Washington (CNN) - GOP leaders and thousands of Tea Party movement protesters gathered on Capitol Hill Thursday to call House Democrats' health care reform bill a full-blown government takeover of the nation' health care system.
"My colleagues and I last week were wracking our brains trying to figure out what could we do, because quite simply Republicans don't have the votes to kill this bill," Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota told the crowd. "Every lever of power is controlled by one party now in DC. We tried to figure out what we could do. We knew that we were limited. But what we knew was unlimited was the voice of persuasion of the American people, and that's why you are here today with your voice of persuasion.
"....Let me assure you your efforts to stop this bill are being heard loud and clear. And I will guarantee you that we are committed to making sure that not one Republican will vote for this bill."
Actor John Ratzenberger, known partly for his role as Cliff Clavin in the 1980s sitcom "Cheers," slammed the Democratic bill as a form of socialism.
"These are Woodstock Democrats," he said at the rally. "We have to remember where their philosophy comes from. It doesn't come from America. It comes from overseas. It comes from socialism. And socialism is a philosophy of failure."
Police later arrested 12 protesters outside Pelosi's office for unlawful entry or disorderly conduct, according to Capitol Hill police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.
Democrats have rejected an alternative $60 billion House GOP reform plan as inadequate for meeting the goals of expanding health coverage to most of the nation's 46 million uninsured while bringing down costs and ending controversial industry practices such as denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
From CNN Politics
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CNN had pro public option protests right outside of their New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles offices today and refused to cover any of them. We might have to start calling them "fair and balanced" just like Faux News.
Did they remember to arrest Rep. Michele Bachmann?
Why were they arrested ouside the WENCH's office?
Didn't PELOSI have an event on the HILL last week and restricted the attendees so only her fake supports weould be in the crowd.
Pelosi is a joke. No one has respect for Mrs. Botox.
Hmm...I didn't see Michelle Bachmann leading any protests when the GOP was the power in control. Could she be a hypocrit? Or is she merely self-serving?
"Police later arrested 12 protesters outside Pelosi's office"
So I guess The First Amendment no longer applies in the halls of Congress???
Congratulations, America, you reap what you have sown.
And the other side of the aisle is no better either!
um, I am sorry, but michelle "NUTJOB" bauchman is CRAZY! Shes dangerous and scary. She is like beck and limpballs trying to start violence in this country! SHAME on her, and honestly, she should be put in a cage! Oh and video guy, the country DOES respect Pelosi, and get used to her, she is NOT going anywher!
"CNN had pro public option protests right outside of their New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles offices today and refused to cover any of them. We might have to start calling them "fair and balanced" just like Faux News."
How does it feel to be on the other side for a change??
Let's see that makes the count 190.000,000,0000 to 1 in favor of liberal bias.
Man, these teabaggers love to cause trouble, why can't these people be more respectful with their protest?...oh yeah the fear, hate, and lies
This wacko Bachmann has to be hanging out with Palin. Bet they don't drink Tea.
ALL Americans Deserve HealthCare-the same type of coverage as this Congresswoman has! I'm sure most of these idiots yelling and screaming take advantage of those Socialism programs like Social Security and Medicaid..
Go home and thank your lucky stars we have a great, smart, informed, intelligent Presdient after 8 horrible years of lies and overspending, etc.!
Signs seen at this GOP event:
"Obama takes his orders from the Rothchilds,"
and a genuinely disturbing one featuring the piled bodies of Holocaust victims, with the text "National Socialist Healthcare: Dachau, Germany – 1945."
Please ask Boehner, Cantor et al. for their opinions. Obviously the GOP is not planning to make any inroads among Jewish voters any time soon.
Someone should tell Bachman we have a thing in America called elections. Those who govern make laws which are implemented as policies. That means government makes binding decisions private actors must comply with under penalty of law.
If you don't like those decisions you don't get to stay and have it your way by crying about it. You are free to leave the country or work to elect those who share your point of view. If the Dems pass a reform bill you will pay for it. And there isn't a thing you can do about because you do not have a majority in congress or in this country for that matter.
Just as there wasn't anything the dems could do about Bush and the republicans in 2003 when they passed a 1.2 trillion dollar health care bill.
The problem with republicans like you on the right is you are only willing to accept the rules of the game when you win. Which pretty much means you're a child.
From what reliable news sources report the protesters arrested were pro-pelosicare supporters & were arrested outside of Joe Lieberman's office. Get your stories straight.
Gee, I'm guessing not a majority of Americans are not koolaid drinking idiots that think this scam is a good idea.
Send these lib dolts a message today, and send them packing in 2010 and 2012.
The Republicant's haven't voted on a bill since Obama took office. This is not news. But we don't need them to vote. Finally change we can believe in.
I support health care reform. The health care bill cost needs to be reduced to $900 billion or below, but otherwise, I support it.
As far as people being arrested, whatever happened to the law and order conservatives? The law shouldn't apply to them? They should be glad there weren't dogs and fire hoses.
Keep the heat on these looney left socialists. This is AMERICA. And if this bill was any good whatsoever, the Dems would have jammed it down our throats already. I am shocked that the Botox Queen wouldn't meet with real Americans. NOT!!!!! Stop the socialists now, just 12 months left before they go away for good.
Great Americans, all.
My colleagues and I last week were wracking our brains trying to figure out what could we do, because quite simply Republicans don't have the votes to kill this bill," Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota told the crowd
Gee maybe the Republicans should have worked with the Democrats to figure out a better more improved bill....not wrack their brains trying to Kill something the majority of the American public wants. Yes majority!
