Bipartisanship is dead
At yesterday’s health care discussion, Louise Slaughter told a moving story.
An elderly woman needed dentures but couldn’t afford them. Her sister had dentures. When she passed, the surviving sister “inherited” the dentures and used them as her own.
Rush Limbaugh thought that was the funniest thing the world’s ever heard.
This morning, I brought that audio with me to the Hill to ask some Representatives what they thought.
I wasn’t able to get Paul Ryan’s opinion; he fled as soon as I started playing the clip.
But Trent Franks had a long, reasoned discussion with me, and in it, drops a real stinker, beginning at around the 6:10 mark. He’s of the belief that blacks are “more devastated” today than they were under slavery because of the rate of abortion in the black community. It sounds an awful lot to me like the Congressman is suggesting that blacks were better off as slaves.
To be fair, Congressman Franks is as sincere as he is conservative. The issue of life never falls out of first place in his legislative priority list. I don’t believe for one second that he intends to insult anyone; I don’t think he sees the racism (or paternalism) in what he’s saying. Still… This is pretty bad.
Jason Chaffetz, who has had some pretty intemperate things of his own to say in his short time as a Congressman, has the sense to say that he disagrees with Rush’s lack of compassion.
Finally, Doc Hastings is just hilarious.
Look… Talk-radio, led by Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, leads the Republican Party. The RNC is virtually impotent by comparison. Steele clowns, Rush frowns, and Steele (or any other Republican) apologizes. Elected Republicans simply cannot work with Democrats because Rush Limbaugh has the power to fire them if they do. So… until Rush Limbaugh is ready to work in a bipartisan manner, I don’t expect to see any such thing on the Hill.
[...] Starkreports « Blackwater [...]
Congressman Trent Franks: “Abortion Worse Than Slavery” « Sex 4 the Soul
26 Feb 10 at 4:29 pm
Hey Mike:
At aroud 8:40 on the Trent Franks video, Rep. Franks says, in regards to meanness on talk radio: “the point is, it happens on both sides, but I really believe…” Then he stops mid-thought due to what I assume was a look of disagreement you must have been giving him to his statement about meanness happening on both sides of talk radio, and then you further tweak his suggestion by asking “who’s on left wing talk radio?” I take this to mean what you are really saying is “who on left wing talk radio is as mean and bombastic as Beck and Limbaugh?”
Did you hear liberal radio talk show host Ed Schultz on Wednesday talk about former Vice President Dick Cheney:
“You’re damn right, Dick Cheney’s heart’s a political football.” “We ought to rip it out and kick it around and stuff it back in him.”
“How come Dick Cheney’s health care isn’t being dropped?” “Do you realize that if you had five heart attacks, hell, you wouldn’t get past two heart attacks and they’d dump you.”
“But because you’re a war criminal and because you are on the take from Halliburton … you can get the best health care on the face of the earth,”
(See http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33588.html#ixzz0ggGQW5gY)
So you’re upset that Rush Limbaugh mocked the woman who is wearing the dead sister’s dentures. What about Ed Schultz saying he wants to rip out a vital organ of a former Vice President (which I believe would lead to death) and kick-it around for fun? Is that upsetting to you?
And you say?
Matt
26 Feb 10 at 4:46 pm
Wow! I imagine Trent Franks is gonna get a couple not-too-happy calls at his office about that one.
Will Urquhart
26 Feb 10 at 5:25 pm
Dick has no heart like the rest of the conservative’s
Tom02
26 Feb 10 at 5:48 pm
[...] Congressman Trent Franks of Arizona, in the camera lens of blogger Mike Stark, said black families have suffered more because of abortion than because of [...]
Black Families More Devastated By Abortion Than By Slavery « Alan Colmes' Liberaland
26 Feb 10 at 6:04 pm
[...] to a new National Journal ranking — decried the strained state of political discourse in an interview today with blogger-activist Mike Stark. While defending hate radio host Rush Limbaugh, Franks said [...]
