Congressman Says He Doesn't Care

[Saint Therese]

[url="http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display_mobile.php?id=486688"]article[/url]

REP. PHIL HARE responds with his own post to YouTube, above.

(There's a video of the full meeting linked from the bottom of this story at[url="http://quincynews.org/local-news/hare-faces-tough-questions-in-quincy.html"] http://quincynews.org/local-news/hare-faces-tough-questions-in-quincy.html.)[/url]

Avisual recording of the exchange can be viewed on YouTube. Rep. Hare isseated, arguing with several people who cannot be seen in the recordingabout the bill.




Heis using an example of someone having to take their child to thehospital while not having insurance and being stuck with a heftymedical bill when someone began to ask "Where in the Constitution..."

Rep. Hare cuts the man off and says "I don't worry about the Constitution on this to be honest..."

The man begins to laugh, cutting the congressman off, and says "Jackpot, brother."

"I care more about the people that are dying every day that don't have health insurance," Rep. Hare goes on to say.

"You care more about that than the Constitution you swore to uphold," the man replies.

"I believe it says we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," Rep. Hare tells him.

Theargument continues with the first man telling Rep. Hare that it is"unbelievably clear that the Constitution doesn't matter to you." Thetwo men also argued whether the bill will actually provide insurance topeople who don't have it.

Another person argues with Rep. Hareover how many times Rep. Hare read the bill. He was critical of whetherthe congressman actually read the bill -- which he said was 8,100 pageslong -- three times.

"Are you calling me a liar?" Rep. Hare asks him.

"I am," that man replies.

"Oh that's pleasant," the congressman tells him and begins to leave the room.

The man mocks him: "Oh, heaven forbid you have to answer your constituents."

Rep. Hare turns and tells the man: "I answered it and you told me I was a liar."

"Because you are," the man says.

Rep.Hare turns back towards the door and leaves, not answering the man ashe asks repeatedly how long it took Mr. Hare to read the bill threetimes.

As Rep. Hare gets into his vehicle, another personasks, "Hey where in the Constitution does it say I have to purchasehealth insurance or gives you the authority to make me?"

The vehicle begins to pull away and that person says "Better start looking for a job."

Hare spokesman Tim Schlittner said in an emailed statement that theevent was meant to be be a meeting between the representative andseniors to talk about "important provisions in the health care bill."



Mr. Schlittner said Hare's comments concerning the Constitution were taken out of context.

"His full statement said 'I’m not worried about the Constitution onthis,'" the release states. “'On this'” meant that he is not worriedabout this health care law being ruled unconstitutional."

The release states that Rep. Hare thinks the bill is constitutional and he would not have voted for it if he did not.

He is more worried about "providing affordable insurance for families, small businesses, and seniors," the release states.


But Rep. Hare's office alleges that Bobby Schilling--the congressman'sRepublican opponent--sent his supporters to derail the event.

"(Rep. Hare) said several times during the meeting yesterday that hesupports the Constitution, but that conveniently didn’t make the tape,"the release from the congressman's office states.

In the statement, the congressman's office also contends there were other things not shown on the tape.

"Congressman Hare was called a Nazi," the release states. "He wascalled a liar. He was handed a piece of paper that said 'The WhiteHouse is No Longer White.' So much for a civil debate."

The release touted Rep. Hare's six years in the Army Reserves.

"He needs no lectures on fighting for the Constitution," it states. "Hewill continue to work to make health care more affordable andaccessible, while also upholding his Constitutional oath.”

Terry Schilling, Mr. Schilling's son and campaign manager, said theaccusation that his father sent supporters to disrupt the meeting was"a ridiculous and absurd insinuation."

"We are focused on building our own campaign, not tearing anyone else's down," Terry Schilling said.

He said that the men asking questions of Mr. Hare during the argument were not part of the Schilling campaign.



Mr. Schilling in a morning press release said the statement was "despicable and foolish."

"This statement is outrageous and ridiculous," Mr. Schilling is quotedas saying in the release. "What is really sad is that this mindset istypical of many representatives in Congress. This explains why Congressis out of control. The Constitution is a protection set up for thepeople against a tyrant government. It has kept the United Statesstable for almost 250 years. When we go to Congress we will reign inthis tyrant government and get it back to following and believing inthe Constitution."


