According to Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, Republicans aren’t particularly concerned with the health of others.
The liberal Minnesota congressman made the false assertion during a speech at the 2013 Make Progress National Summit, a progressive conference hosted by the newly branded Generation Progress (formerly Campus Progress) in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
Ellison was specifically referring to the House’s planned vote to delay two key components of the president’s healthcare law Wednesday, arguing that the vote clearly showed the true colors of the Republican Party.
“And today, for the 38th time, the Republican House majority is going to repeal Obamacare,” he said. “Don’t worry, it won’t go anywhere in the Senate — they know that. They’re just doing it to let you know that your health don’t mean snot to them.”
But this mindset goes beyond just Republicans, according to Ellison. In fact, he believes it is true for most Americans nationwide.
“I’m telling you, we live in a country today where the profit center is taking precedence over human need,” he added.
Still, Ellison said the current status of the law was inadequate, and that it would be up to young people like those at the progressive conference Wednesday to improve it.
“When it comes to healthcare, we’re in a position now where we can start enrolling uninsured people in the exchanges,” he said. “I hope you take it on as a mission of Generation Progress, that we will ensure people are aware and fighting against the myths so that they can get healthcare access for the first time perhaps in their lives, where their only option used to be the emergency room and now they can be enrolled.
“I’m hoping for a generation where young people are rising up saying, we want immigration reform, we want healthcare for everyone, a single-payer system. I pray for a single-payer system,” he added.
