[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/07/art.corker.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Bob Corker suggested that Canada and France have a 'parasitic relationship with the US."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Republican Sen. Bob Corker suggested Wednesday that when it comes to health care, Canada and France have a "parasitic relationship" towards the United States.
During a hearing of the Special Committee on Aging, the Tennessee Republican told Canada's former Public Health Minister, Dr. Carolyn Bennett, that her country is "living off of us" because they set lower prices for health care and "all the innovation, all the technology breakthroughs just about take place in our country and we have to pay for it."
"It is not really our country so much is the problem, it's sort of the parasitic relationship that Canada, and France, and other countries have towards us," Corker said. "...You benefit from us, and we pay for that. And I resent that, and I want to figure out a way to solve that."
Of course, Corker has no such qualms about his own masters, the parasitic Japanese auto makers, during the last debate on America's auto industry. Corker just wants to be President, and given the way the "liberal" media carries his talking points, that may very well happen.
He's such a putz...
Sen. Bob Corker, in case no one has informed you, WE, sir have become the parasites. We, sir are the ones importing more than we are exporting of all the things we need for every day life because all or most of our mfg. have relocated to other countries like Mexico, India, China, Russia, Canada and South American Countries.
You sir are living proof that we could cut the cost of space travel by 50% if we launch our space shuttles into the vastness of the space located between your ears. It would need much less fuel to leave the gravity of the earth. I am convinced that if people the likes of you and Sarah Palin would think before you speak, you would all become eternally silent.
I guess you weren’t around when my mother made the statement that it is better people think you a fool than for you to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
why is he afraid universal health care because it works . the last time the conservatives tryed to mess with health care in canada they went from majority – to 2 seats
Mr. Corker, get your facts straight. All medical research in Canada and France (and the other European countries) is paid in full by their federal government. Then all new technology and discoveries are shared by everyone.
Here in the US, companies, including pharmaceuticals, add the price of research to their drugs and other products. They share nothing; rather, they patent everything so they can continue to be paid ad infinitum, driving up the costs of ALL US goods that depend on innovation.
Europeans make medical history every day. They are light years ahead of us on stem cell research, for a quick example. And did you think Madame Curie was American, rather than French??
Europeans AND Canadians live longer than US citizens, and their infant mortality rates leave us in the dust.
Do your homework, sir. That way you don't look DUMB.
do republicans every get educated before opening there mouth,s were did insulin and pencilan come fromjust mention a few mars- if a republican can,t make money of something they don,t like it
Google "Canadian medical achievements".....we created the vaccaine for a little thing called Polio.Canadian's truly are fond of our neighbours to the south, but like our country....you also have some rather silly people who speak before they research.Cheers
Typical Republican response to something they don't like but can't refute with facts:
Start the name-calling!!!
I guess you have to have the maturity of a third-grader to belong to the GOP these days ...
What a moron!
As a Candain i am shocked that peoples representitves do not want lower costs in the US but instead want other contries who have just begun to get health costs under control to raise thier costs.
If he had any understading of free markets he knows that a company would not sell products at a loss, but would reduce margins under pressure from market forces. If these companies were losing money in Canda or France they would simply stop selling. Obviosly that is not the case.
The GOP are the only people stupid enough to not get this fact. It is time to reprsent the people and not the parmaceuticals.
Is it any wonder folks how Bush dismantled nearly every allied partnership over the last 8 years by just trash talking anybody who didn't see eye to eye with him 100%? He may be gone, but his party who backed him is still here with the exact same attitude.
They call President Obama every name under the sun and treat him with such disrespect, so why do we expect them to treat foreigners - friend and foe (especially foe) - any better?
Sorry Canada and France. Come 2010 and 2012 more of these Rush Limbaugh fans will be out of the job, please be assured of that.
What simply blows me away is how angry and up in arms the Republicans are, when history proves just how lousy their policies are!
Compare and contrast:
After 8 years of Clinton, we had a budget surplus.
After 8 years of Bush, we had massive debt, financial bailouts and the world brought to the brink of financial ruin.
You'd think the Republicans would LIKE the Democrats' policies, since it produced a budget surplus. It must be something else ....
Oh, I know! The Republicans want all the money and power to themselves; the Democrats want ALL Americans to prosper, not just the top 1% of the wealthy.
Oh and you don't live off us? I'm surprised that this is coming from sich a highly educated person...even if he is a Republican!
How come Senator Corker you never have any sad or tearful comments about all the mothers and Fathers and their children going without Health Insurance in the USA? Tell me?. You got your health Insurance.. it should be the other way around.. you should be without Health Insurance and going to the voters asking to be covered with Insurance huh?.......senator?..
Corker and the republicans are the parasites, but they are living off the insurance companies that write the policies for healh care.
They get their pockets filled by companies like United Health care, Humana, Health care corporation of America for they charge Medicare 15 percent more than if they were not on the so called advantage plans.
The advantage in the plans is the extra profits for the insurance companies that sell the plans.
What an idiot!!!!
This is the one of the many reasons the Republicans are not in the White House or run Congress....they are so arrogant,self righteous, self entitled and self centered. They are the reason for the animosity the world had towards us. It is ALL about ME, ME, ME!
When are they going to wake up and smell the flowers?????
Sen. Bob Corker is 100% correct. Drug sales overseas and in Canada are subsidized by the US drug companies. We pay more here so that other countries can afford the drugs. That’s way a drug in Jordan can be sold for $4 there and $92 here.
So of you really need to understand what you’re talking about before you pop off at the GOP.
The GOP have no limits as to their ability to alienating others.
If the Democrats do not get together now and start to get things done for us then I hope we the people find a truly viable 3rd party to vote for.
bob corker another anti-government government official who should be defeated and tried for his anti government stance on anything that benefits the american people
Typical GOOPER. They have no ideas, no ethics, no brains. Yep Canada spends less on health care so they must be doing something bad. I love the comments. So many with out a clue. For your info the drug companies set their prices by "what the market will bare". No controls in the US so we take the hit. I know people buying their meds from Canada. They pay a third or less than what they pay here. For the same brands even. 2012 no Repubs....ever again.
WOW – Someone w/ COURAGE!!! Holy Cow!!! He hit it RIGHT ON THE HEAD. Why do we pay the high prices so they enjoy the results. BECAUSE if we don't pay – there won't be any results. Nothing ever comes out of their countries.
Wow. Just wow. This is embarrassing.
This guy needs to shut his pie hole. Nothing like antaganizing countrys that support us. What a total jerk.No wonder the world loves us so much.
Leave it to the republicans to tell it like it is.
GO G-O-P, 2010!!!
What????????
I cannot believe someone elected this "person"
Again... Republicans can't seem to stop embarrassing themselves.
I hate to burst anyone's bubble but if you think for a second either party is looking out for you, your sadly mistaken. The only time they care about us, is when its time to vote. Other then that they don't care what we think or say. Sorry for those that vote along party lines, your the ones that have helped push us to the edge....