Rep. Trent Franks: African-Americans were better off under slavery « Hello, Negro
26 Feb 10 at 6:07 pm
[...] the original material source suggests (and reasonably, if one listens to the actual audio of the statement), it seems that Representative Trent Franks did not really mean the comment as racist, [...]
Donkasaurus Post » Blog Archive » This is What Arizona Voters in One District Sent to Office in Washington
26 Feb 10 at 7:41 pm
Mike,
Up front, let me say that I am a regular Rush listener and, yes, conservative, but please allow me the following comments.
As I understand it, Rush’s comments concerning the dentures story was in the context of his larger point which was: one of the common methodologies that liberals/progressives use to try to win support for the Obama administration’s health care plan/bill is the telling of antecdotal stories that usually stir emotions and empathy. I’m sure the stories are largely true. But Rush would argue that these are submitted/presented as a substitute for logic, reason and empirical evidence in support of the liberal/progressive position/goals. That was his point and intent as I see it. He wasn’t ridiculing or making fun of the poor lady who had to wear the dentures. He was ridiculing the use of the story by the congresswoman as an attempt to manipulate.
Rush would agree that there is no reason/logic or empirical evidence to support the administration’s assertions that their plan of centralized, government administered health care will accomplish what they say it will accomplish. (Their entire approach in the development and presentation of the plan has been a debacle in my view and has thoroughly lacked integrity.) Further, such a plan wherever tried around the world has never raised the quality of health care for all of the citizens. And that, certainly, is the most compassionate & caring objective. Actually, diminished quality of healthcare has been the invariable result.
As Rush has pointed out often, liberals/progressives generally value most the intentions of any given approach. Conservatives most value the outcome/result of a given approach. Because of this disparity, conservatives are often viewed by liberals as cold, rigid, uncaring, self-righteous. But Conservatives would generally define compassion and caring in the following way (a gross simplification): give a man a fish and he’ll eat for one day. Teach him how to fish and he’ll feed himself for the rest of his life. (I don’t presume to speak for all conservatives, so please take these entire comments with that advisement.)
Rush really has been misinterpreted and misunderstood, except by those who have taken the time to actually listen to his radio show, (like him or hate him). He’s not perfect but he isn’t the devil either. He actually loves people. And, yes, he is generous. Rush is all about (1) individual liberty/freedom (God-given rights as spoken of in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, etc) protected by a limited government, and (2) individual responsibility (that is, work hard, be the best you can be, live your dream, don’t let anyone hold you back, don’t expect things to be handed to you). He’s old fashioned, self-reliant, logical, fun-loving, believes in the God of the Bible. And his purpose via the radio show is to advance those values and to push back against any forces of culture and/or government that threaten them. Yes, he entertains and has fun on his show, but all for the stated purpose. As he says, he likes to use absurdity to illustrate the absurd, done primarily through humor, imitation, and impersonation. And therein lies much of the misunderstanding of who he is and what he’s all about. His show has a “culture” and so, it takes at least 3-6 weeks of regular listening to get to know him and that “culture”. That can be said for most radio shows like his.
My primary purpose in these comments is to suggest that you (like many others) have misunderstood Rush and, in a larger sense, conservatism. The Republican Party regrettably has not done a good job of either communicating or demonstrating the values of conservatism.
(I found your website via the Huffington Post site.)
Best regards,
Mark
Mark
26 Feb 10 at 7:47 pm
Rush always uses anecdotal evidence in his argument. His is not a reasoned argument and when it is, it is often based on anecdotal and/or false evidence. There are a ton of examples on the web to back that up. Check this site out: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rush_Limbaugh.
Conservatives don’t value the result. LOL. They reelected Bush.
Dan
26 Feb 10 at 10:23 pm
Seems like an unsympathetic and tendentious reading of Franks’ statements, reflecting a refusal to confront his basic point. I see that reading has now been picked up by the usual leftwing robots.
CK MacLeod
26 Feb 10 at 10:41 pm
[...] an interview with blogger Mike Stark, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) appeared to say that African-Americans are worse off today because of [...]
