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The hallmark of Jim Cooper’s personal style is arrogance–he thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room. He builds on his 16% approval rating on health care with Democrats in his district (TN5) by charming local doctors:
Some of Nashville’s physicians are outraged at Jim Cooper and circulating an email accusing the congressman of "arrogance, disdain and disregard" for the healing profession. Oh my! They say Cooper treated them rudely during a private meeting about health care reform.
According to the email, Cooper unleashed his inner Don Rickles, throwing one insult after another at the physicians, who are members of the Anesthesia Medical Group. A sampling of his remarks (all of which his office confirms he made):
* "Your Washington lobbyists are obviously doing a very bad job for you or you wouldn’t be so misinformed."
* "[I] never cease to be amazed at how poorly informed physicians are about the health care system."
When asked about the meeting on a local radio show, Cooper said that he thought doctor-patient confidentiality applied in the situation. But his outrage at the doctors was prompted by the AMA’s support of the the House bill–H.R. 3200–which includes a public option. He thought they were dumb as dirt for not knowing that.
I have no doubt that a room full of doctors can be, er, opinionated, but these are constituents from Cooper’s district. At one point Cooper knew he had to take care of business at home, but he’s jumped the shark. The first hallmark of a defeatable politician? They start taking constituent relations for granted.
Ripe for a primary.
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Wow, he dared to piss off doctors?! He’s in trouble now.
The first hallmark of a defeatable politician? They start taking constituent relations for granted.
Bingo!!!!
Is there a search on for a credible opponent?
More importantly, will Rahm assure that DCCC $$$$ goes to the “incumbent” in any primary fight?
I would contribute to a primary challenger. People like Cooper no longer feel election risk. We need to make an example.
Cooper seems to have that “how dare you question or challenge me” attitude (which must have been rather interesting when dealing with doctors).
It’s an attitude we’ve seen before from Blue Dogs.
Primary material, indeed.
I can’t decide who is more arrogant – Cooper or Baucus. The power of all this has driven them completely mad.
The Hill is built on arrogance. Remember, the capitol was constructed over a swamp. Some fill material was required and plenty of it, so they used the most abundant substance on Earth… politicians’ egos.
scuse my French
Mother fkkkkkker
Non-Elderly Tennesseans Without Health Insurance In 2007-2008
Nearly one out of three people (32.4 percent) in Tennessee under the age of 65 went without health insurance for all or part of the two-year period 2007-2008.
Of the 1.7 million uninsured Tennesseans, nearly three-quarters (72.9 percent) went without health coverage for six months or longer during this period.
Working Tennesseans Without Health Insurance
Most uninsured Tennesseans (74.7 percent) are members of working families.
The remaining 25.3 percent of uninsured Tennesseans who were not working were either actively searching for employment or were not in the labor force because they were disabled, chronically ill, family caregivers, or not looking for employment for other reasons.
Low-Income Tennesseans Without Health Insurance
Families in Tennessee with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($20,800 a year for a single adult and $35,200 a year for a family of three in 2008) were much more likely to be uninsured than families with incomes at or above 200 percent of poverty.
In Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, etc. the poor are beyond poor. The last thing they could possibly pay for is health insurance. If food is on the table, they consider themselves lucky.
A Scarecrow diary, upstairs!
Losing the Debate, One Misleading Front Page at a Time
Jane, I’m really enjoying this post, but there’s one part I just don’t follow:
Surely, this is an error….
*g*
Wait, a Congressman meets with a group of constituents who happen to be MDs and the Congressman is pissed off that they disclosed the discussion at the meeting because doctor-patient confidentiality applies?
As Cooper’s colleague Barney Frank asked last week, “On what planet to you spend most of your time?” This is ludicrous! But even better than Coburn’s Ensign claim of confidentiality regarding his affair.
I like the phrase, “ripe for a primary.” It really gets at the nub of the gist.
Click link http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 to see what is deemed, defended and supported as “the acceptable standards of health care” in Tennessee.
Unfortunately, if Jim Cooper is defeated it will probably be a right wing nutjob like Marsha Blackburn that does it. We are lucky to have any Democrats left in Tennessee after the way they carried on back in the 1960’s and 1970’s.