McConnell:I’m ‘Not Convinced’ Congress Should Prohibit Insurers From Discriminating Against The Sick

[tpsbmam]

The senior senator from Kentucky, who himself enjoyes government-subsidized insurance as a federal employee, told the National Review on Tuesday that the party would do little to help the 129 million people who could be denied insurance because they suffer from a pre-existing condition should the law be repealed. “I’m not convinced that issue needs to be addressed at the federal level,” he said, before praising Republican governors for refusing to implement a provision of the law that expands health coverage to lower-income residents through the Medicaid program.

During the interview, McConnell also confirmed that he planned to repeal Obamacare’s main provisions — like the individual mandate — through reconciliation, a process that allows the Senate can pass budget-related bills with a majority vote:

MCCONNELL: Repeal of Obamacare will be the first item up in the Senate if I am majority leader. If we have a president who will sign the bill, we will do everything we can to get it off the books, and we’ll be looking for every angle that could be pursued. There has been a lot of talk about reconciliation. The Chief Justice said this is a tax, and we take him at his word, so that certainly makes this eligible for reconciliation. But that may not be the only avenue that we pursue.

But Republicans had lambasted Democrats for using the reconciliation process to pass the law in 2010, arguing that it would be “ripping a piece of the fabric of America off.”

More at Think Progress


Fuck you, Mitch! I have multiple preexisting conditions and now have insurance thanks to the ACA!

I vote we start a movement to have Congress stripped of their eligibility for the federal health insurance program if they succeed in screwing Americans out of health care. WE PAY FOR HIS FUCKING HEALTH INSURANCE!! I, for one, resent that when he wants to strip me of access to health insurance. YOU are MY employee, Mitch, and I vote to strip you of your health insurance, which I am no longer willing to pay for. YOU go out on the "free" market and buy your own damn insurance. Oh, you have preexisting conditions do you? Too fucking bad, you POS -- you're DENIED just like the millions of Americans you're willing to screw.

[notadmblnd]

1. Well Tennsse Turtle, how bout you give up your health benefits and when you get sick

insurers can deny you and yours coverage and then you can see how you feel about it? Remember Mitch, no one gets out alive and you are definately going to die of some illness.

[Fawke Em]

12. He's from Kentucky...

and it's spelled Tennessee.

Please, our right-wing senators are bad, but they're not as bad as McConnell. Ours are just big-business-owned, anti-working class Republicans - not Teabagging idiots.

[notadmblnd]

17. I know he is from Kentucky

Tennessee Turtle was a cartoon character whom McConnel resembles.

Somtimes the keys on my laptop stick (can you guess which key it is?), so I apologize for th spelling error- officer.

On edit: the cartoon actually was Tennesseee Tuxedo and Tooter Turtle was the character I was thinking of. Either way, my statememt wasn't meant as a slight to the State of Tennessee.

BTW, further down the thread, there is a post with a plethora of spelling and grammer errors. You should have a ball correcting that one.

[maddiemom]

40. As an educater with a lot of psycholgy in my backgound

I hate myself for focusing on anyone's physical defects. BUT when that person is as big and self-important an asshole as Mitch McConnell, I just can't help myself from focusing on his chin area.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

2. I'm not convinced he's able to pass for a human being

even after having his shell surgically removed.

[fujiyama]

3. I still cannot for the life of me understand

how citizens can actually go to a voting booth and think "that's my guy, I'm voting for him because he represents my beliefs".

I just don't understand how people can be so callous, nasty, and lack even the least bit of compassion for those that simply either have the misfortune of getting sick, or don't have the money to pay for health care. Just being well off isn't an excuse. I suppose the most effective thing that drives people's voting habits is fear - that somehow their own lifestyle will be impacted. That's the only thing I can think of.

The irony is that those like Mitt Romney always claim that those that question extreme inequality are basically just jealous. No, I'm actually quite comfortable with the money I make and the lifestyle I lead. Methinks, it's him and those with that kind of wealth that are insecure and worried about having to pay their minimum dues to the society that allows them to amass such wealth.

[GoCubsGo]

4. It IS fear.

It's not just the fear that their lifestyle would be impacted. It's the fear that somebody somewhere is going to get something they didn't pay for, and that drives them absolutely crazy. Especially the non-white somebodies. They've been brainwashed with this idea that people who need help are somehow lazy freeloaders.

