Earlier today, the Congressional Budget Office released a preliminary analysis of the health care reform reconciliation package, concluding that it would cost $940 billion over 10 years, reduce the deficit by $138 billion over 10 years and by $1.2 trillion over 20 years. Republicans, however, are either dismissing the numbers or asserting that the report shows that health care reform is not “gonna save the taxpayers’ money.”
On CNN today, RNC Chairman Michael Steele — who has previously said he doesn’t “do policy” — took a page out of Rep. Joe Wilson’s (R-SC) book and directly accused the CBO of lying:
STEELE: Can you just give me an honest number, Rick? How much do you really, legitimately think, adding, using the president’s number, 30 million people to a health care system that you just said doesn’t work is going to cost the American taxpayer? How much you think it’s really gonna? $940 billion dollars over ten years. So, you telling me an additional $940 billion dollars a year is going to make all of our problems go away?
SANCHEZ: According to the calculations that we did and according to the calculations the Democrats are announcing today, it’s going to save in the deficit for the United States citizens $1.2 trillion. Do you believe that’s not true?
STEELE: Ok, can I, I got two words for you — three words, three words.
SANCHEZ: Go, go.
STEELE: That’s a lie.
When Sanchez pointed out that Steele is “arguing with the CBO,” Steele responded by saying, “let me tell you about the CBO.” “Since they’ve been taken down to the woodshed at the White House last year, you can’t believe the numbers,” said Steele. “CBO is only as good as what you put into it.” “You’re saying the president of the United States is corrupted the CBO with a personal phone call or visit?” asked Sanchez. Steele then backtracked a bit, claiming that he was “just saying that, look, this whole process has not worked on behalf of the American people.” Watch it:
This isn’t the first time Steele has accused President Obama of intimidating the CBO into changing its numbers. In December, cited a July 2009 meeting at the White House with CBO head Douglas Elmendorf and other economists — which he said was the Obama taking Elemendorf “to the woodshed” — to dismiss a positive CBO score for health care legislation. “All of a sudden they’re getting these numbers that fall right within the framework of what they’re trying to do,” said Steele. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called Steele’s claim “delusional.”
Additionally, it’s odd that Steele says “you can’t believe the numbers” ever since that July 2009 meeting because Steele and the RNC have cited CBO numbers since then to support their arguments. In fact, as recently as March 5, the RNC invoked the CBO to criticize Obama’s proposed bank fee.
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Hey, Steele? YOU LIE!
March 18th, 2010 at 5:41 pmSTEELE: That’s a lie.
There you have it folks! The sum total of the GOP’s rationale for obstructing the health care reform bill.
And, if that’s not enough for you, just ask them. They have lots more lies to lay on you.
Steele and the GOP = miserable excuse for a national political party.
March 18th, 2010 at 5:42 pmSTEELE: That’s a lie.
Then why do they even have a CBO? Typical Rethuglican….no matter what the facts are, if they aren’t what they like, IT’S A LIE!
Seems their favorite occupation is rewriting history.
March 18th, 2010 at 5:44 pmSteele had trouble counting the number of words in a three (technically, four) word sentence and he’s criticizing the much larger, more complicated calculations of the CBO? He’s da man!!
(in fast, low volume voice: the exact type of man is yet to be determined and individual results may vary consult with your physician before attempting to decide what kind of man as this attempt may increase your blood pressure do not attempt to do calculations such as your 2009 taxes while attempting to answer this question)
March 18th, 2010 at 5:47 pmSteele had to stop short of being culpable of slander. Nice.
March 18th, 2010 at 5:48 pmRepiggies lie all the time, so naturally they expect that everyone else does the same.
March 18th, 2010 at 5:48 pmHey wasn’t Steele one of the repubs who convinced us to go to iraq on shoddy eveidence and dishonest intelligence?
March 18th, 2010 at 5:49 pmCould someone remind me what in Steele’s resume qualifies him as a better economist than the CBO ?
March 18th, 2010 at 5:50 pm@3 glogrrl
March 18th, 2010 at 5:50 pmRove and Bush are prime examples of GOP history revisionists..
@ 8
March 18th, 2010 at 5:51 pmThe voices in his head have told him so…
Mr Steele: YOU LIE!!
March 18th, 2010 at 5:52 pmSTEELE: Ok, can I, I got two words for you — three words, three words.
– – Steele must have sat next to Rove in math class.
March 18th, 2010 at 5:53 pm@12
March 18th, 2010 at 5:54 pmROTFL!!
Steele: How much you think it’s really gonna? $940 billion dollars over ten years. So, you telling me an additional $940 billion dollars a year is going to make all of our problems go away?
– - Michael. please find the shutoff valve for the stupid gas you’re inhaling.
March 18th, 2010 at 5:56 pm@5
March 18th, 2010 at 5:56 pmLOL! Classy, aren’t they?
linzloo08 brought to you by I Want My Country Back, Inc.!!
Don’t forget Darth Cheney and his satanic spawn, Liz.
March 18th, 2010 at 5:56 pm@16 glogrrl
March 18th, 2010 at 5:58 pmOh yeah who can forget satan and his spawn?
@14
March 18th, 2010 at 5:58 pmUnfortunately, the shut off valve for the gas is located really far up his butt!
Mike Steele…the gift that keeps on giving.
The Republicans have to defame the CBO now because the reality doesn’t fit their message. Is there no limit to what they’ll lie about in order to further their agenda?
