Wasserman Schultz accuses GOP of politicizing breast cancer

By David Edwards and Gavin Dahl
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 -- 1:18 pm
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debbiewassermanschultz Wasserman Schultz accuses GOP of politicizing breast cancerRep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) accused the Republican Party and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Ten.) of politicizing breast cancer in a heated debate over preventive care Sunday.

"The Republicans, and Ms. Blackburn, have for the first time politicized breast cancer," Wasserman Schultz told ABC's George Stephanopoulos.

Blackburn contended that new controversial breast cancer screening guidelines are an example of how Democrats will ration health care.

A preventive medicine task force recommended last week that women not necessarily get mammograms before age 50, and even then get them only two years, according to The Hill.

Wasserman Schultz blamed a difference of interpretation, saying, "The task force language in that bill actually makes sure that prevention services like mammograms and colonoscopies would be free."

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Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okl.) from the Health Committee cautioned that Americans face, "a bureaucracy stepping between a physician and their patient."

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) from the Appropriations Committee said, "I worry about a government-run plan that would be subject to recommendations that might be applied universally without respect to patients. I am concerned about that."

ABC attempted to present balance by inviting two Democrats and two Republicans onto the show. However the echo of talking points proved the deck was stacked.

Blackburn added, "You know that this is the bureaucrat in the exam room. This is how its going to happen."

Wasserman Schultz realized she would not be given time to rebut the statement before a commercial break, so in a feat of nearly indecipherable crosstalk, she countered, "Marsha, there's an insurance company bureaucrat in between a patient and her doctor right now."

This video is from ABC's This Week, broadcast Nov. 22, 2009.



Download video via RawReplay.com

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Story comments are below...

  • hotrodharryjoe
    ABC's George Stephanopoulos is a GOP in disguise. His sunday show "This...." is a farce & a fraud. He promotes & propagates dishonesty & is beholden to his GOP & corporate paymasters. Since GW Bush came into office George Stephanopoulos has become a GOP sycophant. He will go to any extent to appease the GOP, Conservatives, Right-Wing nuts & his corporate paymasters. It is no secret, he has been BOUGHT over by the Health Care Lobbyists. During the holidays, he vacations with GOP leader/politicians, enjoying their private jets, vacation resorts, golfs with them on a regular basis & has meals with them. Since he ditched Bill Clinton by being a double crosser, Bill Clinton never goes on "This week with George the GOP shill & stooge."
  • edwards_com
    Stephanopoulos is a total fraud as you say.For all I know the viewership may be up. However, when Brinkley left that program lost any credibility it once if ever had,
  • luschnig
    It is clear that Americans cannot be trusted to run health care. Republicans say government bureaucrats will ration benefits and Democrats say private enterprise bureaucrats are already rationing care. It seems the only solution is to have officials from Europe where health care runs well come here and run our health care.
  • edwards_com
    You have a good point. I wonder if there would be a way for the USA to use the European model as a template for our countries distribution. . Naturally NO method is perfect.
  • Name
    The task force that recommended women delay mammograms until 50 did NOT consider cost in its determination. It only considered the potential of prevention vs. the effects of false positives...

    Then again, why am I even surprised? This is cable news.
  • WJM51
    Since when is ABC cable news?
  • bizmark
    They actually had 3 against HCR and 1 for. How is that any kind of balance? I watched that show in amazement at how they had it stacked. Wasserman-Schultz is very good but she isn't a miracle worker. It looks like the medai is on the side of failure for the Dems. Seems that would generate a lot more controversy and sell more newspapers and ads.
  • Savantster
    .
    The most amusing thing here is, these are the people that will make the rules, and they are saying "we'll fuck you!". VOTE THEM OUT then, sheesh!

    The end result is that our LAW MAKERS should be making laws that PROTECT us, but instead, they try to protect corporate profits (both parties are doing it). So much for a government OF the people, BY the people, FOR the people.

    At the end of the day, we have sleazy doctors that will run test after test after test (at their own labs) just to make money. That's the world we live in, everyone is doing their best to get as much as they can. It's sick, destructive, divisive, and wrong. But to prevent abuses we have to set rules, and those rules should be based in SCIENCE, not "faith" or "profit" or anything else.
    .
  • kimbutgar
    I don't know why but I have a feeling this whole task force was stacked with republican hold overs from bush. It is so coincidental the rehtugs have their talking points all ready the day these new guidelines were put out. I hope some investigative journalist will connect the dots. This task panel is a republican group I tell you. I had to turn these shows off this AM because the rethugs are scared the Democratic party will get some health care bill passed. Someone find the names of these task force members.
  • Boson Bison
    Nice tits. You need to have those looked at.
  • PieWackett
    I really get p.o.'d by all this talk of the goverment restricting care and access. I have been a physician for a number of years, and even my colleagues gripe about government interference- no one sees that the legislature mandates care and approves funds to pay for it- payment goes mostly to health insurance companies who are the ones that approve or deny care by approving or denying payment. Shame on politicians who try to cash in on fear and ignorance to push a lie.
  • allfactssupportmypositions
    Why is it that Republicons have problems with government getting between you and your doctor, but cheer when insurance company bean counters and lawyers do it?

    Is there anything about today's G.O.P. that isn't dishonest? I mean except greed...
  • overdoneputaforkinit
    The insurance reform bill is three times longer than the Bible. With just as many ways to misinterpret it.
  • I like how everybody is ignoring the incoherent ramblings of greyflcn. Democrats must think that Americans are idiots. Coburn is reading directly from the bill. That is just mud slinging dirty politics. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is a breast cancer survivor. Survivors have a special ability to see words and meanings that we "readers" can't translate.
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