The video is being posted and re-postedvia Facebook. Here's what a few of reporter Brandy Donaldson's Facebook "friends" of Republican leanings had to say in response (andsome their "friends" and "friends" of "friends," etc).

Austin Q.: "This goes down as one of the funniest April geniuses jokes I've seen in some time."

Betsey M.: "I don't care who you are or what your personal ideologiesare, to view a seated U.S. Congressman stating that he doesn't carewhat the Constitution says is appalling. This guy has to go...period."

Mark A.: "Nothing more needs to be said, just watch the video. ... An informed citizenry, Phil Hare's nemesis"

Mike M.: "We need your help making this video viral. Please digg andpass along to your friends. ... Phil Hare speaks his mind, says hedoesn't worry about the Constitution."

Paula D.: "Mycongressman doesn't care about the Constitution...disturbing. He hasread the bill three times but can't explain it other than to give sobstories. Then don't know the difference between the Declaration ofIndependence and the Constitution. November can not come soon enoughfor the 17th District and the country."

Rich M.: "Is looking forward to Bobby’s swearing in. November is so close, yet so far away."

Anthony H.: "What a joke! I watched that a couple times to try to letmy brain pick up on all of the dumb things that were said."

Korry T.: "Not a surprise!"
[b] [/b]

The Quincy City Desk Blog was one of the Websites posting the video. It headlined the posting, "Dear Phil: Welcome to hell."

[KnightofChrist]

The "HealthCare" bill passed because a majority of elected Democrats don't care about the Constitution. Chiefly Obama himself, and Pelosi.

[Saint Therese]

We'll see what happens come this November. It should be interesting.

[ThePenciledOne]

I like how this isn't a surprise to me at all.

[Apotheoun]

When political representatives ignore the constitution the end result is a dictatorship.

[Saint Therese]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='02 April 2010 - 05:35 PM' timestamp='1270244110' post='2085689']
When political representatives ignore the constitution the end result is a dictatorship.
[/quote]

The thing is they wouldn't have been to do this without the apathy of the people. If people had been awake and voted responsibly, etc.

[ThePenciledOne]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='02 April 2010 - 06:43 PM' timestamp='1270244614' post='2085697']
The thing is they wouldn't have been to do this without the apathy of the people. If people had been awake and voted responsibly, etc.
[/quote]

No, this would have happened anyway.


Sure we can have a 'different' party in play, but politicians are all the same...

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='02 April 2010 - 03:43 PM' timestamp='1270244614' post='2085697']
The thing is they wouldn't have been to do this without the apathy of the people. If people had been awake and voted responsibly, etc.
[/quote]
The country has changed during my life time, and I can honestly say this is not the nation I grew up in as a boy.

[Saint Therese]

I never said anything about political parties.

[Saint Therese]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='02 April 2010 - 05:46 PM' timestamp='1270244764' post='2085699']
The country has changed during my life time, and I can honestly say this is not the nation I grew up in as a boy.
[/quote]

Same here.

Except that I grew up as a girl.

[ThePenciledOne]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='02 April 2010 - 06:46 PM' timestamp='1270244768' post='2085700']
I never said anything about political parties.
[/quote]

It's implied, since the Democrats are the house majority and our lovely president is a democrat himself.

But then may be you didn't imply democratic senators, but I took it as such, though still politicians are all the same.

[Saint Therese]

[quote name='ThePenciledOne' date='02 April 2010 - 05:50 PM' timestamp='1270245050' post='2085706']
It's implied, since the Democrats are the house majority and our lovely president is a democrat himself.

But then may be you didn't imply democratic senators, but I took it as such, though still politicians are all the same.
[/quote]

It is not implied.

[ThePenciledOne]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='02 April 2010 - 06:53 PM' timestamp='1270245202' post='2085708']
It is not implied.
[/quote]

ok.

[Saint Therese]

I think that both parties are equally corrupt, as I've said before.

[ThePenciledOne]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='02 April 2010 - 06:56 PM' timestamp='1270245383' post='2085712']
I think that both parties are equally corrupt, as I've said before.
[/quote]

I can second that as well.