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Carlson to Cao: Republicans "would be against putting the country into forever debt," so why aren't you a Democrat?

November 09, 2009 8:27 am ET

From the November 9 broadcast of Fox News' Fox & Friends:

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    • Author by dexteritas0071418 (November 09, 2009 8:29 am ET)
      14  
      Right thing to do + overall longterm cost savings > short-term increase in the debt.

      Easy math Carlson.
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      • Author by mk3872 (November 09, 2009 9:47 am ET)
        7  
        i get a kick out of the way that FNC ignores the CBO when they say Dem-sponsored bills would LOWER the debt in the long-term, but then hype the CBO when they say the Repub-sponsored bills would do the SAME THING.
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        • Author by donahoeanthony6525 (November 09, 2009 10:18 am ET)
          4  
          But they also fail to say the Repub-sponsored bill takes out the pre-existing clause.
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      • Author by liberalXtian (November 09, 2009 10:25 am ET)
        4  
        Iraq War: Wrong thing to do + thousands dead and disabled = very longterm increase in debt.

        Different subject, but similar math. Where are our fiscal conservatives when it comes to war?
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        • Author by dexteritas0071418 (November 09, 2009 10:33 am ET)
          2 4
          Your point is well-taken, but I think this issue is winnable with a lot of folks who are or sympathize with teabaggers at this point, if the right people keep hammering at the right points. War and healthcare are two different issues, and while they both lead to debt, arguing that the wars are costing billions so it's OK to do it elsewhere is a two-wrongs-make-a-right arguement.
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          • Author by congero6189599 (November 09, 2009 11:26 am ET)
            5 2
            I disagree this is not a two wrongs don't make a right issue. Ist the healthcare bills don't add anything to the deficit and infact reduce them. That is according to the CBO. You may not like the way they are paid for but the way to finance them without increasing the debt is provided for. 2. The cost of healthcare will continue to rise until it is only affordabel to the very rich unless we do something now to bring down cost while insuring greater access. The healthcare reform is to make right a wrong,and the hyprocrisy is that those who had no problem with increasing the debt by putting two wars on a credit card while bribing a few with tax-cuts are now screaming about debt. There is a difference in spending frivilously which has led us into the worst depression since the Great Depression and spending to correct problems to help reinforce our economy. Hell we could have paid for healthcare reform with the money we're spending in Iraq, but it always seems that when it comes to peoples safety and health those with power and money win out. Profits over people, to these people we will never have money to reform healthcare,they even want to do away with Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security they just now use the excuse of the deficit,but let them get in power and we will be told again that the deficit doesn't matter(Dick Cheney). This deficit argument by the cons is nothing but a smokescreen for their real agenda of shrinking government and opening the public coffeurs to their corporate friends. What we are seeing now is a concerted effort to dismantle unions and working and poor peoples organizations because by doing so weakens the peoples ability to fight back. Thats why we see efforts to defund ACORN and slander the SEIU and Card Check(EFCA) while Halliburton,KBR,XE still continue to receive government subsidies and contracts despite charges of gang-rape,murder and theft. This is what needs to be pointed out to the people at every opportunity using real examples of their hyprocrisy. This far from a two-wrongs argument your assertion that it does confuses the issues and is not based on reality and denies a foundation for people in need to fight from.

