U.S. News and World Report's Bonnie Erbe came down strongly Friday on the $100 million "bribe" given to Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) in the Senate's healthcare reform bill.
What makes this shocking is Erbe's consistently far-left leaning views regularly reported by NewsBusters.
Readers are advised to strap themselves in tightly, for the following blog posting by Erbe is quite a departure from her normal liberal views:
I know politics is the art of the possible and compromise is key. But I'm sickened by the taxpayer cash being doled out as "walking around money" to lure Democrats into the healthcare fold. Here's what the Wall Street Journal said:
Take Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu. She's now likely to vote with Mr. Reid on Saturday after an amendment was inserted to increase her state's federal Medicaid subsidies by $100 million. The amendment devotes two pages to language making certain that only Louisiana would be entitled to the extra cash.
A Senator's healthcare vote should be based on whether he or she believes in public subsidies, from middle class and wealthy taxpayers, to provide healthcare for low income Americans. It should not be based on the government equivalent of a bribe.
Well, moments ago Landrieu on the Senate floor agreed to vote in favor of debating the healthcare legislation.
Regardless of her claim that these funds going to her state had nothing to do with her decision, her dramatic change of heart on this matter suggests otherwise.
But there were still more shocks to come from Erbe:
Who loses on both ends of this type of deal? Middle class taxpayers, that's who. We are the ones who get taxed ad nauseam and unlike wealthy taxpayers, we can ill afford higher taxes.
Healthcare needs fixing in this country. Insurance companies have gotten away too long with scams such as "preexisting conditions" and charging certain customers more because they happen to be old or happen to be female. That does not mean we need the wholesale sea change proposed by the Obama administration which includes cheap insurance premiums funded by the federal government for people who claim they can't afford insurance.
Readers are encouraged to review previous NewsBusters articles on Erbe to fully appreciate just how shocking the positions she expressed Friday are.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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→ In defense of Landrieu
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 15:07 ET by Cool ArrowWe've determined one thing, but she's by no means, cheap.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Inserted amendment
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 15:18 ET by jdlybrandI wonder what Harry's 'Client' number is?
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
→ Inserted pork
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 15:29 ET by Cool ArrowWhat is it they say about writing laws and making sausage?
Doesn't look like they did a very good job of hiding it either.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
In a trillion dollar bill?
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 15:33 ET by CO2Maker$100 million is less than a "rounding error." It's .0001 of $1 trillion. It's a number expressed in scientific notation: 1x10^-4. It's not taking a date to McDonald's. It's picking up a Slurpee and Nabs at the convenience store and eating them in the parking lot, before you get down to real fun.
Yeah, a billion here, a
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 22:12 ET by MikeBYeah, a billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking real money.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Not cheap????
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 03:37 ET by art341Given the size of the numbers they're kicking arouud, she's a twnety five cent whore.
She Threatened A President With A Punch In The Nose...
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 15:37 ET by Winghunter...to misdirect rightful blame on her for her own incompetence and now whores taxpayer money for her own political benefit.
Apparently, in looking at her face, she's no stranger to a punch in the nose. However, they clearly weren't hard enough to provide her reasonable thoughts.
The Chicago Congress
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 15:32 ET by Dim BulbI wonder if the pinheads in Washington even know how angering this practice is to most Americans? A generous hearted jaintor I know, who is usually quite articulate, was beside himself: "They're using our money to buy votes for a bill most of us don't want; the result of which will be the takeover of one sixth of our economy and...ahhh... which will allow them to reach their despicable tentacles into every aspect of our lives. If that woman is bought off...I earn a paltry 257 dollars a week...really paltry since I live in New York State... and in the aftermath of Katrina I sent a sizable portion of it to her state and...you know it's something I really couldn't afford to do. If she takes that bribe she'd better hope nothing else ever happens to her state. Here in New York the city, county, and state employees took to the streets during their regular employment hours and collected money for the relief and...Well, that better not happen again if she takes the bribe. I'll not send another copper clad penny down there, and I'll scream like hell if city and state employees ever use taxpayer money to collect donations."
Destruction of America
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 16:04 ET by srqvetThe extent of the criminality (bribe taking and extortion) and conversion of America to a Socialist/Marxist state is absolute breathtaking. Nice to have a liberal even see this.
It is a shame
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 16:21 ET by DragonsbreathThere is no agency to protect the people anymore. Just the crooks.
"While Americans died at Fort Hood, Obama had a good laugh..."
