Fleming Fires Back At Reid's Reckless Comments

Statement

Congressman John Fleming M.D. issued the following statement in response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's comments likening Americans and opponents of a government takeover of health care to supporters of slavery.

"Today, I call upon Senator Reid to apologize to the American people for his offensive and outrageous comments. It's ironic that during his attempt to ensnare Americans with government-run health care, Senator Reid would make an outrageous comparison to slavery. Furthermore, in an apparent attempt to distract attention from this debate, Senator Reid doesn't even get his history right. It was a Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, who abolished slavery and it was Democrats who attempted to block civil rights action in 1957 and 1964. Americans have rejected this plan, and the Majority Leader's comments yesterday were completely out of line and beneath this Institution. The American public deserves to be treated better.

If this plan is so good for the American people, as the author of H. Res 615, I once again call upon the Majority to allow my resolution to come to the floor immediately for a vote. It is the height of hypocrisy that the Majority has consistently ignored this resolution which calls on Members who vote for the public option to enroll themselves in that public option. If Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi insist on shoving this plan down the American public's throat, then the least they can do is lead by example and enroll themselves. If something is good enough for the American people, then it should be good enough for the elected officials that represent them."

Congressman John Fleming is a physician and small business owner and represents the 4th District of Louisiana and is a member of the House Armed Services and Natural Resources Committees.

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