Fingered protesting: Man bites man

The man who got his finger bitten off by a Left Wing Moveon.org Demonstrator probably would have been put on a 4 week wait list at the hospital if Obama's National Health Program was in place.

what would this world do without all that testosterone and male aggression? boys will be aggressive children no matter what the age. the male ego ... forever out to prove its virility. go get a club, cave men.

The stuff of urban legend.

somebody puts his finger in my face and that's not the only two inch long appendage he's going to lose.

"About 100 protesters sponsored by MoveOn.org were having a rally supporting health care reform..."

Wait a minute, wait a minute, that can't be right. Only right wing terrorists hold astroturf type rallies funded by puppeteers, you know, the mob.

Depot Jim,

Go peddle crazy somewhere else.

You would have no wait for admission to the psych ward.

Hmmmmmmm 65 years old? Government run medicare will help.

I wonder if the anti-reform guy who lost his finger had health insurance.

And Depot Jim, funny, all my Canadian relatives seem to LOVE their national health program. I would suggest you move to a lesser country once health reform passes so that you can be free of the tyranny of healthcare, but most other nations worth living in already have it.

Maybe District 9 is where you should go instead.

As opposed to the 4 to 6 week wait I have now to see my primary care physician though my HMO?

How clever, Jim.

Try reality, next time. If all your argument has is fear and lies, then why don't you try some facts.

Health care spending as a percentage of GDP: Britain: 8.4%, US: 16%
Overall "Quality" of health care: Britain: 18th, US: 37th
Average life expectancy: Britain: 79.1 years, US: 77.8.

Rant all you want about these supposed four week waits at a hospital, but why don't you get out of your little box and travel the world. If you have the misfortune to visit a hospital, you'd be shocked to discover: less paperwork, faster service, no bills, quality care.

Instead you troll message boards.

DepotJim - I challenge you to give me an actual reason as to WHY you think someone will have to wait in line at a hostpital if Obama's plan goes through.

You see, so far every person ive met who is against the health-care reform have a million reasons why it's bad and no evidence to support their stance except for they "don't like Obama!!!!111!"

Thanks to the healing, HealthCorps, we can witness our premiums and out-of-pocket expenses at work, making our nation even sicker, both mentally and physically. The Republican-Libertarian fringe is gooning around again !! Maybe the goons will deny advocates of real healthcare, in stead of HealthScare, the right to assemble, the right to free speech and the right to affordable healthcare.
Wasn't that, what this country was founded upon, our right to a democracy and not to a Corporate State, where democracy has no place !! Those Republicans/Libertarians have turned our democracy on its head and they are very proud of that unfortunate fact. Shame on the Republican/Libertarian Party !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

The man who got his finger bitten off by a Left Wing Moveon.org Demonstrator probably would have been put on a 4 week wait list at the hospital if Obama's National Health Program was in place.

Posted by: Depot Jim | September 3, 2009 10:03 AM

Which is exactly what he would deserve for attacking the Move-On.Org protester in the first place.

Depot Jim,
The man's 65. He's already eligible for a National Health Care Program called Medicare. Ya think he's still waiting?

Where was Mike Tyson? Oh, wait, he prefers ears.

Exactly, because no one on private insurance has ever had to wait to get an appointment to see a doctor, ever had to sit and wait in the waiting room, or had to wait in a private hospital waiting room. Plus no private insurance company has anything like a death panel as they always approve any and all treatments no matter the cost or likelihood for success and regardless if it was a preexisting condition.

Wake-up and learn your history... the current healthcare system grew out of the WWII economy when wages were frozen but benefits were not, and there was little that a hospital could do for you and there were very few prescription drugs, and the vast majority of people were born and died at home. Things are different now and we need a system to match the current situation.

depot jim - the leftwing guy was aggressive, but the anti-healthcare guy bit his finger off.
you are also lying about the waiting time.

health care reform is needed for tens of millions of your fellow citizens.

The man who got his finger bitten off by a Left Wing Moveon.org Demonstrator probably would have been put on a 4 week wait list at the hospital if Obama's National Health Program was in place.
--
The mean the guy that's on Medicare?

You're wrong, Depot Jim. He'd get the finger sewn on that day, and if he didn't already have good insurance through his workplace, the state would pay for it -- as it should (health insurance is a right, not a privilege. Under Bush, of course, the man would have been taken to a small room, interrogated as a political danger, and then whisked away to a secret Eastern European prison -- all for engaging in political activism, which is a civil right.

who cares?

That's not news. The protesters have been giving the finger to reform for months.

Funny Jim,

You gloss over the point where the anti-reform man incited violence during a peaceful protest. Perhaps he should be in jail awaiting medical care also paid for by the state?

More proof that Moveon.org members are real-life cannibals.

that's what happens when you are a nasty protester - he's on medicare so the rest of us have to pay for his re attachment. But he' ll and his republican friends will deny the same care for the uninsured and those who cannot afford insurance. Maybe he will change his mind, I doubt it but just maybe

I hope he has insurance. :)

This incident Is very sad. People need to manage their differences in a civilized way.

