sharpton isn't much different either...As long as he can convince enough people who vote for a candidate solely because of the color of their skin (like the people who supported Marion Barry in Washington DC, and that simian goon Kwame Kilpatrick in Detroit) that they're being discriminated against and "oppressed" he'll be able to keep himself in office..No more racism, then no more Al and Jesse..They will have to find another line of work, so it's in their own personal best interests to keep racism alive and well....I guess Jesse can fall back on his church collection plate, but Sharpton will have to go get a real job.

It's way past time for all of us here to respect and celebrate our different cultures and work together for equitable and positive change...Time to stop the pettyness and focus on what's genuinely important and equitable for everybody...except the insurance companies and banks...They need to move to the back of the bus

TO MAC MY DEAR CONFUSED BROTHER FROM A DIFFERENT FATHER.

Who do I consider RED-NECKS: White folks who are extremely prejudice/bias/bigots against other ethnicities. Group of people who put vast amount of energy into diminishing other ethnicities and blocking their upward movement. People that hunt and kill/lynch Black folks without any remorse or reason (as if there could be any). People who hold Hitler and the Third Reich as their Hero and inspiration. People who organize for the sole purpose of planning and executing terrorist acts on other ethnicities in America (Alquaeda, and others exempt from this description). People who draw hate symbols to try and frighten others (minorities), etc.

Who do I consider a well bred White Person: White Folks with good conscience. They see far beyond themselves and are most times selfless. They are brave and used to be known as the Abolitionist who never retreat from the righteous cause of equality among all races. They are the visionary among white folks, and truly are the ones who made this country great. Leave it up to the red-neck and America would never have joined the war against the tyrant, Hitler nor end Slavery here in America. It is these well bred white folks who sacrificed their lives to put an end to such a STATE, and to the UNGODLY practice of Slavery, and who continues to fight for an America where race, color, and gender is not an obstacle nor treated as a crime but looked upon as diversity, which is a valuable benefit to any great Democracy

You said, “…“illegal immigrant” you’d be accusing me of being a bigot and racist wouldn’t you?” Are you saying my ancestors were illegal aliens (enslaved Africans)? Because if that's what I'm hearing then I must insist that they maybe more legal than you. After all, you did capture/steal the land, much like you stole my ancestors (proving to be a common crook with big ambitions), from other HUMAN BEINGS (The REAL AMERICANS-Indians).

What is this "...Privileged Minority Class..." of which you speak? Who are they? Are they something like the "...Priveledged Minority Class..."/ Jews in Hitler's Germany, except that the ones you speak of are Black? You continued, "…( Who also happen to pay for the priveledged minorty class’ entitlements with their tax dollars)", and I must ask are you referring to people like Michael Jackson, Magic Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Johnsons (BET), Quincy Jones, and so many other Wealthy Black Folks who pay a lot more taxes than you and your “poe” friends? Are you actually saying Black people would not exist and should be, hands clasped, grateful for your $2.00 you pay in taxes? Don't know if you know this but when everyone puts money in the Government coffers (taxes) those funds cannot be used exclusively for one group. Moreover, White people outnumber Black people, proportionally, and I know based on this fact there must exist, in these here wilds, more poor white folks than poor black folks who utilize the Government programs and spend your taxes, MAC.

You said "The swastika painters in Ricks blog were most likely frustrated white people, with no way to vent their frustration", and I do agree with this point. I don't think the issue is whether or not a White person did it (it's things they've done time and again), and is what RED-NECK committed this crime? You are not going to bulk all white folks into this barrel my dear, MAC, Black people knows better, and knows that it is a certain type of white people who does these things. The way how you defend it makes me suspicious that maybe you've done something like that before because you've been frustrated at these 'Privileged poor minority (you really mean Black folks)'. White people of Good conscience never get frustrated or worried to the point where they do those kinds of things, and is never on the side of the racist when it involves equality. They worry more about helping the less fortunate HUMAN BEINGS, they do not see color, and only see needs to be filled and people to uplift.

You further stated "when people start the lynchings and cross burnings again it might be time to get excited but that will never happen here again….Will it?", and truly with your attitude towards Black folks I wouldn't trust it, and would advise that they start stockpiling much like you and your RED-NECK cohorts so that they can PROTECT, not victimize, the black population.

What you don't realize is that the 2nd Amendment applies to all, including and not withstanding BLACK FOLKS. Now I know that the system is set up in a way where they may have a hard time legally buying guns but I really don't think that ever stopped anyone before. The Black folks you took from the shores, well maybe not you nor your ancestors since you migrated here way after and on a more comfortable boat, of Africa is not the same as exist now. And it will be, I assure you and all your kin folks, Death Before Dishonor if you try to subjugate us again. I think maybe Jesse and Al would have to beg for you not to be turned into what you intended for Black Folks.

Excuse me, one last thing, what is a “wetback”? never heard that one before-I bet you must have like a secret dictionary of derogatory terms for people who are obviously not red necks/Hitlerites. You call, what I consider, the well bred white person who‘s of good conscience and sense of fair play the "N**.. lover". Why? do you think that makes them work any less on the side of righteousness/equality? Why do you always come with a bandwagon argument- If you are not for the white race supremacy groups you must be against the white race? Furthermore, you are obviously not one of those people you mentioned who's working for a measly 40 years. Do you realize what a century is, can you calculate how many years is 4 centuries then divide it by 40 and that's the amount of 40 year spans of beat down you've done to Black people. Get serious!!!

MAC, MY ADVISE TO YOU IS THAT YOU TAKE A DIP IN HOLY WATER AND PRAY FOR GOD'S FORGIVENESS FOR HURTING OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, AND PROMISE HIM THAT YOU WILL DO THE BEST YOU CAN TO CHANGE YOUR WICKED WAYS OF DEPRIVING HUMANS THEIR BASIC RIGHTS SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF THEIR RACE.

How would you like it if the tables were turned Mac? Think about that

Dear: Rick when will you reporters tell the truth, about its not about his policy, but the color of his skin. Why are news media's afraid to tell the american poeple the truth, about white, (Males) hatred of president obama. They fear that for the first time a black man has more power then they have. Look at what is happening at these town hall meeting. These white poeple are not there to talk about health care, but see why a "n****r " is trying to take there right away. Poeple like Fox's news, hannity, rust limbar, southern whites, northern whites, and most of the repubican party hates the president because of his skin color. If you in the media don't step up and stop the madness there will be a race war coming. This time it will be even, because we have just as many guns as they do. So Rick stop the madness, because if anything happens to the president, MLK deaf riots would look like nothing compare to today.

Mac, again. Al and Jesse are your creations. If you were not abusing us so much maybe they would have no need to shout or to even exist. Stop your crazy RE-NECKISM/Hitlerism and they will be nothing but a memory.

Fredrick, I think you and I are the only ones who cann see this fact, or least admit to it.

MAC.....you need to take a good look at that man in the mirror, for it is
you, staring back at the racist in the room.....you MAC. It is you and your ilk who are fanning the embers of unrest, hoping and most likely praying to God that he strike the president down for you and your honky brothers. The bigotry you spout is so thick, it must be dripping from your chin......much like a rabid dog. I am so very happy to finally have a person with a brain (Obama) and his very competent staff running this great country. I find I feel ashamed at and with a sense of embarrassment of the unruly supposed grassroots members drowning out what is a necessary discussion on the issue at hand.....health care reform. Those who shout and scream that somehow and someway Obama is systematically dismantling our government, have no idea..... .....what they are talking about. Show me one instance where this country has changed so dramatically and in such a short time span, just what has been destroyed at this date. As for Nazism....again take a look in the mirror! As for Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton needing to get real jobs....can't the morons of the republican party and their right wing loons fixate on something topical? Again your disgust of and at people of color shines thoroughly thru your post.
Chris Poslock

Regarding Mary's post on August 13th.

