Clowns abound: If Dems can’t understand healthcare bill, who wrote it?

by Kay B. Day

And by the way, where in the world is Associated Press “reporter” Glen Johnson?

As Secrecy and Confusion collude within the Senate Finance Committee’s healthcare legislation comically titled ‘America’s Healthy Future Act,’ one Democrat came forward with a confession. CNS News said, “Sen. Thomas Carper (D.-Del.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, told CNSNews.com that he does not ‘expect’ to read the actual legislative language of the committee’s health care bill because it is ‘confusing’ and that anyone who claims they are going to read it and understand it is fooling people.”

Perhaps this lack of comprehension is one reason the committee defeated Sen. Jim Bunning’s (R-Ky.) amendment last week. CNS said Bunning wanted the committee to post “the full actual language of the proposed legislation online for at least 72 hours before holding a final committee vote on it.” [Article continues below video.]

Confessions like this suggest excellent reasons for the anger hurled at members of Congress from both parties during the summer townhalls around the nation. Old branded media and Dems demonized and ridiculed tea party protesters, some using adolescent humor by calling them “teabaggers.”

Carper could have stopped with his first astounding remarks, but he went further. He thinks Republicans won’t be able to understand the legislative language either. And Main Street needn’t bother. He told CNS: “I think if people had the chance to read that they’ll say you know maybe it doesn’t make much sense for either the legislators or me to read that kind of arcane language…It’s just hard to decipher what it really means.”

It’s entirely possible Obama's top health care adviser, Nancy-Ann DeParle, could understand the language. After all, she’s got a loaded resume when it comes to healthcare. Politico filled us in. DeParle earned millions “from her positions on the boards of six firms likely to be significantly affected by the health care reforms that she’s championing.” Politico added, “And in 2006 and 2007, DeParle earned at least $3.5 million from director’s fees and stock sales and awards from health care firms, according to a Chicago Tribune analysis of securities filings. “

More than 3,000 lobbyists have registered to work on healthcare issues in Washington, according to The Christian Science Monitor.

President Barack Obama, during the campaign, took a dim view of lobbyists, promising the familiar canard all Democrats have promised since time immemorial—hope and change. One might call the overwhelming, raucous enthusiasm dominant at all Democratic gatherings in those final months of 2008 “hope dope.” And it would be appropriate.

Maybe these ardent supporters could be called “hopebaggers.”

Recall early 2008 when Associated Press “reporter” Glen Johnson grilled GOP candidate and former governor Mitt Romney about a lobbyist who was an adviser on Romney’s campaign. Johnson persisted, creating an impression Romney was in thrall to lobbyists. A YouTube video was widely circulated.

But with memories of presidential campaign moments receding, for facts about our current administration and lobbyists, we must once again turn to The Monitor. That highly regarded paper said, “A National Journal tabulation shows 30 of Mr. Obama’s top appointees – 11 percent – had been lobbyists within the past five years. Among the exceptions the administration made in its revolving-door rules: Former Raytheon lobbyist William Lynn, who was named deputy Defense secretary.”

Thus a question for the Senate Finance Committee headed by Montana Dem senator Max Baucus. Mr. Baucus, please share with Main Street the identities of those who controlled finer points of the bill your committee apparently won’t read and doesn’t understand? How, Mr. Baucus, does one write something s/he cannot read or comprehend? Who helped write America's Healthy Future Act?

Glen Johnson, where are you now? Why aren't you raising questions about all those lobbyists?

Obviously in politics and old branded media, clowns abound.