This is what the Obamaphile's are instructed to do,"get in their face"! !! Well if that doesn't work bite off their fingers...this was inevitable.

This incident Is very sad. People need to manage their differences in a civilized way.

Funny how most everyone in here takes a side, and justifies/pokes fun at the other. Can't we call this for what it is? Two over-the top nut jobs in an altercation. Can anyone else hear the circus music?

You guys who don't want national healthcare? Don't sign up for it. Keep your HMOs. No one cares.

What happened was that the Moveon thug picked a fight with some senior, and bit the senior's thumb off.

Swamp readers would know this, if the Swamp didn't rely on one of the Moveon people, "Karoli", for its account of the attack.

"Karoli's" online posting, there for all (even journalists) to see, specifically states she was one of the biter's fellow demonstrators. And thus a biased source.

Funny how The Swamp omitted that fact, and instead presented "Karoli's" posting as unbiased observation......

Nice... Move on.org needs to do just that...move on and stop harassing people especially Seniors.

You peopel need to read your Health Insuranc plan descriptions carefully. Many Private Insurers do not cover injuries that occurred during political protests. I'm not sure about Medicare. This guy could be screwed w/o reform.

Hey "Get a Grip", I don't know what world you visited, but I'm guessing it's the one on your computer screen.

As opposed to your "virtual" world knowledge, I have actually gotton off of a plane, and set foot in foreign lands. Most recently, the U.K. Nationalized Healthcare is a disaster. My uncle waited three months for non-elective surgery. My cousin took his son with a broken arm to the family physician the next day because the emergency room wait was over 6 hours.

Think we have a problem now with illegal immigration? Just wait until we let Government take over health care. Illegal immigrants from South and Central America will flood the U.S. Why not? Free medical, free food, free Government aid.

One little problem though, who can pay for it?

WWBS? translation: what would Bobbit say? Remember, the one who cut something else off.

in our current fat white greedy entitled boy commie owned (aka repugnicans) health care system, the pinky less bag of testosterone won't have his finger paid for by health insurance. it's a pre-existing condition and not medically necessary. why didn't you know this?

Talk about AstroTurf: "About 100 (demonstrators) sponsored by MoveOn.org were having a rally supporting health care reform,'' Gee, I thought that was only the Republican Corporate Sponsored Thugs.

SUPPORT STUPID POSTS, POST THEM DAILY, IDIOTIC AND REPETITIVE. NOW.

JacobWheeler - Health care is not a right. We are definitely in need of reform but not what the current bills are proposing.

Ignorance is breeding.... we're getting dumber by the day in this country.

Maybe he just had an overbite that could have been corrected if there were national dental insurance. :-]

Since the man who did the biting wasn't arrested, how does anyone know if he was for or against healthcare reform?

Regardless, we all screwed if we can't grow up and do the actual hard work of coming together to work on a solution to the problems with health care. It's cheap and easy to score points on the other side, but this is only what it leads to. In the meantime, employers will be taking the premium increases out of ours paycheck, the ones who still provide insurance anyway. And we'll pay thousands of dollars into this system, only to be cancelled in when we actually need to use that insurance in any substantial way.

Anyone pussywillow from moveon or SEIU or Acorn tries to mess with me and the pussywillow will be on a sslab at the mortuary.

Pointing a finger is not a physical attack but biting off a finger is.
It's a good thing that the 65 year old did not physically attack the Move-On thug or the drive by media would really have crucified the 65 year old.

The people who are against health care reform are using "socialism", "communism" and even "fascism" arguments to pull the string of their supporters. They profit a ton from our tangled, corrupt system and don't want to lose their money making scheme. Don't believe the anti-reform hype.

People with insurance need the public option insurance to happen. We can all agree that the improper practices of the insurance companies need to stop. We can all agree that the 47 million uninsured - small business owners, people who lost jobs, those with pre-existing conditions - need to be covered. But when these changes are made the insurance companies will just raise everyone else's rates. The public option insurance needs to be there to provide a brake to prevent that from happening.

Don't forget -- people who choose the public option insurance will have to pay a monthly premium just like everyone else. What that rate will be is undetermined at this point. Vouchers will be provided for those who currently can't pay.

Even if the 65 yr old had insurance his out of pocket most likely will break the bank. Unless it is determined to be a pre-existing condition and he just gets dropped. Why not insure the uninsured - public health won't effect those with insurance already. What would Jesus do?

Thank goodness the guy is covered by commie-pinko national innsurance - oh yeah - he's 65 - he's got Medicare - a commie -pinko socialist program

So anyone who supports reforming our crazy health insurance system is a Move-On left wing loon?
As the man said, On what planet do you spend most of your time?

ONLY in CA.