Lady you don't need to shout when you type.
Get over yourself. It is so evident you listen to
only the neo-cons (for you Mary, that means
neo-conservatives). The Fake News Network
is so entrenched with the ultra right it's frightening.
And then there you are truly a card carrying member
of the lunatic fringe.

Chris Poslock...Thanks for sharing. It's refreshing to have this dialogue with both you and willfightanddie, so I'll ignore for now the slurs you both seem to enjoy using.. And..side bar here for you willfightanddie(WF&D), since you've asked:.."wetback" is a word used to describe illegal immigrants from Mexico who swim across the Rio Grande River (the border between Texas and Mexico) to get into our country. Their backs are wet from swimming the river, hence the term "wetback"...Get it now? It's a word that's been used for many years to describe a citizen of Mexico gaining entry to the USA illegally. The Jesse and Al crowd are starting to say that it's a racist term lately (I'm surprised you didn't know the word). It has nothing to do with race at all though, and certainly doesn't apply to you..unless of course you swam the river and are here illegally..

So..First of all, I've never owned a slave in my life Chris. and by the way...slavery is still very much alive in this country, but I'll save that for another thread. Secondly...Last year I sponsored a boy from Zimbabwe (that's a country in Africa, and the poorest country on the planet by any standard, WF&D) for a student visa here..For the sake of this conversation, and to protect him I'll call him "Josh"...Josh happens to be engaged to my niece who met him when she was teaching school in Victoria Falls (that's a city in Zimbabwe, WF&D). I also have some close friends who happen to be black...well, they aren't exactly "black"..more brownish skin, but negro ..Josh, by the way, truely IS "black"..Darn near blue-black he's so black...He is the genuine article and traces his roots directly through one of the two original tribes on the African continent...His people have been around since before Moses..HE is a Black Man Chris, and WF&D.. Last night a couple of us went out for dinner and I talked to them about this Swastika issue, and Ricks blog here.. I posed these questions to both Josh, and the other ("black") friend who was with me.: Why is it fair and equitable to allow "blacks only" organizations like ..the NAACP, for example, or United Negro College Fund, Black Chambers of Commerce, sororities, fraternities and social organizations? If I wanted to form the United Caucasion College Fund, or the White Guys Chamber of Commerce to help and promote white businesses and help white entrepreneurs, what do you think would happen? If one of my grandchildren applied to The United Negro College Fund for financial aid, would they even be considered? If not, then why? Their answers were interesting, and I'd like to hear YOUR answers to those same questions Chris and WF&D.

By the way ..a little humor for both of you race baiters Chris and WF&D..I told a guy who called me on the fone to join us for dinner last night that we were seated at the bar in the restaurant, and to just look for the Oreo...My friends thought it was a funny comment as did the hippy bartender.....If either of you had overheard that comment what would YOU have said or done? Anything? Called me a name when you were out of earshot?

On to Healthcare to stay on the thread here...My health insurance premium for me alone is over $900/month...with a $10,000 deductable which I've never even come close to reaching in the 7 years I've had the policy..I have no "pre-existing" anything..in good health, and I'm getting reamed by the insurance company..Why should I have to pay for mine, and then turn around and have to pay into a public plan???? Why do I and others like me have to pay up twice Chris? Just because I make a 6 figure income as you stated earlier I need to pay for yours too? How is THAT "fair and equitable" ? And, if you find that to be "fair", then what do I personally gain from helping you with yours?? More name calling and disrespect?

Rick,
I just saw footage of an Israeli talking about the national health care system in Israel. While he is speaking, a woman yelled Heil Hitler.
He then told her of his own experience in one of our hospitals and how much it cost. She pantomined a whining baby. This is the level of debate in this country, this is what we have become. I no longer wish to live in such a nation. Literally at a loss for words at the kind of hate such behavior requires. How much you want to bet this woman would refer to herself as a christian.

Peter, so you want to move out of this country because of one person making an idiot out of herself in a debate about healthcare in Israel. Then you label her. Now, who's the whining baby? Please get on the next plane to Israel and have a wonderful life.

Leave the debating to Americans who can handle the heat. Debating such a passionate subject in America is always going to be heated and sometimes ugly. The winners are the ones who can keep their wits about them and their eye on the ball while something like you saw is happening.

rick, shame on the woman shouting heil hitler to the man identifying himself as a jew. it is quite scary that any group can fire up people to scream and carry on with non-fact based messages. instead of covering the lunacy the media should be covering and unveiling the true hate groups stirring all this up.

i just heard the Nazi comment on your program
I don’t blame the woman
the blame is with the politicians
They bring these terms and they divide this country further
I hold all of them democrats or republicans responsible!
Tell them to stop!!!!!!!

The funny thing about conservatives comparing democrats to Nazis is that the Nazi Pary was a far right wing party. If any american political group should be compared to the Nazi Party it should be conservatives. After all they are the ones using fear and lies to put forth their agenda.

Hi Mac,

Nice post and most was intelligent. But, please look at everything before commenting on why you should pay for those who can not. The reason your rate is so high because the insurance company has "bumped" you up to cover those who go to emergency rooms, as they should when necessary, but have no insurance coverage. So, would you rather be paying a fair rate for this necessary cost calculated by the insurance company (of which I am sure you are paying 3 times their costs for this) or have people that will at least not be figuring in BONUS payments for their top executives (leeches).

Left, right, liberal, conservative, democrat, republican – and now we are going to get religion involved.
Healthcare access DOES NOT mean that if a person does not want to pay for insurance they will get taxed (penalized to pay for someone else's healthcare). It also DOES NOT mean if a, especially, small business does not/cannot provide insurance to their employees they will also get taxed (penalized). Healthcare access DOES mean providing, in whatever way possible – whether that means Medicare extension, a new subsidized or co-op run option, or whatever – so that EVERYONE WHO WANTS healthcare insurance can afford it. DO NOT MAKE HEALTHCARE A GOVERNMENTAL RIGHT!!!! We do not need a government run healtcare insurance company, as they will run all others out of business and there will become a NATIONAL HEALTHCARE INSURANCE COMPANY – ONE AND ONLY!!! My primary care physician left Canada for this very reason. And now he is fear of the fact he will either have to retire and do something else or move to another country.
As to the issue of "end of life counseling", the bill does not spell out what is meant, at least not what the proponents of the bill say it means. People in this country know what happens with government written bills and how they can be twisted to mean something completely different from what is intended. This entire bill is written in that manner, and that is one of the reasons so many of the people that I associate with – the 60+ or retired crowd – have issues with the bill, overall. What needs to be done is for the bill writers to sit down with a group of average individuals and tell them what each piece of the legislation means, and then let those average individuals write the bill. Then it will be understandable, with no hocus-pocus, and it will say what is meant.
We have some excellent examples in this country of good healthcare insurance and healthcare facilities. Kaiser Permante, the Mayo Clinic, and the Cleveland Clinic come to mind. We need to find a way to make the other insurers and facilities look and work like these excellent examples. Even if that means governmental controls – which I really do not like. Profits, and wages and bonuses for executives in the healthcare industry have gone up exponentially over the past 7-8 years – probably as much as individual costs. The government jumped in and controlled the financial community – lets do the same with the healthcare industry.
Just my, and may other common folks out here, opinion.
Roxy (and that is a he, not a she)

I can not believe what happened to the lady with the poster. the Republicans are so affraid of one poster at a town meeting that they'll do anything to have it removed from sight. They have to get a life and stop acting like a mob. people are smart enough to underestand what is happenig here . They are trying to use the tactic of intimidation like George Bush used during his presidency. Wake up America, and start fighting for your rights.

Daniel Chen,

You "don't blame the woman"?

Did you see Barney Frank and his response to the lady(?) holding shot of Obama with Hitler mustache? Frank would not speak to this person because she had no brain to speak for herself. All crap she had been fed by far right.