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            • Author by dexteritas0071418 (November 09, 2009 11:33 am ET)
              2 4
              I think you took my argument out of context. I was saying it was a two-wrongs-make-a-right issue from the viewpoint of a current teabagger, and while it may not be that way to other people, complaining about the war costs won't win converts.
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              • Author by congero6189599 (November 09, 2009 11:54 am ET)
                4 1
                I understood your argument. This is not a two-wrongs argument,so the tea-baggers are operating from a false premise. If you want the right the answer you got to ask the right questions. We should complain about the war because it robbed us of needed resources,human and economic. While we fight these needless wars the money that could go to needed programs for the people are eaten up by private military contractors and the military industrial complex,to juxtapose the two to highlight where our priorities should be focused is essential in winning this argument and not a two-wrongs approach. To repeat myself the tea-baggers are operating from a false premise,the bills on healthcare reform will not increase the deficit(unlike the two-wars)and how they will be payed for is provided for in the bills.
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                • Author by dexteritas0071418 (November 09, 2009 12:05 pm ET)
                  2 3
                  LiberalXtian posited that the warmaking is not fiscally conservative per se, so why should a teabagger worry about healthcare reform being not fiscally conservative? I don't think teabaggers look at healthcare and defense/offense the same way in terms of spending priorities, so I therefore don't think criticizing war spending is going to get you anywhere with convincing them that healthcare reform is good for them and the debt.
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    • Author by snoopy (November 09, 2009 8:33 am ET)
      16  
      Republicans are against "forever debt"?

      "Reagan showed that deficits don't matter" - Dick Cheney
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    • Author by magnolialover (November 09, 2009 8:37 am ET)
      13  
      Hold on. The CBO scored the bill as reducing the deficit, so in other words, Cao did what other republicsns probably should have done.

      And isn't it interesting, that it's possible, just maybe possible that Cao did what his constiuents wanted him to do instead of what the republican party wanted him to do?
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      • Author by dexteritas0071418 (November 09, 2009 8:50 am ET)
        9  
        I like seeing so many diverse representatives and gov leaders out of LA as well...maybe they'll not bring in old prejudices and alliances that will keep them from making reasonable, informed decisions.
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        • Author by blk-in-alabam (November 09, 2009 10:31 am ET)
          3  
          Louisiana is a strange place it can be the most un-prejudice place,and the most prejudice place at the same time in the same location.I have seen the smartest thing happen at the same time and place the dumbest thing happens in Louisiana.
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          • Author by DellDolly (November 09, 2009 12:35 pm ET)
            3  
            Cao represents the district that used to be represented by William Jefferson of "$90,000 in the freezer" fame.
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      • Author by snoopy (November 09, 2009 9:02 am ET)
        7  
        "Tonight, I voted to keep taxpayer dollars from funding abortion and to deliver access to affordable health care to the people of Louisiana.”

        - Joseph Cao


        "I felt last night's decision was the proper decision for my district even though it was not the popular decision for my party"

        "A lot of my constituents are uninsured, a lot of them are poor," Cao said. "It was the right decision for the people of my district."

        - Joseph Cao


        As you can see, he did do what his constituents wanted. But what do you expect? It's very telling where republicans loyalties lie when man for man they can't answer a simple question like "how many of your constituents don't have health insurance?"...
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        • Author by mk3872 (November 09, 2009 9:49 am ET)
          4  
          Hopefully the LA constiuents in his district will elect a Dem again in 2010 and see how hurtful it can be when they elect Repubs.

          Cao got elected due to anger at the Dem's corruption previously in his district.
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          • Author by dexteritas0071418 (November 09, 2009 10:00 am ET)
              2
            Yeah...seems like a disaster for them now...are you on the same planet today?
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            • Author by mk3872 (November 09, 2009 10:23 am ET)
              4 1
              Cao voted against stimulus and Cao now gets slammed for voting WITH his constituents by the right-wing. He will undoubtedly get primaried in 2010. So, yeah, Dex, I am on planet Earth. Are you still on planet loony-bin?
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              • Author by dexteritas0071418 (November 09, 2009 10:34 am ET)
                1 3
                Never was, nor do I see anything in your post that makes your original one any more sensical.
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    • Author by christopher howard (November 09, 2009 8:40 am ET)
      11  
      Oh those deficit hawk Republicans, who never met a war they didn't like. They never seemed to raise any objections to invading other countries on their Chinese Express credit card, but do something that actually benefits the American people for once and they all turn into penny pinchers.

      And kudos to Cao for doing the right thing.
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    • Author by IRONY 101 (November 09, 2009 9:04 am ET)
      8  
      Is it just me or does Gretchen Carlson seem a bit judgmental about Cao's vote?