"the man took his finger and walked." - good advertising for the yellow pages: let your pinkies do the walking. .... someone go tell that 65 year old angry white guy with declining testosterone that MEDICARE IS A PUBLIC OPTION - MEDICARE is GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE. the repugnicants get a hold of older people's phone numbers (you can buy these lists) and scare them into thinking someone's coming to get them. i can say one thing for sure: some moron white guy puts his finger in my face and his third leg - that 2 inch peg leg in the middle - he's going to go home with two legs and not mr. precious.

Guess you might say He wanted "Reform" so bad he could taste it.

America at its finest.

One major thing left out of the article was that the Moveon.org Demonstrator fled the scene after he bit off the finger of the 65 year old man. The victim did go to the hospital where the finger (half a finger was bit off) was reattached. Police have a good description of the attacker.

To those that criticize my post I want to say that I believe our current Health System is in need of Major Reform, especially on what conditions are covered and insurance claim payments for services. But I just do not want to see a system like in Canada and England where there are waiting lists, some a number of weeks, to get certain things done. Both the Democrats and Republicans need to get together and put together a good plan that will still be run by private companies, but with some regulations of them. If a Government Plan is also set up all the Private Health Insurance Companies will not be able to compete against a government subsidized plan. Most businesses, including just about all small businesses, will be forced into the Government Plan. And this will cost multi trillion dollars plus, and there will have to be major tax increases on businesses and individuals to pay for it. President Obama needs to show some strong leadership and flexibility, and bring both sides to the table and work out a good plan. It cannot be the Democratic Leadership Plan of ours or nothing, or the Nothing Plan of some of the Republicans. The Bi-Partisan Committee of Six led my Senator Baucus (D-Montana), and Republican Senator Grassley is a positive first step in achieving much need health reform.

priceless... somehow that whole "more of the same" banter during the election sounds good right about now... can't wait for 2010, and 2012... let's hope we can undo all the damage...

The person who is claiming that the newly nine-fingered guy was the aggressor is a far left blogger who was part of the organized moveon.org event. She is hardly an impartial witness. It would be nice to have both sides of the story reported for once, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

Since loosing a fingure is not a life-thretening injury, he can't go to the ER. He has to see his primary care provider 1st, then the pcp will send him to a specialist, which he'll wait two months for to see, then have it re-attached. But, coverage will be denied because he didn't read the clause on page 7823 that appendeges lost in a protest will not me covered.

Love that market-driven, private healthcare. Let's see what side he'll be protesting on next time.

MIZ & THE REST OF YOU LEFTWINGERS - You want some examples cited for the argument against gov't health care, there are millions of concrete examples (which I'll get to), but no good examples for it, that's why the plan gives no details, we are just told we must have it, I've never heard why other than to "reduce costs". every gov't program like thi8s generally fails miserably and does not live up to what is sold. Do you people really want the government running your health?? Take one second to think about it, your choosing the gov't, who business model should be easily attainable - They don't have to turn a profit, just work within their tax revenue's.....Every year they fail. The other option is having priovate business run your health care, they have to not break even, but turn a profit to survive, which means they have incentive to be good at what they do and be vigilant. There is a reason gov't agencies, form local to national are difficult to deal with......it's because the people working for them don't give a damn. They get a paycheck and have a guaranteed job for life so they don't care about doing a good job, there is nothing in it for them.
Specific arguments for anti-healthcare, it's very simple. I invite all of you pro-healthcare supporters to speak with a few war veterans who have needed medical care (who are under the governments healthcare system) and ask them if they are satisfied. I've personnally had to loan money to a friend for medical bills resulting from his injuries suffered in Iraq, he is currently 2 years back from serving his country and our government won't pay his basic medical bills, or when they do they are so far behind he has to front the money to fight off creditors. What do you think will happen to your medical care the first time your doctor is stiffed by the gov't on payment? Also, I see people on this post wondering why anit-healthcare poeple think there is going to be long lines & waits for mediocre care..that's easy go somewhere they have this system. I lived in Israel for 2 years, the people over there hate the system...the doctors make the decisions based on the governents rules, not on what the patient wants. If your sick with terrible stomach pain, here the doctor is going to give you an MRI, there you'll wait and if the pain hasn't subsided for 3 days or so, then you make another appointment and they will re-evaluate to see if you are not "qulaified" for an MRI. Visit Cuba, I was there for 6 months for work, the hospitals have lines that literally go out into the streets (this is not an exagerration) as do the state run banks. they wait for several hours to withdraw their maximum allowed amount, approx. $25US. Learn the facts then make your decision, that is the least you can do for yourself & your country.

What is more scary? The government running health care, or the new Hitler, I mean Obama Youth indoctrination?

I hope he has insurance. :)

Posted by: Mike | September 3, 2009 11:17 AM

He's on Medicare--you know that awful public insurance that we fund through our taxes.

obama wants to give 50 million people free health insurance on our tax dime. Right now, we have a shortage of doctors and nurses so adding 50 million will mean long waiting lines, so the gentleman with his pinky bitten off by the left wing loon would have to wait for hours by the water cooler next to the women giving birth...just like in England.