What planet are you living on?

IT'S ABOUT TIME.
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

Everyone should visit and study this new site.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/settingtherecord

To my dear MAC

You went into some rant about if you should be allowed to get NAACP money. MAC, that would be like you dipping in the orphans school money and especially as much as you claim to make, wouldn't it?

You said something about Oreo cookies, what are you talking about? You ate Oreos, what?

I'm sure if you listened carefully to the President and his cohorts explain the plan maybe you wouldn't be so mystified. According to them, or what I'm hearing is that you wouldn't have to pay so much for your own healthcare because government would be providing the much need competition that it takes to drive these sky rocketing insurance cost down, including yours, MAC. Imagine that, you've been fighting against something that can actually save you money-isn't money your bottom line above all others including life. In any case, since you make so much why not pay some to help your less fortunate countrymen? See why you will not win Mac- you scorn and despise the poor, and the poor is always the majority of any electorate. The guy or gal (candidate) who fights for said poor people will win any fair elections because much as he supported and fight for their rights and betterment is as much as they will support Him/Her.

I suggest the Republicans go back to the drawing board, re-assess it's mission as a political party, figure out how to create a more inclusive party and America, and promote said idea. Diversity is not criminal but beneficial.

When Michelle Obama said ,"this is the first time I have been proud to be an American", this is her case in point. Americans have treated African Americans in this vile and racist fashion since we came to these shores back in 1619. Every time we complain, folks tell us to "get over it, these are new times"- but are they?

TO CHRIS POSLOCK... I have read some of your comments and give you kudos for much of what you have written. I do, however, disagree with you about Obama. He is intelligent but I do not like the way he is handling the nation's affairs.
I am not racist. I had considered voting for him until my husband & I watched a campaign tape of his shown on The Situation Room, CNN, on Dec.27th, 2007. B'hutto had just been assassinated. Obama blamed Hillary for B'hutto's death because she had allowed Bush to attack Iraq. The tape was shown on the CNN web site until the next morning and the transcript for that night's show did not mention a tape but reported that Obama, in an interview, said that Hillary was not eligible to be President because of a "decision she made a while ago". The words on Obama's tape were attributed to David Axelrod.
CNN ignored my requests for what had happened to the tape. Blogs that I wrote about it were posted and then removed. It was like the movie "Gaslight" where there was no sustantiation for what we had seen and no one believed it had happened. A week or two later, Tim Russert interviewed Obama and asked him if he believed his accusation against Hillary. Obama, now Mr. Nice Guy, gave a chuckle, spun his chair to the right and left, and said, "Of course not!" Russert did not go further to ask him why he had said it.
Hillary was on the Russert show a week or two later and the first words out of her mouth were, "He still has not apologized". Russert ignored her & went straight to his questions and was not as easy going with her as he had been with Obama.
This behavior was the usual for Obama. Remember when he turned his back on her at the State of the Union Speech when she went to shake the hand of Ted Kennedy who was sitting near where Obama was standing? No apology was given for that insult, either, nor for any other rude behavior of his. The only time that an apology crossed his lips was when he went around the world & apologized for the behavior of the U.S..
I do not like his taking command of the Census Dept. I do not like his hiring czars to head agencies which already have heads. The difference? Obama's czars do not have to be approved by Congress
nor do they have to report to Congress. They go directly to Obama for him to do or not do on their suggestions.
So far, there are at least 35 czars who do not have to report their doings or get approval for these actions from Congress. Obama is
establishing his own little monarchy where he rules all. What ever happened to the division of government into 3 areas, the Executive, the Legislature, & the Justice Depts? What ever happened to the Constitutional rule of "advise & consent"? Is Congress becoming obsolete?
Obama recently requested the Justice Dept. to allow his administration to have "secret statements", a la Bush, so that his "transparent administration " does not have to supply information asked for in court cases. The request is under consideration.
He has also continued Bush's practice of "signing statements", signing bills into law and then shelving the items he does not intend to use.This way, he avoids an override of his veto. He has done this 5 times out of 42 bill signings. [ More than 10%.]
And, this is only after 6 months. What lies ahead? I am very apprehensive about what is yet to come.

You have hit the nail on the head, Adele!
Obama is very intelligent and a narcissist, and those 2 together are very scary!!!

Let's just fire all the insurance companies. They have done nothing but lie, cheat and steal from the American public. If you worked for them and did any of the above mentioned acts you would be fired, right?

Let's start from scratch and yes I trust our Government, that is in place today (Obama), to be the Watchdog and not allow the little man/women to be used again.

For those that have big money invested in the insurance companies, or work for them, please, do not bother to post. The money you are making, off them, causes you to be bias and blind to all else around you.

Adele,

I believe what Obama has done (appointing all those czars) is turned a light on Congress. He believes it is riddled with corruption and he is probably right. He needs those reporting to him to not be swayed by the Lobbyists or Corporations who have many, of our "elected" officials, in their pockets.

Money is about to ruin this country. The greed and contempt it has generated over the last decade should make us all take a good look at those you have voted for and trusted to do your bidding.

It is heart wrenching to see these individuals vote "what is best for them and their friends" and not give one thought to those who voted them into office.

Can't put that vote in the bank now can you?

Hi Christine,

Thanks for your comment on my post. Believe me, I'm trying hard to see the big picture here..Yep, my health ins. co. is definately "bumping" me...(they're grinding me too). I've talked to them about it. They tell me the reason my premiums have gone up so much is because the cost of healthcare is going up...(Gosh, why didn't I think of that?). Thats not the real reason though.. I think the reason is because the older I get, the stronger the likelihood that they're going to have get out their checkbook to pay for my looming heart attack, or cancer or something..I haven't had any claims yet, but I'll be able to start drawing my social security in 5 years..I'm gettin' up there and my body will start falling apart soon so they're going to try to grab as much money from me as they can right now..I really believe that. So, to keep my healthcare costs somewhat manageable I increase my own deductable to keep the premium down which to me means that I'm reducing my benefits and coverage...Loose/Loose situation for me. I'm paying more for my health plan which I don't even use, than I am for my house for gods sake . I've thought about just dropping the coverage all together and start using the emergency room as my primary care provider like alot of other people do and then just blowing the bill collectors off when they come knocking at my door. I'd save over $10,000/year if I did that, but I believe that is just plain wrong.... I would love to see us kick the Insurance companies to the curb and develop a single payer system here like Canada has, but no matter how strong President Obamas convictions are, I don't think that he could get it done even if he wanted to. The insurance lobby in Washington is just too strong. They'll never let it happen.

My fear is that what's cooking right now for us all is going to be another huge government entity that will be a complete fiasco and not serve anyone adequately. ( alot like another FEMA during and after Hurricane Katrina). I just read today that the state of Maryland has over 350 car dealers who are owed 30 some MILLION dollars by the Federal Gov't. for the "Cash for Clunkers" program...The government hasn't paid them, and has run out of money. So here the car dealers are stuck holding the bag for Obamas 1st brainstorm of his 1st term. I saw a picture of one car lot that was so full old beaters that they'd paid WAY too much for, and they didn't have room for the new cars they could make some money on...Basically the current administration has stuck it to them....The current administration can't even run a Cash for Clunkers program, so how will they handle our healthcare?

RICK SANCHEZ

Someone just made an excellent point above, why not cover that lady's story that got rudely removed from the Town hall meeting? What happened to the assailant, were he ever charged for attacking that poor helpless Black woman?

You know what it reminded me of, that scene in the Color Purple when Oprah's character punched the white man and knocked him out and she was bombarded with white men beating on her. The difference is Oprah's character at least got a blow in and that Black lady at the town hall meeting was just bombarded and badly removed, her poster ripped up and not even so much as an apology.

Can you imagine if she were legally packing a gun? I don't think anybody could blame her for putting a bullet straight through his skull, Rick.

