Michael Moore Tells Democrats: 'Find Your Spine' on Health Care

[Hissyspit]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Michael Moore tells Democrats: 'Find your spine' on health care

By Markham Heid | Medill News Service
WASHINGTON — Sans video camera, filmmaker Michael Moore on Tuesday turned his megaphone on the current health care system and those Blue Dog Democrats he claims are "dogging" the health care debate.

Moore, an advocate of a single-payer, government-run health care system, called the current setup "cruel," and said that two-thirds of Americans support a single-payer system and would punish those Democrats who steer the conversation away from that option. "To the Democrats in Congress," Moore said, "find your spine. Read the polls. And see us coming."

The contentious documentarian spoke at the Washington offices of Public Citizen, a non-profit consumer advocacy group. Moore has a new film called "Capitalism: A Love Story" slated for release Friday, and says he's using the media attention to push for single-payer health care. When asked why the single-payer option hasn't won much support in the health care debate in Washington, Moore said Democrats "haven't felt the heat."

- snip -

The filmmaker also applauded President Barack Obama on several fronts, but said the president needs to "hit the reset button, and go back to the drawing board" with the health care debate.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/76262.html

[DJ13]

1. Yeah, right!

[deutsey]

12. You've found the new symbol of the Democratic Party.

:evilfrown:

[lsewpershad]

52. Yeah right

how can they find what they never had?

[DeSwiss]

2. K&R

[Hissyspit]

3. Fucking sell-out Democrats on the Finance Committee...

[wordpix]

15. My message to them & repukes alike: YOU Have Government-run Health Care

Don't give US this bullshit about how we the people shouldn't have it and how bad it will be, when YOU, Senators, have it on our backs. We want what you have, or give yours up! :grr:

[Fearless]

4. They won't listen. They're bought and paid for.

:(

[truedelphi]

14. But at least with MM around, we will know where to send our money

Hint -- it will not be to the Party of the Spineless.

Tomorrow our first contribution goes out to Mr Moore. Far better that he has our money than these so called "Reformers."

[MichiganVote]

5. Hell...find it on ANYTHING

[debbierlus]

6. I don't think the democrat sell outs quite get that this time, it is different

The current health care system is literally killing people. This isn't some abstract financial catastrophe that the American people can't wrap their brains around. The realities of the corrupt health care system permeates our daily lives.

Everyone I know has had some type of negative experience with the health care system (unless they haven't had to use it).

We live in FEAR of our health care system. Terrified to get sick. Terrified to be financially ruined. Terrified to be denied care.

The politicians who think this betrayal will go unpunished are seriously mistaken. And, they are about to break the democratic party.

Ignore us at their own peril.

[closeupready]

43. +1000

I won't go as far as some to say that I hope Democrats lose seats; however, I will work like HELL to unseat Blue Dog Democrats in upcoming primaries.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BulletproofLandshark]

9. Alerted

buh-bye

[WileEcoyote]

8. Harry Reid needs to find his spine

Someone must have the goods on him. He's been a total wuss on healthcare lately.

[tinrobot]

10. I hate to say it, but Obama needs to find his spine as well.

He's the only one with a bully pulpit.

He needs to use it.

[WileEcoyote]

25. Agreed

but who knows what would happen to him if he tried to act like a real president. The last time some prez did that they opened fire on him in Dealey Plaza

[closeupready]

44. Yeah, that's long overdue.

He needs to man up.

[Rozlee]

30. You can't say "spine" and "Reid" in the same sentence

it's like saying Bush and intelligent in the same sentence. Reid needs to be shown the door and someone with a steel backbone like maybe Howard Dean should be the Senate Majority Leader.

[NBachers]

36. I received a fundraising email from Harry Reid today

Here's the response I sent him:


Hey Harry,

I am a progressive liberal lifelong Democrat who is absolutely ashamed and disgusted with you.

You are the weakest ass little bitch and have done more to enable Republicans and hold back true Democratic values. I put you one point above Joe Lieberman. In fact, you're worse than Lieberman because he hasn't used his influence to hold back the Democratic Party like you have. I wish you never were Senate Majority Leader. Your "leadership" is Epic Fail.

Don't ever waste my time with another of your emails again. I am actively supporting your opponent. We need to be rid of you at any cost.

NBachers
Pissed-Off Democrat at your betrayal
San Francisco


I just don't think they realize the whirlwind of rage that's building out here. They'll Ride the Lightning next election.

[barbtries]

54. why didn't you

tell him how you really feel? :shrug:

jk, love the letter you wrote

[No Elephants]

41. Ed Shultz was explaining last night that there is a disparity between

Medicare reimbursement rates in rural areas vs. urban areas, with the latter being higher. So, in a state that is predominantly rural, hospitals, clinics, etc. could go bankrupt if the government controls much more of reimbursements than it now does.

The issue can, of course, be addressed by fixing the medical reimbursement rates. Rockefeller's amendment would have done that two years out; Shumer's amendment would have done that right away.

