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Congressman Grayson Wins Another Round in Healthcare Debate
Florida Congressman Alan Grayson keeps provoking congressional Republicans and their media allies with fact-based challenges to the lies being used to block health care reform.
Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., speaks at a town hall meeting on health care in Tavares, Florida (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The insurance-industry stooges keep taking the bait.
And the truth about the high cost of delaying needed changes in America's health care delivery system keeps getting the attention it deserves.
Why is Grayson so effective?
Because, unlike many other Democrats and mainstream Republicans, he refuses to be intimidated by the bullying tactics employed by the GOP's "Party of 'No' caucus" and its accomplices.
No matter how desperately Republicans in Congress and their amen corner in the media may try to the censor the dissident Democrats, Grayson is reminding America about the trail of dead left by insurance-company greed and political neglect.
The Florida Democrat who drew national attention last month when he declared on the House floor that the Republican plan for uninsured Americans was "don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly," was back on the House floor this week to announce the creation of a website to honor the victims of the current system.
Grayson, who has taken the lead in highlighting a Harvard study that shows 44,000 Americans die annually because they have no health insurance, told the House and the nation: "I think it dishonors all those Americans who have lost their lives because they had no health coverage, by ignoring them, by not paying attention to them, and by doing nothing to change the situation that led them to lose their live."
With that in mind, he announced the launch of a Names of the Dead website.
Grayson's welcoming message at the site declares:
Every year, more than 44,000 Americans die simply because have no health insurance.I have created this project in their memory. I hope that honoring them will help us end this senseless loss of American lives. If you have lost a loved one, please share the story of that loved one with us. Help us ensure that their legacy is a more just America, where every life that can be saved will be saved.
Visitors to the site are invited to add the names and stories of people who have died. They're also asked where they stand with regard to the health-care reform debate. There are links to the Harvard study, Grayson's speeches and his congressional and campaign websites.
The last link stirred predictable objections from Republican political operatives who are not used to Democrats who take the health care debate seriously enough to try and win it.
"What is wrong with this man? Alan Grayson's morbid exploitation of ‘the dead' for personal political gain may be the most shameless stunt he's pulled yet," grumbled Andy Sere, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Sere and his compatriots -- who are paid to pull shameless stunts for political gain -- charged that Grayson had committed some kind of ethics violation. They weren't sure what kind exactly, but they wanted to get the term "ethics violation" in play.
As when congressional Republicans threatened to sanction him for bringing up the fact that people die when they are denied insurance and health care, Grayson responded with a cry of: Bring it on!
"Let them file a complaint," said the congressman, who reminded reporters that he had paid for the website with his own money. "I'm sure I'll be vindicated."
Actually, he's already been vindicated.
Opponents of health care reform are so desperately frightened by Grayson's tactics that they immediately attacked the "Names of the Dead" site and posted false names -- "Wile E. Coyote" and "Hugh G. Reckshinn" -- to mock the reality that Americans die because our insurance industry.
When your critics are reduced to making light of the innocent dead, you have won the debate.
37 Comments so far
Show AllBravo! Bravo!
Just a few more boulders in the hold of the GOP boat will sink it.
Congratulations to Representative Grayson. He speaks truth to the American people, while the whores and pimps of the Republican party leap to the defense of the Health Insurance giants.
Jim Shea
Representative Grayson and Senator Franken are men of the people. Aren't all of our senators and congresspersons supposed to represent the people? We need to put a few more brave and honorable souls amongst our senators and congresspersons. Why is prostitution illegal everywhere except Nevada and in the Congress and Senate?
Maybe he can unseat the wimp for the nomination in 2012?
KUCINICH/GRAYSON 2012!!!
When Al Qaeda killed 3000 Americans, the country mobilized and committed to wiping them off the face of the planet, and so far has spent BILLIONS toward this effort.
Meanwhile, the US Health Insurance Industry kills 15 TIMES that many EVERY YEAR, and the Congress happily takes their blood money and shills for them against the best interests of their constituents.
War on Terror? How about a War on Traitors?
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
Um, hellooooo. Grayson doesn't support single payer health care and he's our hero? Oh dear God. Either I have tightened my belt strap a bit too tight or politics has gotten even more poisonous. :(
From Rep. Grayson's website:
"Every year, more than 44,000 Americans die simply because have no health insurance." (sic)
PLEASE: can we stop conflating health CARE with health INSURANCE???
As we all know too well, even being able to afford the latter does not guarantee our receiving the former.
Grayson's statement would be better rephrased as:
"Every year, more than 44,000 Americans die simply because medical care is considered a commodity instead of a shared societal obligation."
Well then..... Write your note and post it to his new website and we'll see what happens. If he's serious, then he'll amend his statement.
Grayson like Briton's George Galloway is not intimidated to speak out AND stand up for issues in front of Congress.
The truth to these vampires in Congress is like someone opening the curtains to shine light on their lives. (Poof!)
Why can't Obama speak the truth to power!
We need to keep the Alan Graysons and the Kuchinich'es, when the public finally decides to clean house.
Why he doesn't support single-payer, IS a good question.
Maybe we should write and ask en mass. This is a really important question.