He would never have approached a white woman in such threatening manner and not get his A** kicked and arrested by those white officers. Why the double standard, Rick? That seems like a more serious offense than using a phone.

If all will just stop and think for a moment. We elected Obama, he is there for US. We must support and stand behind him or the insurance companies and Corporations will use their, scammed from us, money to get votes from the officials who are in their pockets.

The only leverage we have is our ability to VOTE these officials out of office. We must do exactly what the lobbyists do...contact, write, call or email your House and Senate Reps. and tell them (in no uncertain terms) you expect them to VOTE for your best interests. And that is a single payer health plan. It removes the ability of the insurance companies to manipulate our health care costs.

Sick of the Republicans stating that a Government run system will for the insurance industry out of business. I say SO BE IT!

They forced themselves out when they decided to use our health to steal, every cent they could, from us.

Quit listening to the hot shots. They only speak for themselves, their friends and Corporations.

Get your heads out of your butts and do what is best for you and your families. CUT AS MUCH COST OUT OF HEALTH CARE AS POSSIBLE. Go with the honest one we elected. Help his as much as you can. Strength is always in number so please... VOTE these officials out of office. We must do exactly what the lobbyists do...contact, write, call or email your House and Senate Reps. and tell them (in no uncertain terms) you expect them to VOTE for your best interests. And that is a single payer health plan. It removes the ability of the insurance companies to manipulate our health care costs.

Quit letting them sidetrack you! Deal with the rude lady some other time or just let God take care of her in his own time.

For now focus, focus, focus!
Call your Representatives and tell them you support YOUR President.
Get your heads out of your butts and do what is best for you and your families. CUT AS MUCH COST OUT OF HEALTH CARE AS POSSIBLE. Go with the honest one we elected. Help his as much as you can. Strength is always in number so please... VOTE these officials out of office. We must do exactly what the lobbyists do...contact, write, call or email your House and Senate Reps. and tell them (in no uncertain terms) you expect them to VOTE for your best interests. And that is a single payer health plan. It removes the ability of the insurance companies to manipulate our health care costs.

Use this link to contact your Senators
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Use this link to contact your House Reps.
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

If you have time to read this blog you definitely have time to speak your mind to those who were voted into office for your representation.

DO IT NOW

If you think times are tough now, what is it going to be like for our children and grand children? The GAO and Budget Office both say the long term costs of this "social program" will be big time!

You do not want a single payer system – this will be ONE MORE WAY that government will have control of your life and privacy!!!! Where will it stop? Do people not understand that THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE that don't want healtcare insurance? Under Obamacare they will be taxed (penalized) if they don't enroll in healthcare insurance. Don't you understand that is taking away your liberty and pursuit of happiness???? YOU DO NOT WANT A SINGLE PAYER, GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM – this will be the start of complete government control of everything in your life.
Corporations, in conjunction with the healthcare insurance – and all other insurance providers, for that matter – are at the heart of the problem. But a government run system is not the answer. There ARE other ways to fix the system other than making it a government run, user required, system. Don't punish the individual because of what the corporations and insurance companies are doing. Punish the corporations and insurance companies with controls – I can't believe I said that as I really don't like government controls, but it the lesser of 2 evils.
This is from the Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law and Ethics – Among U.S. companies with at least 200 employees, 35 percent provided retiree healthcare benefits in 2006 compared with 66 percent in 1988. This is part of the problem. Why? Lets find out and fix that before we start punishing the individual!!!
And, Christine, not all of us elected Obama!

Mac

The insurance companies cannot stop Obama, only the public can do that so put some faith in your President and March with him and not against him. He's obviously fighting for the same things that you need. Less Healthcare cost.

ROXY

NOT ALL BUT OBVIOUSLY THE MAJORITY VOTED FOR HIM, RESPECT THAT. THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR OBAMA DOES MATTER TOO ROXY.

I always have and always will respect the individual's vote for whomever they want to vote for. That does not mean I have to support who they vote for. I did not vote for Bush in his second term, and I did not support most of the things he did in his second term!!
I am not going to roll over and die and stop believing in what I believe just because Obama was elected president!!!!! And if he is pushing something I don't believe in, I will certainly not support it. I am not wishy-washy. I do not just go with the flow. If I believe in something, or believe is something is wrong, I will continue to support what I believe. And that is my right. If Obamacare passes I will lose a right, the right to say whether or not I even want health insurance in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is so sad to see these racially motivated town hall activities occuring. It has little to do with Healthcare concerns but more to do with racial intolerance. They are supported by underground organizations and other radical groups and individuals. BUT what is crucial is that these groups are the catalyst for a change of a different kind in the USA. Plato wrote that a civilization 'implodes' before it explodes. It seems the Republicans have ignited the flame and are aggressively fuelling it.

Roxy,

For God's sake...GET OVER IT!

You LOST the election.
More people are FOR Obama then are with you.

Quit embarrassing our country and yourself and if you have nothing intelligent to say do not say anything.

Your entire message is nothing more then Republican talking points.
You are all like robots and actually believe that BS.

BUSH was the start of complete government control of our lives and he attempted to do it behind close doors and rewriting our laws.

Medicare and Medicaid are both government run and better structured at substantially lower cost, then any of our greedy, insurance companies.

Roxy....I hear you. I voted for GWB for his 1st term, and was dissappointed by him..Like you, I didn't vote for him a 2nd time either.

I'm having some issues with how we'll pay for Obamacare and alot of questions about what we're going to get for our money. I also thought it was a pretty sneaky move by the administration when they threw the 1000 page Bill together, gave it to Congress one day and expected a vote on it the next day. Noone even had time to read it much less digest the contents. This is major reform and the Bill needs to be studied, not just quickly read and that was nothing more than a sophomoric stunt by the administration to slide their agenda by us all.. I think it's interesting, too, that not a single member of the house or senate would sign on to the plan for themselves and their own families. If it's not good enough for them, then I sure don't want it either.
There's also alot of noise lately about how if we "don't support Obamacare then we're racists". This has nothing at all to do with race, and If that's the only way that the administration can get their agenda passed then I REALLY don't want it.

Nothing has been said, that I've heard anyway, about the subject of Tort Reform . The huge punitive damage awards by juries in medical malpractice lawsuits is another big factor in escalating healthcare costs. Doctors are forced to order batteries of expensive tests and proceedures for patients primarily to cover their own butts against malpractice suits, and their insurance premeiums for Med-Mal Insurance are through the roof too. Untill we stop the huge jury awards, costs will escalate disproportionately...Once again we see the insurance companies as a big reason we pay so much to stay alive and be healthy, and as long as they're involved in whatever we end up with for a health plan, we'll be paying too much, and getting too little..

I live 10 blocks from Teterboro Airport & live in constant fear that a plane will crash into my home, my town. I am in landing pattern. They are landing @ less than 2 mins.apart.