Say NO-to government run health care!

Paulo

I am a little suspicious that the reform guy "just happened" to be in the middle of the other protesters. I suspect he took the opportunity to be there. I also suspect he was, shall we say, not silent as he was walking by..

Rick

Has anyone made a bad joke about this guy having/not having health care yet? Or some other funny joke about how this guy's fingerless situation would/would not be affected by Obama's health care plan?

The Message from ObamaCare supporters: Agree with us, or we'll bit off your fingers!

Doesn't anyone appreciate irony? While protesting against health care reform, he has to scuttle over to the hospital, slap down his government administered Medicare card, and get immediate treatment.

Had it been the OTHER way the headline would have read RIGHT CANNIBAL ATTACKS. BuT as it was the leftist doing the chewing the headline is not as sensational.

This just proves to me what I've long thought: the "people" who attend these stupid charades are in fact animals.

Why does the media give these freaks any serious attention? The people that go to these orchestrated events are nothing but ignorants, idiots, indigents and flat-out freaks. I mean when you have old people on the public dole ranting and raving against a public option, it simply serves to show just how unintelligent these people are that they don't realize their own status.

These stupid "town hall" traveling freak shows only serve to ruin any chance at good, tangible, intelligent and sensible debate on the subject when the media is too busy highlighting the people who exemplify WHAT IS WRONG with this nation.

The problem isn't the politicians, it's people like these who put them in office.

People should just point fingers at these unintelligent freaks and laugh. Nobody should take these uncultured animals seriously.

Meanwhile medijuana users held a celebration in their homes while reading a Harvard Medical School report documenting how CBDs help to fight cancer, thus limiting the strain and stress on ANY health care system. No one bit anybody's finger off. And an alternative energy solution was discovered. Give thanks for the holy sacrament and all of life's blessings.

Typical of the media. The truth is from a person who was there was that the Move-on, paid thug, came across the street in a very aggressive manner, yelling and screeming at the anti-Obamacare protesters, sought out the smallest, most frail in the group, punched him in the face and bit off his pinky finger. This is the way it will be under Obama, Chicago politics as usual, paid thugs who act out against anyone who has an opposing opinion. Welcome to Obamanation!

Posted by: John | September 3, 2009 11:32 AM
Why would you expect anything other than a wait in line for a broken arm?? Ever heard of the term "TRIAGE" A broken arm is not life threatening and therefore all other more serious cases get immediate attention. Fool.
;
Posted by: PJO | September 3, 2009 1:12 PM
Every year Satisfaction Surveys are taken and for the last 6 YEARS Veterans Admin insurance has been AT THE TOP beating out ALL private insurers. Suck it!!

This whole "Reform" business is about one thing -- controlling the means of production. This isn't about "health," this is about socialists gaining control of as many industries as possible in order to leverage the country to meet their socio-economic ideology. The Cap and Trade bill isn't about global warming -- it's about controlling energy. It's no coincidence that the ObamaReds are trying to control energy, healthcare even the auto industry and of course, education. I wish the ignorant sheep would wake up to what's happening. Obama doesn't care about your health any more than he cares about the mythical polluting characteristics of CO2 -- it's about placing chokeholds on key industries in order to facilitate the government's ability to control everything. Remember, it's no accident that "Earth" Day is also Lenin's birthday and the radical environmentalist movement became a significant power just after communism fell. All of this stuff is connected. The ignorant followers of the left always cry about how Bush abridged personal freedoms, etc.. yet those same people have no problem allowing the government to dictate every aspect of the economy and every aspect of your lives. Wake up. 2010 is your next opportunity to balance the power of the federal government again. We NEED a balance of power -- without it, we are subject to the dictatorial whims of a Hugo Chavez disciple: Obama.

Old people on the taxpayers dole have no legitimate voice in this debate. End of story. If you get Medicare, that fact alone makes you in favor of the public option. If you're old, drawing government benefits, and oppose the public option, you should not be taken seriously until you stop freeloading off the taxpayers yourself.

Hypocrites should be ridiculed, not respected.

Bruce......Get alife son...there are about 100 different stories right now. KTLA reported it as the swamp has written. So hold your diapers on for a while.

And Don.......EWWWWW your so scary!

MoveOn.org should be held accountable and sued out of existence. Bunch of socialist thugs have no place in America. Get lost goons.

Life imitates art: In an overpopulated futuristic Earth, a New York police detective finds himself marked for murder by government agents when he gets too close to a bizarre state secret involving the origins of a revolutionary and needed new foodstuff.

