Scott Brown Delivers GOP Weekly Address: Accuses Obama & Dems of “Bitter, Destructive & Endless” Drive to Pass Health Care (Video)
Posted by Jim Hoft on Saturday, March 13, 2010, 11:30 AM
Sometimes the GOP Hits the Mark. Today It Was a Bull’s-Eye….
Senator Scott Brown delivered the GOP Weekly Address today.
The freshman Republican Senator from Massachusetts scored a direct hit on Barack Obama and fellow Democrats for their “bitter, destructive and endless drive to pass health care.”
Choosing Brown to deliver this week’s address was a great move. It was a timely reminder to democrats on how Americans feel about their drive to nationalize the nation’s health care system. Brown currently holds a 70% approval rating… in Massachusetts.
This was devastating:
Terrific… Nothing like a little reminder to democrats on the mood of the nation a week before they plan to ram Obamacare down our throats.
Here’s the transcript:
Hello, I’m United States Senator Scott Brown from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
“When the people of my state elected me in January, they sent more than a senator to Washington – they sent a message. Across party lines, the voters told politicians in Washington to get its priorities right.
“And from my travels and conversation with people throughout this country, they told me that they want their President and Congress to focus on creating jobs and reviving America’s economy. Instead, for more than a year now, we have seen a bitter, destructive, and endless drive to completely transform America’s health care system.
“In January of last year, unemployment hit 7.2 percent and our economy was hurting badly. But, early in President Obama’s term, he and the Democratic leadership of Congress made takeover of health care their first priority.
“Today, times are even tougher across our nation when it comes to our economy. Nearly one in ten Americans are still out of work. And still, the President and Congress are focused on ramming through their health-care bill, whatever it takes, whatever the cost.
“Maybe you remember what President Obama promised in his State of the Union address. He said he was going to finally focus on jobs and the economy for the remainder of this year. I applauded him for that. Well, here it is, it’s almost spring. And what is he out there talking about again? That same 2,700-page, multi-trillion dollar health care legislation.
“So, an entire year has gone to waste. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, and many more jobs are in danger. Even now, the President still hasn’t gotten the message.
“Somehow, the greater the public opposition to the health care bill, the more determined they seem to force it on us anyway. Their attitude shows Washington at its very worst – the presumption that they know best, and they’re going to get their way whether the American people like it or not.
“And, when politicians start thinking like that, they don’t let anything get in their way – not public opinion, not the rules of fair play, not even their own promises.
“They pledged transparency. Instead, we have a health care bill tainted by secrecy, concealed cost, and full of backroom deals– and that’s just not right. They should do better. The American people expect more.
“They pledged a true bipartisan effort. Instead, they have resorted to bending the rules, and they now intend to seize control of health care in America on a strict party-line vote.
“In speech after speech on his health care plan, the President has tried to convince us that what he is proposing will be good for America. But, how can it be good for America if it raises taxes by a half trillion dollars and costs a trillion dollars or more to implement? In addition, how can it be good if it takes another half a trillion dollars away from seniors on Medicare, and still includes all the backroom deals you have been hearing about for months?
“Well, for the past year or more, the new establishment in Washington has tried again and again to sell this plan to the American people. But the Americans aren’t buying it, and for good reason. And now, what’s going on is a last, desperate power play. They actually tell us that passing the bill is necessary, if only to prove that something can get done in Washington.
“Well, I haven’t been here very long, but, I can tell you this much already: Nothing has distracted the attention and energy of the nation’s capital more than this disastrous detour. And, the surest way to return to the people’s business is to listen to the people themselves: We need to drop this whole scheme of federally controlled health care, start over, and work together on real reforms at the state level that will contain costs and won’t leave America trillions of dollars deeper in debt.
“This, above all, was the message that the people of my state sent to the President and the Congress in the election over a month ago.
“You know some of my Democratic colleagues, you know, are being leaned on mighty hard right now. Speaker Pelosi and others are handing down their marching orders, telling them to vote for this bill no matter what. Rarely have elected leaders been so intent on defying the public will. For many members of Congress, the time for choosing is near – do what the party leadership demands, or do what the people have asked you to do. If my colleagues don’t mind some advice from a newcomer, I’d suggest going with the will of the people.
“After all, from the very beginning of this debate, the American people have called it correctly. In every part of the country, Republicans and Democrats have agreed on serious, straightforward, commonsense health care reform. They expect us in Washington to do the same – working together, acting fairly and by the rules, and staying focused on the need to make the American economy as strong as it can be. That is the business that brought me here on an unexpected journey to Washington. And, it’s the responsibility of everyone sent here to serve our country. We can do better – and I challenge my colleagues and the President to do just that.
“I’m Senator Scott Brown and thank you very much for listening.”
Excellent.
