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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 11:52 AM Feb 2013

UPDATED Lindsey Graham: Cut Obamacare To Avoid Sequester

Last edited Sun Feb 17, 2013, 01:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: TPM


SAHIL KAPUR 9:17 AM EST, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2013

Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called for cutting the Affordable Care Act to replace the sequester.

"Here's my belief: let's take Obamacare and put it on the table," he said. "If you want to look at ways to find $1.2 trillion in savings over the next decade, let's look at Obamacare. Let's don't destroy the military and just cut blindly across the board."

-30-

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/lindsey-graham-cut-obamacare-to-avoid-sequester



UPDATE:

GOP Senator Would Take Away Health Coverage From 30 Million Americans To Avoid Military Cuts

By Josh Israel on Feb 17, 2013 at 10:05 am

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Sunday the government should protect the Defense Department from automatic spending cuts by slashing $1.2 trillion from the Affordable Care Act.

During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, Graham suggested that the sequester’s across-the-board cuts to federal spending, including about a roughly 7.5 percent reduction in military spending, would be “destroying the military.” But rather than agree to President Obama’s proposed alternatives to the sequester, the South Carolina Republican said we should save money by eliminating health care for the 30 million people covered by the Affordable Care Act:

CHRIS WALLACE: Let me just ask you one more question about the sequestration before we let you go, Senator. You know if we go into the sequester, the president is going to hammer Republicans, the White House already put out a list of all the things, terrible things that will happen if a sequester kicks in, 70,000 children losing Head Start. 2100 fewer food inspectors and small business will lose $900 million in loan guarantees and you know, Senator, the president will say your party is forcing this to protect tax cuts for the wealthy.

GRAHAM: Well, all i can say is the commander-in-chief thought — came up with the idea of sequestration, destroying the military and putting a lot of good programs at risk. It is my belief — take Obamacare and put it on the table. You can make $86,000 a year in income and still get a government subsidy under Obamacare. Obamacare is destroying health care in this country and people are leaving the private sector, because their companies cannot afford to offer Obamacare and if you want to look at ways to find $1.2 trillion in savings over the next decade, look at Obamacare, don’t destroy the military and cut blindly across the board. There are many ways to do it but the president is the commander-in-chief and on his watch we’ll begin to unravel the finest military in the history of the world, at a time when we need it most. The Iranians are watching us, we are allowing people to be destroyed in Syria, and i’m disappointed in our commander-in-chief.


The draconian cuts to vital programs Graham and other Republicans are demanding, including providing health insurance for the millions of Americans who otherwise would not have it, will hurt the economy and hurt real people.
But Graham’s “solution” also misses a key reality: Obamacare actually reduced the deficit. His proposal to put its elimination on the table would mean increasing the budget deficit by an estimated $109 billion over the same 10-year period, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