Soon the far right crazies will be saying there were "millions" protesting there today...
Helping others is one thing; giving others no incentive to help themselves is another.
I'm assuming they will have the freedom to speak from JAIL.
I'm SURE that they did something to deserve to be arrested, BUT
I'm sure that they will whine like babies about their Constitutional Rights and make up stories about Grandma, who was with them when they started but who was STOLEN FROM THEIR MIDST, and that he organs were harvested and sold to the Chinese.
Free speech is worthless unless the words spoken have value... And tea baggers, by and large make noise, not statements.
who pays the tea partiers salaries, do they get golden parachutes when they retire?
These teabaggers are completely insane. It's pretty fitting that the guy who played a congenital loser and liar on T.V. is their visible spokesman.
when will republicans even try to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem that they currently are.
When you get 2 million people, let us know, we'll listen. But until then, STFU, you were beat and you are worthless dirt bags (obviously with no jobs too).
I guess You don't have to be able to read to be a Tea Bagger or republicancy just like Bhoner was reading from the declaration of Independence today and calling it the Constitution of the US. I think Bachmann and this fruit cake from North Carolina are seriously in need of a Mental Competency evauation. These nuts are doing the will of the lobbist and Insurance industry, they could care less about the large number of Americans who are suffering and dying daily due to lack of health insurance. I am fortunate to have Insurance in which my prenumims increases annually un check with no explanation, either you pay or be without, unlike these knuckle heads, I understand what the uninsured are going through I am suffering and I can afford to pay for health insurance.
A MAJORITY of Americans are in favor of a Public Option.
The AMA has signed on to the bill as written.
AARP is on board.
Who's left out? Big Insurance, Big Pharma and their supplicants.
c-span had boxer and the other senators at the hearingyesterday ,,, it look like a tuesday night at the sr rest home,,,,, we need new leadership ,,,new ideas ,, people who can work to makes this country better,,, get rid of the old , grumpy, tired l scrooges and get new younger senators,,,, both parties,,,tea party or not we need big time change,,,
It is just so puzzling to a non-American listening to this debate over health-care. We simply are mystified by a nation of such wealth NOT having public health-care. We know you are a nation built on money-making but wrack our brains trying to understand how having people go bankrupt because of healthcare bills is a good thing for capitalism. In the same way that policing, firefighting, education, libraries, roads etc are not held up for capitalist endeavor, why is health-care excluded from public funding???
Palin/Bachman in '12...what a dream (nightmare) ticket!
These Teabaggers are getting quite pathetic. It appears no election is good enough except when they win. Why not try yo become that "loyal opposition" the Democrats were for the previous 8 years.
Bachmann complains: ""Every lever of power is controlled by one party now in DC. "
Uh, yeah. That's because one party won landslide victories last year. That's how democracy works.
The congress is pushing America toward a civil war and no one cares!
So these morons would rather have leaders who spend money on war crimes than helping Americans? Killing a million Iraqis for no good reason is a good way to spend, but actually making America better is somehow evil?
If republicans ever find themselves in power again, I want to see ALL of these folks doing the exact same thing when a right winger is spending their tax dollars.
Why are they not reporting about the pro public option protesters arrested outside Joe Lieberman's office because he is filibustering the Health Care Reform Bill?
if you are going to report, try to report both sides of the story CNN.
really democrats, do we even think these ex-republican teabaggers would ever vote for us anyway? we got the ama and aarp today. more will come. keep up the good work.
Gee, we were told by Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton in 2007 that dissent is patriotic. Funny how that only applies to liberal dissenters. Right , "bay area thinker" ?
Are all these protesters independently wealthy: or stay at home moms/dads: or did they take the day off work to protest: or are they currently unemployed and taking advantage of the extended unemployment benefits and at the same time protest government spending????????????
yeah yeah. they said the same thing about Medicare. now look at them. half of them draw from it and don't want anyone to mess with it.
it's almost as if the GOP is made up of metally retarded people. they just can't understand that taking care of people is actually more important than Big Business and Big Insurance being in total control.
They decide who to cover, how much to cover, what to pay and when to pay. it's a terriblly sick system.
47 uninsured americans? Half of those 'americans' are illegal. half of the other half would rather pay for iphones and plasma tv's than health insurance. so really, we are going to spend over a trillion dollars for what is really 10-15 million uninsured americans. wow, novel idea! I guess the over 50% of americans who don't pay taxes don't see a problem with this, but i do. i can't believe my tax dollars are going to fund abortions. that thought makes me shutter.
For allyou leftist who will not have to pay for all this spending since you have your handout instead. As a taxpayer I think people on welfare such as this health care program should pay a part liek co-pays and deductables or do service like cleaning trash off streets, highways, and parks as a seervice to the taxpayers. Oh, I forgot that is slavery making you work for your so called entitlement.
Anything Michele Bachmann is involved with has got to be bad the woman is a raving nut case.
just a reminder to Bachman and the Teabagging idiots– America's voice was heard last november, when we threw the bumbling Republicans out of office and claimed victory on a PLATFORM of healthcare reform among other things.
We dont want your religious zealotry, racial intolerance and contempt for the working class. we dont want your kooky trickle-down theories or corporate welfare, your "United" States that has us all divided.
So GOP leaders were outside pandering their base instead of working today or perhaps working on an alternative plan?!?!?!
Who's the wasteful spenders now?
Maybe Republicans should be outraged that the Govt officials they elected are not working even though they have jobs. Maybe we should be giving their jobs over to people who actually want to work?
