Sen. Sessions: "Health care is not a right guaranteed by the Constitution"

[sabra]

http://www2.dothaneagle.com/dea/news/local/article/passion_but_no_confrontation_at_sessions_town_hall/90169/

<snip>

One lady held a handmade sign that said “Impeach Obama.“ Another sign on a truck outside the center said “Read the Bill, $15 trillion Over 10 Years.“

...

One resident said he believed the federal government did not have the power to pursue health care legislation and said he would like health care “left alone.“

“Health care is not a right guaranteed by the Constitution,“ Sessions said. “It’s just not.“

[ThomCat]

1. If healthcare is not guaranteed in the constitution, then he should have

no problem giving up his own guaranteed healthcare, and his pension too. The constitution doesn't guarantee pensions for assholes just because they briefly served as barriers to the will of the people in the senate.

[fascisthunter]

2. not yet it isn't, but it will Be Sucka!

The Constitution of the United States
Preamble

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

...it's right there you uppercrust anti lower class punk!

[HowHasItComeToThis]

6. BINGO

[flaminbats]

30. amen! health care doesn't have to be a right to be universal..

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlei.html#section8

Universal health care isn't a right protected by the constitution, but this doesn't make universal health care or the regulation of private health care unconstitutional. This battle isn't going away with better laws or universal Medicare, we need to amend the constitution to make health care a right! Republicans like Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt knew this document wasn't flawless, what happened to the Republican Party? :banghead:

voting for or against a US Senator, like dumbshitSessions, wasn't a right until the 17th amendment. 1913

women didn't have the right to vote until the 19th amendment was ratified. 1920

the right to sell or buy human beings like property wasn't abolished until the 13th amendment. 1865

citizenship for people born in the US wasn't a right until the 14th amendment was ratified. 1868

black citizens didn't have the right to vote until the 15th amendment. 1870

poor citizens didn't have the right to vote until the 24th amendment. 1964

voting for President in DC wasn't a right until the 23th amendment. 1960

[LLStarks]

3. He's right. Health care is not explicity guaranteed. But general welfare is. nt

[ejpoeta]

13. there are a lot of things that are not explicitly guaranteed in the constitution.

how many people want to give up their eight hour days?? vacation time??? disability if they get hurt??? unemployment if they lose their job??? the constitution is such that it changes with time... to allow blacks to be citizens instead of 3/4ths of a person... for women to vote.... that is the beauty of the document. if we really wanted to go all original.... then we've all got a lot of worrying to do. especially women and blacks.

[ashling]

24. Not actually, it is in the preamble -words of art

that recite an overall purpose, but no garauntee. However, the tenth amendment reserves to the people what powers have not been given to the national govt. and the ninth amend. says that just because its not mentioned doesn't mean there (the elastic clause.)

[HowHasItComeToThis]

4. REPUBS ARE SUCH SAD MISERABLE PEOPLE

TRAPPED IN A HATE FILED LOGIC CIRCLE.... AND SOOO AFRAID

[peace frog]

5. I'll tell YOU what's "not a right guaranteed by the Constitution"

Jeffy Boy: your exalted, priveleged position as a US Senator.
There's always someone new out to dethrone the old and we're looking right now for someone to run against you and win.
With the greatest of pleasure.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. Neither is driving car or having a fire department or jumping rope

[joecool65]

8. Sessions cell phone number

A friend of mine (female) was on a flight from DC to Atlanta this summer. Just by chance, she was seated beside Sessions on the flight. They began to talk about US foreign policy, mainly because she has a master's in Russian and has worked overseas for the US government. At the end of the flight, Sessions gave her his "business" card. On the back of the card he had written his cell phone number.

Infer what you what from this little anecdote about the Alabama senator.

[flor de jasmim]

9. neither are insurance lobbyists

[laughingliberal]

10. The Ninth Amendment to the Constitution

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Essentially this means that the people's rights are not limited to those explicitly named in the document.

[eShirl]

26. +1

[bluestateguy]

11. No, it isn't. He's right.

And what is his point, anyway?

The fact that something was not ordained a "right" by men who held a secret meeting over 200 years ago does not have anything to do with what is in the best interest of the American people.

[jpljr77]

12. Technically, he's right. But the idea was encouraged by this guy named Jesus.

How that party has fooled so many people with Jesus-y rhetoric (often incorrect) while catering only to the interest of the very wealthy few and almost completely ignoring the words of the man they claim to love will be studied in political history books 30 years from now.

[jpljr77]

21. For any motivated people in Alabama...

Here's the email form for Sessions: http://sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ConstituentServices.ContactMe">http://sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ConstituentServices.ContactMe

The address fields are required, and I know the Senate system can track where email comes from, so I'm not sure my message will be read.

Basically, I offered this passage of scripture:

Mark 1:40-41 <40> A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." <41> Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. "I am willing," He said. "Be clean!"

And I asked why Sessions wasn't willing, like Jesus, to help the sick. Does the Senator lack compassion?

[phantom power]

14. It isn't forbidden by the Constitution either, you fucking GOP tool.

[laughingliberal]

16. Exactly! and that is the point of the 9th amendment

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.


The rights of the people are not limited to those spelled out by the Constitution

[graywarrior]

15. It's a MORAL right.

Of course, republicans don't have morals. Elderly ladies getting social security and Medicaid who are against Obama and health reform also do not have morals.

[librechik]

17. Bring it on, Imperial Wizard Sessions. Where is your evidence?

Gut feelings don't cut it where the Constitution is involved.

[kentuck]

18. "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"? (delete)

delete

[guitar man]

19. actually it's not

I believe that is from the Declaration Of Independence :shrug:

[kentuck]

20. Thanks for the clarification.

I will correct or delete.

[guitar man]

23. but still

Without a doubt the Constitution draws it's strength from the Declaration. The founders original intent brought to fruition. Indeed a "right to life" should include a right to access to care and medicine that would keep one alive. That a corporation or individuals would be able to withold life saving necessities simply because someone does not have the ability to pay for them is barbaric.Simply barbaric :(

[DefenseLawyer]

22. We the People of the United States,

in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I'd say providing healthcare promotes the general welfare quite nicely.

[Joanne98]

25. Maybe we should put it in the constitution.

[guitar man]

27. maybe not

But public healthcare is certainly permitted by the Constitution:


Article 1 section 8:

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States....

It's awful damn peculiar to me that these so called "conservatives" can whip open the public checkbook at the drop of a hat anytime they want to go overseas and slaughter people, but when it comes to taking care of our own, well by god that's a dirty evil communist plot. When oh when will we ever be rid of these people?

[damntexdem]

28. The Ninth Amendment:

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

[mentalsolstice]

29. And being a U.S. Senator is also not a right guaranteed by the Constitution! nt

[PM Martin]

31. Sing it Dixeboy!

O, I wish I was in the land of cotton
Old times there are not forgotten
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.

In Dixie Land where I was born in
Early on one frosty mornin'
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.

Chorus:
O, I wish I was in Dixie!
Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I'll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie
Away, away,
Away down south in Dixie!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Sessions