GOP Senate Candidate Tommy Thompson: ‘Who Better Than Me… To Do Away With Medicaid and Medicare?’

[TroyD]

Sep 23, 2012 at 6:34 pm

Republicans and their defenders have claimed that the GOP’s massive proposed cuts to the nation’s health care safety net will not eliminate Medicare or Medicaid. The Romney campaign even released talking points claiming GOP proposals would “strengthen Medicare” shortly after they announced that Paul Ryan, the author of a 2011 plan to phase out Medicare, would be the vice presidential candidate. Yet, in a speech last May to a conservative group, former Bush Secretary of Health and Human Services and U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson (R-WI) appeared to admit that the GOP’s proposals have a far more nefarious purpose:

Who better than me, who’s already finished one of the entitlement programs, to come up with programs to do away with Medicaid and Medicare? Let’s block-grant what the state has, and allow the states to determine what’s going to go into Medicaid. And Medicare, let’s wait until everyone that right now is under 55 reaches 55 by age [sic] 2020, and give them a choice whether they want to purchase health insurance with a subsidy from the federal government, or stay on Medicare.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/09/23/894891/gop-senate-candidate-tommy-thompson-who-better-than-me-to-do-away-with-medicaid-and-medicare/

[LeftofObama]

1. I'll be 55 in 2016 Mr. Thompson, and

I choose Medicare!

[TroyD]

2. I'm assuming Tammy Baldwin's campaign must have this clip by now

It just hit the Internet this weekend, but I assume they must know about it by now too.

This gives Tammy Baldwin another issue she can use during the next month.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. I think it is a nail in Thompson's coffin and also majority of republicans. I think people now

see clearly what is going on. I hope all the negative ads coming will not change people to vote dems. I think everyone is set in their vote. Come 17 Oct early voting I will be voting Obama/Biden and dem all the way down.

[Scuba]

4. This drunken, secretary-chasing, cash-pocketing criminal needs to be put out to pasture. Here's how:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251104781

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

5. A reminder on the drunk thing....

[charmay]

6. I forgot how drunk he actually sounded.

Thanks for reminding me. Reminds me of Otis, the drunk on the Andy Griffith show.

[TroglodyteScholar]

8. Jesus, he couldn't even say the name of his own state correctly.

He kept calling it "Wiscons."

I was tempted to have some sympathy because it's obviously very cold outside in this video...but the kind of slurring he was doing can't be attributed to just a case of the shivers.

[Indykatie]

7. I Saw Thompson Speak at Health Care Conference 5 or So Years Ago and He Was Pitiful

He was a lousy speaker with a bad toupee and ill fitting suit. I can't imagine that he has improved since that time. I didn't know about his history of drinking until now but that may have explained his failures that day.

[TroyD]

9. He's going to be 71 this fall

I'm not saying that age should necessarily be a barrier to running for office, but when you've been around for years, what's the point of going back into politics in your 70's? Most people don't start a Senate career at that age. It makes you wonder.

[Tx4obama]

10. K&R n/t