"Soylent Green is people!" -- Charlton Heston

"Doesn't anyone appreciate irony? While protesting against health care reform, he has to scuttle over to the hospital, slap down his government administered Medicare card, and get immediate treatment. " Hey Larry. I appreciate the irony and find it to be hysterical. I wonder what percent Medicare's going to pay for the guy's finger. If it doesn't pay to get it back, he'll never be a tea toteler! ... as for the Veteran who was injured at war and can't get the government to pay, go visit with a Vets Service Officer with a Vets Service Organization - they might be able to help process disability claims with the VA. I don't understand why your Tricare insurance has failed you. That's shameful on their part. active duty military coming home from war Iraq are covered by Tricare (run by PRIVATE insurance - now Aetna - PROFIT (greed) based ) and should be able to obtain referrals and proper care. Of course, Tricare is no different than a BCBS or UHC PPO. You'll have to wait 30 - 45 days to see a doctor, another 30 - 45 days to see a specialist or obtain an MRI or CT scan - unlike the VA (government run health care), where the situation is different. I'm not telling what the wait is - because I have great care through the VA and don't want to have to look at repugnicants while i'm in the waiting area. Many people from the military community past and present are at a huge disadvantage because their medical records have either been lost, destoyed, or inadequately documented in individual health care situations. I empathisize tremendously with the folks in such situations. Moving right along ... Dear Pinky Winky, you should have walked around - not through - the anti-health reform mob instead of walking through your own private Batan, showing what a (typical brainless) male you are. Don't you know there are creams and pills for your extenzeble condition that leaves you feeling angry, frustrated, and inadequate? Had the situation happened in New Hampshire, Mr. Numb Nuts for Brains at the pep rally - the guy with his other 2 inch alter ego .9 mm strapped to his leg probably would have shot you. Pinky Winky is a lucky guy. Maybe his brother (or is it a sister?) Tinky WInky and Telletubby will visit him in the hospital. Dear repugnicants who hate government run health care: don't be moronic hypocrits (don't be your usual selves) stay out of my VA government run health care - go sit down and put your thumb back in your mouth (or elsewher appropriate). If you're going to criticize government run health care, don't use government run health care such as the VA, either. You don't deserve it.

Don, be careful w/ the threats.

Some of them are ex-SEALSs. Who could kill you with one hand. Without wrinkling their shirt. (Of course, they might wrinkle your shirt.)

Heard a caller on the radio the other day talking about her sister who lives in Canada. She got pregnant, went to get an appointment with an OB and was told that the soonest she could get an appointment was twelve months. Anyone else see a problem here? Also, the tax rate for Britain is 48%.

Not sure what Depot Jimmy said, but, I do have something to say in his defense: social security. Yes, you all, I watched "Sicko" as well, and believe that socialized healthcare could be a benefit to our country, IF it were ran as it is in other countries. I have health insurance and my care is still dictated by costs and profits rather than by my physicians or myself. However, my grandparents and parents paid into social security, with grandparents dying before collecting much if any of what they paid in, and yet, if the program survives to pay me, let alone my children who have paid into it, I'll be surprised. If my financial security is so threatened by gov't beaurocracy, I'm really afraid of what could become of my and my family's health!

Dave - the reason the HMO has such a long wait is that they are hoping you die before you show up at the doctor's office.

* * * * * * * * * *
As opposed to the 4 to 6 week wait I have now to see my primary care physician though my HMO?

Posted by: Dave | September 3, 2009 10:34 AM

Ripping apart our current health care system to cover the 9 million who aren't covered is like cutting off your arm because you have a hang nail.

These Corporate Sponsored Teabagger Thugs who are being bussed in to purposely disrupt things, are taking away the opportunity for average Americans to discuss healthcare at townhalls with their law makers.

If Republicans actually had anything to contribute to the healthcare discussion they wouldn't have to hire teabagger thugs to perfom their fake outrage performance art all over the country.

Stephen Colbert EXPOSES the fake Wingnut "protesters" for what they are - low IQ Teabagger stooges doing the dirty work for the Big Healthcare Insurance Lobby.
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http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/240728/august-04-2009/the-word---hippie-replacement
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The Dems need to start parking a Black Helicopter and setting up ACORN and FEMA information booths outside of their healthcare townhall meetings from now on.

The Corporate Sponsored Teabagger goons would crap their pants in fear.

We all remember the commercials that were made by Republicans and their pals at the Big Insurance Industry to trick Americans into thinking that health care reform would hurt average working families. We now see what has happened to the health-care system. CEOs rake in the big bucks from the huge profits they take in as health-insurance costs have skyrocketed.

FierceHealthcare reports the following top 10 CEO salaries for 2008:
------------------------------------------------------
* Ron Williams - Aetna - Total Compensation: $24,300,112.
* H. Edward Hanway - CIGNA - Total Compensation: $12,236,740.
* Angela Braly - WellPoint - Total Compensation: $9,844,212.
* Dale Wolf - Coventry Health Care - Total Compensation: $9,047,469.
* Michael Neidorff - Centene - Total Compensation: $8,774,483.
* James Carlson - AMERIGROUP - Total Compensation: $5,292,546.
* Michael McCallister - Humana - Total Compensation: $4,764,309.
* Jay Gellert - Health Net - Total Compensation: $4,425,355.
* Richard Barasch - Universal American - Total Compensation: $3,503,702.
* Stephen Hemsley - UnitedHealth Group - Total Compensation: $3,241,042.

