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David Gregory spoke with a number of different panelists on this morning’s episode of Meet the Press. One subject in particular regarding health care protests that was discussed was the issue of protesters comparing President Obama, members of congress, and the health care bill to Nazi Germany. David Gregory also brought up the subject of how there have been death threats made by some protesters of health care reform and asked Senator Coburn what he found troubling regarding these protests. Senator Coburn is a Republican from Oklahoma and has recently hosted a series of town hall meetings throughout Oklahoma. Senator Coburn also has four additional health care reform town hall events planned for August.
David Gregory asked Senator Coburn referring to protesters likening health care reform with Nazi Germany, “When this element comes out in larger numbers because of this debate, what, what troubles you about that?”
Senator Coburn responded, “Well, I’m, I’m troubled anytime when we, we stop having confidence in, in our government. But we’ve earned it. You know, this debate isn’t about health care. Health care’s the symptom. The debate is an uncontrolled federal government that’s going to run--50 percent of everything we’re spending this year we’re borrowing from the next generation. You...”
David Gregory interrupted Senator Coburn to ask specifically about the tone of the meetings. “That’s—but wait, hold on, I want to stop you there. I’m talking about the tone. I am talking about violence against the government. That’s what this is synonymous with.” Senator Coburn answered by explaining that the tone of the debate during the health care town halls is based upon fear.
Senator Coburn answered, “The, the—but the tone is based on fear of loss of control of their own government. What, what is the genesis behind people going to such extreme statements? What is it? We, we have lost the confidence, to a certain degree, and it’s much worse than when Tom was the, the, the leader of the Senate. We have, we have raised the question of whether or not we’re legitimately thinking about the American people and their long-term best interests. And that’s the question. The, the mail volume of all the senators didn’t go up based on the healthcare debate, the mail volume went up when we started spending away our future indiscriminately. And that’s not Republican or Democrat, that has been a problem for years. But it’s exacerbated now that we’re in the kind of financial situation and economic situation.”
David Gregory then posed the question to Former Representative Dick Armey, which in turn led to some contentious debate between he and Rachel Maddow. To read that conversation click here:
Comments
Mr. Gregory let Sen. Coburn avoid answering his questions and allowed him to rant his vile invectives. Come on Gregory, show some balls.
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