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Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) published an op-ed in the Washington Post yesterday, in which he argued that Congressional Democrats will short-circuit democracy if they attempt to pass health reform through the budget reconciliation process. Hatch wrote:
The use of reconciliation to jam through this legislation, against the will of the American people, would be unprecedented in scope. And the havoc wrought would threaten our system of checks and balances, corrode the legislative process, degrade our system of government and damage the prospects of bipartisanship.
When Rachel Maddow factchecked Hatch's piece, she found he voted for a reconciliation bill in 1989, 1995, 1996, twice in 1997, 1999, in 2000, in 2001, and 2003, twice in 2005 and in 2007. What's more, Hatch claimed that reconciliation has been used "only when the bills in question stuck close to dealing with the budget. In instances in which other substantive legislation was included, the legislation had significant bipartisan support."
That also turns out not to be true.
In one example, Republicans passed President George W. Bush's tax cuts in 2003 with only 51 votes -- the final one being Vice President Dick Cheney's, since he was called in to break the tie. Those tax cuts have cost the nation trillions of dollars, at a time when federal deficits have continued to grow.
As an antidote to Hatch's op-ed, Maddowed offers what amounts to eight minutes of Get Smarter. A taste:
For the Washington Post to print something like this is bizarre. For these established, supposedly mainstream senators to try to get away with this, is an insult to everyone they're addressing and to the media in particular. And for us all to just let this slide and call it politics is to surrender to cynicism profoundly.
Listen, health reform's gonna pass. Chuck Grassley, Lamar Alexander, John McCain, Orrin Hatch, you can't stop it. You can't stop health reform. You tried, but you can't. But you can stop embarrassing yourselves with the blatant hypocrisy and the lying. Come on. Get serious. The country needs real debate. The country needs real opposition. The country needs you guys to grow up here.
UPDATE: @OrrinHatch responds: Rachel Maddow (@maddow) ran me down on her show last night over my views on health care reform. Wonderful badge of honor. #utpol #utgop
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Rachel is my hero. No one speaks truth to power better than our Rachel!
I saw Hatch's response on Twitter this morning. He has no honor...
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Rachel, for really "tellin' it like it really is"! I call Grassley, Hatch, Alexander and McCain the four horsemen of hypocracy.
As for the Washington Post, I canceled my subscription six months ago and switched to the New York Times after having read the Post for the past 40 years. The late Katharine Graham and her editorial page editor, the late Meg Greenfield, must be grimmacing in their graves over what the Washington Post has come to be--and you're being far too charitable when you call that paper "bizzarre" for having published Orin Hatch's blatant collection of lies.
May I suggest that you spend a little time critiquing the Washington Post from time to time. Katharine Graham's Washington Post, as we knew it and read it, is no longer. Its editorial policy has evolved into an ongoing and worsening tragedy, a perpetual train wreck!
Again, many, many thaniks for the outstanding job you're doing in "tellin' it like it really is"!
Best regards,
Jim Michie
what a breath of fresh air rachel is a fact finder and truth sayer. after listening to hannity , rachel you are my hero too!~!!!
rachel..thank you for putting the GOP on full blast...but my question and concern is why aren't other News Media picking this up and talking about it....here is the elephant in the room...no other President has had to go through this nonsense...why are they doing this to Obama?
Hello Rachel
I live in Taiwan, and have been for the last four years. My wife is Taiwanese, and we have been married for 40 years. I have four children, and six grand kids residing in the good old US of A, and I worry if they will be ok, because of what I read and see in the news. I watch your show on my computer everyday, and I find that you is the only one telling like it really is. Keep up the good work. because me and my wife love your show.
Hi, Rachel..thank you. thank you.. i watch you all the time..i still can't figure out why the Tea Party people,Limbaugh,Beck,Hannity and o'Reilly are not talking about the lies and obstruction from the GOP..whenever Obama and his administration says something..they always FACTCHECK..Gop is trying to Hold up our democracy...If these were Democrats doing this...all of the Fox News Team would be outraged and call them unPatriotic everyday all day long..Hyprocritsy at it's best uh?
Hurray Rachel!! Good to see someone's cutting through the BS.
Not everyone can see it apparently; I just saw Chuck Todd pushing the old line that there are "Philosophical differences between the parties". As a Republican for nearly thirty years I can say that it is obvious that there is really no actual philosophy involved. Certain people are using 'Gamesmanship' to make President Obama ineffective. In doing this they are betting that the good of the country can wait until they can win more elections. This is not leadership, it is morally bankrupt political malpractice. It embarasses the Republican party and the Congress.
