13 Responses to Jon Stewart Rips Apart Betsy “They-Want-to-Kill-Grandma” McCaughey – Unedited Interview

1. Leen August 21st, 2009 at 9:11 am «

   This is the best. Jon demolishes her flimsy and faulty arguments.
   Jon “it does not use the word mandatory”
• pjack August 21st, 2009 at 9:34 am «

  Maybe you should read between the lines
  Soc. Sec. will be broke much sooner than expected because
  of the loss of revenues and congress taking all the money
  out of the system.
  Medicare cost becoming unsustainable as baby boomers retire.
  Tremendous federal deficits.
  The money is just not going to be there to take care of an aging
  population.
  How would you write a health care bill?
• Leen August 21st, 2009 at 3:16 pm «

  Alan Greenspan and Former Secretary of the Treasury had plans back in 2001 when there was a surplus to take part of that surplus and flip it over into upcoming shortfalls for the boomers.

  You may be aware that the Bush administration used most of that surplus feeding the fat cats their tax cuts and then starting and immoral, unnecessary and deadly was in Iraq.
2. AmlissVess August 21st, 2009 at 10:20 am «

   I cannot stand that woman!
3. cobernicus August 21st, 2009 at 10:40 am «

   I believe that the plan will cover mastectomies too. New rallying cry:
   Obama wants to cut the breasts off all American women!
4. cobernicus August 21st, 2009 at 10:54 am «

   “Death panels” work!

   The Swiss experience.

   Let us see whether the Swiss ‘death panels’ have killed off the elderly since 1996.

   The average life-expectancy of men at age 65, for years 1993 to 1995, was 16.0 years in Switzerland and 15.4 in the US, for a difference of 0.6 years. For the years 2004 to 2006 it was 18.2 in Switzerland and 17.2 in the US for a difference of 1.0 year.

   The average life-expectancy of women at age 65, for the years 1993 to 1995, was 20.3 years in Switzerland and 19.0 in the US, for a difference of 1.3 years. For the years 2004 to 2006 it was 21.8 in Switzerland and 20.1 in the US for a difference of 1.7 years.

   The life expectancy of the elderly in Switzerland is higher, and has been growing consistently faster, than in the US.
5. sTiVo August 21st, 2009 at 11:15 am «

   I disagree strongly that Stewart demolished McCaughey.

   McCaughey emerged standing as tall as Stewart. To be sure, her argument reeks of an almost monumental level of cynicism, but Stewart didn’t lay a glove on it. Only a member of the progressive choir would think he did. Nobody who agrees with McCaughey’s critique was likely convinced, and all Jon Stewart accomplished was giving her critique more legitimacy in the eyes of those predisposed to believe it.

   Stewart is arguing on what the law says. McCaughey is arguing about what is likely to come down the road. This is the price the Obama administration has to pay for not embracing an economic populist critique of Wall St. With that kind of politics off the table, with no “enemies” identified (Wall St., Private Insurers, etc.), everyman for himself becomes a sane strategy.

   The cynicism in McCaughey’s argument is due to the fact that were the Republicans in control, far more draconian cuts to Medicare would be on the agenda now and will be if they regain control. That argument Stewart didn’t make.

   But Obama hasn’t made a dent in the “Wall St. controls everything” meme which is now coming back to bite him.
• cobernicus August 21st, 2009 at 11:50 am «

  I agree with you that the fight was less than a KO. (Not that KO)

  His best argument was that the Republicans voted against Social Security, which they said was “socialism!,” and they voted against Medicare – “more socialism!.” So, asked John, why should we believe them when they cry “socialism,” again? He also subtly showed up the irony of McCaughey’s sudden concern for the health of the elderly, since she has opposed every effort to improve it.
6. twolf1 August 21st, 2009 at 3:07 pm «

   Betsy McCaughey Resigns From Medical Device Maker Board
• fatster August 21st, 2009 at 3:34 pm «

  Came over here to link to that. Isn’t it just too delicious?
7. Helen August 21st, 2009 at 6:53 pm «

   Sean Hannity just introduced Betsy as DR. Betsy McCaughey.
• cobernicus August 22nd, 2009 at 2:08 am «

  Yes, she has a Ph.D. in US Constitutional History from Columbia, which she brought up herself early in the interview, whe she claimed to be able to read legislation better than Jon. He only reads what it says; she knows what evil lurks in the hearts of Congress.

  In most circles, Ph.D.’s don’t refer to themselves as “Doctor.” (At Yale, Professors who aren’t MDs are referred to a “Mr.” or “Ms.”) I only do so when making dinner reservations at snooty restaurants.
8. shag11 August 22nd, 2009 at 2:30 pm «

   They why they fired her dumb ass.