March 18th, 2010 at 5:59 pmLol I’m a liberal all about equality and getting to where you want to be by the character of who you are not you race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or family name
March 18th, 2010 at 5:59 pmBut steel is only there because the repubs needed to look non racist while being as racist as at any point since the 1960 so he is a joke and I can’t even think of any other way a moron like him could get that position and every idiotic thing he says is exactly what it is crazy and stupid no matter who say’s it. Mr. Steele’s skin color only shows just how foolish the republicans are in looking no deeper then the skin racism can come in many forms but this is probably one of the most interesting forms.
@20 Sergio, I find that amusing as well..
March 18th, 2010 at 6:00 pmHmmm, is he channeling Rush? I coulda sworn the fatgasbag said the same thing about the previous CBO report?..
March 18th, 2010 at 6:01 pm@19
March 18th, 2010 at 6:01 pmTheir dishonesty knows no bounds…
Innocent…Short answer.
No.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:02 pm@22
March 18th, 2010 at 6:03 pmYep El Flushballs said the exact same thing about the previous CBO estimate..What a dooshbag!
@24
March 18th, 2010 at 6:04 pmyour right…
The GOP is just a party of treasonist asshats who will do anything to return to power even if it destroys the country!
March 18th, 2010 at 6:05 pmGOP now stands for :
March 18th, 2010 at 6:06 pmGrand
Obstructionist
Party
STEELE: Ok, can I, I got two words for you — three words, three words.
SANCHEZ: Go, go.
STEELE: That’s a lie
I bet right after he said that he thought, “Phew, good thing I didn’t say ‘That is a lie’!”
I can’t believe people actually voted for this clown.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:08 pmSTEELE: Ok, can I, I got two words for you — three words, three words.
SANCHEZ: Go, go.
STEELE: That’s a lie.
–
March 18th, 2010 at 6:09 pmI’ve got two for you Steele: UP YOURS.
@30
March 18th, 2010 at 6:11 pmROTFL!!!
linzloo08 brought to you by I Want My Country Back, Inc.!! says:
March 18th, 2010 at 6:13 pm@30
ROTFL!!!
–
Dude deserves to get told off. He’s not gonna get any shit from anyone on Fox or CNN though.
@32
March 18th, 2010 at 6:19 pmHe’s not gonna get covered by the MSM at all…
Who to believe; the non-partisan CBO or the stupid partisan hack?
March 18th, 2010 at 6:20 pmSteele is such a mental giant…it must be true.
What a moron.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:21 pmI don’t mind Steele saying: “It is a lie”, but what I don’t like is this leader of a big party just throw words carelessly and without any backing or concern.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:23 pmIf Steele thinks ‘it is a lie…’then he needs to tell us why based on facts !,and if facts are not with Steele or not handy ,then he should refer us to a study or analysis of a third party to refute what CBO and Sanchez were saying.Or simply he can say :”I don’t have the facts”.
What kind of study does he have to describe the CBO report as a lie? !
Now he is the liar..because he provided no facts at all.
linzloo08 brought to you by I Want My Country Back, Inc.!! says:
March 18th, 2010 at 6:24 pm@32
He’s not gonna get covered by the MSM at all…
–
Well he will but that’s because the MSM loves people like Steele to raise phony controversy.
They can believe in the myth that cutting taxes increases revenue, but this is impossible?
March 18th, 2010 at 6:25 pmObama says black and the Republicans say white.
Obama says sunny and the Republicans say cloudy.
Obama says white and the Republicans say black.
Obama says cloudy and the Republicans say sunny.
And on, and on and on.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:26 pmCBO guilty of refusing to use Teh Idiot Math in their calculations, as was repeatedly insisted upon by R’s and foxnews commentators.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:29 pmDamn! This bill must be better than I thought. The only reason the wingnuts and rethuglicans would be unhinging like they are is if they see a success that will derail their policy of obstruction, spitball throwing, disruption, and cutting class. They see the kiss of death for their failed party of NO! If the bill was bad, they would want it to pass so they could say we told you so.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:33 pmI had to read that quote twice to make sure, first Steele mentions the correct figure of 940 billion a decade, then he says : So, you telling me an additional 940 billion dollars a year is going make all our problems go away ?
I think someone should point out that 940 billion a year is closer to the bill for two wars and the repub GFC.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:42 pmOf course, this bill is an AHIP/PhRMA bailout bill paid for by raising taxes on the middle class. Maybe Steele could say that, then he’d be on solid ground.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:59 pmRNC clown chair: “That’s a lie”
Please… Pass the popcorn. Same crapola, same clown, but a different day. I look forward to the House healthcare reform bill vote hopefully on Sunday.
March 18th, 2010 at 7:15 pmHow to make serious money when the USA goes bankrupt. …
The Outstanding Public Debt as of 18 Mar 2010 at 11:15:22 PM GMT is:
$ 1 2 , 6 4 4 , 0 2 1 , 6 8 0 , 8 4 8 . 3 4
The estimated population of the United States is 308,032,594
so each citizen’s share of this debt is $41,047.67.
The National Debt has continued to increase an average of
$4.03 billion per day since September 28, 2007
Obama team makes it official: Budget Deficit hits record. By a lot.
http://www.slate.com/id/2247590/
March 18th, 2010 at 7:16 pmIf you say that CBO estimates can’t be trusted, and you only offer your word that it is wrong, you are saying that no one can know anything about what may happen. You are in effect denying the ability to perform any analysis on anything. It would also be like saying mankind is incapable of doing anything. People can make a lot of snarky comments about that.
March 18th, 2010 at 7:46 pmI was wondering when this moron would open his mouth again, to confirm how dumb he is…
March 18th, 2010 at 7:50 pmIs it just me or does Michael Steele look like he should be working at car lot selling used cars?
March 18th, 2010 at 7:55 pmMichael TinFoil.
Now, on to the real news…
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LOL, lies lies and more lies, no surprises there.
Jess
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