Democrats blast McConnell for ‘lying’ about health reform

By Sahil Kapur
Friday, November 20th, 2009 -- 10:14 am
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dnc%20mcconnell%20ad Democrats blast McConnell for lying about health reform

After releasing their sweeping health care bill in the Senate Wednesday, Democrats are on the attack with a video montage "calling out" GOP leader Mitch McConnell for what they describe as his dishonest effort to obfuscate and kill the legislation.

"The Republican Party is going to have to answer to voters for opposing health insurance reform... all for the sake of politics," said DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan, in a statement to RAW STORY.

The clip, titled "Mitch McConnell: Lying On Health Reform," and website carrying it feature various sources refuting McConnell's assertions that the Democratic plan will cut Medicare, drive private insurers out of business, force government bureaucrats between doctors and patients, and lead to a single-payer insurance system.

It rebuffs his claim that a public option "may cost you your life," and includes footage of physician and former Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist saying "what the Obama administration is doing is not socialized medicine." It also slams McConnell for having "cited discredited 'experts'" -- including a GOP strategist whose assertions have been taken apart by FactCheck.org.

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"It's clear that we need to slow down," McConnell is featured as saying. Jen O'Malley Dillon, the DNC's Executive Director, claimed that is a ruse to "bury reform under endless delays and distortions."

"McConnell seems willing to use every trick in the book to delay a fair debate on reform," said Dillon, in an email to constituents Thursday. "Each day reform is postponed is another day for him to attack it with another distortion. It's a desperate gambit to confuse the American people, derail the effort in Congress, and block reform."

This new offensive may be an attempt by DNC to quell rising public skepticism over their legislation. President Obama's handling of health care now faces higher disapproval (49 percent) than approval (47 percent) for the first time in his presidency, a Washington Post poll found this week. The bill faces a tough challenge in the Senate as Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman and several Democrats -- including Sens. Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, and Blanche Lincoln -- might block it from even reaching a vote.

McConnell and other Republicans have been fiercely and consistently critical of the Democratic proposal for months, saying it will drive up premiums, increase the federal deficit and lead to single-payer insurance. In a testament to their resolute disapproval, only one House Republican (out of 177) voted for the narrowly successful bill earlier this month, while 39 Democrats -- mostly representing conservative districts -- rejected it.

The clip opens and closes with President Obama's warning to opponents of reform in his September 17, 2009 speech to Congress: "If you misrepresent what's in our plan, we'll call you out," he said.

WATCH:

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Story comments are below...

  • therealjoeschmoe
    McConnell and Lieberman - a match made in a garbage dump.

    Carol, welcome from the land of Republican paid posters. Nice talking points.
  • Name
    McConnell is the world's oldest closet drag queen.
  • edwards_com
    I disagree. I don't know or have known a single drag queen that would be caught in public let alone on camera with the cheap Drug Store make-up he wears. And that clumpy Mascara!
  • sonny
    This is calling them out? I don't think so. The Republicans have demonstrated support for the insurance industry and opposed promoting the general welfare, as have some Democrats. Is this the best that can be done vis-'a-vis "calling them out?"
  • dennycrane
    They are all lying unless they are talking about "single-payer." Medicare-Part "E", as for "everyone." But I do like the part about, "cosmetic" surgery. People can use it to "pull" FAUX NEWS out of their ass.
  • Carol DW
    The Democrats are the pot calling the kettle black. They are lying about what is in the health care bill. It's pork for the the health insurance industry and drug companies. It is the most expensive and the least effective way to provide health care. It's going to cost taxpayers a bundle and leave people without adequate coverage.
    Send congress back to the drawing board. This bill stinks!
  • andreaosuch
    I wish it did alot of what McConnell is alleging. Single payer would be alot better.
  • smallbear
    It's all about making the Democrats look bad, especially Obama, no matter how many Americans it hurts.
  • johnbis
    How did you find out? I thought that closet was nailed shut. Who squealed?
  • jdsnick
    the pig
  • edwards_com
    Santorum
  • Mike
    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) released a merged version of the Senate comprehensive reform on 11/19/09, which Mike Oliphant whom manages Utah health insurance plans for www.benefitsmanager.net/utah-group-health-insur... employers could get behind and support some of it (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or H.R. 3590). This should encourage the private sector health insurance carriers to form INSURANCE EXCHANGES which is what we have done here in Utah. They carry the risk and burden, not the tax payer. See more about this at http://www.ahealthinsurancequote.com/reform.html
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  • peteoday
    It is quite simple. Give the employers the same health care the public servants in Congress recieve.
  • KEN EAVENSON
    These IDIOTS in Washington think that it's o.k that millions of Americans are out of work, living in tent cities, dressing in rags, and eating out of garbage cans, getting ripped off by the FED, and having their liberties stomped on, ON A DAILY BASIS, but they HAVE TO BE INSURED WHILE THEY ENDURE THIS BULLSHIT!!!??? Anyone who supports this bill, IN ANY FORM, is either woefully stupid, or evil!!! TAKE YOUR PICK!!!!! DEATH TO THE NEW WORLD ORDER...... THE REPUBLIC SHALL PREVAIL!!!!!
  • davebarber
    it amazes me that someone as basically dishonest as mcconnal is elected by kentuckians.
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