CBS anchor Katie Couric contended Monday night that the “self-evident” truths in the Declaration of Independence -- “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” -- are denied by the lack of health insurance for many Americans. Introducing a piece on a doctor at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City who treats the poor of Harlem, Couric adopted a very liberal definition of basic rights as she added “good health” and asserted on the CBS Evening News:
“More than 46 million Americans have no health insurance. So when it comes to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and good health, all men are not created equal. A doctor here in New York City learned that lesson early in his career. He's spent the last 40 years trying to level the playing field for the poorest of patients.”
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It's exactly this sort of ass
March 12, 2007 - 22:04 ET by dahliatraversIt's exactly this sort of assinine thinking that brought us Kelo vs. New London.
KC the killer
March 13, 2007 - 07:11 ET by SportPoliticsSo, when it comes to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, babies growing in the fetus are not welcome.
Couric babbled on never mentioning the 46 MILLION MURDERED BABIES.
( Too bad the libs are on the wrong side, they could have whined 46million have no insurance and another 46 million were murdered so rich republicans didn't have to pay taxes to support them)
Couric babbled on never men
March 13, 2007 - 08:09 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsCouric babbled on never mentioning the 46 MILLION MURDERED BABIES.
You got it all wrong Sport, if you want to get the libs attention you have to call them 46 MILLION MURDERED FUTURE TAXPAYERS. Then they will howl.
D
A day without NewsBusters is like a day without sunshine.
DFTT
March 13, 2007 - 09:21 ET by SportPoliticsAnother liberal confusion.
haha
You are absolutely right. I
March 13, 2007 - 09:00 ET by genethemachineYou are absolutely right. I love it when libs talk about the "pursuit of happiness" as if it means the right to be happy. The framers meant property rights when they spoke of the pursuit of happiness; something we would clearly lose alot of with "universal healthcare"!!
You are absolutely right. I
March 13, 2007 - 09:01 ET by genethemachineYou are absolutely right. I love it when libs talk about the "pursuit of happiness" as if it means the right to be happy. The framers meant property rights when they spoke of the pursuit of happiness; something we would clearly lose alot of with "universal healthcare"!!
You are absolutely right. I
March 13, 2007 - 09:01 ET by genethemachineYou are absolutely right. I love it when libs talk about the "pursuit of happiness" as if it means the right to be happy. The framers meant property rights when they spoke of the pursuit of happiness; something we would clearly lose alot of with "universal healthcare"!!
Hey wait - pursuit of happiness
March 13, 2007 - 09:37 ET by SportPoliticsPursuit of happiness- since when does health coverage insurance = happiness for a liberal ? All they do is bitch about it's lack of coverage - usually after their 400 dollar a month premium paid for a $150,000.00 operation and 4 years of onward medical bills ( totalling at least $100,000.00 -$300,000.00 or more )goes up to 600, yet they would have never been able to muster a tenth of the real cost "on their own".
Then, we see recently they had a conniption fit over Walter Reed. There's more outrage at government health coverage...happiness indeed.
If you're a liberal, you are never happy- not even when you are wailing, bitching, moaning and complaining - when you should be giving thanks instead.
As soon as the libs own up to what jdhawk posted, it will be endless diatribes about lack of "full coverage".
I doubt a SINGLE liberal retired gasbag - having paid for medical insurance their entire adult life- is SHORTED after one good geratric operation in the end. It's a good thing the stock market and inflation make gigantic bubbles to pay for all of it.
If these whining pieces of crap want health coverage costs to go down, they can go back to recieving the medical care their parent(s) and grandparents recieved- that won't cost much at all - in comparison it's less than a penny on the dollar, no doubt.
At least katie couric was happy before and after she underwent her televised anal probing- so maybe I was wrong about never happy.
Gene, the framers of the Cons
March 13, 2007 - 10:26 ET by MikeBGene, the framers of the Constitution meant pursuit as in occupation or carreer. You have an unalienable right to the job, occupation, or carreer of your choosing ... within the limits of the law. I mean, you could be happy as Rosie at an all you can eat buffet as a bank robber, but that'll get you sent to federal pen.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
I believe early drafts did
March 13, 2007 - 10:33 ET by sarcasmoI believe early drafts did substitute the word "property," but the Framers were aware of some religious people for whom the accumulation of property isn't all that important, and considering them the word "happiness" fit better. Sadly, their careful and more-accurate wording may have inadvertently hastened big government's later legal attacks on the individual right to contract, IMO.