Go Tea Baggers!
Some of you are so incredibly blind. The AARP is nothing more than a Democratic lobbying group! The AARP was running commercials in my state in support of the democratic bill BEFORE IT WAS EVEN PRINTED! THEY DIDNT CARE WHAT IT CONTAINED!!!
What these guys don't realize is that they're in the minority. The democrats were elected into office by the people. They're doing what they were elected to do.
Never a dull minute for the wingnuts. Can somebody explain to them that our representatives are elected by the people-. Fortunately they don't have the votes to elect very many.
Hey Republicans it's turn abouts fair play, when you held the majority in the House and Congress the Democrat didn't have a prayer either of getting their way.........so BITE IT!! The last poll I saw was that 58 percent of Americans supported this Health Bill and today AARP and the American Medical Asso. are behind it........so to bad.......all you Republicans are looking out for just yourself and not the needs of the rest of the people in this country who need Health Care.......and all we can see is that you are continueing to put up Road Blocks for this administration.......the Party of NO at it again !!!!!!
I saw on another news channel where some of these teabaggers had to be given "TALKING POINTS" when they came to the protest...which means to me if this is true that over half of these folks don't even know what the hell they are protesting. As far as some getting arrested, welcome to the real world of protest guys, war protesters and gay rights protesters are arrested ALL THE TIME. So poster here called Tanni m..you must have your head in the sand if you think this is the first time a protester has been thrown in the clink.
Bachmann is as much an idiot as Palin and anyone who believes them couldn't be too bright.either.
You notice that every day its the same rightwing heckler using many names on here.Shes an escaped mental patient thats sits home all day thinking of things to say and do against her government.
This is the reason we can't get anything done: ignorant, angry, paranoid bigots who are afraid of change.
Don't listen to them. Keep the fire-hose on stand-by if they get to rowdy, and don't cover it. Adults throwing temper tantrums aren't news.
WWJD?
If these "christians" are "living examples" of Christ, He would let those living in poverty and without health insurance, die.
thousands demanstrated in washington.cnn where is the pan out pictures thousands thats a pretty large crowd.lets see these thousands of TEA BAGGERS.COME ON GET YOUR REPORTERS ON THE GROUND.I THINK THOUSANDS IS EXAGRATED. SHOW US
Can't wait until 2010 when I and others get to kick out the rest of the communists who have infiltrated our congress. P.S. as to AARP supporting the House's healthcare plan–the reason they did so was because they know that this plan has no chance of getting past the Senate where (thank God) more true americans are waiting to kill most if not all of it. As to this mess that we find ourselves in, as I predicted last year when Obama (who is a communist pure and simple) was elected, most voters did not comprehend what it was they were voting for. Now they are seriously aware of just what kind of change it was and they want nothing at all to do with it. This is why the GOP won big last night and will do so again next year. Warning to every voter: No one party should ever have have complete dominance for making laws in this country. Power should be shared as absolute power always corrupts.
It kinda disgusts me that I'm paying for these people. I would LOVE to go out Tea Partying during the day. But I have a JOB. I WORK. So I can pay taxes, and Medicare, and Social Security, which all of these protesters either have or will have in the future. Stop travelling and trying to kill healhtcare on MY dime!!!!!!!
Question: When Republicans held the majority in both the Senate and the House, how many health care reform proposals did they present to the American people?
TeaBaggers, if the majority of Americans agree with you like you say...why did the Democrats just pick up 2 seats in the House, the entity that is voting on Health Care Reform? The majority of Americans support health care reform and a public option. Just because you scream the loudest, doesnt mean you represent the country.
They should have arrested Pelosi and Reid. They are the worse thieves in Washington. We are slowly becoming a socialist country. God help us.
I am for health care reform. The only reason the Republicans are against it is because they know it will benefit and work for all Americans. They dont want that to happen because then their chances for 2010 and 2012 are all but gone. The same reason they are against climate change, they cannot let it succeed if they want to stand a chance during these coming elections. Good strategy, but will it work???
QUESTION.........Where do you find "thousands" of teabaggers to bus into DC for a protest on thursday? These people cannot have jobs or families to support.......or maybe they are living off the government and are available to take a free trip.
bunch of tea baggers.
AFP bused these people in, former Republicans staffers on the payroll all paid for by a Billionaire with ties to the medical and oil industry. CNN please show the FACTS NOT THE SPIN!!!! David Koch working in conjuction with Batty Bauchman and the right wing spin machine to blow this up as we the people! CNN DO YOUR JOB!! Show the World what FRAUDS THESE PEOPLE ARE!!!
YAWN!!! Am a Moderate Republican, but they let it be known who's allowed to be a "Republican." Just out of spite, I will be voting Democrat in 2010. They don't want my vote, I'll give it to someone who does.
Nice healthcare plan Repubs.....CBO says it will mean even more uninsured........but the insurance companies will be happy..........Party of NO CLUE................
I can guarantee you and ready to bet $1000000 with anybody that if they do a poll among these teabaggers protesters you will see:
50% of them on medicare or Medicaid
30% Uninsured
10% With Shady insurance policies with high deductibles
10% Don't know if they have insurance or not they are emntally challenged
Somebody who have that much time at his disposal has to be unemployed or receiving foodstamp.
Sorry, but this over-the-top type of reaction helps no one. I never bet but would feel confident to bet that almost no one in that crowd could competently debate the health care issue, let alone the proposals in front of Congress.
This 'do nothing and let the country crash' approach by the far right and the GOP is DANGEROUS! It's making things worse by the day.
They may be loud, they may be obnoxious, they may be self-righteous, but the GOP and the tea baggers are in the MINORITY when it comes to health care reform.
And if not Republican votes for reform, then fine – we'll do it without them.
It will just be further evidence that their loyalty lies with big business health care, not the people who work hard, get ill and lose everything because their health insurance company dropped them like a hot potato.
bunch of tea baggers. go get a job already, theyre out there!
"Let me assure you your efforts to (allow insurance companies to remain exempt from anti-trust laws and continue gaining massive profits while increasing your premiums and cutting your care) are being heard loud and clear. And I will guarantee you that we are committed to making sure that not one Republican will vote for (fair, affordable heathcare for its citizens)." – Actor John Ratzenberger, known partly for his role as Cliff Clavin in the 1980s sitcom "Cheers," slammed the Democratic bill as a form of socialism. Ratzenberger, 62, who currently receives SOCIAL Security benefits, declined to state whether or not he will decline socalized Medicare when he reaches age 65.
HAHA, come get a taste of what all other protesters face.
For all that complain about thier tax dollars going to fund illeagals or abortions I say this. . .
I dont want my taxes paying for WAR!!!! It goes against my personal values.
Besides I thought that the plan was not going to cover abortions or illegals, so whats the problem?
Mindless masses merge on Capital Hill, shouting they do not want Governmental Help with their Health Care Coverage.
It's amazing that Big Pharma can deploy their message so effectively that people that are now shelling out 1,000 – 3,000 US Dollars per month to pay for adequate health care insurance are pushed into begging the US Government not to help lower their monthly costs.
Where their eyes glassy, or just shining with a red light?
A. Smith
Oregon
We are finally using the same tactics the liberals have used over the last 40 years, The only difference is that those in power today have NO clue as to how to LISTEN to what the protesters are saying. If this bill passes, it will be irreversible and a disaster...... we do not want to say "I told you so" when it is too late.
Idiots one and all. I love this wingnut tools that throw Socialism around for any government program they don't like, but have nothing to say about Police and Fire protection, Public Schools, Medicare, Farm Subsidies....the list goes on. None of them have any problem with spending billions of $$ to go to war and use our tax money for war profiteers like Haliburton but heaven forbid we stop the insurance companies from raping people who can't afford it?!! Morons. Can't help but notice the lack of ethnic groups and diplomas in that crowd. Even Margaret Thatcher, a conservative, was hands off in England when it came to the National Health System.....cause the vast majority in Britain knows it works better than ONLY privatized health care/death panels. Wake Up America.
Look at all the wingnuts here, strutting around like they're the only ones who've ever gotten up in the morning, went to work and paid their taxes.
Newsflash: I've been a liberal all my life and I've NEVER been unemployed, NEVER received an unemployment check, never lost my job to anyone else, and NEVER needed an excuse. Been paying my taxes for 35 years too.
And still, STILL, I believe people have a right to affordable healthcare.
Climb down off the cross, GOP hypocrites, and quit playing the working-class victim - everyone's tired of it.
I'm truly curious.
Is it NOT a violation of House Rules for one member of Congress to incite mob action against another Member?
This is much worse than saying "LIAR" at a speech. This is something that could have gotten entirely out of hand and someone could have gotten hurt.
I sincerely hope, in order to keep the US Congress from degrading into some kind of Taiwanese Parliament Brawl, that a motion of Censure be made against Rep Bachmann. Her behavior is appalling, and she demeans the office to which she was elected.
Health care has been on the table since the Truman Era ... the GOP had their chance in the last administration ,,, the only thing they did is pass an unfunded (add to the deficit) medicare program that was an early Christmas for Big Pharma ... like Scrooge ... they want people to die and thus decrease the surplus population ...
Thanks to Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rush, Palin, and the rest of the "Kill Healthcare" and "We Want Failure" crowd for another egregious display of exactly what is wrong with our country: corporate greed, rampant disinformation, petty politics, a spineless Democratic party and a hateful, elitist Republican party, all covered by an equally guilty and profit- driven mainstream and right wing media .
Traitors and saboteurs, every last stinking one of them.
It would be nice if before next years elections the laws were changed so that the only people who could vote were those who pay income tax. The folks who won't work and live off our tax money should not be allowed to vote.
If someone is getting our tax money they should have to take a drug test weekly.
Peaceful, public protest is a sign of a healthy society. I don't agree with the tea party gang, but I wouldn't want them censored. As to the ones arrested, well, there are well-defined lines you don't cross in a protest, and the DC cops are experts on them. Besides, getting arrested over your principles is considered a badge of honor by many.
I wonder if any of these protesters were aware that 8 trillion of our 11 trillion debt was accumulated under Pres's Reagan (2), Bush 41 (1), and W (5), or that Clinton ran 6 budget surpluses.
Pelosi is the one that ought to be arrested. She and her socialist buddies have stolen from several future generations.
Please democrats vote for health care so we can throw your donkey duffs to the curb in 2010 and the man child in 2012
These protesters are misguided and must not realize the suffering that so many Americans endure because of our failed medical system or they do not care.
Pass health care reform with a public option this year.
Bachmann says she and the repugs wracked their brains to come up with something to do....Bonner said last week they had a plan.....still nothing........maybe she ment to say we wacked our heads.
It's a moot issue. Health care reform won't pass this year or next. Too many blue dog and moderate democrats are scared to death after Tuesdays results in NJ and VA. Funny how history repeats itself. 1993 saw NJ and VA replace dem govs with repubs by almost the identical margins; and then the voters put republicans back in power in 1994.
