Republicans Don't Want To Answer Questions
By Thom Hartmann A...
During a heated confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill last week, Georgia Congressman Tom Price - Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services - refused to say whether or not he would support cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: "Can you assure this committee you will not cut one dollar from either Medicare or Medicaid should you be confirmed to this position?" Tom Price "Senator, I believe that the metric ought to be the care that the patients are receiving."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: "I'll take that as a no."
Tom Price It's the wrong metric... we ought to be putting forth the resources."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: "I'm not asking you whether or not you think you have a better metric. I'm asking you a question about dollars, yes or no?"
Tom Price "What we ought to do is put forward the resources in order to take care of the patient."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: "... simple question."
Price's refusal to answer that very simple question from Elizabeth Warren comes as Republicans are discovering that their quest to dismantle the social safety net is wildly unpopular with the American people.
Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman learned this the hard way Saturday during a town hall meeting outside Denver.
The event was billed as a "one-on-one" meet-and-greet - but soon turned into a protest as hundreds of people angry at Coffman's Friday vote to repeal Obamacare filled a lobby and began singing protest songs like This is Your Land.
This display of democracy was apparently too much for Coffman - who fled the event early out a back door.
A similar scene occurred on Monday in Washington State - where Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers - one of the GOP's rising stars - was met with chants of "save our healthcare" during a MLK day speech in Spokane.
So - is this going to happen to every Republican?
Are we about to see a repeat of those 2010 Town Halls in reverse?
Comments
#2
Republicans are well practiced at obscuration and misdirection. I've not seen one who could answer a simple, direct, but controversial, question with a direct answer.
#3
Oh God, Thom... I hope so!
#4
Coffman won the election in November against a young woman who would have been an excellent congressperson. SHE would have loved to have a town meeting with all of those people showing up! When FDR became president in 1933 - the repubs in congress were getting so many letters from their people back home that they did not dare to go against FDR's programs. Even so - they eventually did. Too bad those repubs are too chicken to spend a month living like most of the rest of us live. Thank you, Thom!
#5
Lets hope we do see the Town Halls of 2010 in reverse. Unfortunately; "fake news" has morphed into "Alternate Facts"! If the uninformed see any bounce in their paychecks they wont even care about anything else, much less pay any attention. Sorry to be pessimistic but they have almost succeeded in their dumbing down of the masses by cutting education and polarizing any and all subjects that could use some good, old fashioned, "critical thinking!
#6
"Are we about to see a repeat of those 2010 Town Halls in reverse?" I sure hope that happens, but I stongly suspect the Fascists will disregard our first amendment and figure out how to stifle oppositon. Given the two incidents that already happened, they're most likely spinning their webs right now and coming up with a plan to silence dissent....I'm not kidding about this either...just wait and see.
The corpse media certainly will cooperate with them on silencing opposition...do you see or hear anything about the hearings on radio or TV?
BTW: Trump already answered us regarding what he will do about cuts to the social safety net...he has answered by his cabinet picks. Yes...he indeed lied to get elected...what a shock.
I still don't understand why those who refuse to normalize him now were so quick to accept and normalize the election....A march like the one on Saturday should have taken place repeatedly days after the election right up until it was declared invalid. He didn't win the election and he is not a legitimate president. If only John Lewis could tell us what is in those classified reports...and why in hell did the Clinton's go to the inauguration???....that really was crooked!
Putin will expand into territory that NATO will have to take action on....and Trump is in the White House..good luck with all of that. Tomorrow's history in the making would have been a lot kinder to the entire planet had we declared the election invalid....just saying.
#7
In addition to attending every townhall possible, both Republican and Democrat...there's still lots of 'rats' in them 'crats'.
I suggest perusing the following.
ImpeachDonaldTrumpNow.com
GrabYourWallet.org
Finally, now is the time to dig deep and start giving that spart latte change ($5 per month?) to any progressive leaning 2018 candidate you support. They need to get organized now, not just in the 90 days prior to the election.
So, come on candidates, announce you're running. We'll have your back
#8
Mike Coffman is only in office because of Koch money.
#9
Republicans have a two-year window until the next election. They'll spend the first year ramming their f--k-the-people bills through Congress (which the blackmailed sexual pervert will have to sign). Then, they'll spend the second year working the refs in corporate media to blame everything on the Democrats. Once again, the idiotocracy will steal the election.
Works every time!
#10
I certainly hope so. I keep hoping for more Republicans to put country first, but the group that has done that is tragically small ... and only the very strong seem able to withstand the pressure of their Whips.
I have been appalled at the attitudes displayed by these nominees. No respect for the senators questioning them and no interest in setting out their true opinions and/or plans.
#11
OMGoodness, Trump just called for Media Blackout of the EPA!!!!! Ok, now Im REALLY nervous.!!!!!!!!!!! That calls for some action, but what can we do about that? Ive already called my senators.......
#12
I believe that it was a strategic move. Not answering is also an answer in my opinion and we can make conclusion as well.
pay for a research paper - learn some detail.
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what happened to coffman needs to happen to every republican congressman, with petition gatherers at every event, the petitions being for recall of the congressman engaging in the bogus scheme to costshift medical costs to the taxpayer in order that the uber rich might have their tax cuts. time for a revolution folks, if we take this sitting passively by, then we deserve the results, like what we got in november.