When Mike Huckabee was running for Republican nomination for President in 2008, he was often described in the media as one of the most compassionate conservatives. I did not consider him at all compassionate, but was willing to acknowledge that he was among the least of the worst, all of whom were horrid. I suppose that’s still true, but his performance yesterday defined Republican values quite well.
When Republicans attack health care reform, Democrats like to counter by accusing Republicans of wanting to repeal a law that requires insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions. According to Republican Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, that’s exactly right. People with pre-existing conditions, he explains are like houses that have already burned down.
"It sounds so good, and it’s such a warm message to say we’re not gonna deny anyone from a preexisting condition," Huckabee explained at the Value Voters Summit today. "Look, I think that sounds terrific, but I want to ask you something from a common sense perspective. Suppose we applied that principle [to] our property insurance. And you can call your insurance agent and say, "I’d like to buy some insurance for my house." He’d say, "Tell me about your house." "Well sir, it burned down yesterday, but I’d like to insure it today." And he’ll say "I’m sorry, but we can’t insure it after it’s already burned." Well, no preexisting conditions."… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <TPM>
The crowd went wild with approval. These Republicans are claiming to represent Christian values, but they lie. They represent the values of Supply Side Jesus, not the real one.
We don’t have to go far to find Jesus’ opinion on health care. Just look at the parable of the Good Samaritan. What the Samaritan did demonstrates an authentic Christian value.
Had Supply Side Jesus been real, not a Republican invention to justify their gospel of war, hate, and greed, he would have checked the wounded traveler, found that he did indeed have a preexisting condition, stolen whatever he had, and kicked him into the ditch. That would demonstrate Republican values, as Huckabee’s statement clearly shows.
Keith Olbermann and David Corn covered this well.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Now consider this. If, as stated above, is the least of the worst, what can we expect from the rest?
One thing is certain. The values voters hypocrites do NOT value you.
20 Responses to “What Values Voters Don’t Value: You”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Now here is the reality. When you really think on it with Huckabee’s logic there should be no health care at all for anyone in this country. Because from the day you are first conceived (if that is where you believe life begins) or take your first breath every single person is going to need health care. Even that new born once out of the womb has a pre-existing condition that needs medical attention. babies whether born healthy or not need health care as soon as they come.
Take it a step further, though we all walk a separate road at some time on that road we all know we will need the attention of the medical industry, even if it is for a simple antibiotic, the condition that allowed the infection (no matter how simple the infection) pre-existed. Fate alone dictates that at some point even if it is end of life care as the first time you have seen a doctor there is a pre-existing condition for medical attention.
So I say we push to abolish all medical care for everyone at any time because whether by fate or circumstance every condition is pre-existing. I had my gall bladder removed in March, it took 55 years for it to get to the point where it needed removal but the conditions that led up to its removal were long present.
So no health care for anyone (especially government wannabee’s) let’s get back to roots and poultices made in the kitchen and the laying on of hands and anointing with oil and prayer to be the new medical system for this country. If they are such great believers in the power of Jesus then they should be all right without any doctors care.
Of course apostates from all creeds such as myself would be fucked but then to them and most everyone but my old lady and the kids, I don’t matter much because I draw SSD and Medicare.
There’s truth in what you say, Mark. Life is indeed a preexisting conditions, but that matters not to Republicans. You and I paid in all oor lives. God forbid that we should actually get part of it back.
Here’s yet another example of republicans blindly and stupidly following their leaders. Huckabee could say, “Babies are evil! Destroy all babies!” And the crowd would still go wild; “Oh, he must’ve meant Iranian babies!”
Nikolai, that’s a good point. The sheeple think what they are told to think.
I just got back from infiltrating the stygian bowels of the Abyss, also known as the Values Voters Summit, and I second Nikolai’s comment. The audience cheerfully applauded whatever the speakers said, no matter how contradictory.
Ahab, how did you stand it? Did you ever identify yourself there?
I wonder if the return of the GOP to majority will prove to be enough to get through to those who are too obsessed with Lady Gaga and Lindsey Lohan to care about the real issues affecting their lives. It may well prove that providing the masses with “corn sugar” bread and celebrity circuses will distract enough people so that the corporatists can rule as they desire – and for their own benefit.
Realist, I hope you are incorrect, but I would not argue the point.
This is an excellent argument for government provided single payer health care. People’s health and well-being is simply not amenable to the insurance model. Health care is not something that involves a lot of consumer choice or control in many cases. The entire free market health insurance concept needs to die. God knows it’s caused enough deaths itself.
Welcome, Kbman. I fully agree and rill remain an advocate for single-payer until the last health insurance company crawls off in search of the next rip off.
I’m 72 and have Health problems that lead me to believe that I’m coming to the end of my life. If these Value Voters take power, I simply hope that my life will end sooner than later. I love this Country, but there is no way that I want to live under a Theocracy. As I said before Bush’s re-election “Be Careful What you Wish For” I think the same warning applies here.
Best wishes and thoughts for a full and rapid recovery.
Welcome Denyse. 🙂
I second Nameless’ wishes for you.
Yes, it is the insurance paradigm itself that doesn’t fit healthcare well. And this is why a reform of the health insurance market, no matter how thorough it is, never achieves the actual goal: health care for all.
Welcome Bob. I fully agree and consider the current reform only the first baby step toward single-payer.
Several comments
1.Why do wealthy republicans want to tell the rest of us what we should or should not do?
He could afford insurance at any price. The same with palin, beck, hannity ,limbaugh etc.
sarah palin has a baby with several pre existing conditions, heart, vision and hearing.
2. I want to see huckabee tell her, to her face, that her son, for the rest of his life, should not have insurance. Of course, palin as a millionaire many times over, would have no problem with this. But it might have been a hugh problem if she was still on her governors salary and her son had more problems.
3. Should we get rid of life insurance? You really have to die to collect that!!!!
4. Why can all the other industrialized nations provide health care for all their citizens?
Could it be that the US is not as great as we think since it the republicans say we can’t afford to cover everyone?
Just asking
1. They want to control others for their own profit.
2. Huckabee does not have the guts to do that.
3. The Republican plan for that is to keep the premiums and reroute the death benefits to the top 1%.
4. Because they are spending what they collect in taxes on services for their people. We are spending it on welfare for the rich.
Typical Republican (NOT Christian) misrepresentation! False analogy!!
If Health Insurance is to be compared to Property Insurance, the ananlgous case would be that the house has termites or water damage or faulty electrical wire.
No Property Insurer comes to your house to inspect it then declines to cover your structure!
In the Republican fantasy the house that is already burnt down would be a dead person.
I think we can all agree that Health Insurerers can legally still deny a dead man coverage.
Welcome, Shannon. 🙂
I completely agree. The video makes the same point.