Well, I'm going to try again.
First off, Christine, I don't believe anyone has passed a law against me having my opinion, YET! And don't be a part of the herd of sheep being led to the slaughter! The following info comes from various sources, and where it makes sense, where it comes from is given within the quote. Pay particular attention to Ron Paul's statement.
Socialized Healthcare vs. The Laws of Economics
The government’s initial step in attempting to create a government-run healthcare monopoly has been to propose a law that would eventually drive the private health insurance industry out of existence. Additional taxes and mandated costs are to be imposed on health insurance companies, while a government-run “health insurance” bureaucracy will be created, ostensibly to “compete” with the private companies. The hoped-for end result is one big government monopoly which, like all government monopolies, will operate with all the efficiency of the post office and all the charm and compassion of the IRS.
Of course, it would be difficult to compete with a rival who has all of his capital and operating costs paid out of tax dollars. Whenever government “competes” with the private sector, it makes sure that the competition is grossly unfair, piling costly regulation after regulation, and tax after tax on the private companies while exempting itself from all of them. This is why the “government-sponsored enterprises” Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were so profitable for so many years. It is also why so many abysmally performing “public” schools remain in existence for decades despite their utter failure at educating children.
Some years ago, the Nobel-laureate economist Milton Friedman studied the history of healthcare supply in America. In a 1992 study published by the Hoover Institution, entitled “Input and Output in Health Care,” Friedman noted that 56 percent of all hospitals in America were privately owned and for-profit in 1910. After 60 years of subsidies for government-run hospitals, the number had fallen to about 10 percent. It took decades, but by the early 1990s government had taken over almost the entire hospital industry. That small portion of the industry that remains for-profit is regulated in an extraordinarily heavy way by federal, state and local governments so that many (perhaps most) of the decisions made by hospital administrators have to do with regulatory compliance as opposed to patient/customer service in pursuit of profit. It is profit, of course, that is necessary for private-sector hospitals to have the wherewithal to pay for healthcare.
Friedman’s key conclusion was that, as with all governmental bureaucratic systems, government-owned or -controlled healthcare created a situation whereby increased “inputs,” such as expenditures on equipment, infrastructure, and the salaries of medical professionals, actually led to decreased “outputs” in terms of the quantity of medical care. For example, while medical expenditures rose by 224 percent from 1965–1989, the number of hospital beds per 1,000 population fell by 44 percent and the number of beds occupied declined by 15 percent. Also during this time of almost complete governmental domination of the hospital industry (1944–1989), costs per patient-day rose almost 24-fold after inflation is taken into account.
The more money that has been spent on government-run healthcare, the less healthcare we have gotten. This kind of result is generally true of all government bureaucracies because of the absence of any market feedback mechanism. Since there are no profits in an accounting sense, by definition, in government, there is no mechanism for rewarding good performance and penalizing bad performance. In fact, in all government enterprises, exactly the opposite is true: bad performance (failure to achieve ostensible goals, or satisfy “customers”) is typically rewarded with larger budgets. Failure to educate children leads to more money for government schools. Failure to reduce poverty leads to larger budgets for welfare state bureaucracies. This is guaranteed to happen with healthcare socialism as well.
Costs always explode whenever the government gets involved, and governments always lie about it. In 1970 the government forecast that the hospital insurance (HI) portion of Medicare would be “only” $2.9 billion annually. Since the actual expenditures were $5.3 billion, this was a 79 percent underestimate of cost. In 1980 the government forecast $5.5 billion in HI expenditures; actual expenditures were more than four times that amount — $25.6 billion. This bureaucratic cost explosion led the government to enact 23 new taxes in the first 30 years of Medicare. (See Ron Hamoway, “The Genesis and Development of Medicare,” in Roger Feldman, ed., American Health Care, Independent Institute, 2000, pp. 15-86). The Obama administration’s claim that a government takeover of healthcare will somehow magically reduce costs is not to be taken seriously. Government never, ever, reduces the cost of doing anything.
All government-run healthcare monopolies, whether they are in Canada, the UK, or Cuba, experience an explosion of both cost and demand — since healthcare is “free.” Socialized healthcare is not really free, of course; the true cost is merely hidden, since it is paid for by taxes.
Whenever anything has a zero explicit price associated with it, consumer demand will increase substantially, and healthcare is no exception. At the same time, bureaucratic bungling will guarantee gross inefficiencies that will get worse and worse each year. As costs get out of control and begin to embarrass those who have promised all Americans a free healthcare lunch, the politicians will do what all governments do and impose price controls, probably under some euphemism such as “global budget controls.”
Price controls, or laws that force prices down below market-clearing levels (where supply and demand are coordinated), artificially stimulate the amount demanded by consumers while reducing supply by making it unprofitable to supply as much as previously. The result of increased demand and reduced supply is shortages. Non-price rationing becomes necessary. This means that government bureaucrats, not individuals and their doctors, inevitably determine who will get medical treatment and who will not, what kind of medical technology will be available, how many doctors there will be, and so forth.
All countries that have adopted socialized healthcare have suffered from the disease of price-control-induced shortages. If a Canadian, for instance, suffers third-degree burns in an automobile crash and is in need of reconstructive plastic surgery, the average waiting time for treatment is more than 19 weeks, or nearly five months. The waiting time for orthopaedic surgery is also almost five months; for neurosurgery it’s three full months; and it is even more than a month for heart surgery (see The Fraser Institute publication, Waiting Your Turn: Hospital Waiting Lists in Canada). Think about that one: if your doctor discovers that your arteries are clogged, you must wait in line for more than a month, with death by heart attack an imminent possibility. That’s why so many Canadians travel to the United States for healthcare.
All the major American newspapers seem to have become nothing more than cheerleaders for the Obama administration, so it is difficult to find much in the way of current stories about the debacle of nationalized healthcare in Canada. But if one goes back a few years, the information is much more plentiful. A January 16, 2000, New York Times article entitled “Full Hospitals Make Canadians Wait and Look South,” by James Brooke, provided some good examples of how Canadian price controls have created serious shortage problems.
A 58-year-old grandmother awaited open-heart surgery in a Montreal hospital hallway with 66 other patients as electric doors opened and closed all night long, bringing in drafts from sub-zero weather. She was on a five-year waiting list for her heart surgery.
In Toronto, 23 of the city’s 25 hospitals turned away ambulances in a single day because of a shortage of doctors.
In Vancouver, ambulances have been “stacked up” for hours while heart attack victims wait in them before being properly taken care of.
At least 1,000 Canadian doctors and many thousands of Canadian nurses have migrated to the United States to avoid price controls on their salaries.
Wrote Mr. Brooke, “Few Canadians would recommend their system as a model for export.”
Canadian price-control-induced shortages also manifest themselves in scarce access to medical technology. Per capita, the United States has eight times more MRI machines, seven times more radiation therapy units for cancer treatment, six times more lithotripsy units, and three times more open-heart surgery units. There are more MRI scanners in Washington state, population five million, than in all of Canada, with a population of more than 30 million (See John Goodman and Gerald Musgrave, Patient Power).
In the UK as well — thanks to nationalization, price controls, and government rationing of healthcare — thousands of people die needlessly every year because of shortages of kidney dialysis machines, pediatric intensive care units, pacemakers, and even x-ray machines. This is America’s future, if “ObamaCare” becomes a reality. State-run healthcare will be like state-run everything else. It will be awful and you will come to hate it.
Currently, however, we have this unholy copulation between insurance companies and the government that is also worthy of intense hatred. The heroic Ron Paul explains on LewRockwell.com…
“No one disputes the diagnosis: American health care is in lousy shape. As a practicing physician for more than 30 years, I find the pervasiveness of managed care very troubling.
“The problems with our health care system are not the result of too little government intervention, but rather too much. Contrary to the claims of many advocates of increased government regulation of health care, rising costs and red tape do not represent market failure. Rather, they represent the failure of government policies that have destroyed the health care market.
“It’s time to rethink the whole system of HMOs and managed care. This entire unnecessary level of corporatism rakes off profits and worsens the quality of care. But HMOs did not arise in the free market; they are creatures of government interference in health care dating to the 1970s. These non-market institutions have gained control over medical care through collusion between organized medicine, politicians, and drug companies, in an effort to move America toward “free” universal health care.
“One big problem arises from the 1974 ERISA law, which grants tax benefits to employers for providing health care, while not allowing similar incentives for individuals. This results in the illogical coupling between employment and health insurance. As such, government removed the market incentive for health insurance companies to cater to the actual health-care consumer. As a greater amount of government and corporate money has been used to pay medical bills, costs have risen artificially out of the range of most individuals.
“Only true competition assures that the consumer gets the best deal at the best price possible by putting pressure on the providers. Patients are better served by having options and choices, not new federal bureaucracies and limitations on legal remedies. Such choices and options will arrive only when we unravel the HMO web rooted in old laws, and change the tax code to allow individual Americans to fully deduct all healthcare costs from their taxes, as employers can.
“As government bureaucracy continues to give preferences and protections to HMOs and trial lawyers, it will be the patients who lose, despite the glowing rhetoric from the special interests in Washington. Patients will pay ever rising prices and receive declining care while doctors continue to leave the profession in droves.”
My next post will be the quote of a lady whose husband works for a government organization.