As for Romney and his ilk, the accusations of "jealousy" are actually a bullying tactic. We peons are not supposed to question how they obtained their wealth. If we do, they belittle us with epithets, like "jealous". Nobody wants to be thought of as being jealous. See how that works?

[antigop]

8. I think you are correct.

It's the fear that somebody somewhere is going to get something they didn't pay for, and that drives them absolutely crazy. Especially the non-white somebodies. They've been brainwashed with this idea that people who need help are somehow lazy freeloaders.

I think that's exactly what it is.

[fujiyama]

18. Yeah, the notion of "freeloaders milking the system" is strong in this country

I think it's almost ingrained.

I think it also comes down to how we view health care in this country - and whether as a so called civilized country, it is a right or in the ways the right sees it- a privilege; a luxury product that the mythical free market can price as is seen fit. The problem is that medical care has always, and will always be, subject to government regulation and "interference", whether in the credentials a doctor obtains, or the drugs that are produced and marketed. The oath a doctor takes in the first places is in contradiction with the system we have and the philosophy of these neanderthals.

Profits certainly can be an incentive to deliver products and services in an efficient manner, but in cases like health care in a system like ours, profits may be an incentive to do the exact opposite. When that's the case, I think it's important to realize that society (a notion anathema to libertarians in general), has a moral duty to provide coverage. Never mind that over the long term its cheaper to get people treated earlier than get catastrophic ER care, but since when did anyone on the far right pay attention to reality?

[Confusious]

59. It is ingrained

The Puritans believed that material wealth showed god favored you.

People may not say it, but it's still there in the sub-conscious of the United States.

[harun]

10. Me either

[xtraxritical]

24. The whole state is employed in RepubliCON patronage, go figure.

[era veteran]

47. Bullshit

We have a Democrat in the Governors office.

[Raven]

5. Mark my words, the day when hospitals

are not required to treat uninsured sick people is not far away...not far at all.

[airplaneman]

15. I see another step too not too far away

After pre-existing conditions return the next step will be to deny coverage if you have a lifestyle that caused the conditions. Your fat so its your fault you have diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea so we are not going to cover it. You smoked so your on your own when you get lung cancer it was your fault and we will not cover it. Responsibility - you didn't buy health insurance so the medical profession can deny you care.
-Airplane

[NNN0LHI]

6. There is a huge audience for this attitude

Remember the GOP primary debate?

Host: Let them die?

Audience: Yeaaaaaaaaaa!

Don

[Vinca]

7. I echo your sentiment - fuck you, Mitch.

I wouldn't have healthcare either if it wasn't for the PCIP in the ACA.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. I wish it was possible, as you demand,

that we, the People, could take their health insurance (and all the other perks) away from them. But since they are the only ones who can make that decision, it will not be possible to do it. I agree with your outrage though, and also want to put them on the same footing as the rest of us.

[kestrel91316]

11. If Senator McConnell doesn't want Little People with pre-existing conditions to be able to buy

medical insurance, he has a moral obligation to give up his own if he has any medical problems that qualify as pre-existing conditions. Then we'll see what he thinks of this plan.

[Volaris]

31. This has NOTHING to do with what Yertle the Turtle thinks should be legal regarding Health Insurance

and EVERYTHING to do with the fact that the people he knows will be keeping him in his job want the entire history of the first Black President destroyed, plowed under, salted, and ERASED from American History books. It matters not to them that said President is a Legally, Lawfully Elected Democrat. It matters not that he is a moral person, loyal husband and loving father. It matters that a Black Man got elected, and that. simply, CANNOT happen in what, for, them, passes for America.

And WHEN this Black President gets RE-elected, I will be sending Yertle a 3-word email...

And on that day, Mitch McConnell's failure will be complete. It will be EPIC in the annals of American Political History. (actually, I'm thinking about drafting a letter that says as much, and how that failure will affect the America my kids get to grow up in....anyone want to help? We can all contribute, and then on behalf of Democrats country-wide, we can all mail a copy to our local op-ed departments, say, on the day of the Second Inaugural?)

I think Mitch will fail. I think America needs to have this point driven into our collective consciousness.

[spanone]

13. how these cretins get even one fucking vote is beyond me.

[xtraxritical]

25. Half the population of Kentucky is employed by RepubliCON patronage.

[era veteran]

48. Incorrect again

The Democratic Party resides in the Guvs office.
Kentucky also has more registered Democrats than Republicans.
The Democratic Party would not spare a fucking sou last time the Senator from Humana (Headquartered in Louisville) ran against a weak candidate and we came close.
Mitch is more of a dick than any of you know. I was a Young Republican, 'till 1975, when I resigned re: Watergate. I talked with him when he was a young dick.
Get the patronage mistake cleared up please.

