Conservative groups present DHHS 'sting' video (OKeefe, Maine & Fail)

[jpak]

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Conservative-groups-present-DHHS-sting-video.html

AUGUSTA - Two conservative groups, Americans For Prosperity of Maine and the Maine Heritage Policy Center, presented a video clip they allege exposes "vulnerabilities" in Maine's Department of Health and Human Services.

The video, sent to Carol Weston, state director of AFP, by James O'Keefe, shows an actor portraying a drug smuggler attempting to receive medicaid benefits. According to Weston, he eventually leaves the state office with an application form to fill out to receive MaineCare benefits. The video shows the DHHS worker, identified only as Diane, suggesting that because the applicant receives no paychecks to report he has no income - despite the fact that he tells her he runs a cash business.

<snip>

"It shows clearly what many of us have believed for some time - that Maine's welfare system is exceedingly vulnerable to fraud and that we have front line stewards of taxpayer funds who are not adequately equipped to perform their duties," he said.

Neither Weston nor Dutson knew who was providing funding to O'Keefe, they said.

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First of all, the terabagger got no money from MaineCare - only an application, that could be accepted or rejected.

and no one knows who funds O'Keefe

and more importantly (for Maine residents anyway), no one knows who funds the Maine Heritage Policy Center

they suck

yup

[SpiralHawk]

1. Hey, get a clue, RepubliWankers. It's America.

You ask for an app, you get an app. You fill it out, and if -- IF -- your claim has actual merit your app is approved.

But if you are a bogus occult black-ops lying scumbag chickebnhawk RepubliWanker, you get a kick in the ass.

That's the American way. Deal with it.

[dionysus]

2. i'm not big into violence, but i wish someone would slap the taste out of o'keefe's mouth.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. So, the *scandal* is that this guy got an application?

:wtf:
:banghead:

[CatWoman]

5. I'm trying to eat my lunch, and you're making it impossible

if you keep posting comments like this.

I spewed food all over my monitor :rofl:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. Thanks (Sorry!)

I've never been told that I've caused people to do that! :hi:

[jpak]

8. ...and he was told he did not qualify for benefits

but the lie was told and now it is the "truth"...

yup

[gratuitous]

4. See, Mr. O'Keefe, that's what government does

Government doesn't have the right to refuse service to anyone. Someone comes in to apply for benefits, they get an application. Now, they may not qualify for benefits, and they won't receive any benefits if they don't qualify, but anyone and everyone is allowed to apply for benefits.

Maybe if you had stayed awake in civics class, you'd have a basic understanding of how things work.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jimmyflint]

9. So, they scored an application from a government office,

that hands out applications. Brilliant, these guys just proved somebody is doing their job, handing out apps. For their next big scoop they will probably go under cover to a McDonald's and exchange money for food.

[Canuckistanian]

10. Clerks don't have the power to accept or reject an application

They just provide help in filling out and filing forms.

Just because "Diane" accepted it, it doesn't mean the "actor" automagically gets the benefits.

If he got an actual check or some free medical service, he might have a point.

[Ikonoklast]

11. Seriously? This is a huge thing, getting a government form to fill out?

What does that prove, exactly, that the bureaucrat did their job correctly?

What a scandal!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

12. ZOMG!!!!

He got an application!!!!!!
:nuke: