World

Elderly Woman w/ Diabetes & No Insurance Told “Good Luck” by GOP

by TheCameraObscura | June 22, 2009 at 04:49 pm

666 views | 38 Recommendations | 8 comments

Stop the presses! The Republicans do have a way to reform health care in this country, it's called "good luck!"

At least that what former Republican Congressman Tom David told an elderly woman, with diabetes who could not get insured, on C-Span.

To be fair, after he was called on his callousness by the next caller, Davis did backpedal, so give him a little credit for realizing how horrible the GOP cure is.

On CSPAN’s Washington Journal yesterday, former Republican congressman Tom Davis received a call from an elderly woman named Dorothy, who said that because she has diabetes, health insurance companies “reject” her. “They don’t even want to accept me,” said Dorothy. “Is that, is that possible they could get away with that? That seems like discriminating.”

Davis responded by saying that he understood her “dilemma” and that she probably wouldn’t be able to retire by 62 as she desires. Advising her that she’d be alright if she found “a job with a major employer,” Davis said it would be “difficult” on her own:

DAVIS: I don’t think you’ll find, probably be able to find some health insurance but if its with a small business or you’re going out on your own, it’s difficult at this point. There may be a government plan or private plans that are mandated coming out of this that are maybe able to help you. … I don’t know any reason why you shouldn’t be able to find something out there, but you want to look for an employer that has a health care plan. Good luck.

Later in the show, another caller criticized Davis for his “good luck” response, saying that it “encapsulates the entire Republican Party’s attitude towards any problems that are facing the American people today.” Davis replied that he didn’t mean “good luck” as a “kiss off,” but just as “good luck to you as you try to move through this problem.”

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 16:57 on June 22nd, 2009

To be fair this is a GAF by one person and can't hardly be attributed to the GOP as a whole. The operative sentence in here is also former Republican Congressman. I hope I don't get lynched every time I mispeak.

The_Cynic

at 17:17 on June 22nd, 2009

The only real problem with that, your point, is it isn't a matter that he is an ex, or that he made a gaff - GOPers, Republicans, Conservatives - which I am told are completely different in the US - really do not care about people who do not have insurance. They really do mean it when they say "Good Luck" because that is their over-all philosophy.

Republicans/Cons/GOPers readily agree that the military, police, fire service etc should be government run - why not healthcare?

Because the insurance companies give them massive donations!

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 17:33 on June 22nd, 2009

My point is about one person making a GAFF, notwithstanding what the GOPs policy on health care may be. I live in a country that provides universal health care and benefit from that. So my point wasn't about health care, it was about attributing the comment to the GOP as the title suggests.

The United States will go through a lot of growing pains on its passage to health care for all. In Canada we heard all the same arguments in the early 60s when an unknown politician from a poor Province, Saskatchewan named Tommy Douglas advanced his ideas on health care.

My sincere wish is that when and if health care is implemented in the US, that it is well planned and thought through and it does not become another disaster such as Medicare and Medicaid.

I don't think partisan rhetoric from either side is useful.

TheCameraObscura

at 08:29 on June 23rd, 2009

I clearly stated in the original post that Tom Davis recounted his statement after being called out by the next caller.

Davis' views are certainly in sync with the GOP, many of whom claim the only problem in healthcare is too much government regulation and the "free market will somehow save us all."

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 17:40 on June 22nd, 2009

Here is a comprehensive look at Canadian Healthcare, especially some of the myths:

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/76032/

TheCameraObscura

at 08:45 on June 23rd, 2009

Thanks, that debunks all of the GOP lies about Canadian healthcare. Glad someone posted it.

Guess who Canadians voted the greatest Canadian of all time? Socialist Tommy Douglas, the father of socialized healthcare.

duo

at 20:27 on June 22nd, 2009

Five Supreme Ct. judges told the world last Thursday they do not care if innocent people rot in prison or are executed. The five who ruled agaist post-conviction DNA testing were all likely appointed by Republican presidents. Tom David's response does not surprise many people, I am sure.

The_Cynic

at 09:09 on June 23rd, 2009

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/special-interest-money-means-longer.html?2ndtry

health care is one of those areas where both popular opinion and sound public policy seem to take a backseat to protecting those stakeholders who benefit from the status quo. But can we actually see -- statistically -- the impact of lobbying by the insurance industry on the prospects for health care reform? I believe that the answer is yes.