This lady's posting is so typical of almost every government program that I know of.
1. Sure, there are quite a few people who think nothing’s wrong with our current health care system. There are also quite a few people who understand health care costs are outrageously out of control, but aren’t vacuous enough to think that a public option has to be better just because it’s “change”. Those who cling to this religion obviously have no experience or knowledge of what goes on in federal programs.
I’ve never worked directly for the federal government myself, but I have worked under contract for a federal program. That’s how I met my husband, who is (currently) a federal employee. The program he works for has helped a lot of people. However, in the 8 1/2 years that I’ve been able to see it from the inside I’ve seen:
* Millions of dollars wasted on technology that ended up not working as expected and never got used as intended. In fact, half the time it was used to surf for porn. Also, hundreds of thousands wasted on lavishly catered “symposiums” or “training sessions” at expensive resort hotels (while working under contract I was actually shipped a couple of these to provide technology support).
* Federal Employees’ Union staff who constantly run to the Union with petty complaints, hoping to get something for nothing.
* Upper management staff building their own little “kingdoms” and having their own agendas, which have little or nothing to do with efficient running of the program.
* Upper management staff driving good, dedicated lower managers out so they can replace them with “their own people”.
* Employees embezzling money from the program.
* Managers taking “short-cuts” in order to make the facility they run look good on paper
* Managers who don’t seem to know what goes on at their facilities – and don’t seem to care
* If I had to guess, I’d say maybe 60% of the employees are competent in their positions and dedicated to the success of the program. That leaves about 40% who are incompetent or just there to collect a paycheck.
* Extremely low morale. In a recent survey of federal bureaus, the one my husband works for ranked third from the bottom.
Are these really the poeple some of your readers want running our health care system? Seriously? They think these people can do it better?
Oh, and for the record, the sections of the program that are run by private contractors are run much more efficiently. They have to be, or they’ll lose their contract. Score 1 for competition!
As to this reader’s assumption that those of us opposed to a public option must be “in the upper income spectrum”, I have another revelation. I have worked for 23 years now, and in all that time I have never once made more that $46,000 in one year. That hardly puts me in the upper income spectrum. I am not financially wealthy. What I am is rational. Personality type INtJ, look it up on your favorite search engine, Mr. “Few Points”.
2. “Much is being made about “higher taxes” and “high costs” of any public option, and this is all pure conservative “think tank” propaganda foisted upon dim and paranoid minds.... But what’s not being said is that tax increases will be more than offset by reductions or elimination in insurance premiums, due to increased financial efficiencies.
Riiiiight... and “bailing out” our failing economy was only going to cost $700B. That’s it! No more!
What also is also not being said is that like Amtrack and the USPS, any public option will be able to run indefinitely at a loss, and what is not made up in higher taxes will be made up in public debt, which will eventually translate into inflation, the hidden tax.
“Increased financial efficiencies”? I have four words for you: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac. Name me one instance where the federal government creating or taking over any enterprise has ever resulted in “increased financial efficiency”, or improved efficiency of any kind. When you are financed by public funds, what incentive do you have to operate efficiently? Compassion? Nobility? Good intentions? See point #1 above.
For that matter, much has also been said on the proponents’ side that everyone who wants to will be able to keep their current private insurance. But what’s not being said is that when the government tells private insurers whom they have to cover, what conditions they have to cover and under what circumstances they have to provide coverage, they are placing all of the risk on the private insurers. And they know damned good and well this will eventually drive private insurers out of the market, as they will be forced to increase premiums geometrically in order to cover the additional costs and remain solvent, or operate at a loss – which a public option can afford to do as long as it’s subsidized by public funds, but a private company cannot.
Now, think about something as complicated as healthcare for all being run like the Post Office. Hmmmm.

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

Thomas Jefferson

ROXY

YOU SAID, "And that is my right. If Obamacare passes I will lose a right, the right to say whether or not I even want health insurance in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and I say STOP BELIEVING YOUR OWN LIES!!!!!!!

MAC

You just said it, with all the restraints of time and the enormity of the bill people need time to study and iron out the details of the idea.

Town Hall meetings (almost 2months worth) were the perfect venues to clear up your misconceptions, get information, and, not only, vent objections.

How much more time you would need, Mac, to figure the bill out? Let's say Obama gives you another 6 months, heck, why not 3 years? NO more delays, MAC. NOW IS THE MOMENT. STAND WITH US or move the heck out of the way, the progress train is rolling full steam ahead.

Mac

To see your fellow countrymen/HUMAN BEINGS die early and suffer many illnesses because of someone (Insurance companies, drug companies, Republican Party, Red-Necks, etc.) else's greed is an offense to GOD and all that is GOOD and righteous.

If Thomas Jefferson's quote held true then we would be in, not just one but, many wrangling / quarrels right now, MAC.

For instance, a lot of Americans didn't believe in George Bushes War nor his decision to bail out all those banks and insurance agencies, and it cost them not only a vast amount of tax payer dollars but also arms, legs, foot, and many lives.

Nevertheless, my dear MAC, no one accused Bush and the Republicans of being tyrannical.

Read the bill, you idiot. That is what it says. There is NO CHOICE. Healthcare becomes a right. And, if you don't buy insurance, you will be billed 2.5% of your income up to the cost of what the insurance would cost you. Ask your rep and senator if you don't believe me!!! It is called a tax, but it is really a fine/penalty, because it CANNOT be counted as taxes paid when doing your annual return. READ THE BILL. THAT IS WHAT IS SAYS. I DOWNLOADED IT FROM OBAMA'S SITE AND READ IT!!!!!!!!!

HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE BILL – READ IT!!!
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?granuleId=&packageId=BILLS-111hr3200IH

You know, it just amazes me how there seems to be a huge amount of people out there that would rather believe that the opposition of recent health care proposals, etc. are due to racial and other motives rather than the more important, "What would actually happen if this goes through and who and how are we going to pay for it?" This is what happens when the popular view of our govt. doesn't equal the popular view of it's people. I wish the "sheeple" around here would take a closer look at more recent polls of their shepherd and maybe a little bit more in-depth look at why the average, working / retired American is upset. And believe it or not, I wouldn't agree with the proposal, yes, even if the President was orange with purple stripes. I guess some just don't learn from history nor do they put much thought in to the future. Mac and Roxy, well said. You have a right to oppose and speak out as an average citizen, unlike the apparent wish of many. And thank God for our country, the people who have fought for her and our very wise founding fathers that existed to give us our right to do so. On another note, the morons who have defaced public and private property with spray paint are probably not going too far in life and rather than getting a job where they use a pen, they will more than likely use a spray paint can to voice their opinions all they way up until once again, me, you and all of our fellow Americans are paying for them and their medical needs, if they reach that age. Their actions deem them worthless and therefore, their type, incapable of producing constructive input. Jerry Springer would be proud.

Love,
Your Average, Working, Tax Paying, Crazy American Mobster # 52,846,122

It is in the bill. If you haven't read the bill and understood it you really have no right to even be commenting. I'm not believing any lies – I have read the bill! That goes for anyone else commenting here – if you haven't read the bill, you don't have any right to comment on it, either way! If you haven't read the bill, and are only commenting on what Obamaites say is there, then you are "sheep being led to the slaughter".
READ THE BILL!!! Here is the link:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?granuleId=&packageId=BILLS-111hr3200IH

Rick
Enjoy your show, and the work you do–BUT WHY WOULD
YOU GIVE THIS PASTOR ATTENTION, AND AIR TME–WHO MADE THE HORRIBLE COMMENTS ABOUT OUR PRESIDENT? Giving these people this attention, is not a good idea.
And why haven't people been arrested, that have actually made threats? We need MORE protection for our President!!

