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Obama’s Pa. trip sparks war of words
President Obama’s trip to Pennsylvania to pitch the Democratic health care plan Monday sparked a political war of words, with the state Republican and Democratic parties facing off over what is the proper prescription to treat the state’s 1.2 million uninsured.
State GOP Chairman Rob Gleason joined Senate hopeful Pat Toomey on a conference call with reporters, during which the Republicans called “ObamaCare” the wrong option for Pennsylvania, saying it costs too much and extends the reach of the federal government too far.
“For more than a year President Obama and the Washington Democrats have made numerous attempts to force their government-run health care plan onto the American people, and for more than a year they have failed,” Gleason said. “The failure comes not as a result of their back-room meetings or their willingness to buy votes with taxpayer dollars, does not come as a result of their attempt to rush the bill through Congress with rigid and arbitrary deadlines for debate, but because Obama’s government run health care plan is an awful piece of legislation,”
Toomey echoed the sentiment, going so far as to say the bill is “the product of a party that has been captured by the liberal extreme, produced by back-room deals and extraordinary legislative tactics in spite of obvious and widespread public opposition.”
Democrats had their own criticisms of Republican attacks, with state party chairman T.J. Rooney labeling Toomey a “culture warrior… resorting to fear mongering and lies in an effort to mislead the public.”
“After accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from health care industry special interest groups, it’s not surprising that Fat Cat Pat is opposing meaningful reforms every step of the way,” Rooney said in a statement. “Pennsylvania voters deserve a Senator who will propose real solutions and is willing to fight for them. So far, Pat Toomey has offered only fear and baseless mischaracterizations.”
March 8, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Tags: Barack Obama, Pat Toomey
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Brett
Mar 8th, 2010
Obama makes speeches, does nothing, will not be able to pass healthcare bill in present form. Obama will lose in 2012.
Lower Merion Democrat
Mar 8th, 2010
OBAMA IS A JACKASS HE HAS DESTROYED THE DEMOCRAT PARTY
FEDUP
Mar 9th, 2010
I for one have walked away from the Dem party after 28 years. Im not sure the being an R is any better but I have decided I am changing to an I. I think it is unfair to say Obama has ruined the Dem party. The Dem’s have ruined the Dem Party. Time for Reed, Pelosi and other fat cat Dem’s to go. This country needs to wake up and vote out the incumbents. It is our country, lets take it back.
Bruce Bailey
Mar 9th, 2010
Three comments here, two self-identified as Dems, all of them read like they were written by the Repub Basement Brigade.
It’s time for Democrats to get fired up all over again and take back this mindless drivel from the Fox News/Limbaugh/Hannity drones.
Has passing health care reform been messy? Hell yes. And long & drawn out, for sure. But in the end, we will have a bill and it will be the first time in 50 years that a President and a Congress have been able to overcome the roadblock of special interests that is the Republican Party and do something substantial in reforming a broken and unfair healthcare system to benefit the American public.
That’s why 1,800 people packed into the fieldhouse at Arcadia yesterday (vs. 30 teabag protesters outside). And that’s why, in the end, this loudmouth conservative minority is going to sink the Republican party.
Brett
Mar 9th, 2010
Bailey, dream on, I happen to be a Democrat! and Obama’s speech is to a university, so of course they are enthusiatic. Congress is a different story. Professor Obama, is a more apt name for him and maybe after he loses in 2012, he can teach a civics course…or head the United Nations
Bruce Bailey
Mar 9th, 2010
No, Brett, you happen to be a troll. I don’t know any Democrats who spend their time predicting their party’s defeat. So far, that’s all you’ve been doing here today, touting supposed upcoming Repub wins in the 12th this year and for the White House in 2012.
What kind of Democrat does that make you? The Republican kind?
Back to the basement with you!
Greg K., PA
Mar 9th, 2010
What Democrat refers to the Democratic Party as the “Democrat Party”? That’s something right-wingers cooked up. That’d be like a “Republican” accidentally writing the “Repuglican Party.” I’m with Bruce in calling shenanigans on those first three posts.