"I got the fried chicken" Steele pulls out the ooga booga. Obama's health care is "socialism."

[jefferson_dem]

WASHINGTON – The chairman of the Republican Party on Monday called President Barack Obama's plan to overhaul health care "socialism," accusing the president of conducting a risky experiment that will hurt the economy and force millions to drop their current coverage.

Michael Steele, in remarks at the National Press Club, also said the president, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and key congressional committee chairmen are part of a "cabal" that wants to implement government-run health care.

"Obama-Pelosi want to start building a colossal, closed health care system where Washington decides. Republicans want and support an open health care system where patients and doctors make the decisions," Steele said.

Asked if Obama's health care plan represented socialism, Steele responded: "Yes. Next question."

Obama has repeatedly said he does not favor a government-run health care system. Legislation taking shape in the House envisions private insurance companies selling coverage in competition with the government.

<SNIP>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090720/ap_on_go_ot/us_health_care_overhaul_27

[HopeOverFear]

1. You beat me to it I was about to post this!

[Spouting Horn]

6. What's wrong with Socialized Medicine?

Isn't that what liberals have been fighting for for so many decades?

Why is Socialism such a bad word all of the sudden?

[HopeOverFear]

9. ^^^^FREEPER

[Raine1967]

12. Did you forget this?

:sarcasm:

[SpiralHawk]

2. What a joke this guy is

He's a republicon. Bwaaa ha ha ha ha. 'nuf said.

[YOY]

3. I love this quote...

"Republicans want and support an open health care system where patients and doctors make the decisions."

and the reality is the decision makers under Repig rule??? Big Pharma and Insurance companies.

[Buzz Clik]

4. Imagine that title on a thread in the Free Republic. How long would it take ...

... before it was posted over here as yet another example of knuckledragger racism?

[jefferson_dem]

5. Just imagine.

And if it was posted over there, it probably would be as you say.

[Buzz Clik]

8. I prefer a little consistency. Do as you wish.

[Arkana]

11. You do realize that that's a reference to something Steele actually said, right?

That he was going to lure African Americans to the GOP with fried chicken and potato salad?

[Buzz Clik]

15. Yes -- he said this in response to a question about increasing diversity in the GOP.

Questioner: "I wanted to asked you regarding your inclusion of diverse populations in the Republican Party, what are your plans moving forward?"

Steele: "My plan is to say, 'Y'all come.' because lot of you are already here."

Questioner: "I'll bring the collard greens."

Steele: "I got the fried chicken and the potato salad."

There it is in context, but that context is missing from the title of the thread which also includes some "ooga booga." It made me wince. I'm not accusing jefferson_dem of anything. I simply noted that this thread title in the FR automatically would be assumed to be racist.

[Arkana]

17. Come to think of it, now I'm hungry for some goddamn fried chicken.

[jefferson_dem]

13. Thanks.

...for granting permission.

Sorry Steele's words offend you so.

[Buzz Clik]

16. Just can't help being a smart ass, can you?

It makes me wonder if giving you the benefit of the doubt was the right thing to do...

[jefferson_dem]

19. Guess not.

Have a good one anyway. :hi:

Sorry to make you wince. Seriously, that was not my intent.

[Chulanowa]

7. Well, it does

Next question is "so what?"

[Arkana]

10. Yawn.

This talking point existed before there was a healthcare bill even in concept.

[damntexdem]

14. All he and the other GOPers have is fright chicken.

And for dessert, they'll serve n'mores.

[malletgirl02]

18. Socialism

You know if he is going to be accused of socialism Obama might as well go out and go full out socialist.

[flpoljunkie]

20. Other industrialized countries spend 10% of GDP, cover everyone and have better or equal outcomes.

Yet, in this country, the special interests' water carriers, the Republicans, cry 'socialism' to anyone who dares suggest that all Americans deserve to have basic health benefits.

Ted Kennedy writing in Newsweek:

This would threaten not just the health of Americans but also the strength of the American economy. Health-care spending already accounts for 17 percent of our entire domestic product. In other advanced nations, where the figure is around 10 percent, everyone has insurance and health outcomes that are equal or better than ours. This disparity undermines our ability to compete and succeed in the global economy. General Motors spends more per vehicle on health care than on steel.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/207406/page/4