Hopefully, with your help, Mr. Obama can pass the bill, paint our Republican "Leadership" with the "Do nothing" label Harry Truman used in 1948, and clear the deck so some real Republicans can be elected to help lead the country in the future.
Rachel
Thanks for the honesty. It really bothers me when they spew "against the will of the american people". I'm an american people, and I don't understand why health reform has taken so long. I love your honesty and bravery. Keep doing what you do.
Thanks Rachel!!! For your professional journalism and true and courageous commentary.
YAY RACHEL!! Give 'em hell, girl! Would LOVE to see you show up here and there at the capitol and ambush some of these crooks . . er, clowns. Get in their face! Turn up the heat - - WAY up..................
Calling out the Washington Post was a smart move. There's little chance that Senator Hatch will address the substantive points of Rachel's argument (as he showed with his tweet earlier today), but the Post might be shamed into at least printing a counter-argument.
I have to say that the "badge of honor" thing from Hatch sums it up pretty well. He misleads people about what Maddow actually said and goes for the cheap "EVIL LIBRUL" shot. He's interested in personal attacks and symbolism, not the facts.
Keep hitting him. It's already starting to stick.
When Hatch lies, people die.
Sadlly Hatch is the senator from my state but happily I have never voted for him. Over time Hatch, like other career politicians, start to believe their own press releases and if you tell everyone long enough that the American people do not want health care reform you actual start to think that statement is fact.
I cannot believe any working man or woman in this country is happy that insurance companies are making large sums of money. I cannot people are happy to have their insurance premiums increase every year.
There is a ground swell in Utah to dump Hatch in 2012 - I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Thanks Rachel
This segment actually caused me to stand up and applaud! Thank you for calling out the Post and these GOP talking heads for their blatant disregard of the facts on record, and their corresponding disregard for the American people. Your show (and Countdown as well) continues to be a beacon of reason and sanity in the ever expanding imbroglio of network news and commentary!
Rachel, You should feel lucky, I live in Utah and deal with this sort of nonsense on a day-to-day basis. Your show gives me a sense of what is going on outside the bubble--Keep up the good work!
What can I say!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
You called it! You said it! with no apologies to no one and these guys do not have the HONORABLE means with which to deny the points that you so well articulated.
Congratulations and my best to your continued efforts...a fan!
sal
Rachel, the facts about when reconciliation has been used are correct, but you leave out one crucial point. Reconciliation HAS NEVER been used on ANY vote in the HISTORY of the Senate to takeover 1/5 - 1/7 (one-fifth to one-seventh for you Maddow drones) of the United States economy. This has never been done at any point in our history. Your reporting is sufficiently slanted for your viewers, Rachel...but your dishonesty-in-reporting can't slip past the truly informed. This will be the BIGGEST bill of any kind to EVER go through the reconciliation process. Can't you just let yourself imagine how YOU are going to feel when the Republicans do this to YOU. What goes around comes around. No bitching when that time comes, ok?
If the Dems want this HC bill passed why didn't they do it last year? NOTHING was stopping them. Not ONE Republican had to vote FOR it and it would have passed. What's wrong with the Dems? Why didn't they pass it? What held them up? It wasn't the Republicans. Now they're attempting to blame it on the Republicans but, once again, the informed know better. I'm certain this truth that I have stated will confuse you and your viewers, Rachel. Now, rev-up that "spin-machine" to full blast and have a go at it.
The Republicans have done this for years. I 'm so sick of the garbage they continue to shove down our throats Democracy has to be heard by all of the people not just christian right. As a Democrat I want health care reform to pass. It will work out in the end and this country will be better for it. The war in Iraq has caused most of the deficit problems and that was the Republicans who got us into that disaster. So don't tell me you know whats right for the country. You screwed it up good during Bush's term. '
Oh, poor helene nicholson: "I 'm so sick of the garbage they continue to shove down our throats..." - Just you wait until the end of this year when your majority is NO more and in 2012 when BO has scabs on his rear from being thrown out of the White House so hard...just you wait...and, please remember then the condescending attitude that you have now...PLEASE.
As far as this portion of your UNINFORMED comment: "...Democracy has to be heard by all of the people..." --- The United States is NOT a Democracy!!! LEARN THAT! It's pretty important. Every "democracy" that has ever been attempted throughout the world has failed! The United States of America is a REPUBLIC. I don't doubt that you have trouble understanding this fact as the state-run "news" channel that you watch wouldn't know the truth if it came up and bit them in the a$s. Remember the Pledge of Allegiance? "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." It's a really easy way to remember just WHAT this nation is. A republic. NOT a democracy. Period.