These kind of accusations against white people...I must doubt at times.

Boy, there is a lot of hate showing up on this forum. Really too bad because this is a very important issue, and, IMHO, it does really come down to the very simple fact of how we are going to pay for it. Everything that has taken place since Mr. Obama took office, and admittedly a lot of it has nothing to do with him or his politics or his color – it would have manifested itself to whomever because it has been coming to a head over many years – is going to eventually mean an increase in taxes. I will probably live long enough to start paying for it, but I truly believe that my children and grandchildren will really be burdened by the payment of all this spending. It is going to have to be paid back – there isn't any way to get around that – period. At some point the budget will have to be balanced, or we will go broke. Wherever all this money is coming from will have to be paid back – we can only hope it doesn't "come due" before we can start fixing things.
Before I continue with these thoughts, Rick Sanchez, your statement at the top of this forum is "you’ve seen us tell it straight in this emotionally-charged debate over health care." If this is true, then you should post that my statement about the 2.5% tax on those that don't want healthcare insurance, and the up to 8% tax on employers that don't provide healthcare insurance to their employers is a part of this bill. I was told by someone here to "stop believing my lies" when I previously made this statement. But I gave a link to where they could go to look at the bill and see for themselves, and I haven't seen or heard a word from you, Rick, about this fact. Now that is real, true journalism, isn't it. From what I have seen on your show, and I watch it fairly often, is that you go after the things that are going to get the most attention, whether it is something supported from the left or the right.
Now, I was taught by my father, that you never judge – and it is not really judging as only God has that to do – or form an opinion of a person based on their color (or religion, or any of those other things that people are judged by). You form your opinion based on how they act/what they do. And that is what I have always done. All these folks that are doing these horrific things at these town meetings, or any where else, are idiots. And I can assure you, they are in the minutest minority. They are hate mongers, and don't really belong to any political party, even though most people are going to claim they are one party or the other. And that is why I have never been a member of either political party. They are some things of each party that I believe in very strongly, and those are they things that most of the moderates of both parties hold that should make up this country. So when I vote I don't vote Republican nor Democrat – I vote for the person that I believe is going to do the best job of keeping this great country down the "middle of the road". That is the reason I did not vote for Bush his 2nd term, and the reason I did not vote for Obama – but I didn't vote for McCain either. I wrote in someone else that I thought would do a better job than either. And all you naysayers – that is my right – I do still have the right to vote for whomever I want to.
And all you folks that think Mr. Obama is so popular, and that this healthcare bill is supported by the majority need to pay attention to the mainstream polls, not just those posted from the left or from the right. BUT, I AM AMONGST THE VERY LARGE MAJORITY of this country that thinks/knows that something needs to be done with healthcare. But making it a bigger tax burden is not the way to do it. Because under our present tax system it will be the biggest burden, once again, on the middle class. The ones who are already paying the most taxes anyway. And "requiring" employers to provide employees with insurance is only extending support to a system that helped get us in this situation in the first place. The tax breaks, subsidies, credits – whatever they are or whatever you want to call them – need to go to the individual, not the employer. Under the current system, if an employee changes jobs, that new employer typically uses a different insurance company – thus the policy of not covering existing conditions for up to 3 or so years. Sure, this is good for the insurance companies, and they support this part of the current healthcare bill. If you were in their position you would too. They also support the idea of forcing everyone to have healthcare insurance. This is good for their pocket, too. If this tax break, subsidy, credit, is given to the individual, their insurance becomes portable, going with them wherever they work – even if they are unemployed. And this subsidy would allow everyone to buy insurance – that is everyone that wants it. There are a lot of people out there (wouldn't it be nice be one of them) that can afford healthcare without insurance. They should not pay a tax to pay for someone else's policy – even if it were me.
This "insurance voucher" (tax credit, subsidy) would cover the cost of an "essential" healthcare insurance policy – as defined in the current healthcare bill – purchased from whomever you want. You could still buy a "better", more expensive policy, if you so desired, and you have the money, but this "excess" would be taxed. And once EVERYONE is covered under this type of plan, Medicare and Medicaid can be done away with. The money that is currently being spent on them then goes to pay for the "vouchers" for the poor. Everyone continues to pay the tax they now pay for Medicare, but it becomes a tax that goes to pay for healthcare insurance for the poor.
And, then, of course, this brings up another issue that really needs overhauling here, and that is our tax system. If nothing else, continue the current system, but close ALL the loopholes.
I started working, for my Dad, when I was about 10, not because I wanted to, but because he said I had to. He was a plumbing, heating, and air conditioning contractor. I dug many a ditch and threaded, manually, not by machine, many a piece of pipe. I didn't get pay, per say, but did receive a fairly nice "allowance" for my labor. But I did start paying into Social Security at age 14, when I started working for a pipeline contractor during the summer – he was a friend of my dad's and I was the youngest guy on the job. My first "assignment" on this job was hand filing the black coating off the ends of the pipe that was laid out for about a 200 mile pipeline in a remote area of South Texas. Very hot and lonely job, and there were rattlesnakes and scorpions and the such to look out for. I think I actually killed 3 rattlesnakes during that filing job. About every hour or so someone would come around and check on me, and give me some water. But when pay day came I was a 14 year old in "hog heaven". I worked for this family friend for several summers, and was taught to operate a backhoe under his tutelage. I also worked for him for a while after I got married at age 20. I also worked in a Cotton Gin a couple of summers, and at the end of the season, my work day ranged from 8 – 16 hours, depending on how much cotton was left to bring in.
At age 22 I was fortunate enough to get a job with a very large petrochemical corporation. I started at the bottom as an operations helper working a rotating shift schedule. Because of the knowledge I gained and used, and my work ethic, I quickly advance to operator, and then to shift supervisor. 17 years into my career I was put on a special assignment to work with different teams on our sites selection, interviewing, hiring, and training processes. And then I had to put the result in place. This turned out to be a 10 "temporary, supervisory position". And then I was selected to be a middle manager and do the same thing for another site in our corporation. 5 years later, after doing just that, I retired – early – because the corporation was divesting itself of some of its businesses and they offered an nice "retirement package". Part of that package was healthcare insurance. And that brings me to point of why I truly believe something needs to be done about healthcare. When I retired I paid $114/month for an excellent insurance policy. My cost is based on a formula that included my years of service – 33 years (yeah, with the same company). Today it is costing me $598/month. Talk about eating into a fixed income retirement pay. WOW! And that is not really all of the cost. When I retired it paid 100% of diagnostics – now its 90%. After my deductible of $100 it paid 90% – now its $200 deductible and 85%. My total emergency room cost went from $50 to $100. My prescription costs have at least doubled, though we have gone to generics where we can and use WalMart pharmacy (or Walgreens, etc, where they have many generics at very good, low prices) because that is cheaper than going through our insurance company. AND, this cost is with me on Medicare, and my insurance as secondary. So Medicare cost also needs to be figured in.
So, do I think we need change – yes, I do. A bunch. But, I will say it again, most of this current healthcare bill is not the answer. And everyone here really needs to think about it, because, like me, even though I might not be in the burden, my children and grandchildren will be, and that is not something I want to leave them with.
Oh, yes, at least one other thing must be CHANGED to help with healthcare costs – Tort Reform. Cost of personal liability insurance for Drs. is astronomical! Yeah, another part of the insurance industry making money because of the condition of our healthcare industry. But they can't do without it for fear of being sued. And, really, tort reform is only part of this part of the problem. Patients actually taking responsibility for their own actions is another part of it. We are losing primary care/family physicians because of this. And until it is corrected we will continue to lose them.
Just my opinion and suggestions – something I am still entitle to!

