Playing the Moral Equivalence Card
In the aftermath of Joe Wilson’s ‘outburst’, Democrats decried the Republicans’ incivility. Now that Alan Grayson has lied outright, they’re playing the moral equivalence card:
Both sides believe the party that represents them isn’t forceful enough, that it rolls over for its opposition, no matter how malicious that opposition might be. And when they find someone who’s willing to say what they think needs saying, even if that thing isn’t really true, even if it involves yelling at the president or accusing opponents of wanting people to die quickly, they can be energized pretty quickly. If that person is, like Wilson and Grayson, unwilling to give in when the other side starts howling, well, that only adds to their new aura.
This is totally repulsive if you care about the facts. When Joe Wilson said that President Obama lied, he was speaking out about the fact that the Democrats’ bills did nothing to prevent illegal immigrants from participating in the Democrats’ takeover of the health care system. When Rep. Grayson said that the Republicans’ health care plan was to “die quickly”, he knew that statement to be provably false. He knew it because the Republicans’ solutions website talks about the House GOP solutions on page 2. Here’s part of their solution:
The Republican plan implements comprehensive medical liability reform that will reduce costly, defensive medicine practiced by doctors trying to protect themselves from overzealous trial lawyers. Additionally, it provides Medicare and Medicaid with additional authority and resources to stop waste, fraud, and abuse that costs taxpayers billions of dollars every year.
To lower the costs of health care, the Republican plan increases fairness in the tax code by extending tax savings to those who currently do not have employer-provided coverage but purchase a health plan on their own. This provision would provide an “above the line” deduction that is equal to the cost of an individual’s or family’s insurance premiums. The plan also provides immediate substantial financial assistance, through new refundable and advanceable tax credits, to low- and modest-income Americans so all Americans have access to health coverage.
If you can’t find this website, then you’re a blithering idiot who isn’t qualified to represent people in Congress, in a state legislature or anywhere. If he didn’t know about that, then he certainly should’ve known about Paul Ryan’s Patients’ Choice Act, which was introduced months ago.
Shortly after President Obama’s speech, the GOP said that H.R. 3200 did include coverage for illegal immigrants. President Obama’s allies argued that President Obama would be submitting his own legislation, thereby technically refuting Wilson’s accusation. President Obama still hasn’t submitted this mythical legislation. (I’m not holding my breath on that happening, either.) Until President Obama proposes legislation that forbids covering illegal immigrants, I’ll just say that Joe Wilson was right.
To be fair, Sen. Baucus’s bill was ‘fixed’ to include a provision that had some teeth to it. On the other hand, House Democrats are pushing for coverage of illegal immigrants:
Fearful that they’re losing ground on immigration and health care, a group of House Democrats is pushing back and arguing that any health care bill should extend to all legal immigrants and allow illegal immigrants some access.
The Democrats, trying to stiffen their party’s spines on the contentious issue, say it’s unfair to bar illegal immigrants from paying their own way in a government-sponsored exchange. Legal immigrants, they say, regardless of how long they’ve been in the United States, should be able to get government-subsidized health care if they meet the other eligibility requirements.
“Legal permanent residents should be able to purchase their plans, and they should also be eligible for subsidies if they need it. Undocumented, if they can afford it, should be able to buy their own private plans. It keeps them out of the emergency room,” said Rep. Michael M. Honda, California Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Instead of giving health insurance to illegal immigrants, perhaps we deport them instead? Obviously, that thought hasn’t been given serious consideration. So much for Joe Wilson being wrong.
Until Rep. Grayson shows me irrefutable proof that his statements are factual, I’ll continue calling him a liar. To borrow Michael Dukakis’ phrase, if it walks like a duck and squawks like a duck, I’ll call it a duck.
Technorati Tags: Joe Wilson, Honesty, Alan Grayson, Dishonesty, Immigration, Health Care, Michael Dukakis
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
October 5th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Well, ya see, Gary, this Grayson guy had the floor, and, as exemplified by our glorious leader Duh-1, if you have the floor you can tell any tall tale ya want to.
Wilson’s problem was he didn’t have the floor. That, and he’s a racist ’cause he certainly wouldn’t have done that to Mr. Bush.
‘Course, the fact Mr. Bush wouldn’t have come in knowingly lying through his teeth has nothing to do with it, and, besides, Mr. Wilson’s a knuckle-dragging conservative just like Bush so he would have agreed with any lies Bush MIGHT have told, so obviously Wilson’s guilty and Grayson’s a hero.
And as far as Duh-1 submitting ANY controversial legislation, lots of luck with that one. One of the ways he’s remained free from the stain of Chicago Machine thuggery is to never put his fingerprints on the weapons which, for a politician, are proposed legislation.