Charles Rangel: “let me first thank Mr. Nussle and the Republican leadership for bringing up an important bill and allowing us to discuss…”

“let me first thank Mr. Nussle and the Republican leadership for bringing up an important bill and allowing us to discuss it during the daytime hours. It is so unusual that I just wonder when the vote is going to take place, but I do hope it is in time for America to see how we work. Also, I want to thank Mr. Nussle for giving me the opportunity to explain some of the language that he has been using, because when he talks about entitlements there are so many people that get angry and they have to be against entitlements, too. They have to really be angry with America spending such a large amount of our budget on entitlements. But it is strange, they talk about entitlements and we talk about people in need. They talk about entitlements, we talk about the Social Security system that has lasted this country and given so much self-esteem and pride for our older people, those who became disabled, and things that we like to do. Don't cry. Don't just bring us these doggone private accounts. Don't send it to commissions. Bring it on the floor. Take it to the American people. Ask the older people and their kids and their grandkids, how do you measure self-esteem and dignity? Entitlements. What does it mean? Who are the least among us? Is it the poor? And if you are poor and you are sick, is it asking too much in this great country of riches to say you are entitled to health care?…”