Independents are always te deciding factor. 2-1 in VA and NJ for repubs.
Bunch of nerds trying to attack Pelosi at her office. These tea partiers are a swell lot. The majority of Americans want a public option and that does not make us leftists or radical. Get an education.
We need Ted Turner to restore CNN's rightful place as an actual news company. There were pro public option protests all over the United States and yet CNN chose to only go with the anti american ones in DC. I call them anti american because these people are effectively saying, we don't care if 1 American dies every 12 minutes, we would rather have insurance companies make profits. I still believe the majority of these clowns are paid by corporations, though CNN will not do any journalism to find out. Disgraceful. Where is the news we can trust? Between 55 and 77 percent of the country want the public option, yet Erica Hill states that the public option is vastly unpopular. I want an apology.
I'm sure that the lunatic Pelosi had no idea what they were protesting. Absolutely clueless.
Boy, the left-wingers sure do fear dissent. Guess they realize their hold on power is tenuous at best and they're going to lose a lot of seats come 2010.
They're so smug, they think they can ram any legislation through without any bipartisanship. But like typical left-wingers, they're so stupid, they don't realize that kind of arrogance just pushes lots of people to oppose them.
Obama created or saved more education jobs in Illinois school districts than actually exist. This is possible because had it not been for the stimulus, parents would have had to quit their jobs to stay home and teach their children, therefore it is legitimately a job "saved".
Thank you o'wise one.
Isn't it about time that Congress was restructured. The concept of the speaker is a bad design. The idea that one person, that represents just a portion of our population, has the power to stop certain items of the peoples interest or business from being brought to the floor for discussion is nothing short of a dictatorship. It is way too much power and it has corrupted way too many people.
It is obscene what this administration and congress has done to the US Treasury and the future generations of Americans. I applaud these people for standing up and saying," Enough is enough!". I hope the politicians in Washington are listening because these are voices speaking for Americans across the nation.
Someone needs to stop this bill. A disaster in the making for senior citizens and one more way for the gov. to controll our lives. After Tuesday you would think the demo's would wake up but guess not. Vote them out in 2010.
No Michelle, see, at one point your party had every lever of power in their control and health care never made it on the radar screen.
See, now the big boys are having to step up to the plate and actually govern rather than sit idly by and watch your inept GOP do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for the people in this country to help them.
And you know why that happened? It wasn't some huge conspiracy of communism, fascism, or marxism as you scare-mongers like to say... it was called an election. Wait your turn and see if we give your Party of No another chance in 2010. It doesn't look very good at this point for you....
The base of the GOP are a bunch of uneducated idiots, and it is their own faults. They have let their party scale back on education and now they don't want universal health care. So they will be a bunch of sick idiots. Do they not realize that our tax dollars already pay for the uninsureds' health care. I say let the wing nuts have thier own country in the south like they wanted back in the 1800's. WE DON'T NEED THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If your State wishes to provide Government Health Care for all that is your State's right. However the Federal Government Does not have the right nor the power to mandate health care, those calling this reform need to look the word up. This is anything but reform. ...
Is it too hard to understand that we want the laws that are on the books enforced before any new laws are added? Is it to hard to understand that the Federal Government has no power that is not spelled out in the Constitution, all other powers rest with the States.
By all means if the state you live in wants to have health care for all so be it.
I had never seen something like this in this country, I am embarrassed that these people call them self patriotic and americans, they are just a bunch of angry people that do not even respect the speaker of the house of representatives of this great nation..
fools.
How many of the people complaining about government care will happily suck all they can from medicare and social security?
Thousands? An acquaintance of mine went and said there were no more than 200 people.
I wonder if the tea baggers know that they can march and shout and do all the things they are doing and Congress is STILL going to do whatever it is they plan to do regardless. And all the folks from Palin, to Bachmann to Limbaugh to Beck in the end will all have better health insurance than you do....Limbaugh and Beck because they can afford it... Bachmann because you pay for it.
pelosi – how dare you stomp on the first amendment!
So not one Republican wil vote to reform health care and ensure that it is available for all Americans. I hope the voters remember that next election.
This isnt Socialism, its cleaning up the mess left by Bush and Darth Vader. Its hilarious that John Boehner cant tell the difference between the U.S Constitution and the Declaration of Independance since he has never actually read either. Instead of telling people to hate Obama you should be telling them to go read a book!
Ryan you said in your post "i can't believe my tax dollars are going to fund abortions" Well there is a reason for that, it wont. There is nothing in the health care bill that says taxpayer money will be used for abortions. YOU HAVE BEEN MISINFORMED, or are you just lying?
Why don't the media ask these idiot what kind of Healthcare they have when they are ranting and raving about what they don't want. I mean most of them look like they could use some sort of government run health care, if they are not already on it. Another thing why weren't these folks at work?
Also for bone head Bohner to stand up there talking about how this is the worst attack on his freedoms in his 19yrs in Congress tells me one thing, he has been in that office too long and he is definitely in the pockets of the Insurance companies!! Don't these idiot folks get it. The Republicans don't want to help them because they are in the bed with the insurance companies. I bet none of those idiot ranting on the grounds ask Bone head how good was his health care?
Tea Partiers really seem like barbarians to me. They're the slightly less-evolved humans.
I feel like they should not have just arrested them they should have thrown away the key,,Michele Backmann is like Sara Palin trying to go down in the history books and as dumb as a box full of rocks.