My rates go up and coverage goes down every time I turn around. And then they just decide not to cover certain medications without an explanation. Even scumbag criminals are resurfacing, like Big Healthcare Insurance Lobbyists like Rick Scott, to try and con America for a second time.
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http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/dont-let-third-way-ben-nelsons-or-repub

this was likely an Obama/left wing plant.

that's a tactic the democrats use to make the people against them look like nuts and violent thugs.

it's all just an act

The nutjobs who are disruptuing the Healthcare Townhalls are corporate sponsored teabaggers and they aren't there to discuss healthcare, they're there to SHUT DOWN the healthcare conversation for the health insurance industry and the RNC.

That's right: We wouldn't want an intelligent debate, would we? Because God knows what kind of horrible things might result if Americans were thoughtfully informed. Certainly the Republican/Conservative agenda would not be realized.
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http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/teabaggers-want-voice-health-care-fo

Matthew, it was the moveon.org guy, i.e. the left wing guy, who did the finger eating. Frankly, I am not surprised. There is a history of left wing people being cannibals.

In regard to why anti-reform people believe there will be waiting lines is because that is the case in Euro countries with govt health care. Oh, and according to the Canadian Medical Assn, the Canadian health care system is about to "implode."
And, for the guy who says he has to wait 4-6 weeks to see him HMO doctor, well whether I've had an HMO or PPO, I've never had to wait weeks to see a doctor.

> 44,230 more people are losing health coverage each week.

> 191,670 more people are losing health coverage each month.

> 2.3 million more people are losing health coverage each year

Republicans know that a successful health care reform that achieves universal coverage will bury them electorally for a generation, that's what has them Foaming at the Mouth, they could care less if people die because they can't afford healthcare.

Health Insurers and their Lobbyists and Big Pharma know that a powerful public option and a Medicare bargaining for prices will kick them off the gravy train permanently. Republicans and Big Insurance Company propagandists know their scare tactics aren't nearly as scary as reality is for the large majority of Americans.

dont wnt no obam socialism finger medicine.

"If a Government Plan is also set up all the Private Health Insurance Companies will not be able to compete against a government subsidized plan. Most businesses, including just about all small businesses, will be forced into the Government Plan. And this will cost multi trillion dollars plus, and there will have to be major tax increases on businesses and individuals to pay for it. "

And a FOR-profit plan is cheaper than a NON-profit plan? Insurance is no longer the 'risk' of getting or not getting ill but instead has become the middle man broker between doctors and patients. My $2550 CT scan was reduced from its 'uninsured retail value' to $1100 of which my insurance company will pay $350 of the bill. Now which is the correct and fair price? $2550 or $1100. I don't know the answer but without insurance and really needing an emergency CT scan, will the cost be more or less?
To be sure - I don't care if the 'HEALTH Insurance companies go out of business'. The only way they can stay in business is to deny service and cut payments to doctors and hospitals thereby putting burdens on medical professionals and hospitals. At least one of my doctors schedules appointments every 15 minutes. I have 15 minutes to state my case, be examined, get advice, etc. If I forget something or have more to ask, it will have to wait until next time. Another appointment, another 1.5 hour wait and another bill for a doctor's visit to add to my insurance claims - which of course they will adjust to half the cost of the doctor's invoice again.

Those politicos clamoring for less government interference need only look at what the deregulation of the financial markets has brought us. No public option or no government health programs invites extreme regulation of the insurance and health car industry. Which way would you like it? No regulation and no government program means health care if you can afford it. A CT scan for $2550 this year? That's 1 month salary for a large number of folks. Plus the doctor's office of $180, the radiologist for $400 and so on. I have insurance - for now- and I can bet you that combined, my spouse and I cost the insurance more that what we pay in premiums this year. That's just for age scheduled tests for preventive medicine.
Sheesh. What is it that most people want?

...

Health care spending as a percentage of GDP: Britain: 8.4%, US: 16%
Overall "Quality" of health care: Britain: 18th, US: 37th
Average life expectancy: Britain: 79.1 years, US: 77.8.

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Get a grip, not sure I would call these facts, the subjective WHO "Quality" ratings is not a fact, they base thier ratings on subjective factors, even you put quotes around the word quality, as far as the statistics, not every country counts these things the same way, for instance the US includes such things as murders and car accidents, so this is not a real good predictor of quality...question is would you rather be treated for cancer in the US or UK, you will need to go beyond Wikipedia for these facts, but what you will find is you rsurvival odds ar much higher in the USthan in both the UK and Canada

The right wing media (Faux News, Rush etc) and right wing lunatic fringe astroturf groups are spreading the health insurance industry's script, reporting things as "news" when they are scare tactics and lies. Pretty much everyone is aware of it now. The teabaggers phony fake outrage gig has been exposed pretty well now, they're not convincing anyone of anything other than the fact that they're a bunch of toothless morons.

