Spicer On AARP Concerns: We're Not Trying To Accommodate 'Special Interests'

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo


By CAITLIN MACNEAL Published MARCH 8, 2017, 3:07 PM EDT

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Wednesday brushed off the AARP's forceful opposition to the House GOP's Obamacare replacement plan, dismissing the group that represents millions of seniors as a "special interest."

When asked about the group's opposition to the GOP health care plan, Spicer noted its support for an Obamacare provision regarding prescription drugs.

"I think the AARP got a really good deal last time when it came to prescription drugs, in particular," Spicer said in the daily briefing. "I think this is a patient-centric bill. Its about patients, its about people, its about the Americans who are left behind. Look at what those deals got people last time. For all those people who are on Medicaid in particular, they don't have choices anymore."

Spicer accused Democrats of using "one deal after another" to "buy votes" to pass Obamacare.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/spicer-dismisses-aarp-concerns-obamacare-replacement

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Spicer Says No One In White House Participated In #ADayWithoutAWoman

By KRISTIN SALAKY Published MARCH 8, 2017, 2:36 PM EDT

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he is not aware of any women who work in the White House who are participating in the "Day Without a Woman" protest Wednesday. Spicer added that support for women should not be limited to one day.

"I am not aware of any that are not here. I think everyone that I'm aware of has shown up and is working really hard to advance the president's agenda," Spicer said during his daily press briefing. "They're committed to moving this country forward for those of you who will join the President throughout government, I think but obviously as the President stated today, we want to recognize the contributions that women make to our businesses, to our families, to our economy, to our society, and it's a free country."

Spicer was also asked if he thinks that women's boycott is an effective form of protest. And while he didn't answer that directly, he said he believes that people should be taking a stand for women every day.

"People have the right to express themselves, but I think that we should on a daily basis not just one day a year but 365 days a year appreciate the contributions that women make in all of those categories," he said. "So it's not, it shouldn't be a daily thing and it's, hopefully we can help fix that all bit more."

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/spicer-no-women-white-house-day-without-woman

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Spicer Trashes CBO Ahead Of New Analysis: They Were 'Way Off' On O'Care

By MATT SHUHAM Published MARCH 8, 2017, 2:43 PM EDT

The White House press secretary dismissed criticisms that House Republicans replacement for Obamacare hadnt yet been scored by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office Wednesday. The CBO, Sean Spicer said, had been way off in its enrollment analyses for Obamacare.

While Spicer said that the House GOP proposal will follow regular order and that every member of the House and the Senate will have their opportunity to have amendments offered through the committee process and on the floor, others have been critical that the two House committees in which the proposal originated Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce will vote on it before a CBO report is available.

Various congressional Republicans, anticipating a CBO report likely next week, have cast doubt on the reliability of the offices analyses.

"[Republican] leadership will put out something on the rate of growth, and they'll have to back it up with some spreadsheets or whatever," Rep. David Brat (R-VA) told TPM Wednesday, referring to alternatives to the CBO report. He noted that "the CBO, they've scored everything wrong for decades."

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/spicer-trashes-cbo-health-care

[asiliveandbreathe]

1. Or, the wrath of trump will be upon you, right Sean..or women

in the admin..or the cbo..eh rep brat (R VA)????to hell with constituents..

[Rollo]

2. The only good thing about this...

Is that alienating the nation's seniors will likely result in the R's losing their Congressional majorities, as well as the White House.

Not to mention hastening the day when single payer or universal healthcare gets a groundswell of popular support.

The stumbling and fumbling of Trump and the R's would be amusing were it not for the millions of people it will hurt.

[moonscape]

28. I dunno. Looks they're trying to kill us off before the next election! n/t

[Alice11111]

36. Yeah

[RedWedge]

3. Ohhh, looking forward to how baby boomers respond to being branded as "special interests."

I love the idea of age being a "special interest."