They both got voted down, but Shumer's amendment got two more votes than did Rockefeller's. So, that was progress.

[Turborama]

11. CBS: Michael Moore Warns Dems to Support Health Reform

Filmmaker Michael Moore told activists and reporters Tuesday that liberal voters will get behind Republicans who support health care reform if Democrats let them down, according to reports.

"You think we're behind you just because you're Democrats?" Moore said at the Washington headquarters of the government watchdog group Public Citizen, the Hill reports. "We'll find Republicans who are smart enough to realize that the majority of Americans want universal healthcare."

Moore said that he and an "overwhelming majority of Americans" believe that at "minimum," a health care bill must include a government-sponsored health insurance plan (referred to as a "public option"), the Hill reports.

Also on Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee -- one of five congressional committees responsible for health care reform -- rejected two attempts to include a public option in its reform bill.

"To the Democrats in Congress who don't quite get it: I want to offer a personal pledge. I – and a lot of other people – have every intention of removing you from Congress in the next election if you stand in the way of health care legislation that the people want," Moore said, according to Politico. "That is not a hollow or idle threat. We will come to your district and we will work against you, first in the primary and, if we have to, in the general election."

The filmmaker extended his warning to President Obama, the Hill reports.

"To President Obama: This is not the time to desert us," he said. "This is not the time to be a representative for the health insurance industry."

Full article with embedded links: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/29/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5351453.shtml


:kick: & R

[VPStoltz]

34. Love the message Michael but really? Get behind Republicans.

You know where that leads - lots of elephants shit and nary and you'd better have your own shovel because you know they ain't going to help you out.

[euphoria12leo]

47. Get behind Republicans

I don't agree with that at all. I'd rather eat glass. OK eating glass is going a bit far but I'm not for voting Republican no matter how angry I have become with Democrats. I'll get behind those that run against the Blue Dogs I hate.



:puke:

[No Elephants]

48. What comes from voting for Purple Wolves who oppose a public option?

I think he is saying that, if a Republican who supports a strong public option were to run against a Democrat who voted against a strong public option, he would vote for the Republican. In that situation, I might, too. But I don't see that as a realistic possiblity. I might vote Green before voting for a Purple Wolf, though. But, first, I'd try to primary the Purple Wolf.

[NNadir]

13. If Michael Moore were a Democrat, he might have a right to lecture us.

Maybe he should stick to telling Ralph Nader what Ralph Nader should do.

I didn't hear a peep out of Michael Moore about what Ralph Nader was doing in the run up to the Iraq War. He didn't have a thing to say about whether the Democrats should focus on NBA officiating or something else.

I have no use for this bloviator, even when he agrees with me on issues. He's a demagogue in his own right.

[Better Believe It]

20. Why do you hate liberals and progressives so much?

[QC]

28. The red-baiting never stops around here.

Odd for an ostensibly progressive board.

[No Elephants]

49. Red-baiting? Progressives are Reds? Don't think so. But I agree that too many here seem to be

more Republican than Democrat.

[TheCML]

23. Right.

Damn him for not having a (D) by his name. Im not a registered Democrat either, I guess I shouldnt have a say in this also. And Bernie Sanders? I guess he should stay out of it too? Moore supported Kerry in 04 and Obama in the last election. Moore and Nader have been trading punches for a while. You should be careful you alienate, health insurance for all is way more important right here and now than what party someone belongs to, and Moore's voice can be very powerful in situations like this, he is an ally.

[jonestonesusa]

27. I guess in some "Democratic" circles it's still fashionable to attack Michael Moore

even though he's done more to support Democratic causes in the last 20 years than many of the Democrats in Congress.

And he makes darn good films, shining a bright light on corporate cronyism and cowardly politics in health care, the war in Iraq, free trade and the American workplace.

But it feels oh-so-reasonable for some of the people who support his policy positions to call him a bloviator - look at me, I'm fair and balanced!

If we all had Michael Moore's passion for the issues, we'd get better legislation, maybe single-payer instead of a watered-down private insurance mandate, maybe diplomacy in Iraq instead of a six-year quagmire.

[No Elephants]

50. +1 Not only has he done more for Democratic causes than many in Congress, he has done infinitely

more for Democratic causes than anyone who posts here to criticize him.

[donco6]

24. Is this a joke?

I don't really get it.

[QC]

29. No, this is common on Democratic (Leadership Council) Underground. n/t

[obliviously]

38. You have no arguement from me!

[Bluenorthwest]

42. Wow! You are years behind!

Michael Moore spent piles of his own money to tour the entire nation in support of John Kerry. At free or insanely low cost events across the land, he spelled out his support for Kerry, his disdain for Nader's current run, and often faced Naderite protesters disrupting his events with wit and specificity.
Moore has not supported Nader since Joe Lieberman was on the Democratic ticket. Like a decade ago. In 2004 he was probably the single most active private citizen in support of the Democratic ticket. But don't let the facts get in the way.