When the people who voted for President Obama and the public option
come to Washington, D.C. then you will see millions of people. Don't
make us come up there, OK? More change is coming people. Get
ready. Be prepared. Now exhale!
if they can show me twenty minorities, hell i'll even become a teabagger...does anyone wanna take my bet?
If this healthcare fiasco passes, don't come crying a year from now about how high your taxes are. You fools! Who do you think is paying for this? Cigarettes have already doubled, plus, they're considering a tax on soda and juices, and on and on and on. Wake up, people, this isn't free!!!!!! It's meant to help the poor and they are the very ones who will be hurt the most, if this thing passes!!!!!!!!!!
I want a Public Option. Health shouldn't be a commodity.
Tea Baggers.....lol. Still sounds funny. Anyway, I figured out how to occupy Michele Bachman and Sarah Palin for at least a week.....Give them a job like changing a burnt out light bulb.
Honestly, anyone who would want to follow these two idiots into any kind of race for the White House has my blessings. It makes things much easier for moderates and left wingers to see the circus in town.
its too late we won!!!!!! DEMS will rule this country and fix the problems
The CLOWNS are selling out their fellow Americans.
I'm a canadian, i work for myself, and although i have free health care, i pay almost 60% of my income to support my entitlements. not great value. mikel
Rep. Bachmann has said so many things that neutral Fact Checkers have proven to be exaggerations or down right lies that it seems hard to believe that people find her credible at all. She sounds like that other female Republican who can see Russia from her house. How can the people in her district re-elect her? Don't they care that she doesn't seem to know what she is talking about?
Lock 'em up, throw away the key. Or least keep them in jail as long as the true American patriots that were arrested in NYC during the 2004 Repugnicant National Convention/Nuremberg Rally.
The revolt to this dictator and his cronies in the congress wil only get more violent and closer to home if they keep on with these communistic policies. There is only so far the socialists can push freedom loving Americans, before it blows up in their faces. Listening to the commentary by the 'useful idiots' and their utter distain, mockery, and lack of will to listen to your fellow countrymen's doubts to this gigantic government takover, tells us that you are now all domestic enemies of the constitution.
Welcome to the real world tea baggers! Ppeople are arrested for protesting daily in our country on everything from gay rights to human rights to animal rights. They're not arrested for protesting, it's how they're protesting that makes it illegal. A worthwhile protest doesn't have to be yelling, shouting and carrying signs that demean a person.
Send that liberal troll Pelosi back to California where she belongs!!
The only reason Bachman is in power is because she is a House Rep. Her views are way to radical to carry any higher office. If you listen to her comments you can see how perverse she is. Sane people rationalize, her interpretations of things are so out of whack with common sense ideals (kinda like muslim fanatics and the Koran).
She banned the movie Aladdin from being shown in a school because the movie promoted witchcraft and paganism.
She is the one who proposed the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage (an example of govt imposing on our lives).
She is 21st out of 435 house members in receiving contributions for Health Insurance Companies but only 230th in receiving contributions from the rest of the health sector.
So people, do you really think she has your best interests at heart? Do the math.
I find it hard to believe that with unemployment so high and Wall Street and the Banks are raking in the money that there are these Obama freeks out there tearing down a group of people who are trying to use their rights given to them by our fore fathers. This USA is not the same one as I grew up in. AND PLEASE, DONT TELL ME TO LEAVE because I plan on staying and fighting against the citizens who would drink kool aid..
Michele Bachmann should be put in jail. besides telling people to essentially telling people to go out an kill democrats, she plain insane. she tells people to come armed to the us capital. she need to be held accountable!
Thank you PATRIOTS......that was one heck of a house call.
Why should these people have the right to bully everyone else because they think they do not have to accept a democratic election. They are not the majority, besides, this is why we have elections. I am tired of these people acting like they are the only ones who have a right to win. They act as if everyone else is too dumb to make a decision.
As a Democrat, I am hoping they do not pass health care. HR 3200 was a bad bill to begin with...now it is 900 pages bigger.
Social Security going bankrupt
Medicare going bankrupt
medicaid going bankrupt
Amtrack needs subsidies or it would be bankrupt
Post Office needs subsidies or it would be bankrupt
How is the "new" GM doing now that it is no longer valuable enough to even list on the stock market?
What about Chrysler?
Oh...all the loans we are getting from the banks that were bailed out? Sure is helping huh?
What about AIG?
What about Freddie and Frannie?
When did Government ever run anything right?
The power of love – Jesus, always overcomes, the love of power – Obama
Rep. Bachman is a stupid and evil woman....she spins everything. Her main goal is to cause fear and hate amongst the equally stupid and gullible. Last year she purported that all Congress should be investigated for their patriotism. Sounds like the Taliban.
Where's the story about LIEberman staffers having 9 PRO-healthcare reformers arrested, CNN? For such a "liberal" news organization you sure give a pass the "opposition".
And another thing, I don't post on message threads attached to palin stories, so I'll say it here: For God's sake – quit posting stories about that sorry excuse of a woman! She's a HATEFUL, HYPOCRITICAL, DIVISIVE, KNOW NOTHING NOBODY whose fifteen minutes were up fifteen minutes after Grumpy Old Man introduced her in 2008. Real Americans are sick of clicking onto the politics page and seeing her cold, empty eyes and fake smile, so for all of them, I appeal to your sense of decency when I ask you to please stop!
Police later arrested 12 protesters outside Pelosi's office for unlawful entry or disorderly conduct, according to Capitol Hill police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.