If you are a Democrat you'd better get a grip on just exactly WHAT it is that this current administration is doing to your party. Your Dem party is about to be WILLINGLY and EAGERLY sacrificed by Obama...and he doesn't give a DAMN about YOU Dems. He's there to further HIS agenda (which is basically George Bush's agenda on STEROIDS...spend and spend and spend some more....fools) and cement his legacy (which will be: "the most dangerous president to ever have served the Republic") with health care reform. I wish you could see that. I'm not wrong. A 50-year Dem seat in Massachusetts (of all places) and a long-term (I'm not certain how many years) Governorship in New Jersey (of all places) went to Republicans. You WATCH New Jersey and see how Chris Christie turns that loser state around.....that is, IF he doesn't decide to run against Obama, because as it stands now ANY UN-named Republican would defeat Obama TOMORROW...and it very well could be Chris Christie...or any host of "other" Republicans. Your boy wonder is finished...and is only 409 days into his presidency...God help us all. Fact is, his approval rating was at 46% at my last check. When a president's approval rating drops below 42% it has always, in the history of "approval ratings", taken a WAR to bring them back into favorability. So, I guess if "your" president ever grows a set and declares war on Iran...you may be able to ogle him for another 4 years.....you'll NEVER know how HARD that was for me to type... LOL
I'm not a religious person whatsoever...but I'm going to say this: "Lord forgive them, for they know not what they do." Americans will hang on to our REPUBLIC while you social dems (aka: "progressives") continue to try to bring her down. We'll win because we have "right" on our side. You will never defeat that, no matter WHAT you do. Remember that. And remember it for the rest of your life, please.
As for your comment: "As a Democrat I want health care reform to pass. It will work out in the end and this country will be better for it." --- How is it possible for such a large segment of the country to be so stupid? I mean, really...HOW does that happen? I know that the progressives have been dumbing down our education system for as long as they've been around (Teddy Roosevelt - Google: "Bull Moose Party" & you'll find this: "To destroy this invisible Government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day." - 1912 Progressive Party Platform, attributed to Theodore Roosevelt...") but, really, HOW is it possible? I'm 37, in high school a failing grade was 69/ pass was 70...in my 18 y/o nephew's PUBLIC school 64 is failing/ 65 is passing - YOUR side is DUMBING-DOWN our population. WTF? WHY don't YOU ask WHY? An uninformed electorate is a deceivable electorate...as was proven in this past election. "Hope" & "Change", my ass. "Young voters" came out in droves to vote for this socialist pig. Why? Because it was the "cool" thing to do. It was a "popularity contest". A bunch of "dummies" voting for a LIAR. Those little uninformed/ignorant pukes had no clue what they were doing to their OWN future. NONE. And it's going to be up to working Americans to work our way out of this mess the little beggars voted in. Socialism will NEVER be the norm in America...not while I'm alive. I WANT a successful future. Why DON'T you?
And then this: "The war in Iraq has caused most of the deficit problems and that was the Republicans who got us into that disaster." --- Uh, go check the voting record on the Iraq war...even "Teddy Kennedy" voted FOR it! (Of course, the whimpy BO didn't...but that's no surprise...he STILL has yet to "grow a set"...and never will.) And, when you're finished checking on that voting record (I know I'm wasting my breath but I'm having fun...I'm almost done here...) how about you do a little research on this: Google Search --> "more money than all previous administrations combined" If you do that, you are going to find some "bad" articles about Bush...read them...and take special note of what the Democrats had to say at the time. Then look at the articles that are "bad" about Obama (if you can take it)...and take special note of how what he is doing is WORSE than BUSH. If we had an honorable, rather than a treasonous media, you would most likely be aware of these facts. I am...wonder what I'm doing different? hmmmm? Oh, that's right...*I'm* not the one that NEEDS to ponder that question.
And, last but not least, there's this little gem: "You screwed it up good during Bush's term." OMFG Do you forget that during the past 2 years of Bush's TWO TERMS (not "term", as you put it) that the Dems had control of Congress? Are you even vaguely familiar with what that means? I get the impression that you might be one of those "little uninformed/ignorant pukes" I referred to earlier. If so...I can do nothing but wish you good luck in your life. You're going to need it.
I know that you could actually DO the "work" that I laid out here for you....but I have a sneaking suspicion that you won't (that's what keeps you a Dem - isn't it funny that I know that and you don't?)
I hope you reply back to me and tell me you have a "college education" because all I have is a high school education from a small-town (390 ppl), public school in Nebraska...and I just ran circles around you, babe.
Well no, Shelly, actually you haven't, despite your extended post, but here's a second chance:
The shift of 1/5 to 1/7 of the economy with passing of the health care bill is something that's quoted a lot, but there doesn't seem to be any explanations for that figure and what it means. Perhaps you'd break it down? I assume that figure refers to the GDP, and since the GDP is down 2.4% from 2008 due to the severe recession, I guess the actual number would be using the 2009 figures?