[dotymed]

16. If we had Publicly Financed Elections

health care would have never been an issue. Over 75% of
Americans want Universal Healthcare. The "Big Money"
doesn't.  If we don't get it, we will revolt. Peacefully I
hope.

[defendandprotect]

19. Campaign Finance BRIBERY goes a long way in preventing CHOICE . . .

[Vidar]

26. Or even if we had a democracy, in lieu of a plutocracy.

[loudsue]

37. You nailed it. Publicly financed elections with hand counted paper ballots.

It's not an accident that Democrats were elected at this time. They were there to take the blame for the worst economic period this country will ever see. The shoes haven't even begun to drop on the tailspin this economy is in.

The whole thing -- government, the elections, the media, and the MONEY -- it's all a set up. In fact, I think most powerful dems are even in on it, in exchange for keeping on getting elected. This country shifted after the Newt Gingrich "rebellion" in 1994. The heads of corporations decided to quit dicking around, and go for an all-out take-over of our country...in your face, even, of anyone that cared to ask. They did take this country over. The media, so they could outright lie to our faces. The colleges and universities, who are now funded by and run by the corporations. The electronic voting machines, where they can change millions of votes at once, with the stroke of a couple of keys. The courts are now stocked by corporatist judges. And the congress is now completely, openly, defiantly bought and paid for by the all the oil & gas companies, the Haliburtons, Blackwaters, Whackenhutts, Monsantos, Lockheed-Martins, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and ALL of the pharmaceutical companies.

The corporations have BOUGHT our fucking country. And they control all avenues of communication, voting, and military. Tell me who we "vote out of office" when we don't really have a vote?

[No Elephants]

51. It was 75%. Thanks to everyone slow walking this, it's now more like 60%

Still, it's a majority. And close to 75% of doctors want either a public option or a public plan.

[dotymed]

17. If the media would let her

Sibel Edmonds could tell Americans exactly how the
congresspeople are kept in line. Too bad we don't have a real
media.

[defendandprotect]

18. Great stuff, Michael -- !!!

And if the Blue Dogs don't shape up, I will certainly work with anyone

who wants to target them.

Jane Hamsher -- Firedog Lake is also after them --

especially where the people in their districts want single payer!

CHOICE --

************

[LoZoccolo]

21. LoZoccolo tells Michael Moore:

Dooga dooga dooga dooga.

[SandWalker1984]

22. Obama - Baucus corporate health care bill

This proposed bill deliberately compels us to participate economically in a system, that by it’s deliberate arbitrary design, does not afford us an equal means of reciprocation in the system but yet it punishes us economically for not participating in the system by fining us.

To those that say healthcare is a commodity and not a civil right, this, by the nature of it’s design, does not allow us the freedom to reject the private insurance commodity without being financially punished by the government.

I feel this violates our freedom to rationally choose (or freely reject) economically without suffering financially and therefore, I feel this violates our constitutional and civil rights by deliberately punishing one group unjustly.

Passing a mandate to buy private insurance, without giving us an alternative option such as Medicare, would be the same as Congress passing a law that forces us to buy a new car every 3 years from whatever car company they designate.

What next?

America, the question is: Do you want the kind of health care system the rich corporations & their lobbyists want to give you, the kind of corporations like the ones we bailed out on Wall Street?

Or do you want the kind of health care system that you and YOUR representatives in Congress give you by representing YOUR interests, and not the interests of the big campaign contributors that have broken the system in 30 years with excess selfish greed and brought us to where we are now - a broken system for over 70 million citizens and bankrupting the Country and the civility of our future.

We need what Obama promised us during the presidential campaign -- a real public option like Medicare that costs up to ½ as much as private insurance and is not for profit. After all, it’s OUR money. WE add the value through productivity and responsibility, not the suits on Wall Street or in Washington, DC. They just print the money but we the people give it value.

Without us, the money is just worthless paper.
:patriot:

[gauguin57]

31. When the Profiles in Courage awards are given out next year, we'll hear *crickets*

Congresscritters getting re-elected is more important to them than the American people. The people who HIRED them and PAY THEIR SALARIES and PAY FOR THEIR GODDAMNED HEALTH CARE!

[flamingdem]

32. Michael should be on the cover of TIME, man o' the year

... not likely, sadly.

[LaPera]

33. Cheers to Micheal Moore it's so refreshing to hear progressives speak the truth.

[western mass]

35. NO, Michael, the Dems aren't spineless...

...they're corrupt. I hate that even MM is pushing this "spineless" nonsense.

[closeupready]

45. "... they're corrupt." Bingo.

n/t

[givemebackmycountry]

39. delete

[earcandle]

40. Thank you so much< Michael Moore! You are so loved. And lovable!

[xchrom]

46. kick

[on point]

53. No $ for DLC, only for those who voted yes

This coming election cycle I will not send any money to the dem party as a whole, but will only send money to individual candidates that support single payer proposals, or to greens. Or to orgs that can be trusted to be working towrds thebest interests of the people - live moveon.org.

The business as usual dems don't seem to get it. We are not ewillingto be taken yet again and forget that it happened.