"It’s a Republican bill, therefore it’s a bad bill" Says Dick Gephardt on Prescription Drug Benefit

Dover NH News ^

[rs79bm]

BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE —Medicare was the hot topic of debate while front-runner Howard Dean was the target of verbal assaults as the top six Democratic presidential candidates took the stage Tuesday.

At a forum hosted by AARP, almost all of the six candidates said they do not support a $400 billion Medicare prescription drug benefit bill in Congress. It marked the first time the six major candidates were together in New Hampshire with just over two months to go before the Jan. 27 primary.

The day before the forum, AARP threw the support of its 35 million members behind the measure and will launch a $7 million advertising campaign with the hope it will pass.

"I wish AARP had chosen to oppose this bill. And I wish AARP was spending its $7 million to help tell Americans what is wrong," Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry said.

Kerry was joined by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri in criticizing the Republican-backed bill.

"It’s a Republican bill, therefore it’s a bad bill," Gephardt said. "Worst of all, it was written by the pharmaceutical companies and the HMOs. That’s all you need to understand."

[rs79bm]

"It’s a Republican bill, therefore it’s a bad bill," Gephardt said. "Worst of all, it was written by the pharmaceutical companies and the HMOs. That’s all you need to understand."

So now Republicans are not capable of writting bills? I think this goes to show just how much the democrats care about our Seniors. I think all Seniors should read this article. In other words, if we didn't create it, in the words of the Democrats, we don't care about you Seniors, we just aren't going to pass it. Furthur, it takes a pretty classless act to launch derogatory comments to the very group that was hosting your event, like they did towards the AARP.

[Dr. Frank fan]

"It’s a Republican bill, therefore it’s a bad bill," Gephardt said.

LOL

It's strange, because although I deplore the simpleminded idiotic thought processes behind this statement, at the same time I sort of admire the honesty it embodies.

[richardtavor]

Gephardt said. "Worst of all, it was written by the pharmaceutical companies and the HMOs. That’s all you need to understand."

In other Words, 'all you need to understand is what we tell you what to understand, and if we want your opinion, we will give it to you!'

[Blood of Tyrants]

Gephart would have gotten Castro to write it.

[Lucky2]

Note to Little Dickie, "You're an idiot. Now shut up, you're not going to be nominated anyway"

[CyberAnt]

I do so agree .. the simplicity of Dickie admitting he's against this JUST BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS WROTE THE BILL. How idiotic is that ..??

People are tired of this stupidity! The democrats are saying that unless they (the democrats) write the bill it is not worthwhile. Is that why they were against the CIVIL RIGHTS BILL too ..??

[Dolphy]

"Worst of all, it was written by the pharmaceutical companies and the HMOs. That’s all you need to understand."

Gee, if not for them there would be far less need for health care coverage. Business does not have a monopoly on greed and unyielding self interest...Democrats do though.

[AmericanMade1776]

AARP had a full page add today in the Boston Globe Newspaper, urging seniors and all citizens to contact their congressman and urge passage on the prescription drug benefit bill...good idea... http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

[Paul Atreides]

They don't call him the DNC's biggest Dick for nothing!

[playball0]

What's bad for the Dems is "their" issue is being co-opted by Bush. Even more infuriating to Gep-fart is that special interest money will not be flowing his way.

[Timeout]

Did you see Daschle, Kennedy et al at their little demonstration in Washington today?

They all had pins and signs with a lemon with a line thru it...they were actually chanting "NO MORE LEMONS!". Funny thing is, if the average viewer came across this medicare rally, the viewer would wonder, "What do they have against lemons?"

[lowteksh]

Democrats just don't seem to understand that yelling "REPUBLICAN" doesn't scare people anymore. There were polls taken recently that showed more and more people identify themselves as Republicans. You can only go to the "they want to kill you" well so many times before people stop and realize that all these bad things aren't happening. When the masses start asking questions such as "what is your alternative plan" and all they get is "uh, um, er, REPUBLICANS!!!" it finally dawns on them that Democrats aren't leaders, they're liars.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

"It’s a Republican bill, therefore it’s a bad bill," Gephardt said. "Worst of all, it was written by the pharmaceutical companies and the HMOs. That’s all you need to understand."

Good work Demos. Keep fighting, for once we agree. America does not need the biggest new entitlement since the Great Society. If you guys stop this, I'll secretly thank you, but publicly I'll probably just blame you...ah forget bipartisanship, being a partisan is fun!

[Chu Gary]

If the Dims are actually dim enough to obstruct this bill, I do believe the Pubbies WILL have a landside victory come 11/04, including attainment of a 60+ senatorial count and, of course, a big, big win for W. Opposition to this bill would be the equivalent of driving a wooden stake thru whatever heart Her Hideousness has.

[oust the louse]

"Gephardt, a former House minority leader, then responded to a question from the audience by saying he would be able to get his health care plan passed if elected because he would bring a Democratic majority to Congress. That’s when Dean shot back at Gephardt. "You’ve had four terms to bring in a Democratic majority and you didn’t do it," Dean said"

What a beautiful kick in the nads to Mr DICK gephardt...Thanks Mr Dean...now both of you shut up and slither away....

[CFC__VRWC]

Furthur, it takes a pretty classless act to launch derogatory comments to the very group that was hosting your event, like they did towards the AARP.

Who ever accused Rats of having any class? I predict by next week the AARP will reverse its position on the drug bill. The Rats will flay them mercilessly for daring to stray from the plantation.

[Morgan's Raider]

I was listening to phone calls to C-SCAM this morning and was thoroughly disgusted by the number of my purported fellow Americans who are about to receive a GIFT from their children and neighbors bitching that it isn't enough, although it is appreciably more that they are getting now.

Stinking ingrates...

[Not A Snowbird]

"Worst of all, it was written by the pharmaceutical companies and the HMOs. That’s all you need to understand."

Well, who are the people who would be intelligent enough to put together a coherent bill on health care? I'd rather them have input to this bill than trusting it to a bunch of career politicians who may or may not understand health care finance in the 21st century!

[edchambers]

Good work Demos. Keep fighting, for once we agree. America does not need the biggest new entitlement since the Great Society. If you guys stop this, I'll secretly thank you,

This is a no win situation for the Dems.If they obstruct it they lose a powerfull voting block if they don't and it passes "W" is credited with yet another campaign promise fullfilled.On the other hand it's a win win for Republicans if it fails to pass it saves the taxpayer billions at no political cost if it passes Republicans are now the party that really cares about the issues of the nations elderly.

[qam1]

I predict by next week the AARP will reverse its position on the drug bill.

I agree, Even if the Republicans pass this bill and even if God forbid they add more on to it, After a very short time the AARP will go back to it's Bush/Republican/Conservative bashing just like Ted the swimmer did after the education bill was signed.