JMR
Lack of health insurance,
November 12, 2007 - 09:06 ET by GordmanLack of health insurance, where are we? The land of nowhere? I guess this confirms all of us that health care system needs a serious chance specially if we talk about insurance.
No medical exam life insurance
Gee, Perky, How many poor f
March 12, 2007 - 22:15 ET by 1sttofightGee, Perky, How many poor folks can you pay insurance for?
What are you waiting on, Do it Girl and stop whning .
Ah-Ha!Kaplan already has Kat
March 12, 2007 - 22:16 ET by bigtimerAh-Ha!
Kaplan already has Katie promoting for HillaryCareMD...that didn't take long at all now did it!
Cradle to Grave!
This has been indoctrinated now into grown young adults growing up thinking that this is something they have a right to they were born with...after-all our Constitution says so right?
Walter Williams does a grea
March 12, 2007 - 22:16 ET by motherbeltWalter Williams does a great job of explaining why everything that is nice to have is not a "right". In a nutshell: No one has a "right" to a thing, if getting it means something must be forcibly taken from someone else to provide it.
Liberals don't get this. To them ,everything desirable is a "right", and if you can't acquire it on your own, it's up to the government to take money from others through taxes, and provide it to you.
How about a person's "right" to the money that he/she earns?
Very well said.
March 13, 2007 - 02:42 ET by ApacheIPVery well said.
The missing persons report
March 13, 2007 - 07:21 ET by SportPoliticsThe missing persons report: Ever notice how every time the lib reporters whine about 46 million without health insurance, they can't seem to find 1/6th of the American populace for their TV piece ?
I guess they "wouldn't associate themselves with such people by having them in the immediate area." I guess they need to find just that right one in a million family that hit some hard luck - and then present that for a piece. That takes quite a while till they track down just the right down on their luck middle classers. ( Who don't exist anymore)
Katie that top you have on, l
March 12, 2007 - 22:24 ET by BlazerKatie that top you have on, looks all hot, and itchy. You may get one other viewer, and have two, if you were to take it off.
Hint, Hint.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
Indeed, Blaze.. indeed. I h
March 13, 2007 - 00:02 ET by Six String SpiffIndeed, Blaze.. indeed. I have had a crush on that socialist for a while now. She deletes my "love letters" to her at her blog... hahah! Honestly, I think she is pretty darn good looking for her ..um...age group.
Sure, I watch the MSM... Through a pair of crosshairs.
I wouldn't kick Viera out of
March 13, 2007 - 00:07 ET by BlazerI wouldn't kick Viera out of bed either for her age, Six String!
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
Blazer
March 13, 2007 - 09:43 ET by SportPoliticsBlazer, I was going to stop myself, but since you insist.
Katie looks bloated and fat, and the pic up top looks like she is on one of those b grade "possessed" movies. See the look on that face - the eyes- the tilt of the noggin- the pointed eyebrow, and tell me it doesn't appear the devil is in control.
lol
ps - ( considering lust was the key component above - I stand uncorrected. ;-)
Katie, I am one of those 46 m
March 12, 2007 - 22:25 ET by MikeBKatie, I am one of those 46 million without health insurance. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say I am "entitled" to health insurance, nor does it mention health care as an unalienable right. Now it does say that no one may be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. Part of the common law of this country is if you can't afford to buy it, and no one wants to voluntarily give it to you, you do without. The Constitution does not give the Federal government the right, privilege, responsibility, or power to extort such goods and/or services from producers to give it to either the social parasites, or those who are down on their luck.
But, Katie, if you feel so strongly about it, how about you give up all but, say, 100K of your income and give it to some foundation to provide health care to indigents? In other words, Katie, put your money where your mouth is, and leave my wallet alone.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Good point, Mike, about Kat
March 12, 2007 - 22:34 ET by motherbeltGood point, Mike, about Katie giving up some of her money. And she could convince John Edwards to do the same. He's been bloviating about how Jesus would disapprove of how we treat the poor in this country. This he says from his 20,000 square foot home. And I don't recall ever reading that he did any of his multimillion dollar cases without taking a fee. But that's liberals for ya....they're really good with other people's money.
