We’d never heard of Michigan Republican Congressman Mike Rogers before. But based on his scathing opening statement during ObamaCare hearings last month, we hope we hear a lot more of him in the future:
Abraham Lincoln said, “You can’t make a weak man strong by making a strong man weak.” And so what we’ve decided to do today is to abandon the very principles of America and say, “It’s so hard and it’s so difficult that we’re going to punish the 85% of Americans who have earned healthcare benefits as part of their employment. We’re going to punish them and the employers who give it to them to cover the 15% that don’t have it.
That doesn’t sound like a conclusion any of us would come to. Why would we punish the part that’s working to cover the part that’s not? It’s like taking a queen size sheet and trying put it over a king size bed. I will guarantee you that the corners are going to come up.”
We need a couple hundred more congressmen like this guy.
This post was last modified on September 1, 2009
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I love this website! And, let's say that Lincoln didn't say it. Let's look at some other stuff Lincoln said:
"If this country is ever demoralized, it will come from trying to live without work."
"Whence shall we expect the approach of danger; shall some trans-Atlantic giant step the Earth and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe and Asia shall not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ride. If destruction be our lot, we must, ourselves, be it's author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we will live forever, or die by suicide."
"People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be."
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
"Get books, sit yourself down anywhere, and go to reading them yourself."
"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."
"My father taught me to work, but not to love it. I never did like to work, and I don't deny it. I'd rather read, tell stories, crack jokes, talk, laugh -- anything but work."
"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."
I don't know if any of the liberals have noticed, but Lincoln also quoted the Bible on a regular basis. The Bible also says "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." I assume (and assuming can be dangerous) that if you're on this site you're not completely ignorant of the facts, but this country is in serious trouble. Please educate yourself in the issues through a lens of truth. Don't worry about sides, just look for the Truth. And pray. As Ben Franklin, who liberals call the most nonreligious of the Founding Fathers, said (and it's a long one):
"In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor.To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service..."
We have a lot of work to do here, and I really think that those great individuals who founded this nation while praying to God for help would be sorely disappointed in what we have allowed to happen in this country. Like Honest Abe said above, I was taught by my Dad to work hard, and to provide for my family. Not to allow the government to provide for my family, or to beg the government to provide for my family, or to even give the government the POWER to provide for my family. In the end, the government is SUPPOSED to be extremely limited in the amount of power they have (interestingly, they aren't allowed to make you purchase something you don't want to purchase, either).
Here's an idea. Find a job, get off welfare (or do away with welfare completely, or at least combat the fraud that is occurring), give your children and family some pride in who they are and what they do, and see if that improves your ability to get health care.
"Let him who will not work, not eat." Yes, that's right. No free welfare dinners for you, if you are able to work.
What is that creepy thing that quickly goes behind Rogers at the end of this video??????
Getting mixed up on details like this buries the story...
Nobody can verify that Lincoln said those things listed above, nor can anyone prove he did not. The point is it does not matter who spoke them, but that it is the truth. I pray for freeloading moochers to get some dignity and work for their own money. I can tell you who said this- A man does not deserve to eat lest he work for it. You can find it in Proverbs in the Bible.
Regarding “You can’t make a weak man strong by making a strong man weak.”
I really don't care who first spoke these words, but I suspect it is a truism.
Lincoln never said any such thing! Typical Republican deceit. Those words were written by a clergyman in 1916 and exposed as a fraud long ago. But St. Ronald Reagan continued to retail them and Republicans follow, preying on the ignorance of the American people and continuing to rabble-rouse. When Lincoln was elected, we were the only "civilized" nation not to outlaw slavery; today we are the only developed nation not to cover all its people with health care. Prejudice marches on -- it has only switched parties since 1859.
Actually, President Lincoln did say this. For proof, I have the following website to prove to you that he in fact stated this. You can be mad all you want, but you don't know the truth.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/229.Abraham_Lincoln?page=5
The quote is the fifth one down....so read it for yourself. Oh, and let me tell you this....if everyone in our country needs healthcare, get a stinking job! Over half the people in the country don't have healthcare because they're too lazy to get up off their rear-ends and do something for themselves, i.e. get a job! I understand that those who are laid-off have no power over that, but they could be looking for a job in the meantime...it's time we started acting like American citizens for once, and it's time we took pride in our country. Remember, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country"....like getting a job, which in turn shall get you healthcare coverage...I think we've forgotten that prime statement and action. God Bless the USA!!!
Because getting a job in this current economic climate is so gosh-darn easy. I'm so glad I've got the NHS in the UK because people like you make me sick. Stop rattling on about being an American and try looking out for one another instead of claiming they can just get a job and suddenly get healthcare, even though the insurance system is so screwed that you can never be sure you'll be safe. I pity the people suffering because they cannot afford health coverage or have a 'pre-existing condition', or simply cannot find a job. It's morons like you who drink up all the Glenn Beck shit and quake in your three bedroom home as if some monster is about to drive up and take your possessions. Try thinking about someone else for a change instead of preaching your neo-conservative nonsense as if you're actually educated.
sorry...meant to comment on another post!
A typical left-wing nut tatic -- attack the messenger but not the message. Attacking the message would surely expose them as fools.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could
and should do for themselves.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money. By William Boetcker
Is it just me or does Congressman Rogers look and sound a bit like Gary Busey??
Things in our country run in spite of government, not by aid of it.
Will Rogers