[Igel]

25. I hit on my definition of "special interest" when I was in my teens.

If it's not for the common good, it's a special interest.

By "common good" I don't mean for 50% + 1. I mean, really and pretty much, for the common good. At least 90% of the population. Preferably much closer to 100%. "We the people" isn't just "those not in the top 5%." They're people, too, unless we're deep into dehumanizing our "other" and calling it progressive. (The KKK does the same thing. The only difference is that they're part of my "other", and I'm not going to elevate myself to arbiter of the collective moral good for all humanity for all time. That particular field of endeavor is already overcrowded, with the gold medal going to millions, the platinum medal going to thousands, and the iridium, rhodium, and tantalum medals still not going to first place. Silver medals for overachievers in that field can be bought in 12-packs at Walmart.)

I consider teachers, retirees, Latinos, teens, white males between the ages of 45-54, evangelicals, those in poverty, the "1%", and LGBTQA+ all to be "special interests" when their good isn't the same for, well, pretty much every one of those groups all taken together.

"Special interest" isn't obligatorily derogatory, although most of the people I know more than about 1/2 st dev X-of-center (whether right or left) use it that way, but only consider those they don't have any compassion or empathy for to be "special." If they empathize with the group, even if it puts the needs and wants of 2% of the population clearly ahead of the other 98% in a way that's reminiscent of serfdom, it's not really a "special interest."

[Solly Mack]

4. K&R

[George II]

5. When did one of the biggest voting blocs in the country become "special interests"?

[DK504]

6. Did he really say that out loud?

"I think the AARP got a really good deal last time when it came to prescription drugs, in particular," Spicer said..."

If I am recalling it correctly seniors were spitting mad. They couldn't get medications from Canada any longer. (My mother's medication went up 400%) The gubmint didn't bother to negotiate for lower prices on drugs. So fuck you Stupid Spice.

[moonscape]

30. What is he talking about?! Could he be thinking of Bush's Medicare Part D? n/t

[Ilsa]

7. Keep it up, Sean Shifty Spice!

Those seniors love being called a "special interest group" to be ignored. A lot of them have plenty of time and energy to spread the word, give out hand bills, etc for Democrats in 2018.

[Marthe48]

19. yes we do

And I'll be glad to do more than send money this time around. Every repug in government is a hyena.

[Alice11111]

37. You tell them!

[NickB79]

8. Trump to his supporters: Thanks for the votes, now eat shit and die

Preferably soon, so you don't waste any more tax dollars my billionaire friends want.

[OnDoutside]

12. Yeah how's being a proud Republican working out for ya ? !!!

[Alice11111]

38. I think they are too dumb to know they've been had.

Plus, some won't admit it, ever. A few will. They are still just getting high from watching him give shit to the Dems. That's what they really wanted all along...entertainment...watching DT fuck with the people who try to make sense of the world. They are yukking it up over his nonsence, including Spicer.

[Phoenix61]

9. Seniors are "special interest" ?

Oh, that's going to go over well. All those retirees with hours and hours every day with nothing to do. Does he have any idea how many of them live in Florida? Hope they all pay Twitler a visit the next time he's at Mar-a-Lago.

[dchill]

33. Actually, anyone who is not a Republican lawmaker or their...

Corporate sponsors is a 'special interest'.

[Friend or Foe]

10. Oh. This is going to be fun. eom

[OKNancy]

11. That is a big loser for him, Trump and the Republicans

keep it up and we will win in 2018 and 2020

[Kimchijeon]

13. Special interests include:

Elderly
Disabled
Poor
Working Class
90% of the American tax bracket

[angrychair]

14. Wow

They have officially reached the "dont give a fuck" stage. To be so dismissive of AARP is a foolish and ignorant thing to say.

To completely disregard, before it is even public or complete, the CBO report is mind-numbingly stupid. The only job of the CBO is to do this type of cost analysis. If congress now only wants this independent organization to produce confirmation biased reports than we are in serious trouble budget wise.