It won't be long before the r
March 12, 2007 - 22:41 ET by gxa99It won't be long before the rest of the MSM will be preaching the Hilldabeast health care for the masses. Then they'll start polling until they get above 50% "for" national health care and the Hilldabeast will be our socialist savior and then Obama will agree we need national health care to keep up with the Jones' and NOT ONE of them will know how to pay for it. But the victim angle sure helps to get them votes...
Stupidity
March 12, 2007 - 23:09 ET by AtheistRepublicanStupidity
Revising the Constitution are we, Couric?
March 12, 2007 - 23:44 ET by Six String SpiffYou know, I'm not sure I remember seeing "...pursuit of happiness and good health.." in my constitution. I belive they are also called health BENEFITS for a reason. That is to say you get your lazy keister off the friggin couch, pull up your boots by the straps and get some education that will allow you into some of these jobs. Oh but I fear the Courics, Pelosis, and Clintons of the world will soon be villifying McDonalds for not providing health care... good grief.
Hey STUPIDS, do you like having your TV's carried out to your car (or limo) for you? Do you like being able to goto the drive-through? Do you like to have stocked food shelves at the supermarket? Well who the hell do you think does all of these things?! Not people with high education levels. This kills me... These stupid liberals want a "level playing field" for everything. There will ALWAYS be a tincy tiny part of this society that will have the low end jobs. Thats just the way it is. Just like not everybody can be a millionaire. Those who strive the hardest and work the hardest come out the most successful.. imagine that. This country is set up so anybody can succeed. And just WHERE are they getting this 46 million from? I am tired of these socialists throwing up numbers as fact when they dont even have PROOF.
Sure, I watch the MSM... Through a pair of crosshairs.
You want free health care f
March 13, 2007 - 00:17 ET by OIFveteranYou want free health care for life? Go serve twenty years in the military. You don't want to do that? Suck it up and shell out the money. Otherwise, quityerbi*chen.
<insert something clever>
I Second that OIF!
March 13, 2007 - 00:20 ET by bigtimerI Second that OIF!
I suppose if one wanted to, o
March 13, 2007 - 16:11 ET by SarahAnnieI suppose if one wanted to, one might find a 'lifer' to marry, and thus be covered for free health care for life. Just another option. One vet to another.
Nebraskans for War: Peace through Strength
SA...LOL! That'll also do the
March 13, 2007 - 16:22 ET by bigtimerSA...
LOL!
That'll also do the trick!
Thanks for your service gal!
Much gratitude sent your way from my family and friends!
First of all, every American
March 13, 2007 - 01:16 ET by jdhawkFirst of all, every American (and even an illegal immigrant) has access to health care at any emergency room in America. It’s the law!
Where do they get those numbers?
First of all, according to the 2003 Census data, 243.3 million Americans, a record, have health insurance. About 1/3 of the 46 million that do not have health insurance are eligible for Medical and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), but are not enrolled. More than 14 million Americans who are eligible for insurance can apply for health care assistance if and when they require it.
There are, again, according to 2003 Census Data, almost 15 million uninsured people in households considered "wealthy" - with incomes about $50,000 (7.6 million of them in households over $75,000). While some may dispute that somebody earning $75,000 is considered "rich," it is reasonable to assume those individuals who are earning these types of incomes can afford to purchase the health care which best fits their needs.
There are another 18 million uninsured between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four who voluntarily forgo coverage because many states offer "guaranteed issue" laws which enable individuals to put off purchasing insurance until they get sick and need it. This law actually encourages the irresponsible to delay buying insurance. The fact remains, however, that these 18.8 million citizens have access to health care insurance. They choose to forgo purchasing it until they are sick enough to need it.
Three things that you can ask your representatives do today:
1. End the fifty-state insurance market by proclaiming there shall be nationwide commerce in health care like there are for other goods and services.
2. Lower the price of coverage by equalizing the tax treatment for employer-purchased and individually-purchased health care (the individual is not taxed in the formed case and is taxed in the later case).
3. Deny any illegal immigrant unlimited health care access and treatment. Health care prices would drop substantially if we didn't reward non-U.S. citizens who enter our country illegally with free health care.
Thanks jdhawk
March 13, 2007 - 09:18 ET by SportPoliticsThanks jdhawk.
