The elderly...gotta love them

On June 29, 2009, I and three friends went up the road to Simpsonville, South Carolina, to here Congressman Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) speak at a town hall meeting being held at the Senior Center.  Little did we know that we would be witnessing history and the leading edge of Tea Party takeovers of similar events that summer.

During the discussion of healthcare reform, one elderly gentleman stood up and defiantly said, “Keep your government hands off my Medicare.”

It was the statement heard around the world.  Congressman Inglis held his composure in front of the rowdy crowd and tried to explain that Medicare is a government health program.  But no matter how hard Inglis tried, his Tea Party constituents didn’t want to hear reason or compassion for the uninsured.  Another man said that he had no problem stepping over someone without insurance who lay dying on the street instead of allowing the person to receive medical assistance at a hospital. 

Fast forward to the present and an equally selfish and hypocritical objection to Obamacare.  Here is the story from the AP.

Back in Crowder, Okla., Lonnie Anderson is cheering on (Congressman) Mullin in the high-stakes showdown with Obama and Democrats. The 71-year-old retired nurse likes some elements of the health care law, such as the requirement for insurers to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions, and allowing young people up to age 26 to remain on their parents' plans.  But she fears that the law derided as "Obamacare" is a path to socialism …

And keep your government hands off her Social Security checks, too!