-30-

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/02/17/1604781/gop-senator-would-take-away-health-coverage-from-30-million-americans-to-avoid-military-cuts/
59 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
UPDATED Lindsey Graham: Cut Obamacare To Avoid Sequester (Original Post) DonViejo Feb 2013 OP
Hey Lindsey, I have a better idea. drm604 Feb 2013 #1
Better still lsewpershad Feb 2013 #37
Hey Lindsey, go FUCK yourself putitinD Feb 2013 #2
Should be titled "Lindsey Graham: Pass the republican PDQ healthcare plan!" cstanleytech Feb 2013 #3
Yes, let they elderly commit suicide disndat Feb 2013 #47
no words for how much I despise this perfumed pile of pig turds MotherPetrie Feb 2013 #4
Fuck Lindsey Graham Still Sensible Feb 2013 #5
No one has a bigger permanent weekly personal megaphone than McCrazy and Goober. TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #6
Not only NO, but FUCK NO. Hard Assets Feb 2013 #7
What a fucking complete waste of our precious oxygen! Just a sack of skin and bones. AAO Feb 2013 #8
I just saw McCain and some other sphincters on Meet The Press MAD Dave Feb 2013 #9
Cut Grahams salary for one. Lil Missy Feb 2013 #10
You first, Lindesy. You give up all of the benefits that come with being a US Senator and City Lights Feb 2013 #11
How about we cut ONLY the bloated military budget and foreign aid to Israel? n2doc Feb 2013 #12
Belief? So. A religious hatred of Israel. aquart Feb 2013 #54
bite me n2doc Feb 2013 #55
fraid this Senator has lost his mind PatrynXX Feb 2013 #13
Don't you understand anything? Botany Feb 2013 #16
I have had enough of this whiner to last a Laurian Feb 2013 #14
LOL well they don't value anyone else's dignity, why should they value thier own? Volaris Feb 2013 #31
Somebody needs to drug test this guy. nt NutmegYankee Feb 2013 #15
Lindsey, may I suggest first cutting any money to South Carolina? rurallib Feb 2013 #17
Good point Andy823 Feb 2013 #24
AHAHAHAHAAA! Ash_F Feb 2013 #18
Graham keeps making new campaign ad material every week. alp227 Feb 2013 #19
I don't know about Graham, disndat Feb 2013 #49
Another Sunday. Another day with Lindsey Graham sticking his mug on the morning shows. bluestateguy Feb 2013 #20
What a POS. DavidDvorkin Feb 2013 #21
He's a pissant Tom Ripley Feb 2013 #22
Why, the ACA reduces the deficit considerably? It doesn't cost anything, hughee99 Feb 2013 #23
And they know it Mnpaul Feb 2013 #25
Yeah let's cut the thing that gives savings to the average worker abelenkpe Feb 2013 #26
Gotta wonder The Wizard Feb 2013 #40
My question would be why get mad at graham? We knew what he is, and his fellow repukes. We should still_one Feb 2013 #27
Republicans - Wedded To The Teat Of Corporate Defense Contributions cantbeserious Feb 2013 #28
This isn't the dumbest thing he said this morning Mnpaul Feb 2013 #29
For him it's a simple choice Turbineguy Feb 2013 #30
Cut the pentagon 500 billion per yr aaa save 5 Trillion. No need to cut Obaaacare! on point Feb 2013 #32
Another why mtasselin Feb 2013 #33
Nuh-uh Mr. Graham! RetroGamer1971 Feb 2013 #34
Obamacare actually reduced the deficit. JDPriestly Feb 2013 #35
They lost the vote against ACA nobodyspecial Feb 2013 #36
Friggin' Republicans..... like a broken record... lib2DaBone Feb 2013 #38
Obama needs to steamroll these asshats. go west young man Feb 2013 #39
I think we should cut congressional pay and benefits first including their retirement and limit the cstanleytech Feb 2013 #41
I thought these guys were all such good Christians. Why don't they spend Sunday in church? mountain grammy Feb 2013 #42
Go cheney yourself, Grahamcracker. sakabatou Feb 2013 #43
Haha yeah right obama2terms Feb 2013 #44
No, let's cut the military instead! sinkingfeeling Feb 2013 #45
how about we stop waging war on innocent people instead ThomThom Feb 2013 #46
I hope that this greasy-faced fuck gets primaried out Arkana Feb 2013 #48
In FOX "News" world "Obamacare" is FREE heathcare for black people paid for by white people. Spitfire of ATJ Feb 2013 #50
Sequester Graham to Avoid Obamacare Cut. Jackpine Radical Feb 2013 #51
If Lindsey Graham doesn't want defense cuts... jmowreader Feb 2013 #52
he is a republican whore Skittles Feb 2013 #53
unbelievable! ColumbusLib Feb 2013 #56
translation: Sequester is about holding the budget hostage booley Feb 2013 #57
I suggest VA_Jill Feb 2013 #58
hey Lindsey, remember when Boner announced he'd gotten 98% of what he wanted in this deal? wordpix Feb 2013 #59

drm604

(16,230 posts)
1. Hey Lindsey, I have a better idea.
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 11:55 AM
Feb 2013