Don't ever let anyone tell you people don't come here for the news they can't get from the msm.
good job
March 14, 2007 - 00:21 ET by misterbillgood job---I learned quite a few things.
I am on medicare, but I carry a separate dental and vision plan. I am retired, my wife works and PAYS fica/medicare. BTW--Medicare B is not free---I pay for it out of my SS income. I forgot the amount, but it went up this year. However, IMO, it's the best darned insurance rate anyone can get. I contributed to SS for over 50 years. It cannot last esp. with foreigners only having to work for 18 months to be eligible while American citizens have to have 40 quartes (10 years ) to be vested in it. That, sure as heck, looks like deficit spending to me.
Dear Katie,I am being denie
March 13, 2007 - 01:23 ET by ckc1227Dear Katie,
I am being denied my right to happiness because I cannot afford the new Aston Martin Vantage. This clearly violates the intentions of the authors of the Declaration of Independance. It simply is not fair that some can afford this car while others cannot. Help me, Katie Couric, you're my only hope.
Not.
Reminder: Don't forget to pay your taxes. 12 million illegal immigrants are counting on you.
"Free" national
March 13, 2007 - 02:08 ET by MidAmerica"Free" national health care is nothing more than a government run HMO.
It's rationed health care.
What you receive is up to bureaucratic guidelines based on available money.
Over 50 and have cancer? Here's an aspirin for the pain.
Created <----created equal
March 13, 2007 - 04:04 ET byCreated <----created equal, as in at the moment of conception.
Interesting, they want the government to collect more taxes and pay for everyone's medical insurance --but oh, dear, they draw the line with protecting the life from being killed, between the time the life is created and the life breathes air for the first time.
They are nothing more than self-serving hypocrites.
And I would love to tell Katie that just because someone has health insurance does not mean that they get good care. Our government protects doctors; bad doctors can put people through torturous pain and or kill them due to bad medical practices --and our government will not even prosecute the doctors.
Most doctors are already in bed with the insurance companies. I could not imagine how much worse it would be if the government was paying the bills –so to say (with our money, of course).
It is all about money. They would take $10.00 from us and pay out a dime for our ‘care.’
Debra...
Gotta admit, Kaplan has done
March 13, 2007 - 06:15 ET by ThisnThatGotta admit, Kaplan has done a good job here, getting a Constitutional expert and all to fact-check Katie's statement before it was aired in front of millions. Way to go -- nothing but the best and brightest.
Wouldn't want to mis-lead anyone now, would you?
Life lessons from multi-millionaire Couric
March 13, 2007 - 06:25 ET by Jack BauerSo when it comes to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and good health, all men are not created equal.
Okay Katie. You're paid $15 million a year for reading a teleprompter. And I'm sure you are worth every penny, especially when compared to a Nurse.
So here's my banal statement to match yours --
So when it comes to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and salary, all men are not created equal.
Why do you need $15 million? Why don't you take just $1 million (still a huge sum to most people) and, gives the other $14 million away.
It's always so nice to be lectured by multi-millionaires on moral stuff.
Well, Jack, that's Liberals
March 13, 2007 - 07:21 ET by motherbeltWell, Jack, that's Liberals for you....glass houses, throwing stones.
MB -- I should be Lear Jet ri
March 13, 2007 - 07:29 ET by Jack BauerMB -- I should be Lear Jet rich. I have the temperament for it!
Katie, read the Declaration again. Try not to sound like a twit
March 13, 2007 - 07:41 ET by acaiguanaKatie, read the Declaration again. Try not to sound like a twit. Please.
"So when it comes to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and good health,..." It doesn't say that. It says:
"...that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
Now, please note, it says the 'pursuit of Happiness", not the guarantee of happiness. Excuse me?
And I happen to like that document and what it says. And when a twit tries to twist what it says into something so ridiculous it annoys me.
So, knock it off. Please.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
Socialist manifesto?
March 13, 2007 - 08:42 ET by nkviking75I guess only Katie is wise enough to recognize the socialist manifesto that is our Declaration of Independence. The rest of us weren't smart enough to recognize our right to health insurance which is clearly included, in spite of the fact that there was no such thing as health insurance in 1776. How could we be so blind? </sarcasm>
PURSUIT of happiness
March 13, 2007 - 09:02 ET by dmntd1All too often, people believe that right is happiness, not pursuit of happiness. They believe that happiness can be foisted upon them from the government, not realizing that the only thing the government does is cause grief and despair.