Go Grayson! We just need another 200 or so more like him in Congress.
But, it is a bit rich to see The Nation - which embodies the spineless bourgeois wing of the left, praising him.
I was about to say I'd vote for Grayson for president. I'm afraid, however, he'd wind up being another Obama. I really am done with the Democrats!
Aye pjd412, The Nation's often a joke. Nichols reaffirms this with his last line, which should read "Grayson is very effective, but the debate isn't won until single-payer health care prevails in the US."
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Shame on you!
There are some incredible people working for "The Nation".
Katrina vanden Heuvel and John Nichols are great Americans whose viewpoints are far-and-away much, much better than the vast majority of Americans'.
(I have no connection with "The Nation", or any of its employees, in any way. But, though I am financially in the "poverty class", and only subscribe to one magazine right now, I am seriously considering spending a bit of my sparse money on a second subscription.... to "The Nation".)
Rep. Alan Grayson is the sort of politician the GOP & their corporate masters fear the most: unafraid of them, doesn't need their money, & has a talent for attention grabbing that resonates.
Grayson also realizes that, unlike far too many of his fellow Democrats, politics is a bare knuckle street brawl where all that matters is who walks away triumphant. Democrats needlessly knee cap themselves while operating under the fallacy of polite and genteel politics while the GOP played hardball. Grayson does not, and that frightens the living daylights out of the Republicans, because in a fight resembling fair, they will lose more often than not.
Congressman Grayson.... he's the best.
I have heard him interviewed a few times on Air America Radio, besides the general news stories about him.
And, I can only "sigh" and wish that all of the politicians were like him.
What a superb man!
I have Medicare and money, so 'insurance reform' does not affect me directly. But I know this:
Talented corporate employees are much less likely to move to a new job, or start their own businesses, if it means that pre-existing conditions may be excluded coverage, or if there is a waiting period for benefits. This is one reason we are losing the competitive edge globally.
Americans know this, and much more, which is why polls show that, two to one, they want the freedom to have a 'Medicare type public option'. Seen in this light, one can say that congress and Obama who wring there hands at this junction is fundamentally acting in an anti-American manner.
Grayson is exactly the kind of person the Dems need as PRESIDENT!!!!!: a person who understands that the only way to deal with republicans ((since republicans have learned the lesson that lies and screaming-insanity work better than truth and fair dealing)) is NOT to try to reason with them, but to get out the political-baseball bat and just keep beating them on the head with it until they're on their knees, with blood all over them, begging for mercy (but don't give them any!). It's the only thing republicans respond to; political pain.
Grayson comes as a leader in a country crying out for one. Cons will try to smear him, bribe him or kill him. We need to stand behind this man.
As one of the 47 million+ Americans with zero health insurance, I applaud Mr. Grayson's courage on this issue. The Republican brand is clearly on the loosing side of this one. The 'tea baggers' well paid for appearances are sponsored by Big Pharma, Big Private Insurance and of course, Fox News. The louder they scream, the crazier they sound.
The 'Party of No' also solidly supports Halliburton over the rights of sexually assaulted young women. They have become a regional party of the South without much support elsewhere. It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of thugs.
GRAYSON 2012!!
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
Isn't it sad how the killing 2,984 people on 9/11 has fueled a war the has cost more than $923,590,090,999 and over a million lives. Terrorism is hailed as the greatest threat to our lives but the actual cost in lives and dollars of what the Heathcare & Pharma Industry, Military Industry, Food Inc. Wall Street Banksters, Corrupt elected officials and the repeal of basic human rights and tenants of basic Justice afforded by our constitution and Bill of Rights have decimated us as citizens and a nation more than any terror strike could ever.
The beast we have created through our inaction, apathy and fear is now feeding on us like it has the rest of the planet for decades. The beast is blind and without remorse or emotion.
The main problem is that the beast provides for us much like a mother bird, it regurgitates into the blind and weak mouths of it's young trapped in their nest. Though, unlike a mother bird that will stop this to force her young to grow, our beast wants to keep the dependence and keep us blind and weak.
Time to wean ourselves off this beast. Time to realize our own strength, wing span and the sharpness of our claws.
No longer can we expect an ANY elected official to effect the beast. The Beast must die in the street and the hands of entire nation, awakened by realization that a positive future exists only after the beast is dead and buried. Then and only then will we understand how to move into the world beyond this nest of blindness and weakness.
The action starts with you.
God can't any of you think for yourselves?!
It never even says in the article if he supports nation health insurance, or some bullsh*t public option.
If he was really passionate about what he was doing, why is he not calling out the dems who have REFUSED to support single-payer?
"OMG HE'S A HERO!!!!"
Go on his website and view the bill he supports...it's requiring everyone to buy (mandating)PRIVATE health insurance
"don't buy health insurance, pay 2.5% of your income anyways"
grayson.house.gov
You'll all getting excited over a big hunk of sh*t...CRITICAL THOUGHT...USE IT.
Similar to how the Bush Administration did not want pictures or video of coffins of war dead being shown. It's all about keeping the bad news under wraps. Maybe we won't notice.