I mean, how can a rational adult believe that congress would write a bill that would demand a parent kill their son/daughter who is sick with a serious illness, or one that would kill old people? Ha Ha Ha!

I mean, can they really believe this? I don't think so, this is irrational fear taking over any rational thought.

What's left of the Republican base are people who would would follow Rush or Beck off a cliff if it was demanded of them by their Repub overlords. They're not exactly free thinkers, they're people (dittoheads) who blindly follow their right wing authoritarian leaders because their personality demands it.

Thankfully they are a minority, even if they are loud, obnoxious and profoundly stupid.

I called my doctor's office last week and asked for just a simple annual physical checkup. The earliest I could get in is 10/12/09. If that's the best in the world, I want better.

Funny that so many of you believe Mark Silva's reporting on this incident. I heard an interview with the man who actually found the finger, he said the it was the moveon person who was the aggressor (also funny that so many of you would think otherwise when it comes to these bussed in groups) he also said that the man that was attacked was with a couple of other people who happened to be younger and bigger. The interviewee said that when the police got there he tried to help them find the perpetrator but he had snuck away. You may want to dispute this account but if you read Mark Silva on a regular and believe he is fair minded I would have to say you are too biased to listen to.

ewww. no telling where that finger might have been before the dude bit it off. i remember my alzheimers-afflicted grandmother used to play with her feces and roll it up into little balls.

Paulo, Your argument does not hold water. The injury would be taken care of in the emergency room. Most people without insurance go to the emergency room because they can not be turned away. Insurance for all would reduce emergency room waits because people would go to the doctor. Of course doctor visit wait times will go up. I personally would prefer England’s health care system because my premiums would be dramatically reduced. I would rather have longer wait times and thousands of dollars in my pocket. My guess is that you are on Medicare and I have to pay for your healthcare. Free loader

There is a major distinction between Medicare and the British National Health Service. Medicare reimburses the doctor (who is in private practice) for medical care. The National Health Service employs the doctor, thereby dictating the actual flow of patients.

If you think medical care is expensive now, wait until it's free. Rationing of health care based on government (read: political) control will lead to black markets. Furthermore, many medical professionals will close up shop rather than submit to direct government control.

The idiots that attend these things make me FAVOR death panels, and I think these fools should be the first ones brought before them, with summary judgment in favor of terminating their life.

Stick your finger in or near my mouth and off it comes!! We, the people of this country, used to able to have debates without the violence and the vitriolic behavior. What's happened? I find it interesting that when you hear about the left protesting it's usually peaceful until you throw a few right wingers into the mix!! Only then does is get violent. Argue with me all you like but I challenge anyone to find an instance where I'm wrong. The funny thing about this whole mess is that neither side really knows what they they are protesting for or against. If the other "side" wants "it" then it can't be good for me! Thefact of the matter is this country is being manipulated by big business and they want to keep it that way...who wouldn't, they're making tons of money. What I hear Obama saying is that he wants to give people more choices. Having more low cost options will drive other prices down making the consumers the winner. This is capitalism at it's best!

This is almost funny. ALMOST.

With regards to those who love their Universal Care in Canada, I guess if you've never been to heaven you don't mind hell. It is true many of us who have insurance and are not sick are a bit spoiled, but find out how long a woman has to wait for a mammagram.
Or some other basic testing, before you fall for these stories.

A Moveon.org supporter? Probably a cannibal.

All Republican elected officials should opt out of their tax payer funded federal health insurance coverage (like Wingnutty Texas Gov Rick Perry who wants to secede from health care reform) if they are so against "socialized medicine". After all, we don't want the government to come between them and their doctors, do we? Let them put their words into action for once and prove just how true to their words they really are.

What's that?

Not one of the Repub blowhards stepped forward to give up their tax payer funded federal health insurance?

Didn't think it would happen. Lily-livered-bigmouth Repuglican liars who don't give a damn about poor and middle-class Americans. What's good for them should also be good for the rest of the country, especially since it is taxpayer money that pays for it all. So, all Americans should have the same coverage as their elected officials have seen fit to provide for themselves from the public coffers. What's fair is fair.

PS: Public option, Public option, Public option!!! Now more than ever. And there are no substitutes! No Coops. No triggers. No alternatives. There are no substitutes!

If people put the energy they are putting into protesting into staying healthy, this country would be a lot better off. People need to take control of their health. Check out online tools, such as Holosfitness.com, that can help you get in shape, stay in shape, and lead a healthy lifestyle. Taking control of your health results in a more positive state of mind and body.