By the way, based upon her reported $3,000,000 annual salary, she could help provide happiness for about 2,000 people in this country via health insurance (and that's based on a little less than twice what I pay each year for my insurance policy).
Please make sure your train of thought carries freight.
Kaplan, I mean Couric, can't
March 13, 2007 - 09:23 ET by ucKaplan, I mean Couric, can't we expect better comprehension from CBS >>> "Declaration of Independence" not "Declaration of Interdependence and Socialist Governance."
The following is my complete list of reasons why Hillary should be President:
Start: End.
Maybe the Perky One might wan
March 13, 2007 - 09:57 ET by Sua Sponte 75Maybe the Perky One might want to fork over some of that big paycheck for these supposed "rights".
How in the world has the line between rights and privileges been sooo blurred?
Rights are earned and sought after, not given off the backs of others.
It's the Declaration of Independence not Dependence.
Want me to have my part in my pursuit of happiness Perky One, try closing the soup coolers.
"Stupid should hurt"
Such a flawed understanding a
March 13, 2007 - 10:13 ET by King of the BritonsSuch a flawed understanding and ignorance of liberty is becoming all-too-common today. When one looks at the public education system and what it teaches, it will be no surprise when we go to "free" healthcare.
A simple question for the liberals out there - The day before we institute universal coverage there will be x number of doctors, nurses, cat-scan machines, and hospital beds out there accompanied by y demand for this supply of healthcare. Right now, hospitals are operating at capacity in almost all facets of the healthcare industry (meaning most doctors are booked all day, every working day - not a lot of sitting around counting money). The day after universal healthcare is enacted there will still be x number of supply of healthcare. What do you think is going to happen to the demand y of healthcare? Go up, go down, or stay the same? I think everyone knows that the demand will go up since there is no cost to see the doctor anymore. I guess liberals will just enact more doctors and hospitals and nurses too. If we think that there is rationed healthcare now, just wait until it is an assembled panel of government experts who decide who gets treated. Luckily for Katie, I am sure that there will be ways around waiting in line with the suckers for her next procedure.
These people are the enemy. I have lost all patience with the ignorant holier-than-thou busybody do-gooders who are out to make the world better.
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!´´
--Patrick Henry
Just for the record, I work f
March 13, 2007 - 10:54 ET by BruzillaJust for the record, I work for a major health insurer and I still have to pay a premium, co-pays, etc., so there's no free lunch (or doctor's visit) for those of us in the industry either.
Also, I think a lot of people don't understand what "universal health care" means. No one on either side of the isle, that I'm aware of, is proposing a system like Canada's or England's. They all compliment those systems, but that's not what they propose. What they are proposing is that those of us who are paying for insurance will continue paying for insurance, plus pay additional taxes, fees, premiums, etc., that will be used to buy coverage for those who can't afford it or worse... just don't want to buy it.
You will continue to pay your premiums, copays, deductibles, etc., and you'll be paying part of the premiums for everyone requiring assistance at first. But here's where things really turn south. If people can't afford to pay premiums, then how can they be expected to pay copays. deductibles, coinsurance, etc.? So in the end, merely providing insurance will not be enough. You will be expected to help pay for 100% of the mediccal care costs for these people.
But here's the real long-te
March 13, 2007 - 11:01 ET by sarcasmoBut here's the real long-term strategic goal nobody-else seems to see...It's hoped you'll suddenly go from usually not-caring whether other people do dangerous things like drink, smoke, or eat too much, to becoming a much more "caring" person. Suddenly -- for the sake of your own wallet at tax time -- you might become someone who reluctantly-supports even-bigger big government intervention in all of our lives.
JMR
Just for the record, what wou
March 13, 2007 - 23:58 ET by jdhawkJust for the record, what would change from what you term, "universal health care" and what exists now? Now, I pay, as you do, three times for health care. I pay for my own and my family's health care through monthly HMO premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses that the HMO will not pay. I pay for medicare and medicade through taxes that are becoming an ever greater percentage of the federal, state, and local budgets. And, I pay through higher HMO payments, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses that the HMO will not pay because some peopel refuse to pay for their own medical expenses in any way, shape or form.
Please see my earlier post for at least a partial way out of this morass.