And what exactly does 'shifting' refer to? I know health care costs are approximately 17% of the GDP...far more than any other nation...but exactly how does that relate to the 1/5-1/7th of the economy figure? And where will it be shifted to?
The CGO says the senate health care bill will cost $871 billion over the next 10 years, and that based upon current health care costs that will represent $127 billion reduction in the deficit over that same 10 year period.
By contrast, Bush's tax cuts, passed through reconciliation by the way, have cost us a total of $2.48 trillion from 2001 through 2010.0 This figure includes $379 billion in interest payments since the tax cuts were funded by deficit spending. On the surface, that sure looks like far more than the health care bill, so I'd appreciate you explaining why it isn't, if you would be so kind?
Thanks in advance.
Can these immanently dangerous, political miscreants, be forced to publically retract statements that are so purposefully decietful? A "fairness doctorine" should be established so that these politicians, that are allowed the privilege of using the media to disseminate their opinion/editorials, should have to defend them on shows like yours.
Shelly
I agree with this statement and you know the democrats will bitch to high hell, fox will be leading the pack, and the most important thing will be if the majority of the people agree or disagree which will be shown in the polls. Anyway I believe that is what has been holding up the HC for the past year (sorry liebermann and the blue dog republicans don't count)
You're an idiot...................everybody knows what will happen if and when the "Reps for the Rich" take over the congress.
Hatch has to clear everything he does with the Mormon Church. They are his slave masters. Of course, everyone knows what a progressive bunch they are. I think their views on gays are from somewhere in the eleventh century. Funny that people such as this would run down an idea like Gay Marriage, and turn around on the other hand and believe that if they live some kind of exemplary life they will be a God over another planet. (They believe that Joseph Smith is the equal of Jesus Christ) A polytheistic religion for sure. God forbid we get Mitt Romney into the Presidential office, the Mormon Church will run this country.
Hatch is a hack.
Nothing new here. Politicians (especially Republicans but some Democrats as well) have been lying for decades about a great number of things. It's just that they've gotten away with it for so long that with every generation that passes they feel like they are more and more insulated from being exposed for their lies so they become bolder and less ashamed about telling blatant lies. The problem has always been with the media reporting on the lying. In an effort to SEEM "fair and balanced", most of the news media outlets have seemingly made a concerted effort to NOT do any research and REAL fact-checking on what these po-LIE-ticians say. The truth is the truth and should not be sacrificed so that news media organizations can give Americans the illusion that they are being "fair and balanced". A lier is a lier. Too many times, I watch the local news networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and yes NBC as well, play to and promote the controversy at the expense of the facts and the truth. The CBS evening news with Katie Couric does the same thing. It's to the point where I can't even watch and listen to what she and her correspondents say without thinking to myself, "Do they really pay these people for this?" They act as if they have some kind of a grudge against the President and are in bed with Republicans or something. And don't get me started on the newspapers. I guess they are doing so poorly in profits that they are all following the model of the National Inquirer. The ONLY place where I've been able to find truth and facts is on MSNBC from 8-10PM on weeknights. I learn more truth watching your shows than I do in a whole week watching the local networks or the CBS Evening News. Media in this country has become a HUGE problem and is the main reason why some Americans are blind to the facts. And the problem has been getting steadily worse with each passing decade. It really is a shame.
Rachel, I have a great deal of respect for what you do. But, I do have one suggestion, stop highlighting the symptoms, and go for the heart of the problem. Money. Any time you mix money into an equation that is supposed to require a principled response, you get corruption. No exceptions. Even Obama is guilty of backing down from fights here and there because of campaign contribution promises. The only solution to corruption in Washington is ban campaign contributions all together. In it's place, fixed rate allotments for each candidate to make their case to the American people. Once elected, their only shot of staying in office is to stick to their word. Also, I think the term limitation on Presidents should be lifted as well. If the American people vote someone in, let them stay until they are voted out. We had to put up with Bush for 8 years, but you know full well he wouldn't have gotten reelected this last time around. Term limits are purposed around a moving fight. It's much more difficult to stay defensive than offensive. So, if there are term limits, it's easier to keep your party in power even when they screw up. ...There are a million things that need to change in Washington, but this would be the place to start.
I am going to start calling you Rachel "Hurricane" Maddow because you are destroying these Republicans (and Democrats) lies and misstatements like Mother Nature destroys whatever in her way when she's on a rampage. Love it. Keep up the good work. Oh yeah, see if you can more bookings on Meet the Press. You liven up the show. Nothing like having a steaming cup of truth on a Sunday morning.