Will Nancy Pelosi condemn the actions of the wacko who bit the finger off?

I doubt it!

She only condemns those on the right not those on the left who have been acting crazy for many more years.

No children, he has Medicare. Already taken care of. Why would someone who already has tax supported government run health care oppose oit for others? Why has he not turned his Medicare card back in and bought private, for profit, risked based insurance? (Hint: The insurance companys don't want old people.)

I agree with Depot Jim! The rest of you people that disagree are MORONS!
The guy probably said "Bite Me" and the rest is history just like Obama will be after he loses the rest of his tax increases.

"Old people on the taxpayers dole have no legitimate voice in this debate. End of story. If you get Medicare, that fact alone makes you in favor of the public option. If you're old, drawing government benefits, and oppose the public option, you should not be taken seriously until you stop freeloading off the taxpayers yourself.

Hypocrites should be ridiculed, not respected.

Posted by: Make Old People Pay Their Own Way | September 3, 2009 2:07 PM "

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So by your theory, if this passes and you end up under the public option you will no longer have a say in your health care. Nice to see so many of you falling into their trap.

To green machine to compare this plan to what the government workers enjoy, you're either seriously misguided or deliberately not telling the truth. They have numerous options and are fully paid for by taxpayer money

Nice to see the reform supporters not taking any b.s. from the Archie Bunker crowd. Hells yeah, bite off the old crank's finger if he hits you.

Of course, the slaphappy old dude goes directly from rallying against government health care to the hospital--where his medical coverage is undoubtedly paid by his government Medicare. Oh, the irony.

Republicans don't want market competition, higher access, and lower premiums in the health care business. They like the insurance company monopolies just fine, they want the insurance industry lobby to keep filling their campaign coffers with cash.

Every story I have read says the 65 year old T-Bagger hit the guy first.
Tuff nuts old timer. Guess you aren't old enough to be given a free pass.
Remember, in America you are never too old to be beaten up or shot.

"We, the people of this country, used to able to have debates without the violence and the vitriolic behavior. What's happened?"

Well Skep, it's like this.
Once upon a time, in 1978, a eager young congressman from Georgia named Newt Gingrich went to Washington, DC. He had a dream........

To the guy who made the comment about how the guy had to wait forever to get his finger taken care of under the Obama plan: Speaking from personal experience, if he had no insurance he would be charged an arm and a leg for the ambulance the ER and medication. He would be dead before he paid it all!

Doesn't matter if he carried his finger to the hospital. Our Country's health insurance SUCKS! That clown lost his finger! I'm sure the money grubby doctor told him that "it was too late". His nerves endings were dead...etc...All lies for the PROFIT SUCKING INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
Don't believe me? Ask people who can't afford to pay their deductible for life or death surgery.
WE NEED UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE NOW!

The guy who started it was a right-wing crackpot. Glad he got his finger bit off. If you don't like Obama and America, you are free to leave at anytime.

Those moveon thugs are really mean. They bite the anti Obama's finger off. What a manly act?

So much wrong information on this incident. First of all Mr. Rice stopped because he saw members of Code Pink protesting and he thought they were there protesting the war. He confronted one, or more of those protesters because his son is a Marine. When he confirmed why they were there he went over to join the group protesting against Moveon.org. From the Ventura County Star, the local paper http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/sep/03/healthcare-reform-opponent-loses-part-of-finger/

Investigators also were sifting through conflicting accounts of the incident, but Rice acknowledged that he threw the first punch.

“When he got in my personal space, I popped him in the nose,” Rice said in a phone interview Thursday. “I felt like I had no choice other than to defend myself.”

He was taken to Los Robles Regional Medical Center (he did not walk there) where someone brought the finger in later. It was found more than 20 feet from the incident. They were unable to reattach it due to the bacteria from a human bite.

The man who bit the finger off, told the Moveon.org people he did it, and then he left the scene. He still has not come forward to the police department.

If you are going to bash, at least have the facts. Whether one side, or the other, or both over reacted doesn't matter. You don't bite the finger off of someone for a punch.

Posted by: From Cali | September 4, 2009 1:13 AM

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Posted by: BDD | September 3, 2009 1:13 PM

As opposed to the "indoctrination" by Bush 41.

From a previous account of that event:

(President George H.W. Bush addressed the nation's students in a televised speech during school hours in 1991. ''I can't understand for the life of me what's so great about being stupid,'' Bush said, according to news reports from the time. He told students to ''block out the kids who think it's not cool to be smart'' and ''work harder, learn more.''

Republican Newt Gingrich defended Bush's speech, though. "Why is it political for the president of the United States to discuss education?" Gingrich said at the time. "It was done at a nonpolitical site and was beamed to a nonpolitical audience. . . . They wanted to reach the maximum audience with the maximum effect to improve education.")

Gingrich was actually right back then. But I can't wait to hear him reverse course after Obama simply does the same thing. And he'll try to spin into something that it is not.