Seriously, dude. Where’s my government-subsidized healthcare? I want it. Like, right now.
Newly minted Congressman Andy Harris (R-Md), defeated his Democratic opponent by railing against Obamacare and championing the brilliant idea that is Republikanz 4 Repealin’ Healthkare.
Guess what Congressman Harris wanted to know after he showed up on Capitol Hill today, attended orientation, registered for class, got his Trapper Keeper, and went to his first period class?
“How come it takes so long for me to get my government-subsidized heaaalth insuuuurance! I want it now! NOW NOW NOW.”
From Talking Points Memo:
Harris created a stir at the orientation meeting by demanding to know why he had to wait a month after he was sworn in in January for his government-subsidized health care to kick in. After responding in a huff, he even asked if there was some way he could buy into the government care in advance, seemingly thinking there might be a government program similar to the so-called ‘public option’ championed by progressive Democrats in 2009.
According to an unnamed congressional staffer quoted by Thrush, Harris stood up at the meeting “and asked the two ladies who were answering questions why it had to take so long, what he would do without 28 days of health care.”
So, yeah. That happened.
After spending his campaign screaming that healthcare shouldn’t be a new government entitlement, Andy Harris wants his new government entitlement because great googly moogly! — he can’t be expected to go a full month without health insurance!
And he’s right! No one should be expected to go a month, or a year, or a lifetime without affordable (or free!) health insurance.
Right?
No? Ok then.
I could rant all damn day about healthcare and how fucked our system is. I know from personal experience how fucked it is. I had to go on medical leave this year because the stress from, among other things, trying to get my brain shit sorted with my health insurance company was too much for me to bear. I literally couldn’t get out of bed, much less go to work or, you know, wrangle with my health insurance company about the extent of my coverage and whether or not I could go see a proper specialist. It sucked. Actually, “sucked” doesn’t come close to describing it. And I have health insurance. So I can’t imagine what it’s like for folks who don’t have health insurance, and are resigned to going to clinics that make you sign away all your rights before they’ll treat you.
So there you have it. Maryland’s new Congressman, Andy Harris.
Let’s give the boy a hand.
[cross-posted at ABLC]