Tom Coburn Prays for Robert Byrd's Death

[kpominville]

Source: Huffington Post

On Sunday afternoon, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) appeared to propose a prayer for Robert Byrd's death so that health care reform would not pass. Dana Milbank reports at the Washington Post:

At 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon -- nine hours before the 1 a.m. vote that would effectively clinch the legislation's passage -- Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) went to the Senate floor to propose a prayer. "What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can't make the vote tonight," he said. "That's what they ought to pray."

It was difficult to escape the conclusion that Coburn was referring to the 92-year-old, wheelchair-bound Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) who has been in and out of hospitals and lay at home ailing. It would not be easy for Byrd to get out of bed in the wee hours with deep snow on the ground and ice on the roads -- but without his vote, Democrats wouldn't have the 60 they needed.


Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) took the floor and expressed shock. "This statement goes too far," he said. "We are becoming more coarse and divided here ... When it reaches a point where we're praying, asking people to pray, that senators wouldn't be able to answer the roll call, I think it has crossed the line." He explained that the Democrats were unable to schedule a more reasonably-timed vote because of Republican refusal to negotiate, and he called on Coburn to explain the seemingly malevolent call to prayer.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/21/robert-byrds-death-seemin_n_399038.html

---

Republicans took things too far when they decided to treat politics like war. This is just the latest example of that destructive trend.

[Jamastiene]

1. Everyone needs to know about this.

There is a such thing as too damn far.

[aquart]

2. Please, God, smite the corporate whores.

Oops, I didn't mean to empty the Capitol.

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. I wish people would quit saying this.

Lieberman slithered home to Connecticut this weekend, and who knows who all else went home as well.

Add airport/traffic delays due to the fact that DC was hit with 18" of snow Sat/Sun.

Hoping someone can't make it to session (weather, anyone?) and wishing someone's ill health/death are two different things.

This is 2+2=5

[kpominville]

4. Lieberman was never going to vote for it

The only person Coburn could have meant was Byrd because nobody else who's presence was questionable was going to vote for it.

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. Lieberman did vote for it.

It was 60-40 down caucus lines.

All that was needed was for one D (or I) vote to not make it to session and it wouldn't have passed cloture.

[newtothegame]

5. Desperate attempt at controversy. Unrecc'd. n/t

[MiniMe]

I think Dana Milbank went over board with this article

He did indeed pray that somebody would show not show up, but Coburn didn't mention any names or say why they may not show up. And Durbin did indeed call Coburn out on the floor, and of course the chicken didn't show up, but it was to ask him what he meant when he said it. While Coburn was entirely wrong to ask people to pray for somebody not to show up, he was not praying for Robert Byrd's death.

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. I am glad I am not the only one seeing this.

The media frenzy over this is beyond stupid.

Pick yer battles, "journalists". This ain't one.

[thereismore]

10. I think Coburn wouldn't mind. God's ways, you know... He is a douche either way. nt

[No Elephants]

23. Well, we can't say that either. We don't know what he meant. And he's not saying.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. This kind of disgusting display of repuke 'principles" is so typical, that I

am not the least bit shocked.
I hope that Coburn reaps what he sows.

[MineralMan]

9. Video of this disgraceful incident should be played on all

media today. Let everyone see the calumny of the Republicans.

[kpominville]

11. It would be one thing if he prayed for Senators to change their mind...

But praying that certain Senators "can't make the vote" is disgustingly hyper-partisan. It is HIGHLY unprofessional and unproductive. Even if you don't think he was talking about Byrd, you should still be able to see how this is crossing a line in civility.

[peacetalksforall]

12. It appears to be the phrasing of a Huffington Post article - an inference. to Byrd. nt

[Judi Lynn]

13. Thanks for the info., kpominville. Coburn is someone who should fall into an open manhole.

The behavior coming from the Republicans isn't new for them, by any means, but it does reveal a crudeness and selfishness we just have NEVER seen from Democrats as a whole at any point, even when they were the minority, and being truly treated like crap by Republicans. Surely everyone's memory DOES go back as far as 2001 to recall Democrats actually being physically locked out of meetings, etc.

It would be appropriate if everyone kept those events firmly in mind. You're right: these people are far from civilized.

Welcome to D.U. :hi:

[brendan120678]

14. How exactly do you get from...

"What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can't make the vote tonight,"

to...

"Please God, let Senator Byrd die!"??

That really is a stretch. Was that Dana Milbank doing that, or someone at HuffPost? I can't tell by reading the OP.

[kpominville]

15. You exaggerate

Nobody ever claimed Coburn said "Please God, let Senator Byrd die!"

If you paid attention to the news this week and know about Byrd's condition and his shaming of the Republicans the other day, then the meaning of coburn's comments becomes clear.

[MiniMe]

20. And Lieberman was out of town when the snowstorm hit

He must have gotten back in time to vote, but with the weather conditions it is very possible that he may not have made it. Somebody could have gotten stuck in the snow on the way into the Capital. There are a lot of things that could have happened this weekend that would have prevented a Senator from getting to the Capital and most of them had nothing to do with Senator Byrd. There is nothing clear about Coburn's statement, other than he is an asshole.

[Seedersandleechers]

16. Prayer didn't help Mr. Coburn. HaHaHa

Keep on praying - because Jebus is not listening to you.

[movonne]

17. There has got to be a way to stop this kind of crap...how far do we

let this go on...we are slowly killing each other...the left the right, the red states and the blue states...is this the plan?

[bridgit]

18. And the doddering John McCain doesn't know what has happened to the senate what a farce these people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYY1oDDYS18 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdH1pDI9oa4

[MUAD_DIB]

19. Couldn't he be censured for this? Fry his ass for it!

[davidwestafa]

21. Save the date

11/02/10

[No Elephants]

22. Zero evidence for the conclusion drawn by the headline. It takes one

member of the Democratic Caucus--ANY one member--and the bill will be in trouble. And anyone could miss it for any number of reasons. This is bullshit.

On edit: Make that irresponsible bullshit.

[FLDCVADem]

24. I agree 100%

A non-issue.

[asdjrocky]

25. Gawd this is a stupid thing to keep talking about.

I did not hear him pray for anyone's death and I was watching it live. It was a dumb and mean spirited thing to say, but he did not call for the death of Robert Byrd.

There's more important stuff to deal with.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

26. Mighty Christian of you Tom

You really have the gall to call yourself one?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

27. This is for you Tom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQcE2dq3YD0