[Alice11111]

39. They think it's a radical left wing thing.

Truth is it's somewhat financed by insurance companies, not left at all.

We are up against STUPID, fact free people.

[MontanaMama]

15. I guess Spicey doesn't have parents

or grand parents with health care concerns. What a nasty little turd.

[Marthe48]

21. algae

n/t

[littlemissmartypants]

27. Toxic bloom.

Apologies to blooms.

[Alice11111]

40. and Baron has his own penthouse floor...no after school

care necessary.

[More_Cowbell]

16. I wonder if the GOP remembers the Great Schlep

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/arts/television/07sara.html

[Hekate]

17. Reeeeelly, Sean? The Wrath of AARP isn't gonna be pretty.

[vkkv]

18. Insurance companies are not a "special interest" - they are OUR MAIN interest.

'I thought we made that obvious.. eh? You so-called journalists are liars.'

[royable]

20. Spicer is more disgusting than pink slime.

and less nutritious.

[Alice11111]

41. Malissa M's SNL of him was the best...when he couldnt

answer questions and the press kept pressing. He hammers and haws. She as Spicer, took the podium in panic and frustration and plowed it into the press, but never gave answers.

[steve2470]

22. People 50 and over are SPECIAL INTERESTS ?!

Ok the Republican bill is dead on arrival with propaganda like that. Asshole.

[Blue Idaho]

23. I like to think of them

As a big part of our base... especially after Spicer finishes sticking his foot in his mouth.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

24. Says the spokesman for a man who embodies

Special interests......

[Beartracks]

26. God, now they're dissing the non-partisan CBO.

"Anyone who says anything that doesn't agree with what WE tell you is true is fake news, unreliable, or sad."

Really?

==============

[dalton99a]

29. Keep talking, Sphincter

[DavidDvorkin]

31. This means war, sonny.

[sarcasmo]

32. Spicer translation, F-U Seniors.

[Justice]

34. He is 45. Practically part of AARP demographic

[caroldansen]

35. It should be fun when he becomes a senior citizen and becomes a 'special interest'.

[Cha]

42. Fuck Off you Lying Sack of Shite. you know fucking well

that AARP is not some "special interest group".. unless you're saying Millions of Seniors concerned with their Health Insurance is your idea of an insult.

[csziggy]

43. The Republicans tried to stop the CBO from scoring their health care bill

February 21, 2017 6:55 PM
Congress: Demand impartial data on ObamaCare repeal

David Otto, Gig Harbor

Since 1975, the Congressional Budget Office has produced objective, independent analysis of budget and economic issues to support the congressional budget process. The CBO hires employees solely on the basis of professional competence without regard to political affiliation. It is strictly nonpartisan.

Normally when Congress considers legislation, the bill is “scored” by the CBO, which estimates whether  —  and by how much  —  federal deficits would increase over the subsequent 50 years as a result of the legislation. But the current Congress forbids the CBO to estimate the deficit impact of a proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

All four Washington Republican members of Congress voted to restrict the CBO from giving a score for an ObamaCare repeal. Why?

Insist that your congressional representative vote to change house rules to require all proposed legislation be scored by the CBO. This is the only way to get a non-partisan estimate of how legislation impacts the federal budget deficit.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article134381959.html

I am not sure if it passed - I had to go through maybe ten pages of Google search to find this letter, even though I have memory of the Republican Congress trying to block the CBO scoring their then yet to be introduced bill.

[TexasBushwhacker]

45. Ah yes, the CHOICES issue

The only people who truly have freedom of choice are private payers. If you get your health insurance through your job, you don't get a choice about which health insurance company they choose and you have to use in network doctors or pay dearly to use out of network. If the insurance company drops your doctor, tough shit.

If you get your insurance through the exchanges, you get to choose the company and the plan, but again, if they dump your doctor your hosed.

The closest we come to freedom to choose the doctor you want is traditional Medicare.