The AP added this on today’s GOP address:
Brown himself can claim responsibility for the Democrats’ failure to pass health overhaul legislation to date. They were on the verge of doing so before Brown claimed the late Edward M. Kennedy’s Senate seat in a special election upset in January, depriving Democrats of their filibuster-proof supermajority and throwing the health care effort into limbo.
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Published February 8, 2012 at 8:42 pm - 32 Comments
Hack commented:
We are blessed, and lucky, to have this man in office when we could have someone like Martha Coakley, who would be going right along with the Democrats right now, against the obvious will of the people.
http://www.hackwilson.blogspot.com
susan commented:
Such bitter poison is the price paid when drunk from the spiritual cup of Universal Health Care.
God Knows the ways of man and those who follow man’s law is the ungodly way.
Opus #6 commented:
The American People elected Scott Brown to stop Obama’s planned destruction of 17% of the nation’s economy. The American People can take credit for that.
Thanks to Scott Brown for staying faithful to the people who elected him.
Thanks to all legislators who decide in favor of keeping faith with Americans and constituents who want reform, but not this AWFUL bill.
Semper Fidelis, folks.
Always Faithful.
FreakyBoy commented:
Blow it AP. THe Senate bill passed before Brown was elected.
If anyone is to blame, it’s the Dems. It was their shady deals, incompetence and late night votes that resulted in Brown’s rise and ultimate election in the first place.
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OCBill commented:
Attention: Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi
Schoolhouse Rock – I’m Just a Bill
Learn it. Know it. Live it.
BarbaraS commented:
Something has been puzzling me for some time now. I realize why the dems are so h*ll bent on this healthcare bill. It will give them more power over us. But why are they being so blatant about it? Why was Reid going on and on about using reconciliation when the senate bill had not even passed the house? It would have made more sense to keep quiet then and not get everyone’s back up until or even if it was necessary. I wonder, is the healthcare bill itself the distraction? The dems are really good at backroom deals. I wonder if something is going on worse than the healthcare bill in those backrooms. I simply cannot understand why all these dems are willing to die politically for this bill and for Obama. Something just doesn’t add up.
jerryl commented:
barbra s your so right there is something fishy about all this it is about control and seiu and GE making billions on this just like they will with cap n tax
Ginger commented:
They are being bribed and black mailed! The ones who are voting for the bill is comitting treason upon our country.
May the 200 + burn in HELL!
It is all about CONTROL. Who is going to control the amounts of money that the goverment swindles out of us? Think about it? Who’s controlling the money now? The fraud in the White House and his morons! Who is really going to have to pay and who is going to get by with not paying a thing? They are going to get by with taking any amount out of our bank accounts they want! Who’s going to stop them? They will take our homes from us and give to who they want! Who’s going to stop them?
squeaky commented:
OT from free republic – original article is in japanese
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2470266/posts
dallasdan commented:
It’s only a matter of time until some patriot(s) act to stop the socialist takeover. Obama’s attempted coup will be recorded in history as the act of a deranged marxist, nothing more.
ivehadit commented:
SEIU is underfunded in their pensions, BIG TIME, as I understand it. Money from this legislation will help them alleviate their shortfall, as I understand it.
All or nothing is their only choice, imho. Ain’t unions great?! NOT!
We CANNOT allow this bill to pass. GET ON THE PHONES MONDAY! Thank you!
ivehadit commented:
And great job Scott Brown!
Espresso Logic - The 6th Sense commented:
If a reasonable person listened to Scott Brown speak for five minutes and then listened to a piece of crap like Chuck (U) Schumer, how could they possibly support the Democraps?
Well maybe if that person was a miserable piece of crap themself.
FeelFree commented:
Remind me again how putting a bill to a majority vote in the Congress is improper.
Jim Rose commented:
I said this over at Hot Air:
Quoting Ed Morrissey: “Brown also shows that he’s not afraid to stand up to the statists and stand with the GOP when it counts.”
And that’s all we expect from party moderates. Granted, they’re holding firm on Obamacare, but historically this is exactly what we don’t get from the Maine girls, Grahamnesty, McCain and a few others. We can have party members that disagree, but when you can’t get behind the party when the chips are down, that’s when you need to follow Arlen Specter out the door.
There’s a difference between being a moderate Republican and a RINO. Brown is so far proving to be the former.
howdareyouaskformyname commented:
I disagree with the part where he implies there is widespread agreement that reform is needed… at least not in the sense he means. Better they do nothing than expand the role of government in any way at all. If they want to phase out Medicare etc… then I am all for that but that ain’t gonna happen. It is going to continue to go broke… at a slower rate than if this comprehensive POS is passed but it is still going to go broke.
We are extremely fortunate the Democrats are so venal, over reaching and inept. Otherwise we would have gotten another incremental step towards national health care like Bush gave us with prescription drug coverage and there would not have been the will to oppose it.