Last edited Mon Feb 18, 2013, 11:36 AM - Edit history (1)

How about let's not do either of those things. They aren't the only two choices.

cstanleytech

(26,293 posts)
3. Should be titled "Lindsey Graham: Pass the republican PDQ healthcare plan!"
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 11:58 AM
Feb 2013

For those not aware of it PDQ being in this case the Please Die Quickly heathcare plan.

disndat

(1,887 posts)
47. Yes, let they elderly commit suicide
Mon Feb 18, 2013, 02:09 PM
Feb 2013

like they are doing in south Korea for lack of the traditional extended family and safety net help the South Korean from govt.- N.Y. Times, 2/18/2013

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
6. No one has a bigger permanent weekly personal megaphone than McCrazy and Goober.
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 12:04 PM
Feb 2013

I don't think even the President does. It's like they own the damn channels. I don't get it.

 

AAO

(3,300 posts)
8. What a fucking complete waste of our precious oxygen! Just a sack of skin and bones.
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 12:09 PM
Feb 2013

And shit for brains. And a black hole for a heart. And no soul whatsoever.

MAD Dave

(204 posts)
9. I just saw McCain and some other sphincters on Meet The Press
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 12:09 PM
Feb 2013

The Republicans are pathological.........as a Canadian I find them extremely scary. They care not for anything but padding their own pockets and the pockets of their friends.

They cannot maintain a consistent stand except for "Obama is bad".


Stupid beyond any measure of stupid.

City Lights

(25,171 posts)
11. You first, Lindesy. You give up all of the benefits that come with being a US Senator and
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 12:20 PM
Feb 2013

then we'll talk about other cuts. Until then, quit holding your fellow citizens hostage.

n2doc

(47,953 posts)
55. bite me
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:53 AM
Feb 2013

You do your country no favors. I don't hate Israel, but I do hate their influence over our country. They have shown time and time again that they can take care of themselves. Time to wean them off of the teat.

PatrynXX

(5,668 posts)
13. fraid this Senator has lost his mind
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 12:21 PM
Feb 2013

hell if we are going to spend more than 1.2 trillion to cut 1.2 trillion X_X I didn't flunk math I did mess up on algebra. this dude flunked math

Botany

(70,516 posts)
16. Don't you understand anything?
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 12:31 PM
Feb 2013

Because if we cut Obamacare, aka the affordable care, act we will have to spend even
more money which will add to the deficit and that will show that "both sides" are serious
about controlling the national debt.

Lindsey thinks he won not only the Presidency but was made King of America and can
rule by fiat.

Laurian

(2,593 posts)
14. I have had enough of this whiner to last a
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 12:27 PM
Feb 2013

lifetime. There was a time when he was not such an extreme idiot, but apparently fear of a challenge from the far right has him acting like a fool. I hope he is challenged.

Oh, how I would love to see a Republican stand up instead of caving to the tea party fanatics. You'd think at least one of them would value their dignity over an elected position.

Volaris

(10,272 posts)
31. LOL well they don't value anyone else's dignity, why should they value thier own?
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 02:37 PM
Feb 2013

Also, I want Rachel running Meet The Press. If the media is going to be accused of having a liberal bias, they could at least TRY to be guilty of the charge...

rurallib

(62,423 posts)
17. Lindsey, may I suggest first cutting any money to South Carolina?
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 12:41 PM
Feb 2013

Then we can cut money to Texas to thank Senator Cruz, then perhaps Arizona to thank old Johnny boy...........

Andy823

(11,495 posts)
24. Good point
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 01:55 PM
Feb 2013

I would add all the states that have the tea party clowns in congress doing all they can to destroy the country so they can try and turn it into their own weird version of tea party heaven, the place where everyone is packing a gun, and you simply shoot the people who don't agree with you@

All these idiots, Lindsey especially, who refuse to end tax breaks and subsidies to big oil, corporate farms, all forms of "corporate welfare", or cutting the huge, huge military budget, but instead want to take away health care reform, programs for those in need, and balance things on the backs of those with little to spare, should also have their salary and benefits as members of congress taken away from them!

