My brother and mother DIED because of healthcare system. Sorry if I don't get offended by a word.

[Armstead]

I won't go into details. Suffice it to say that they both had "adequate coverage" but were denied the actual coverage that could have saved them because of our fucked up healthcare and insurance system and the mandates involved in it. In both cases their deaths were needless.

So if some guy uses the phrase "corporate whore" to refer to politicians who perpetuate that crappy system, I don't much care.

Please get back to your high dudgeon because of the "sexism" of some goddamn guy who gave a very short speech at some political rally.

[senz]

1. President Obama's mother died because of our healthcare system, too.

But I am sorry for your loss, Armstead. I think they'd both be proud of you for fighting an unjust system.

[Armstead]

4. Time heals all wounds, but this brouhaha really pisses me off

Especially since MSNBC is fluffing up the "gaffe" as I type.

[senz]

11. NPR, another pro-Hillary network, did it too.

A massive distraction designed to dirty up Bernie's image.

It's a deliberate campaign tactic.

[My Good Babushka]

2. 45000 Americans die prematurely every year

Because of our shabby "system". We shouldn't lose sight of this.

[blm]

3. I remember Armstead.

This is just another convenient battle the nitpickers have found as both sides have been doing FAR TOO MUCH, lately.

I do remember what you have been through, and what many of us have gone through and shared here. There are SUCH BIGGER ISSUES being passed over for this 'outrage of the day' tit for tat going on here.

[Armstead]

23. Thanks....Unfortunately it is not an unusual experience

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Well said.

They get all worked up about nothing.

And my deepest sympathies to you.

[Armstead]

8. I wish they'd get as worked up about something..like actually fixing the system

Thanks

[TheCowsCameHome]

15. Absolutely agree.

[virtualobserver]

19. they are all worked up about winning....and they think that this tactic works.

I am beginning to believe that power is all that they care about.

[Avalon Sparks]

36. Yup

It's a football team to them.

[Punkingal]

6. I'm sorry for your losses.

It's shameful beyond words.

[Armstead]

14. It's been a while but I still get pissed when I think about what we allow

[Punkingal]

28. Of course you do.

Some wounds can only be patched, only to be ripped open by idiocy like this.

[questionseverything]

7. sorry for your loss...it happens everyday

somethings are just too important for capitalism, healthcare is one of those things

[Armstead]

9. Thanks...You're right. Life and Death are not market commodities.

[TheFarseer]

10. My mom's insurance switched to mammograms every two years

Instead of every year. Luckily my parents had the cash to get one anyway and guess what? They found something and were able to cut it out as it was stage 1. If she had been forced to wait a year, she'd be dead!

[Armstead]

12. It is beyond my comprehension why people resist actual reform of these things

I'm glad it worked out for your mother.

[democrank]

13. Sincerely sorry about your mother and brother, Armstead.

Most days I`m shocked at the outrage here over a supporter`s comments at the same time so many are silent over the most profound issues....like war and unaffordable healthcare. It makes absolutely no sense.

[Armstead]

16. Yep. Today is a perfect illustration

The politics of deflection

[tk2kewl]

17. .

[Armstead]

18. Two of millions

[tk2kewl]

21. yes

my family is extremely fortunate to have good insurance... without it my wife would be among those millions or we would be bankrupt

[MuseRider]

20. Agreed

that is all that need be said.

*except for this, I personally do not like the casual use of this word and as a female I do feel like it is directed at women much more than just anyone no matter how much it is used but would spend no time on this issue now because it was just someone involved in introducing Sanders

[Armstead]

22. Honestly, I understand why some would be upset. He shouldn't have used the word.

But using that to deflect the debate from the real issues.....

[MuseRider]

27. Exactly, again :-)

I can be outraged at the use but move past the deflection over a word that would never even have been noticed by most of those who are now screaming foul. Many of us would always call that word out to be silenced by those who are now screaming. Let them scream. This is not an unimportant issue but in this case it is so disingenuous as to make it not even worth talking about.

[me b zola]

24. I am so sorry for you losses

I do not have any coverage but I do have some challenging health issues, and right now I'm walking a tight-rope. My husband wants to spend lots of money that we don't have in the hopes that I will get the treatment that I need, but there is no guarantee that if we spend tons of money that I will be helped. I'm just not going to have him lose what little he has on an outside chance that it will make me better.

So forgive me if I don't care about the feelings of politicians who are called names for serving their own interest at the expense of the lives of human beings.

[Armstead]

25. Sorry for your experience...No one should be placed in these positions

[riderinthestorm]

26. I dare any of the faux outraged to come on this thread and speak to you

I'm so sorry for your losses...