Greedy sociopaths such as those who feign being upset at Grayson's web site have no shame, no scruples, and wouldn't know (or care about) hypocrisy if it came up and bit their noses off.
Unfortunately, it seems that most of the creeps, Dimocraps and RepubliKKKlans, running our nation are greedy sociopaths, and that we have unwittingly created a political system which breeds such creeps.
And, because they make the laws in this corrupt system, it will be nearly impossible to change it.
Grayson, Wyden, Kucinich and a few others are refreshing voices partly because they refuse to be intimidated or even appear to be by the remaining shell of Reflublican "No" voices.
In watching Obama give the Reflublicans every opportunity to work WITH those who put them out of control so clearly and soundly, it is ever more clear to most citizens that the Conservatives are all about sound bites of fear and no substance. It may take longer for the President to make his point with the minority that they can have a voice, as long as it is not just "No", but a reasoned argument worthy of respect. It's just not his style or method to make more enemies in order to 'win' a battle, no matter how small.
Eventually, in order to survive, ( as we have seen some former members of the Congress and actual Republicans voice their disapproval of current Reflublican behavior ), the current opposition will either come around to the idea that honest debate and cooperation works or they will fold as a party, to their shame and disservice to all democracy.
you have too much faith in Obama/democrats, they are co-conspirators with the republicans, they all get their "washington bonuses" from the same group. Those former members of congress that are voicing their disapproval are most likely only doing so because...they are former members, they don't get campaign contributions, so they don't have to worry about serving their masters.
Whats happening with health care is called appeasement. I don't see why anyone would support mandated private health insurance, hell, look at what that did to Mass, or look what private insurance is doing to switz.
Nothing will change until people finally start caring and take a stand.
:: just a side note, we don't live in a democracy ;)
I am not impressed with many of the American Politicians.
I am not impressed with many of the Canadian Politicians.
But I really Like Dennis Kucinich. If he was a Canadian I would welcome him as Prime Minister.
I agree with you, MBK. I don't lump Obama in with the likes of Grayson, Kucinich, Weiner, and others in this group. These guys speak with far more passion and conviction than Obama has ever been able to muster -- in much fewer words, too. I don't think Obama is capable of passion on any issue. I don't know why people are still waiting for Obama to "pop," so to speak. He has shown us his MO and it's not much to rave about. It's simply more intelligent-looking and sounding business as usual. I hope the luster wears off for more supporters in time to put this guy's feet to the fire and make him work for the people before it's too late -- if it's not already.
I watched "Sicko" last night. I've never been able to watch it all the way through because I knew it would get to me emotionally. I can be one of those people. I work hard, I'm not insured. I've gotten as far as I have only because I have done my best to take care of myself, but life happens. The portion about France always gets to me, the fact that these people are not afraid of their government and boy do they take to the streets when things don't set right -- thousands and thousands of people in the streets of Paris or wherever. They do not take freedom or their hard-won rights for granted. Probably has a lot to do with their long history.
Americans are indeed hard workers, but when it comes to standing up for what's right for our society and true freedom we are stunningly lazy. When I try to engage with people about what is going on in our country they express fear but there is also "I don't want to talk about that now," "that's too negative, think positive," and those are just two examples. In nine months Obama has become predictable and boring, and the bots are simply content to say, well, at least he's not Bush.
I hope Grayson doesn't burn out and keeps the passion going. We need this and we need many more like him. Let's back this guy and give him lots of encouragement.
I don't know why people are still waiting for Obama to "pop," so to speak.
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I love it!
· Yr Obd't Servant
What a go-getter!! I'm not even from the South (I would HOPE all the Southern states didn't live in the hills and were named Billies!) and I like this man Grayson already! Kucinich, Grayson and Franken are the core of something good finally happening in Congress. Most of the rest are yesterday's warmed-over toast!
Best wishes to the new Three Musketeers!
He was born and raised in the North and educated in the North. I don't know if that has something to do with the way he is. He's from the Bronx originally. People from the Bronx are quite down to earth and they're tough.
More like this guy!
Wow! I hope Grayson is just as honest and ferocious on other issues.
However, many more people die who have health insurance altho the percent is higher among those who don't. (The Freakonomics guys talked about this on 20/20 Friday night) This figure is suspect because we don't have statistical analysis of what they die of. I have a friend without health insurance who is very overweight due to sprains, etc that kept her from being able to walk much. She tried Atkins and lost 30 lb. She stopped because "I like my cocktails too much" You can't save everybody from themselves and if you try you will go broke. Oops, we are already broke.
If the huge profits don't come out of everything associated with health care by completely changing how health care is administered, a system change of any kind will probably destroy us. These are powerful organizations/people who would destroy us all is they can't get what they want. I don't suggest we give it to them, just that we are smart about taking it away.
Thank you Representative Grayson. However I wish you were fighting as hard for a single payer health care plan. I am so afraid that this pandering to the insurance industries and leaving the private profiteers with so much power and control will prevent the public option from ever being able to succeed. We all know that if all citizens chip in for national health care needs in America then there will likely be no deficit. But I worry about the same result from this public option if it depends on payments from the members who are struggling to meet payments of their bills.