Why can these nuts go about this the right way. They did all this at the townhall meetings screaming and not letting any body voice their opinion. What is your plan teabaggers other then screaming you stupid comments – I hate taxes?
Almost 45,000 Americans die every year in the United States of America because of lack of Health Insurance.
These Tea Party activists are also taking responsibility for this tragedy.
Inasumuch as you did NOT take care of the least of these, you did NOT take care of ME, says the LORD JESUS CHRIST!
Which side are you!
Regardless of all the noise, insanity and foolishness of these Tea Party activists, H.R. 3200 will be passed by the Democratic Congress and signed into law by President Obama before the end of this year.The Tea Party activists cannot and will not stop the momentum of progress on healthcare reform. These people do not reflect the majority of Americans nor do they represent the will of the majority. They represent a minority lunatic fringe of the conservative movement. The American people have spoken and have given President Obama and the Democrats a mandate to reform healthcare and that is what they will do.
Let the right wing nuts protest, they can't stop healthcare reform. Americans are tired of being abused by the Insurance Companies.
Can't wait till 2010! Virginia and New Jersey are just a sign of things to come. America is finally waking up!
Wow i am so glad that American's are starting to wakeup and see what's really going on here. It's about the insurance and pharmacy companies robbing the American people. Now we have so many Republicans against everything that the president is trying to get done. So you can say he failed. News flash you republicans failed a long time ago. You pick people like Rush and Palin and Steel rep your party what a big joke. Let's talk about the congressman and women who taking money from these big companies to stop healht care for all. The reason they are doing it because there pockets want be fat anymore about dam time. So all you republicans can go you know where with trying to stop what is right for all Americans. So keep standing Americans we are also most there and the congressman in the senate can keep bsing if they want to because they want have jobs in 2010 and they can be just like Palin and the rest of the loosser. Bachmann is next i will go to Mn and help to get her out off for sure. She is not doing no work but she is get a check. God bless The United States of Ameica.
The Media's Balloon People!
Be sure to throw the book at them. Intimidation is not the way America respects its Representatives.
Ever notice how it is only white people that are concerned about the size of government and taxes?
There has been protest for the public option right outside the CNN staion in Atlanta, LA and NYC. Why are they covering this when the majority, who is beening represented, are right outside their centers. Wake up CNN. We want the public option now.
Poor John Ratzenberger–he hasn't done anything decent since Cheers, so now he has to go all Ben Stine and Jon Voight. Washed up actors spouting crazy, right-wing rhetoric ...
Just Like The GOP, A Punch Of Crazy White Americans!
Michele "Balloon" Bachmann, A Head Of Hot Air!
And where were these teabaggers when Bush and the Republican congress were spending us into a trillion dollar deficit?????????? I love how they are trying to blame democrats for a republican-caused problem!!! Not falling for it, sorry!
It's always perplexed me that many of these Republicans boast of their Christian salvation. I am a Christian, and I know that my Lord, Jesus Christ, would not let one person in this world die from a preventable disease because they did not have money.
Shame on you Republicans! if this reform does not pass, blood will be on your hands and you will stand in judgment before God Almighty.
"Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? but you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you..." ~ The Book of James 2:5-6
You have dishonored the poor and helpless you fraudulent, ill-informed, self-loving, self-centered so-called Tea Party Activists.
Protest the bailouts, Yes!
Protest unnecessary government spending, Yes!
But on the issue of healthcare, you are wrong and our Lord, Jesus Christ would completely disagree with you.
Who wants health care reform 1) AMA (doctors who have historically opposed any health care reform in the past) 2)AARP (i.e. older people who the GOP claims will lose their Medicare) 3) The VAST majority of people. More people than voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 Who is against Health Care Reform? 1) GOP law makers who receive most of their campaign money from the insurance industry 2)Fox News pundits (and their sheep viewers) who have said that Obama could offer the nation a cure for Cancer and the Common Cold and they would oppose it just so he would fail. The GOP says keeping an insurer from refusing to pay for chemotherapy because a person had acne is Socialism, yet they want to limit how much an individual can collect from a doctor's insurance company who has crippled them for life. Tell me whose interest the GOP has in their "No!" mentality?
If Liberals demonstrate it is OK. If conservatives demonstrate, they are called mean angry mobs. You Liberals are such a joke. You just each each others puke. Just by me being on this crummy website raised its viewers to 1,000. Just heard today CNN is near bankruptcy because noone is watching them, Everyone is on Fox, Even the Liberals.
Why are the republicans SO PROTECTIVE of the profits the Insurance Companies are making?
The size of these "massive" protests is a lot smaller than the crowds at most of Obama's campaign stops. Dang teabaggers, why weren't you at work today like the rest of us?
Me thinks the Liberals are really worried here. We can't count on Liberals to stand up for our country, all they want to do is name call and be sissies unless it is about the environment or G6 convention, then they want to smash windows, but hey that is ok with them to vandalize.
I find all you Pelosi supporters as much idiots as she is. She should be a commerical on what happens when you have too much Botox
As I have said many times before if you Liberals want this Democratic health reform so bad, why don't you take the money out of your pockets and pay for those who don't have any health insurance. You are such do gooders. put your money where your mouth is!
Once again, silence
Sheep. Nothing but sheep.
I'm all for freedom of speech, but when you totally disrespect our President with the signs that were demonstrated today, your voices become digusting. I wasn't crazy about President Bush and his policies, but I never disrespected him.
The tea party are just petitioning against the american nazi pelosi.