      It's hard to tell since FOX News still has not chosen to run a crawler under each segment advising the viewers whether what is being broadcats is news or opinion.
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      • Author by christopher howard (November 09, 2009 9:33 am ET)
        3  
        I think they have officially designated Fox & Friends as opinion, but you're right, it's hard to tell.
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        • Author by dexteritas0071418 (November 09, 2009 9:37 am ET)
          5  
          But why even call it "Fox & Friends" then? Call it "opinion hour with 3 people who may or may not be qualified journalists, or even smart." It's a longer name but I think it plays better and more accurate.
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      • Author by papa bear3 (November 09, 2009 11:28 am ET)
        3  
        er....."newspinion"
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    • Author by Boxer1979 (November 09, 2009 9:36 am ET)
      6  
      Carlson to Cao: Republicans "would be against putting the country into forever debt," so why aren't you a Democrat?

      Carlson you dummy! It did not matter if he was a republican or democrat he voted for the bill because he actually represents the people of his state! I wish more politicians think like that and vote for what the majority of people want. Instead of being puppets for corporations. SMH!
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      • Author by bilbo_dies (November 09, 2009 10:05 am ET)
        4  
        Don't forget that as part of the "opinion" portion of Fox, she doesn't have to hew to the "fair and balanced" part of their motto.

        FOX Friends: Republican talking points, front and center.
        (OK more far right of center but; you get what I mean)
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      • Author by John Paradox (November 09, 2009 11:57 pm ET)
           
        Too many RINOs

        Representative
        In
        Name
        Only
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    • Author by marco21 (November 09, 2009 10:52 am ET)
      6  
      When has a Republican ever gotten us out of debt? It took a Democrat to that and the GOP fought him every step of the way.
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      • Author by srichardson (November 09, 2009 11:28 am ET)
        5  
        And then it took a Republican to put us BACK into debt. I think Carlson has her parties mixed up.
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    • Author by PurpleState (November 09, 2009 12:31 pm ET)
      3  
      So when can we expect to see a Fox chyron that says "Cao (D-LA)"?
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    • Author by manofmystique (November 09, 2009 12:36 pm ET)
      2  
      Can you believe the ridiculous question Carlson asked this man? Simply astounding.
      Cao could have easily been insulted and anger, after all he is proud of his vote; instead he showed Fox News and their viewers how one should conduct himself in public. Cao answered the question the way you would expect a leader to answer a question. Cao put his oath of office, constituency and conscious first, not offer personal belief and miss-information.
      This man is a model of professionalism, integrity and leadership and Republicans would do well to follow his lead and stop acting like out-of-control children, even if they disagree with him.
      Had Fox News asked any other top Republican the same stupid question the response would have been the all to familiar Republicans' talking-points, attacks and criticism.
      Cao is one of a few Repubicans I've seem display any common sense.
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    • Author by manofmystique (November 09, 2009 12:36 pm ET)
      1  
      Can you believe the ridiculous question Carlson asked this man? Simply astounding.
      Cao could have easily been insulted and anger, after all he is proud of his vote; instead he showed Fox News and their viewers how one should conduct himself in public. Cao answered the question the way you would expect a leader to answer a question. Cao put his oath of office, constituency and conscious first, not offer personal belief and miss-information.
      This man is a model of professionalism, integrity and leadership and Republicans would do well to follow his lead and stop acting like out-of-control children, even if they disagree with him.
      Had Fox News asked any other top Republican the same stupid question the response would have been the all to familiar Republicans' talking-points, attacks and criticism.
      Cao is one of a few Repubicans I've seem display any common sense.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by shaft (November 09, 2009 2:56 pm ET)
      2  
      Under Bush we had successive record deficit after record deficit--maybe that's why he's a Republican.

      Where were the Tea Partiers during the Bush and Republican Majority spending spree?

      From hacks, this level of hypocrisy is to be expected. The media not covering it is inexplicable.
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    • Author by Ruby (November 09, 2009 5:21 pm ET)
      1  
      I am so darn proud of my state right now!
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