Geez Louise....
When will this end? The latest hyberbole to be spit out of the giant GOP piehole is that Tricare (the SOCIALIST healthcare system for our veterans) will be moved to the "department that administers 'welfare'"... ***shock*** ***GASP***
According to the lovely Brian Bilbray, more below....
On KUSI, local TV here in San Diego,
03:18 in the video
BILBRAY: When the retired military finds out that their TRICARE has been moved out of the Department of Defense to the department that handles welfare — when you tell somebody that’s served this country in the military, that now their programs are going to be administered like welfare programs, rather than earned military benefits, all hell is going to break loose. I can’t wait for mom to hear that her TRICARE now is going to be administered by the welfare people.
Q: That’s just one of the things we keep finding out as we keep peeling the onion on this day after.
This is yet another freaking disgusting example of the bias at KUSI that I've been complaining about for years. They don't even try to hide it - this guy is supposed to be a goddamed reporter for chrissakes. He's basically telling the viewers how dangerous and bad the law is.
And I do think it's hilarious that Bilbray is expressing shock at the idea that a SOCIALIST program might be administered by the same people who dole out <socialist> WELFARE!!!! ARRGGHHH!!!!!
However, our great congresswoman Susan Davis debunks this completely. This article in the SD Union Tribune also explains how this rumour got started, and it's definitely a stupid-ass GOP tactic to spread falsehoods. They proposed unnecessary amendments to "protect" Tricare, so that wingnut reps could point to those amendments as proof that Tricare needs to be protected. (See Stupak).
Rep. Davis: Misinforming military 'not acceptable'
But Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) and chairwoman of the military personnel subcommittee that has jurisdiction over Tricare, says Tricare was not affected by the changes. She maintains that the reform bill never was, and never will be, intended to move Tricare.
“The rumors are not based on anything that ever was nor will be proposed,” she said. “That the way that Tricare is structured meets the minimum requirements – that was the only thing that was of any consideration as we move forward.
“I think if information gets out to our military that is incorrect or even purposeful … it’s not acceptable.”
A spokesman for Tricare also denied any move of the program.
“Tricare is a DoD agency, and I’m quite sure it will stay that way,” said Austin Camacho, a Tricare spokesman, explaining that with 9.6 million active duty and veteran service members and their families covered by Tricare, the program belongs only in the Department of Defense.
And how scary is it that a SOCIALIST health care program winds up being run by the so-called "welfare" department anyways??
Teh stoopid has no bounds, and it sooo pisses me off.... I'll be eagerly awaiting KUSI's retraction....
not.