[Dont call me Shirley]

53. Isn't Humana former Sen Bill Frist's family company.

Who'd have thought McCONnell protecting Frisk's family fortune.

[SoutherDem]

14. McConnell is like a lot of people I know.

They have good health insurance either through there job or they are wealthy enough to purchase it. They have theirs so there really isn't a problem. They really don't understand why everybody doesn't have insurance. Their basic feeling is I have mine screw you.

[era veteran]

49. Mitchie is the ultimate kiss up, kick down type of guy.

[allan01]

16. re:McConnell:I’m ‘Not Convinced’ Congress Should Prohibit Insurers From Discriminating Against The S

hem. foot and mouth disease again. the let them eat cake attitiue.

[Papa]

19. Fuck you Senator Mush Mouth

You piece of shit.

[CanonRay]

20. Keep talking, McChinless

The more you open your pie-hole, the more people see the Rethug party for the heartless bastards they really are.

[Angry Dragon]

21. Another of Satan's minions heard from

[Auntie Bush]

22. Wow! Couldn't have said that better myself!

I'm 100% all for getting the same health insurance that the average American can get. NO expensive Cadillac plans. Screw them and him too.

[ThoughtCriminal]

23. Insurance companies often consider everything pre-existing

It would be bad enough if the exclusions just applied to treatment for illnes that really was pre-exsiting, but in reality, it's a get out of paying any claim card.

Get bone cancer when you are 45? Did you break a leg when you were nine years old? If your insurance company finds out, you may have a "Pre-existing condition".

I went through this years ago with our son. This was when even group policies had exclusions for a period of time after coverage started. Without any medical evidence at all, they simply rejected paying the hospital on a completely bogus claim that his condition was pre-existing. letters debunking this from every doctor who examined and reviewed the case did not persuade them. Meanwhile, we were getting harassed by bill collectors and unable to buy a house becasue of the huge bills we were facing. Fortunately, my employer stood by us and threatened legal action if they did not pay up, and after many months they paid their part. If I had been on my own, I doubt I could have prevailed.

I occasionally run across self-employed people who think they are covered by a high-deductible private plans. They have no idea how worthless that insurance might be.

[airplaneman]

26. Understand how these high end policies work.

You pay $200.00 a month to get 60% off in the event of catastrophic illness. Well the insurance company gets 80% off so they make 20% when you fork out the 40%. Its a scam. There is no transparency to medical expenses.
-Airplane

[Skittles]

28. CORRECT

[Skittles]

27. THE ILL ARE THE ONES WHO EAT INTO THEIR OBSCENE PROFITS!!!

why don't you just say it McConnell you fucking CORPORATE WHORE

[Quantess]

29. Can insurers discriminate against turtles?

[Dont call me Shirley]

54. Turtles reperesent healing, McCONnnell is no healer for sure.

[Initech]

30. We need to start getting out the vote and getting these heartless, soulless bastards out of office.

I'm with Bill Maher when he said Occupy needs to leave the tents and get into the voting booths - they need to become our tea party. Yeah the tea party are certifiably insane and deranged - but they win elections! We need to do the same! We need to stop these pieces of shit from getting total control again.

[elleng]

32. He's a real p.o.s.,

but, to correct a premise, Federal Empoyees Health Benefits Plan is SUBSIDIZED by government, not PAID ENTIRELY by government, employees including members of Congress pay monthly premiums (and co-pays,) and are as subject to plans not covering for pre-existing conditions as everyone else.

[Swede Atlanta]

33. This is their mentality.......

If you are unable to participate in the "American dream" whether that means having enough to eat, a roof over your head or basic health care, you are screwed. Sorry you were born poor, lost your job, fell on hard times, etc.

McConnell doesn't feel his Bible calls on him to be compassionate and caring. He thinks it says if you are rich God loves you but if you are poor or in any other way disadvantaged, he hates you.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

34. I'm not convinced McConnell has any level of intelligence

[era veteran]

50. He was smart enough to cover up the real reason for his Army discharge.

Had some help on that but I fear the people with first hand knowledge dead or compromised.

[hifiguy]

35. Hey Yertle!

Fuck you and the turtle you rode in on. I say this with the utmost sincerity.

[mick063]

36. If this doesn't go viral

look in the mirror.