I get so tired of all the BS from the right about how to cut expenses when they never go after those with the most money, the ones have have "increased" their fortunes over the last decade but don't want to help fix the mess their kind got us into!

alp227

(32,032 posts)
19. Graham keeps making new campaign ad material every week.
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 01:13 PM
Feb 2013

So he should take a break from the sunday shows I'd he doesn't want a deeper hole.

But he represents ultra conservative South Carolina, so given his constituency he is essentially guaranteed a win like Bernie Sanders in Vermont.

I remember reading that the tea party wanted to primary graham. Doing so would SPLIT the conservative vote which means...a Democratic shoo in????

disndat

(1,887 posts)
49. I don't know about Graham,
Mon Feb 18, 2013, 02:21 PM
Feb 2013

but a lot of Republicans are afraid of the Tea Party running candidates against them unless they advocate the Tea Party agenda - example: Olympia Snowe. I see a lot of "Ted Cruzes" in our future thanks to the Koch Bros, deep pockets.

bluestateguy

(44,173 posts)
20. Another Sunday. Another day with Lindsey Graham sticking his mug on the morning shows.
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 01:19 PM
Feb 2013

Doesn't he have a family that he can spend time with a couple of Sundays per month, so maybe he could leave the rest of us alone?

abelenkpe

(9,933 posts)
26. Yeah let's cut the thing that gives savings to the average worker
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 02:00 PM
Feb 2013

So we can continue to fund defense. Thank you Linsey Graham for reminding the public you don't care about them but love love love the effort to continue endless war you irresponsible murderous lying sack of stupid.

The Wizard

(12,545 posts)
40. Gotta wonder
Mon Feb 18, 2013, 12:38 AM
Feb 2013

how much the teabilly twerp is getting sent to Cayman Islands account from defense contractors.

still_one

(92,219 posts)
27. My question would be why get mad at graham? We knew what he is, and his fellow repukes. We should
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 02:01 PM
Feb 2013

be mad at the Senate Democrats for allowing the filibuster rules to stand, thereby making this president, and congress effectively a lame duck one.

In fact, the congress might as well go home. If we need a Supreme Court appointment does anyone really believe the repukes won't filibuster that appointment unless it is a thomas or scalia look-alike

Mnpaul

(3,655 posts)
29. This isn't the dumbest thing he said this morning
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 02:12 PM
Feb 2013

He attacked Hagel for suggesting that we go terrorists in a police style action. Let's look how their military plan worked.....Bin Laden got away. Now let's look how a police style action worked.... Bin Laden dead.

mtasselin

(666 posts)
33. Another why
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 03:08 PM
Feb 2013

Why are these assholes on TV every week, they have nothing and I mean nothing to contribute to the conversation. He has been sucking on the public tit for so long that he does not know what it is like to have a real job or to go out and have to look for one.

RetroGamer1971

(177 posts)
34. Nuh-uh Mr. Graham!
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 03:16 PM
Feb 2013

Horse-hockey. The republicans could have blocked this by not voting for it in the house. They didn't. President Obama cannot pass legislation. He can only sign it, propose it, or veto it. THAT IS THE SEPARATION OF POWERS!

"After all, 174 House Republicans voted for the measure that Politico said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was “the chief Republican architect of.” Today’s New York Times editorial has some choice words for this blame game, calling out Republicans for their attempts to bend the truth and rightfully showing the GOP is responsible for the upcoming sequestration."
http://www.democraticwhip.gov/content/ny-times-editorial-republicans-hiding-truth-sequestration

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
35. Obamacare actually reduced the deficit.
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 03:25 PM
Feb 2013

Doing away with the ACA just shifts the financial loss from the government ledger to the private ledger.

If we want to strengthen the private ledger, doing away with the ACA is the worst thing we could do.

We need to cut the military budget when it comes to stationing troops overseas, and we need to impose import duties on goods coming into the US.