Seems to me that if the Dem's had staged such an event, it would have been a major news story on your network.
Those who would use imagery of Holocaust victims at a concentration camp - dead bodies piled like cord-wood - to serve their political agenda are truly the most disgusting people in the western world. Anyone who would defend that, much less bring it to a public event, has NO sense of human decency whatsoever. There is a word for people like that. PURE EVIL.
I guess that it could be said that the tea baggers are a lot more principled than the Kool Aid Drinkers that populate this site. These Kool Aid Drinkers are not even smart enough to realize that the very news agency and the issues that they support are getting close to going bankrupt because of loss of viewership and trust in what they report.
Even Ted is very concerned about this and may make a move soon to take it back to avoid a total loss of his investment and time.
Dream on Kool Aiders and meet your maker in 2010! Socialism is not an option in the United States. And finally, it you really like all these European Socialist Societies, why don't you move there and get out of the way!!
Simply Google U.S. Senators campaign funds from Health Industry to see which Senators are getting HUGE campaign funds from this lobby. Very interesting.... Republicans dominate top then, but then check out the Blue Dogs. 'Nuff said – will answer your questions about the potential vote. Hold them accountable....
Some of you have commented that the Dems can pass anything they want because they are in the majority. True and those of us (not just a minority) will have to pay for this. Canada may have universal healthcare but how many of you have traveled to Canada. Believe me they PAY for this. Items at the grocery store and gas are twice as much as we pay here. Why do you think when they travel here they stock up on cigarettes and liquor because those are totally outrageous there. My boyfriend and I traveled through on our way to Alaska this summer and we only bought minimally food and fuel that we needed. We will all pay and pay dearly for only a small percentage of the population. My boyfriend has always been self-employed and by his choice did not buy health insurance. He should not be forced to buy insurance now. And yes he does pay for himself for any healthcare he needs. Nothing free.
I love when one party continues to condemn the same actions they are generating with such statements and tactics...it's amusing.
Most of the comments on this story are very childish and uninformed. To stoop to calling people names and disregarding what this legislation will do to our country's future is very disrespectful. I think many far left liberals have no idea what they are doing to destroy any chance of keeping the house or Senate next year and the presidency in three years. It's comments like these that keep me dead center and from taking anything you say seriously.
So I guess when democrats protest it's all flowers and peace signs. Does anyone remember the Vietnam and Iraq war protesters? What about ACORN protesting anything? Liberals are the biggest hypcrits out there. Get me approved for a home loan I can't afford, give me health care I don't have to pay for, pay me a huge salary with great benefits regardless of my quality of work. The union loving liberal mentality destroyed GM and is wrecking this country.
Soldiers of Misfortune
Volunteers or Victims
Weapons of diversion
Pawns of Power
Looks like the tea partiers have their own hollywood crazies. Keep it up morons, behavior like yours makes the passage of the healthcare bill all that much easier.
Where were all these holier than thou wingnuts when the Bush/Cheney administration was ignoring the Constitution & stripping away our person freedoms the past 8 years?? What a bunch of hypocritical malcontents.
What I love most about the Tea Baggers is the lack of contempt and rage shown during the Bush years. I can't possibly imagine this fundamentalist movement ever calling out Bush and the Republican party of the last 10 years for their socialist agenda. Let's see their is medicare D, destruction of civil rights through communications monitoring, oh and lets no forget Bush's pet Aids medication project in Africa.
I have one question for Mr. Bohner, Mrs. Bachman and the other Republican voices at this event: Where were your votes during the Bush years while your party doubled the national debt?
Keep them inside and feed them with a cup of tea everyday. They will develop a good sense of TEA
So let me see...
Anti-War Protestors are Heroes and Great Americans. Protesting is the highest form of Patriotism.
BTW, where are all those Code Pinkers, Nancy Sheehan – Remember the hero of CNN, who was on daily? Her views were unquestionable not because she lost a son in the war but because she was anti-Bush and would help John Kerry win an election.
Guess what, she is still protesting but is no longer a useful idiot because she is protesting Afghanistan.
So GET OFF OF IT, look right now, it's YOU who are being hypocrites by slandering protestors.
I'd be willing to be it's memebers of Daily Kos dressed up and acting like Tea Partiers, getting arrested and trying to make the Tea Partiers look bad. Cause before this, NO ONE was ever arrested and the Code Pinkers can't feel good about themselves unless they are arrested.
Did CNN cover the 9 activists arrested at "Traitor" Joe Lieberman's office on Thursday?
Having a grandmother who left Germany to escape the camps, I find it highly offensive to see that DACHAU sign. If those people hate the USA so much, I say LEAVE. Since ole Goofy couldn't even recite the pledge of allegiance correctly, how is he any better an American than the rest of we Americans who were properly schooled? And, how pray tell in the name of GOD, did Boehner get elected when he stands us and proceeds to read from the "Preamble to the Constitution?" haha. There is NO preamble to the Constitution. He was reading from the Declaration of Independence!!!!
These are the ignorant, fools elected to run the country by their constituents? I was shocked to watch Boehners fellow Senators behind him, nod in agreement as he read the wrong document and the crowds cheer showing their ignorance to what he was reading. GOD SAVE US from false teachers and false preachers.
Can we now expect protests about "government takeover" of roads, bridges, police and fire departments, trash service, national defense, public libraries, courthouses, etc. etc. etc.?
These morons are advantaged by a socialistic system every single moment of their otherwise miserable lives. On that note, "Cheers" re-runs have lost their appeal.