GOP Rep. Franks: African-Americans ‘Devastated’ More By Abortion Than Under Slavery « Butt Trumpet
26 Feb 10 at 11:07 pm
My real concern is with individuals using labels and instead of positions on policy. I watched a movie yesterday called Invictus, with Morgan Freeman. There were many that called him a failure on day one, some who held on to their fears and never gave way to the possibility that we could work together to make this nation better. Ironically, there is a stark similarity to the Obama Presidency. The only winners in the ideological battles and scare tactics are the interests of the wealthy well connected who can afford (lobbyists) who now own not only the majority of our media outlets, but also our government as well. They do not care about a democrat or republican, liberal or conservative, they only care about their agenda.
look also for this article and readd other’s comments
http://scragged.com/articles/the-welcome-death-of-bipartisanship.aspx?cc=1#cc
paola123
26 Feb 10 at 11:29 pm
What does abortion have to do with slavery. Is the guy stating that the health care needs among the poor is killing the rich society because the need to change the health care systems in the poor society is slavery you will be aborted because there will be no chances of you receiving insurance because the insurance will be so costly only the status society will have access.
deloris
26 Feb 10 at 11:37 pm
[...] from Arizone has the floor… Via TPM comes this: In an interview with blogger Mike Stark, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) appeared to say that African-Americans are worse off today because of [...]
The Congressman from Arizone has the floor… « Can't Win For Losing
27 Feb 10 at 2:34 am
Racism and ignorance are synonymous. There is no shortage of either among Republicans!
Franks is not just ignorant! He is more than a half-a-bubble off!
Chagrined
27 Feb 10 at 3:20 am
[...] to a new National Journal ranking — decried the strained state of political discourse in an interview today with blogger-activist Mike Stark. While defending hate radio host Rush Limbaugh, Franks said [...]
Where's the Outrage? » Do you have answer for Rep. Franks?
27 Feb 10 at 7:38 am
[...] at Stark Reports, Mike Stark posted an interview yesterday with Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) on health care and [...]
Rep. Trent Franks on Abortion | Laura Echevarria
27 Feb 10 at 9:33 am
[...] own comment on the interview is that “it sounds an awful lot to me like the Congressman is suggesting [...]
Republican Politician Implies Blacks Were Bettr Off Under Slavery « Coreys Views
27 Feb 10 at 9:50 am
When the strongest honest defense the Republicans can come up with is that they’re “less bad” than the Democrats… Well, you already read the parable above. Actions speak louder than words. Let the Republicans accomplish something concrete — actually taking on the lawyers to effect significant tort reform would be nice — and I might rethink things a bit. Until then, they’re going to have to prime their own pump as far as I’m concerned. They’ve already spent all the credit I might have given them. I use to think the opposite but your this article and this article http://scragged.com/articles/the-welcome-death-of-bipartisanship.aspx has changed my views…
stillshady47
27 Feb 10 at 10:54 am
[...] now many folks have heard the name Trent Franks. He is the typical Republican douchebag who told Mike Stark that slavery was a better situation for African Americans than the life they live in America today. [...]
Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » Franks worked with Team Abramoff for Earmarks…
27 Feb 10 at 1:03 pm
Hello Mike Stark,
(I am a medical researcher with a special focus
on premature birth risk factors). You interviewed
Rep. Trent Franks who compared abortion to slavery.
You likely are quite aware that surgeons used Black
American women as guinea pigs for NEW surgical
procedures in the 19th century. The thought of this is 100% disgusting and that practice should never be repeated. No person should be used as a medical
guinea pig. You, Mike Stark, have never in your
life seen a published ANIMAL study for ‘suction’
(vacuum aspiration) abortion; nor has any doctor you
have ever met read or even seen reference to such
a study. Why? Because there has never been a
medical journal animal study of ‘suction’ abortion;
URL: http://www.jpands.org/vol13no4/rooney.pdf .
The first person to correctly indentify a published
animal study of ‘suction’ abortion wins $2010 (see
contest details at my website:
http://www.justiceforkids.webs.com .