Oops...Erbe must have woke
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 18:34 ET by bigtimerOops...Erbe must have woke up on the right side of the bed...by mistake.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
This is just another in a
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 23:55 ET by jdhawkThis is just another in a long string of misdirections on the part of socialists. Erbe could care less how much it cost you and me in additional taxes to bribe some liberal sh*t head senator.
This is just like all the to and fro regarding abortion in the House's health care bill. It's right back in the Senate bill and during conference will find it way into the final bill.
Conservatives you are being played.
Obamacare will make you sick; it may even kill you. Don't believe me? Hey, are you 40 and a women and just felt some lumps in your titties? Sorry, no mammogram for you, honey. A recent study with not a oncologist in the bunch says, unh-unh. Come back when your 50 - if you're still alive.
Everyone, be prepared for a lot of unh-unhs in your health care future. This crap is gonna pass . . .
Luisiana purchase
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 03:34 ET by art341Lliberalism is buying his vote with your money.
Best way to describe this buying votes crap
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 05:12 ET by legacyrepublicanI figured out the best way to describe this buying votes crap.
2 Bills 1 Cup.
Hope this goes viral too so enough people get disgusted that they vote the bums out!
Too bad we can't find a legislator with ETHICS! One who stands
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 21:53 ET by Cape Conservativefor their principles!!!! This SELF-CENTERED UNETHICAL behavior is going to be the end of their terms in Congress!! If even Bonnie Erbe agrees with us, you know things are getting pretty bad! And then SNL gives the Obama administration a run for their money...who knows whose eyes will be opened next?!?
If any American casts their vote for a current politician who voted against the wishes of close to 90% of Americans, they should be ashamed of themself!
And when we get new politicians in office, the first item on the agenda should be LIFETIME TERM LIMITS - 2 terms for the Senate, 3 for the House with NO lifetime benefits!
Second item: All members of Congress WILL be enrolled in Social Security and whatever health insurance plan they choose (if we succeed in stopping the government health care bill) otherwise they WILL be mandatory participants as will be required of all Americans.
Third item: NO EARMARKS - a bill should be written for ONE purpose only, no special projects hidden for the purchase of votes!
Fourth item: A MANDATORY 20% reduction in every federal government office, with many agencies completely shut down, beginning with the FEDERAL invasion of our public schools!
Fifth item: SHUT OFF the excessive $$$ spending that members of Congress believe is necessary for their office operations. What company in America could justify the excessive costs of commuting for a 3-day work week??
Our members of Congress think they are royalty...demanding aircraft to transport them across the country on a weekly basis. It is time to put a HALT to the excessive spending of tax dollars that members of Congress mistakenly believe are THEIRS to spend! That money comes from hardworking individuals and Congress should be held accountable!
If the public witnessing the unsavory actions involved in passing this horrific bill does nothing else, I pray it will empty the Halls of Congress - either by the politicians deciding not to run again or by the fact that regular Americans will rise to the occasion and challenge them. I feel certain most citizens are of a like mind and will vote for a person of principle over these filthy rotten self-centered 'do you know who I am' scum currently in office. I will stand out for and financially support any ethical alternative to those currently serving in our state. Both senators and our congressman do not give one fig about what is good for America or what their constituents think! It is indeed time for the citizens to rise up and demand accountability from their elected representatives!
This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Domestic Right Wing Terrorist! And now by our president as a 'swiftboater' - both titles I'll wear proudly!
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams
202.224.3121 LET CONGRESS HEAR THE ROAR OF THE SILENT MAJORITY!
202.456.1111 WHITE HOUSE COMMENT LINE
Ethics...heck CC...dems
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 22:06 ET by bigtimerEthics...heck CC...dems can't even spell that word, let alone know the definition.
Thanks to the msm, that have the same mind set and are their Bully-Pulpit with loud cheers or omission, depending on agenda.
It's sickening, I'd expand more on this...it had to do with what I saw this morning with Cynthia McFadden on Reliable Sources/Kurtz interview regarding Ensign and the never-ending 'let's get Ensign and Coburn if we can before '10'...I was steaming when she brought up 'We had to dig and investigate a little further as it may have to do with tax problems as well'...or something to that effect, I'm paraphrasing here.... and your mind goes to where the hell have you all been when it comes to RANGEL!? You phony biased SOB's!
I'm rambling somewhat, in a hurry because of what I'm cooking...anyway, she was/is promoting this for Nightline Special tomorrow night I think it is.
I posted about this somewhere else earlier...in a much better way.
The msm just doesn't get any more phony than they are at this point, and they have the audicity to think we are all brain-dead out here in the real world.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart