Byron Dorgan: “I have been closely listening to the debate this morning. I presided over the Senate for an hour this morning and was…”

“I have been closely listening to the debate this morning. I presided over the Senate for an hour this morning and was listening for that time to the debate with respect to the Patients' Bill of Rights. It reminded me of a story about the great debates between Lincoln and Douglas. I have mentioned this story on a previous occasion. Apparently during those debates, Lincoln and Douglas were having difficulty understanding each other's point. Lincoln finally said to Douglas: Well, tell me, how many legs does a cow have? Douglas said: Why, four, of course. Lincoln said: Well, now, if you call a tail a leg, how many legs would a cow have? Douglas said: Five. Lincoln said: No, that is where you are wrong. Just because you call a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg. What I have seen today is interesting. They have taken a tail, called it a leg, and spent 4 hours describing this new leg. There is nothing in the Patients' Bill of Rights or the Patient Protection Act that is designed to subject employers to lawsuits or to liability.”