Cordiall,
Brent Rooney (MSc)
Vancouver, Canada V6S 2C2
Brent Rooney
27 Feb 10 at 2:00 pm
[...] respect, to Rep. Trent Franks’ comments on race and abortion. The story started when one of the murderers of Bi-partisanship acknowledged that the beast was dead, but failed to divulge the knife in his own [...]
Short-Sighted and Blathering « Chaos Party
27 Feb 10 at 2:38 pm
[...] own comment on the interview is that “it sounds an awful lot to me like the Congressman is suggesting [...]
GOP Rep. implies blacks were better off as slaves’
27 Feb 10 at 7:50 pm
#
Seems like an unsympathetic and tendentious reading of Franks’ statements, reflecting a refusal to confront his basic point. I see that reading has now been picked up by the usual leftwing robots.
CKMcloud
Listen you fucking MAGGOT, leave my society now, better yet, what can I do to expedite your removal from this fucking planet?
…you’re ALL the spawn of brainless troglodytes, the fucking lot of you!
nice job mike, thanks for producing what will be the most effective electoral ad in 2010.
…goodnight american right, we won’t miss you.
THEAMERICANRIGHTISFESTERINGBOIL
28 Feb 10 at 1:21 am
Thank you for the last couple of sentences, at least I am not alone. The republicans refuse to do anything to help ordinary Americans. They are afraid that the wealthy elite on hate radio will whine and cry all day about it.
WDRussell
28 Feb 10 at 8:41 am
C’mon Stark! You can’t possibly believe that the Congressman believes or meant that blacks as a whole are worse off today than they were as slaves. If you do, you aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Plain and simple, what he was saying is that 50% of black children are aborted, which it is probably safe to say that is worse than any single thing that happened in the times of slavery.
Victor
1 Mar 10 at 2:26 am
Oh, and by the way, it WAS the funniest thing in the world. First off, because dental care is not covered by health insurance or by the current health care legislation. Secondly, because all the Democrats can do is try to convince people to support this crappy legislation is giving sob story after sob story.
Victor
1 Mar 10 at 2:28 am
I don’t have the statistics at hand, but what I meant to say is that given that 50% of black children are aborted today, the total number of deaths is probably more than the number of blacks that died as a result of or due to foul play during the times of slavery.
Victor
1 Mar 10 at 2:33 am
First of all, the math is wrong. Obviously, Rep. Franks isn’t too bright. Based on several statistical reports from the CDC, approximately 27-30% of black pregnancies are terminated by abortion.
Secondly, if Rush really wanted to make a point without sounding like a jerk, he could have pointed out that Medicare doesn’t cover dental work no matter who you are. If you are really poor and over 65, you are very likely qualified for Medicaid, which *does* pay for dentures and glasses. Medicare does not, even if you have a supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan. So, if Rush had just said, “Wait a minute, no seniors get free dental or free dentures anyway, so what are we supposed to do, start paying for seniors’ teeth, too?”
This would have made sense and made Slaughter’s story seem IRRELEVANT.
Instead, Rush is just a sadistic moron with ill-informed and sadistic staff.
retzilian
1 Mar 10 at 9:10 am
[...] or two ago, you need to know that Trent Franks 1) is a Republican congresscritter from Arizona; 2) believes that African Americans were better off under slavery than they are today; 3) is probably a crook; and 4) is supporting Sen. John McCain’s re-election bid against [...]
Idiot/crook du jour: Trent Franks « Blog on the Run: Reloaded
1 Mar 10 at 8:59 pm
[...] were uninsured, or holding Andy Breitbart accountable, or chatting with Trent Franks and dredging up some ugly primordial race [...]
Passing the hat around at StarkReports.com
2 Mar 10 at 10:49 pm
http://mainehost.com/blog/?p=7
Matroass asdss
26 Jun 10 at 2:05 pm
[...] takes the, you can’t make this shit up, to a whole new level — Trent Franks (R-AZ) on African [...]
Michelle Moquin’s “A day in the life of…” » Blog Archive » Slavery Ended, But What Next? Black Genocide…Eugenics At Work
15 Jul 10 at 1:49 pm