Brown would flip and support a more moderate proposal but he is the best we can do right now.
AnnS commented:
BarbaraS
March 13th, 2010 | 12:02 pm | #6
I have thought about this too; ‘about being a big distraction’. A NYT article (h/t Pat Dollard)
the White House is getting ready to act on its own in the face of partisan gridlock heading into the midterm campaign.
“We are reviewing a list of presidential executive orders and directives to get the job done across a front of issues,” said Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff.
Any president has vast authority to influence policy even without legislation, through executive orders, agency rule-making and administrative fiat. And Mr. Obama’s success this week in pressuring the Senate to confirm 27 nominations by threatening to use his recess appointment power demonstrated that executive authority can also be leveraged to force action by Congress.”
Another by WND:
“(excert) Responding to an executive order by President Obama, a new push is under way for states to adopt laws limiting the use of their National Guard units unless there is an invasion, insurrection or other limited circumstance.”
Something’s happening here …
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=127784
Jo commented:
The Nation: ” WE do not want this control packaged healthcare.”
Bozo and the Demons: ” We will ram this through and take control of your souls, your monies, and burn you alive. “
OgeecheeGirl commented:
For anyone wanting to send a message to Nancy Pelosi and help put an end to her reign of terror please go to http://www.JohnDennis2010.com on March 25th and make a donation.
March 26th is Nancy’s 70th Birthday and John is running for her seat in California’s 8th District. We want to send her a message on her birthday – it is time for her to retire!
What Scott Brown did in Massachusetts we will do in San Francisco! Come support us.
Jerry M commented:
Scott Brown is a real star. I would not eliminate the possibility of him running for President in 2012 even with less than one term in the Senate. By then, Obama’s credibility will be so damaged, his radical ideology so disturbing and his incompetence so overwhelming, that Scott Brown or almost any credible Republican should be able to destroy him in 2012. Obama was elected without having had any record. He will have one next time around and it won’t be pretty. Even many of those who voted for him are rapidly loosing their enthusiasm for him. There is no way America will be better off after four years of this buffoon in office.
sebsmom commented:
Scott Brwon gets it right, AP gets it wrong again.
DavidD commented:
” ‘Brown himself can claim responsibility for the Democrats’ failure to pass health overhaul legislation to date.’ ”
No, the good people of Massachusetts can claim responsibility for the Democrats’ failure to pass health overhaul legislation. And for that I say thank you.
Wally commented:
Someone asked what else is going on. Plenty, but the next big issue on the obama agenda will be amnesty for illegals. Big time. Illegals have already proved that their votes can be bought.
They have proved that without doubt they will vote democratic if they can legally vote. If they are given amnesty they will vote democratic in the November elections thus keeping the democratic party in control. That is one of the big reasons for giving them free health care even before amnesty is brought up for a vote.
If the orbamacare scam is passed, within 2 weeks after that, you will see a big push for amnesty. Lefty politicians know they are running short on time and they know they have to push hard for amnesty. Republicans really need to go, it is essential that democrats go first.
Bill Gross commented:
This was a good retort.
I notice, however, that there is not a single mention (beyond scrapping the while kit) of what the Republican Party would like to see.
This is why we are getting labeled, “the party of No.”
Every single public engagement by a Republican should include discussion along the following lines:
a) The American people overwhelmingly disapprove of this bill and the process underway in Washington to pass it.
b)(transition) But it is possible to reduce the costs of providing health care, and ease the financial burden on Americans who are already in hard economic times
c) We must start over and focus on those things that will reduce costs without increasing government oversight:
c.1) Tort reform
c.2) Increased access to insurance (sale across state lines) ((personally, I don’t think this option is very useful))
c.3) Etc…
The momentum is behind opposing the bill, the momentum is not behind a conservative alternative.
If the Republican party cannot clearly articulate a coherent alternative, eventually the discontent will evaporate…
Anthony commented:
I did read the full transcript. Senator Brown is absolutely correct. While I have been blessed not to lose my job, many of my friends have lost theirs. Why have we seen no action on job recovery while billions have been spent to bail out banks and increase government?
I doubt that you could find anyone who does not want reform in out health care system. What Obama and his cronies fail to realize, or even care about, is that his plan is not what we want! What encourages competition? What enhances portability? What addresses preventative care? Even worse, how can either house of Congress debate a bill that s so large no one could have read it?
Finally, I see that even AP, which I though was strictly a news gathering and distribution organization, has crossed into the realm of political punditry. Every act like theirs renders the MSM less relevant and alternative media more so. Think of it this way: would it help the reputation of a receptionist if she told everyone who called their corporation that the reason the executive toilet has been clogged for months is because of the plumber they hired a week ago?