[Armstead]

30. Thanks...I don't want to milk it because unfortunately it is not an isolated experience

But I wish the faux outraged would just STFU about the use of a word in the wrong venue.

[merrily]

29. I am so very sorry about your mom and brother.

The death of any parent or sibling sucks, but when it was avoidable, it's twice as bad.

I know a young AIDS victim who died because, at one point, he had to choose between paying rent and buying medication and he paid the rent.

[Armstead]

33. Meanwhile the bigwigs at that pharma company probably bought their third mansion with the profits

[bettyellen]

31. I am sorry about your mom and brother. I think a lot of us have lost loved ones too early because

of the inadequacies of the system, I know I have as well. I wish you peace.

[Armstead]

32. Thanks...I wish it weren't so common

[bettyellen]

35. It has always been this for the working class here. I am grateful I can be insured now at all....

as I would not have been with pre- existing, and I am freelancing these days. I think that is one great change, but the whole country needs to realign their priorities. Congress has to catch up with the rest of the nation, they have been screwing us all for way too long.

[Avalon Sparks]

34. So sorry to hear that

I stand with you in the fight against Corporate Whores!

[glowing]

37. You know why they attacked this Dr?

He has incredibly close connection; personal family history of his wife's family being helped specifically by President Clinton with North Korea... The fact that he is an oncologist who treats patients having to deal with the tricky costs of the "insurance game". Watching those who should be ONLY focused on their health and focusing on the fight to get better, stress over the financial strains that fighting cancer costs. Watching before the ACA, as patients reached a lifetime cap, watching as insurance companies refused to approve paying for treatments that the Drs thought best for their patients, watching as people still now, with the ACA, struggle to meet co-pays and deductibles and that these thresholds re-set every year.

He's been on the frontline in the movement for bringing about changes to the delivery of healthcare to people for nearly 10yrs. And I would also use the term corporate whores when it comes to people like Senator Bachus who refused to entertain the idea of even the Public Option (which we see would have helped out these red states whose Governors and state legislatures refuse to opt into the expanded Medicaid package).

Hillary wasn't even in the Senate at that time to know how or what she would have supported? The fact that she doesn't believe that America has the ability to make affordable health care access a natural right for our citizens, coupled with the fact that she has had corporate donations from Big Pharma, insurance companies, and private hospital groups, is rather telling as to why she doesn't support a single-payer, Medicare for all type of health care delivery.

I appreciate the Dr's apology to people who are or became "offended" by his terminology of our bought out politicians who supposedly are representing the "will of the people". We all know the reality of the situation regarding money in politics. Before Citizen's United was ruled on by the right-wing Supreme Court, it was bad. Lobbyists bundling campaign contributions for politicians, a revolving door between the lobbyists and the representatives office staffs, coupled with the industries essentially writing policy laws to favor themselves the most and being presented for passage in the halls of congress, we're all horribly corrupt. We used to have pictures of varying politicians standing in a suit with corporate logos sticking on them. People would say, they should just
Be like NASCAR drivers and wear their sponsors on their sleeves. Massive amounts of people wouldn't even engage in the political process of voting because they felt it didn't matter and everyone was screwing them over.

And now, we have the Super Pacs. Basically, more money in the political process. More ways in which the voice of the many are silenced by the few with wealth, privilege, and direct access to our representative's ear. Even after a politician has left office, they are scooped up into lobbying firms, bank boards, various other large corporations like media, Big Pharms, oil & gas, Hedge Funds, etc.

All along the Clinton's close ties to insider politics, large corporations and industry providing millions to Super Pacs, along with the fact that the family also has the Clinton Global Initiative that allows people and countries around the world the ability to "donate" to the Foundation. Politicians accepting outside of country contributions is illegal; treasonous. However, the Foundation is a means for outside of country influence to fund the Clintons. And yes, the organization does good works, but the ability for the Chinese or the Saudis or any number of countries to place millions of dollars into the fund, and looking at the "pay back" to those same countries while at State, is more than a little daunting.

And because we are in primary season and people have their "candidate"; do or die, we see that somehow the narrative about money in politics has been flipped on its head. Now those lobbyists are just regular, normal constituents. Now those Super Pacs are "just leveling the playing field" with Republicans and don't really mean those donors expect something in return. And any look at the workings of the Clinton Foundation is an attack on her being a woman. I'm sure that's what all our fore sisters fought for when they wanted to vote; an equal place at the money trough within politics.

Anyway, at some point, Democrats may actually go back to agreeing that money in politics the way it is now is obscene and has created an oligarchy of America...

[Armstead]

39. +100000

Great post

[shanine]

38. +1000000

Thank you, Armstead for sharing this.
It is unfucking believable that people do not "get" this or do not care.
Unless and until it happens to them.