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Tom Daschle discusses health care town halls on Meet the Press

Charisse Van Horn's photo
US Headlines Examiner
Tom Daschle discusses health care reform on Meet the Press

This morning, David Gregory interviewed Tom Daschle on Meet the Press. The topic for the panel of guests, which also included Rachel Maddow, Dick Armey, Tom Coburn, Charlie Rangel, Bruce Josten, and Bill Ritter, was health care reform. Tom Daschle is the former Senate majority leader and a Democrat, he was also an informal advisor to the White House.

David Gregory began by asking Tom Daschle his views regarding the health care town halls and whether he felt they were helping or hurting the chance for health care reform to occur this year.

Tom Daschle replied, “David, I think it’s actually been a good thing. I think that it’s drawn even greater focus on the issue. You’ve got President Obama out there in places all over the country talking and trying to set the record straight. Obviously, these are emotional issues. This is the noise of democracy. You ask 300 million people what they ought to do about health care and you’re going to get a lot of different ideas, some of them very deeply emotional. But the bottom line is I think this really does help a lot, goes a long way.” David Gregory then asked if Tom Daschle truly believed that the town halls weren’t hurting the case for health care reform.

Tom Daschle answered, “Well, obviously there are—the misinformation hurts. Obviously if you, if you provoke fear, that hurts. But the opportunity that we have to set the record straight, to keep the focus on the issue, to recognize that there are millions of people out there who don’t have health care, to recognize that there are so many people out there that, that are left out, 12 million people have been, have been discriminated against because they have an illness. We’ve got huge cost problems, huge quality problems. And this is our opportunity really to lay the record straight, to put the focus where it belongs and to, and to get this job done for the first time in 70 years.”

David Gregory then turned the conversation to the negative aspects that have occurred during recent health care town halls. He said, “All right. But let’s talk about the tone of the debate. There have been death threats against members of Congress, there are Nazi references to members of Congress and to the president. Here are some of the images. The president being called a Nazi, his reform effort being called Nazi-like, referring to Nazi Germany, members of Congress being called the same.

And then there was this image this week outside of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a town hall event that the president had, this man with a gun strapped to his leg held that sign, “It is time to water the tree of liberty.” It was a reference to that famous Thomas Jefferson quote, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” That has become a motto for violence against the government. Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, had that very quote on his shirt the day of the bombing of the Murrah building when 168 people were killed.”

David Gregory then turned towards Republican Senator of Okalahoma, Tom Coburn and asked his opinion regarding the protesters at the town halls. To read his response click here: Tom Coburn discusses Naz references at health care town halls

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Charisse Van Horn is a successful freelance writer who has written for numerous genres including investigative journalism and grant writing. She volunteers her time for causes such as homelessness, domestic abuse, and the rehabilitation of those who've been incarcerated.

Comments

  • Frank Kuserk 2 years ago

    Where are we going to find the doctors to treat an additional 45 million people? How will preventive medicine save money. If we can stop Grand Ma from having a stroke then we will save some money but Grand MA MAY LIVE ANOTHER 15 Years during which time she will be receiving Social Security and she may spend five of these years in a nursing home under mediaid.
    If you want to save money lets reform tort laws regarding malpractice suits. What does the billions of dollars spent on lawyers have to do with health care? Malpractice should be handled like workmens compensation. Insuring people with a pre condition medical problem will cost the insurance companys more money which will be passed on to all insurers. What about the person who chooses not to have insurance and then finds that he has cancer. Can he then apply for insurance?

  • elby 2 years ago

    Wow, Tom you are a great one to judge other people !!
    Everyone knows just what kind of person you are & you stand in judgement of grass roots people !!
    We know why you want National Health Care,,,,so you can fill your pockets,,,,,,we all have your number !!

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