Over the past year of Obama's presidency, conservative blowhard Rush Limbaugh has routinely mocked, distorted and even invented various health insurance reform proposals before Congress. Given Limbaugh's blanket opposition to the new administration (recall Limbaugh's public confession, "I want [Obama] to fail"), it's hard to take Limbaugh's incessant fear-mongering seriously - or even tune in it at all. That was the case, however, until Limbaugh used his recent emergency hospital visit to show that the U.S. health care system is "working just fine."
On December 30th, Rush Limbaugh underwent an angiogram at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu after complaining of sharp chest pains. When Limbaugh exited the hospital on New Year's Day, he told reporters, "They found absolutely nothing wrong. It was a blessing. No arterial disease, no coronary disease whatsoever."
Limbaugh then turned to health care reform, citing his Honolulu experience as evidence that the health care system doesn't need fixing:
"Based on what happened to me here, I don't think there is one thing wrong with the American health care system. It is working just fine, just dandy."
We're thrilled to hear that Limbaugh appreciates Hawaii's exemplary health care system.
Here's why:
1. Hawaii is a shining example of progressive health care reform. In fact, Hawaii is so forward-thinking that the Senate bill excludes Hawaii from some of its provisions, because Hawaii's requirements on employers go farther than the federal legislation.
- Since 1974, Hawaii has required all employers to provide quality health care benefits to any employee who works 20 hours a week or more. Because of Hawaii's increased coverage, reports the New York Times, "hospital and insurance executives in Hawaii say they have been able to innovate efficiencies. For instance, the state's top three medical providers are adopting electronic medical records -- years ahead of most mainland counterparts."
- One reporter noted "the medical system in Hawaii is as close to socialized medicine as there is in the United States, and, much of the Democrats reform bill is based in the Hawaii system."
In fact, Hawaii has one of the greatest percentages of organized workers of any state and also had the highest percentage of organized RNs. All private-sector acute care hospital RNs are organized, with just two known exceptions. We're guessing this might have something to do with why Limbaugh found the Hawaii hospital staff's work so "confidence-inspiring."
When Limbaugh was released from Queen's Medical Center, he cheerily noted, "The treatment I received here was the best that the world has to offer."
Whether he realized it or not, Limbaugh was praising the care he received from union nurses in one of the country's most progressive health care systems. On behalf of the labor movement and health reform advocates everywhere, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, Rush!
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You sir, are an idiot
Who are you people? You are destroying America. Communism has failed every time it is tried. I've seen you thugs on you tube. You people are worthless.
I withdrew from North Carolina State Employee Association because of their affiliation with SEIU's radical, socialistic organization. I don't necessarily agree with Limbaugh on everything but his take on the current Healthcare Reform Bill is right on. Congress is not listening to the American People. That is why their approval rating is in the 20-some percent range. SEIU's is probably lower then that.
Jessica, you're an ignoramus. Leave it to a lib to warp this into something that it is not. Rush was not praising unions. He was praising that he was able to go to the hospital, get treated right away, then pay for it in cash at a substantial discount, where insurance would have charged 10 times as much. That doesn't sound like socialized medicine to me.
Good grief the author is an idiot... I heard what he said & it wasn't praising unions or socialized medicine. He was praising the speedy treatment & a discounted price for paying out of pocket... You need to get yourself straight. I've worked in medicine for over 13 yrs now & I know exactly what government care will get ya!!!
It is interesting to see the nasty words toward the author of this article. Kansasgirl's remarks sum up the ignorance of the negative posters here. She doesn't know the difference between Socialism and Communism. I am sure the other posters are just as uneducated. As an educated daughter of a nurse, the ignorance of you people is what is hurting this country. Did you even read the above article or did you just come here to defend fatty?
Rebel77 is absolutely correct. Those of us who have worked in healthcare are scared stiff of the Dems radical proposals. Those making the laws will steer clear of the system and leave the rest of us to try to get care under a DMV style, union run "who gives a damn, when do we get off plan"
Azul, nice post. We are stupid and you are calling someone "fatty". So revealing of you "progressives" who think we are too dumb to govern ourselves so you will do it for us. NO THANKS!!!!
It is not a time for dem's to be bold, we want them to back off..we own this country, not SEIU, not Obama, and not the dem's. Less gov't in our lives, work on the economy, terror, not our health care.
I don't know who half of these people are, or what it is they believe gives them the right to speak on behalf of America; they don't own anything, they share it with the rest of us. And MOST of us, that is, most AMERICANS, are tired of drowning in health care bills, of seeing out paychecks gobbled up by premiums, of losing service for precisely the conditions that we pay for insurance to cover. MOST Americans actually are in favor of healthcare reform.
Don't listen to these guys, Jessica Kutch. They are numerous, noisy, and angry, but they're still outnumbered by the ordinary people that believe that America is better than this "dog eat dog" nonsense. Keep up the good work.
rush limbaugh is one big contradiction. he attacks yet enjoys the benefits of the major principles espoused by liberals. no doubt he is losing supporters. he is a polarizing figure that americans should not take seriously. he better be left mentioned on college essays but not in major media outlets like SEIU. he's a big joke.