TO ROXY......
TRIED TO ACCESS THE BILL YOU GAVE AN ADDRESS FOR BUT HAD NO LUCK. I COMPLAINED TO SOMEONE, I DON'T REMEMBER WHO, & GOT A REPLY. THE ADDRESS LISTED BELOW IS THE CORRECT ADDRESS.

"I'm not sure where you got the URL you were using to try to access HR 3200, but there is an error in the URL. The correct URL is:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?granuleId=&packageId=BILLS-111hr3200IH. "

Adele,
I don't know what happened when you tried to access it from my link, but my link on this blog and your link given go to the same place – a page where you can download the bill in TEXT, PDF, or XML format.
I copied and pasted onto a new document page my link and your link and they are exactly the same.

TO ROXY
This is the url as it is shown in your correspondence. I copied & pasted it....a.f.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?granuleId=&packageId=BILLS-111hr3200IH

Adele,
Looks the same to me, and they both go to the same place.
If a.f. stands for what I think it does, maybe you found something?

For those naysayers here is the section of the bill that includes the 2.5% tax for those that don't carry insurance.
TITLE IV–AMENDMENTS TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986
Subtitle A–Shared Responsibility
PART 1–INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
SEC. 401. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
(a) In General- Subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new part:
`PART VIII–HEALTH CARE RELATED TAXES
`subpart a. tax on individuals without acceptable health care coverage.
`Subpart A–Tax on Individuals Without Acceptable Health Care Coverage
`Sec. 59B. Tax on individuals without acceptable health care coverage.
`SEC. 59B. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
`(a) Tax Imposed- In the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (d) at any time during the taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of the excess of–
`(1) the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over
`(2) the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer.
`(b) Limitations-
`(1) TAX LIMITED TO AVERAGE PREMIUM-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The tax imposed under subsection (a) with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed the applicable national average premium for such taxable year.
`(B) APPLICABLE NATIONAL AVERAGE PREMIUM-
`(i) IN GENERAL- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the `applicable national average premium' means, with respect to any taxable year, the average premium (as determined by the Secretary, in coordination with the Health Choices Commissioner) for self-only coverage under a basic plan which is offered in a Health Insurance Exchange for the calendar year in which such taxable year begins.
`(ii) FAILURE TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL- In the case of any taxpayer who fails to meet the requirements of subsection (e) with respect to more than one individual during the taxable year, clause (i) shall be applied by substituting `family coverage' for `self-only coverage'.
`(2) PRORATION FOR PART YEAR FAILURES- The tax imposed under subsection (a) with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount of tax so imposed (determined without regard to this paragraph and after application of paragraph (1)) as–
`(A) the aggregate periods during such taxable year for which such individual failed to meet the requirements of subsection (d), bears to
`(B) the entire taxable year.
`(c) Exceptions-
`(1) DEPENDENTS- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any individual for any taxable year if a deduction is allowable under section 151 with respect to such individual to another taxpayer for any taxable year beginning in the same calendar year as such taxable year.
`(2) NONRESIDENT ALIENS- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any individual who is a nonresident alien.
`(3) INDIVIDUALS RESIDING OUTSIDE UNITED STATES- Any qualified individual (as defined in section 911(d)) (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) shall be treated for purposes of this section as covered by acceptable coverage during the period described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 911(d)(1), whichever is applicable.
`(4) INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN POSSESSIONS OF THE UNITED STATES- Any individual who is a bona fide resident of any possession of the United States (as determined under section 937(a)) for any taxable year (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) shall be treated for purposes of this section as covered by acceptable coverage during such taxable year.
`(5) RELIGIOUS CONSCIENCE EXEMPTION-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any individual (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) for any period if such individual has in effect an exemption which certifies that such individual is a member of a recognized religious sect or division thereof described in section 1402(g)(1) and an adherent of established tenets or teachings of such sect or division as described in such section.
`(B) EXEMPTION- An application for the exemption described in subparagraph (A) shall be filed with the Secretary at such time and in such form and manner as the Secretary may prescribe. Any such exemption granted by the Secretary shall be effective for such period as the Secretary determines appropriate.
`(d) Acceptable Coverage Requirement-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to any individual for any period if such individual (and each qualifying child of such individual) is covered by acceptable coverage at all times during such period.
`(2) ACCEPTABLE COVERAGE- For purposes of this section, the term `acceptable coverage' means any of the following:
`(A) QUALIFIED HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN COVERAGE- Coverage under a qualified health benefits plan (as defined in section 100(c) of the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009).
`(B) GRANDFATHERED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE; COVERAGE UNDER GRANDFATHERED EMPLOYMENT-BASED HEALTH PLAN- Coverage under a grandfathered health insurance coverage (as defined in subsection (a) of section 102 of the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009) or under a current employment-based health plan (within the meaning of subsection (b) of such section).
`(C) MEDICARE- Coverage under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act.
`(D) MEDICAID- Coverage for medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act.
`(E) MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND DEPENDENTS (INCLUDING TRICARE)- Coverage under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, including similar coverage furnished under section 1781 of title 38 of such Code.
`(F) VA- Coverage under the veteran's health care program under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, but only if the coverage for the individual involved is determined by the Secretary in coordination with the Health Choices Commissioner to be not less than the level specified by the Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs and the Health Choices Commissioner, based on the individual's priority for services as provided under section 1705(a) of such title.
`(G) OTHER COVERAGE- Such other health benefits coverage as the Secretary, in coordination with the Health Choices Commissioner, recognizes for purposes of this subsection.
`(e) Other Definitions and Special Rules-
`(1) QUALIFYING CHILD- For purposes of this section, the term `qualifying child' has the meaning given such term by section 152(c).
`(2) BASIC PLAN- For purposes of this section, the term `basic plan' has the meaning given such term under section 100(c) of the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.
`(3) HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE- For purposes of this section, the term `Health Insurance Exchange' has the meaning given such term under section 100(c) of the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, including any State-based health insurance exchange approved for operation under section 208 of such Act.
`(4) FAMILY COVERAGE- For purposes of this section, the term `family coverage' means any coverage other than self-only coverage.
`(5) MODIFIED ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME- For purposes of this section, the term `modified adjusted gross income' means adjusted gross income–
`(A) determined without regard to section 911, and
`(B) increased by the amount of interest received or accrued by the taxpayer during the taxable year which is exempt from tax.
`(6) NOT TREATED AS TAX IMPOSED BY THIS CHAPTER FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES- The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax imposed by this chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under this chapter or for purposes of section 55.

TO Roxy....a.f. stands for my initials. I don't remember looking for anything but I am up there in age so maybe I am a little bit senile.....I still intend to look at bill HR3200 but at this stage, I am very much against it. I write to my Congressmen constantly. Two of them write back but I am usually not happy with their answers...a.f.

Adele,
I was just saying that the link you posted and the link I posted are exactly the same. If I clicked on the link that I posted – twice – and I clicked on the link that you posted that was supposed to be a correction, they both take me to the same place. If you go back to my post and your post and click on both links, you will find that they, indeed, go to the same place.

America is pervated by Racism, every where you look,listen

John Purcell:
And people like you be sure to perpetuate it!!!!

We are angry, we do want our America back.. You know the one..
the one that allows us to believe in the future, believe in our elected officals, believe that all Americans and businesses want what's best for all America... but that's all gone.. the jobs lost, are not coming back !!! new green jobs are years away... how could American politicians not realize they were making China the most powerful economical nation on earth....if they have the money, some good American business or political group will sell them the technolgy and weapons... we have been sold out !!! Racism was wrong in our old America and it's wrong now.. it makes a mockery of how we practice our Christianity.. how can people not see that..

Excellent question. And one of the problems is is that the mockery comes from both sides of the fence. Even by those that proclaim to be Christians. Ha!