Alexander Hamilton was right. We need to subsidize American industry and tax imports. That is how you make America competitive with other countries. That is how you create jobs. That is also how you insure national security. Because we couldn't survive as a country at this point without importing manufactured goods and medicines from other countries. And that means that, economically, we are dependent, not self-sufficient as a nation.

If we really had to fight a war, if we faced an invasion, let's say due to global warming, we would not be able to survive without importing food, clothing and other necessities from other countries. We won WWII because we were able to take care of ourselves. We can't do that now because we rely on other countries for imports.

We need to change our trade agreements.

nobodyspecial

(2,286 posts)
36. They lost the vote against ACA
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 03:42 PM
Feb 2013

They lost the court battles over ACA, and yet again they want to hold Americans hostage to get their way. Although I'm still screwed since I live in a GOP state refusing to implement it. Fuckers!

 

lib2DaBone

(8,124 posts)
38. Friggin' Republicans..... like a broken record...
Sun Feb 17, 2013, 08:44 PM
Feb 2013

More war......

More money for them ... austerity for everyone else.

Typical Republican Brain

cstanleytech

(26,293 posts)
41. I think we should cut congressional pay and benefits first including their retirement and limit the
Mon Feb 18, 2013, 12:43 AM
Feb 2013

amount they can collect to no more than what the poverty level is for that year and they cannot vote themselves anymore raises ever again.

obama2terms

(563 posts)
44. Haha yeah right
Mon Feb 18, 2013, 11:17 AM
Feb 2013

Over Barack Obama's dead body. The main thing that gets me about republicans not liking Obamacare and wanting to do away with it is they have nothing to replace it with. The GOP wants to repeal it without any sensible suggestions on what we can do to make our healthcare system better, and that's because they have no ideas. They don't want Obama to get credit with fixing our healthcare system or fix anything for that matter. ( which at this point no one knows if the ACA will fix everything) so I guess their main goal is to repeal his achievements. After all Mitch McConell (sp?) himself said he wanted to make BO a one term president, so it doesn't shock me that they not only want to filibuster everything, but repeal anything Obama does get done.

ThomThom

(1,486 posts)
46. how about we stop waging war on innocent people instead
Mon Feb 18, 2013, 11:48 AM
Feb 2013

we could shut down most of the CIA and a lot of bases around the world also
ground the drones now

Arkana

(24,347 posts)
48. I hope that this greasy-faced fuck gets primaried out
Mon Feb 18, 2013, 02:15 PM
Feb 2013

by someone even nuttier than he is so that when he gets forced into retirement he will know that he spent the last two years of his term being an insufferable, contrarian douche for nothing.

jmowreader

(50,559 posts)
52. If Lindsey Graham doesn't want defense cuts...
Mon Feb 18, 2013, 05:38 PM
Feb 2013

Let's just stop sending federal funds to South Carolina. And we'll start by eliminating mosquito spraying funds.

Expect lots more repukes to call for eliminating Obamacare in the next few months.

ColumbusLib

(158 posts)
56. unbelievable!
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 11:18 AM
Feb 2013

Lindsey Graham is now my Most Despised Republican. What a waste of space he is! Obamacare will end up saving us so much money and providing much better care... the math just doesn't add up to say cutting Obamacare would save any money in the long run.

booley

(3,855 posts)
57. translation: Sequester is about holding the budget hostage
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:27 PM
Feb 2013

..Obama and the Dems should be playing along!

That and they forgot there's plenty of stuff conservatives love to throw money at.

Me personally though, I would rather use money if it might help people then to potentially kill people.

VA_Jill

(9,983 posts)
58. I suggest
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:32 PM
Feb 2013

...we take Miss Lindsey and put HIM on the table. I'm as sick of his attacks of the vapors as I am of McGrumpy's tantrums.

wordpix

(18,652 posts)
59. hey Lindsey, remember when Boner announced he'd gotten 98% of what he wanted in this deal?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:57 PM
Feb 2013

Now it's "Obama's idea." Yeah, right, Lindsey, like all good repukes, you conveniently "forget" the facts.

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