This should be saved, spread, talked about, and hammered home.

Over and over and over again.

[dtom67]

37. go farther...

The movement should be to get these uncaring sons-of -bitches out of office.

Guys like this make me wonder if our system isn't irreversibly broken.

Doesn't he have constituents?

Where the fuck are they?

No way an asshole like this should ever get elected to anything.

[Mr.Turnip]

38. On his little reconcilation comment, didn't he and his ilk complain endlessly when the dems used it

Just to amend the ACA?

[karynnj]

42. yep - and note how in most references they now speak of passing ACA under reconciliation

which is not true.

[maddiemom]

39. So ironic...

We seem increasingly closer to a civil war (so far thankfully non-violent) in more than 150 years, a large part of the catalyst being a bi-racial POTUS. Conservative Republicans have been gunning for DemocratIC presidents beyond reason since Carter. LBJ was such an old hand in government and a hardass, but still knew when to hang it up. He fought to implement JFK,s policies, even though he personally resented the man. Pettiness has taken over politics these days. Who would have believed that we'd have a "black" president so soon. The right wing backlash has been horrendous, but not surprising. True colors are coming out. Clinton and Carter were hounded, but President Obama has brought out the real crazy.

[karynnj]

41. One correction Democrats need to make in what is said here

"But Republicans had lambasted Democrats for using the reconciliation process to pass the law in 2010, arguing that it would be “ripping a piece of the fabric of America off.”

The ACA was NOT passed via reconciliation. The House passed a bill, the Senate then passed an amendment that replaced the House version with the Senate bill (Reid) with 60 votes and then that bill passed the Senate with 60 votes and the House than passed the Senate amended bill as is --- and it went to the President and was signed. At that point the ACA was passed law.

What THEN happened was a much smaller bill, that lower the deficit, amended the just passed law and improved the student loan system. It was a requirement of reconciliation that anything using that process cut the deficit. (This rule started after the second Bush tax cut (2003) was passed under reconciliation with 50 votes and Cheney breaking the tie.)

It is important to state that something as important as the ACA was passed with 60 votes.

[craigmatic]

43. I'm not convinced that this shell-less turtle is a human being.

[Aerows]

44. "I'm not convinced"

That I give a damn what Mitch McConnell and the rest of the GOP clown car thinks - in fact, I'm convinced that I don't!

[DearAbby]

45. So much for the "General welfare of your constituents"

GOT TO MAXIMIZE those profits. JUST WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?

[stevenleser]

46. A lovely reminder of how toxic Republican policies are on healthcare.

The kinds of things coming out of Republican mouths these days are monstrous.

[backscatter712]

51. While a lot of Republicans are merely ignorant, Turtle Beak is utterly EVIL!

He's all for taking health care reform away and bringing us all back to a system that killed 40,000 people each year (and probably more!) He's not ignorant - he's had a ringside seat for the entire protracted process that brought us health care reform, he's heard all the arguments, knows all the issues, and is siding with the billionaires and fellow psychopaths who WANT 40,000 people to die every year, to keep us down, keep us struggling, keep us dependent and working for shitty wages - because if we don't, we'll get to watch our loved ones suffer and die when they can't see a doctor.

I'll say it again. Mitch McConnell is EVIL. Pure fucking monstrous EVIL. He is a consciousless psychopath, with all the empathy of Hannibal Lector, and he wants us to suffer so he and his big-business fuckbuddies can get rich. He is a lamprey-mouthed reptile. He is a cockroach and a murderer.

[tanyev]

52. Hey, Sarah! There's your death panels.

[DCKit]

55. Chinless Mitch had got some nerve going up against people like you.

Y'all need to help us kick his ass so far out of office that we can't see him land.

[Historic NY]

56. McConnell wants to put the fun back in funerals.......

and allow people to die for lack of care

[DCKit]

58. Chinless does himself proud, once again.

Mitch, do you even get it?

[Honeycombe8]

60. Ah. So the truth comes out. Which is that the Republicans don't care a bit if people die from

failing to get health care. That's the truth.

[Overseas]

61. I hope everyone who interviews him asks the question-- Are you convinced yet that insurers shouldn't

discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions?

[TheKentuckian]

62. I've been less than convinced that McTurtle's breathing is not killing us for 30+ years

Odious as always.

[Zoeisright]

63. McConnell, you filthy piece of chinless shit, I hope and pray

you get a debilitating, fatal disease that breaks you and your family.