Political Quotes

On the recordMarch 17, 2010
The reason the American people are speaking out loud and clear, the reason the American people, frankly, the reason the citizens of Massachusetts decided to send a Republican in Ted Kennedy's seat is because on a fundamental level, there's a lot of problems with this bill; but I want to just talk about three quick ones if I can. First and foremost--and this is what the majority party misses--it's a fundamental fact about Americans: Americans hate being told what to do. We're Americans. We actually think this thing called freedom and liberty is pretty important. And the idea that now here comes the big, not your local government, not your community, the big Federal Government's going to tell you and your family and you as a small business owner how health care is going to be delivered, and you're going to have bureaucrats getting between you and your doctor, they just fundamentally don't like that approach. And that's what the other party's missing. Americans don't like being told what to do. Americans don't like, secondly, and I think this is important, and I know Congressman Smith spoke earlier on the floor this evening, Americans don't like the idea that their tax dollars could be used to take the life of an unborn child. I mean, they fundamentally don't like that, and appropriately so. And so just two basic things they don't like. And then I would say third is Americans understand this thing is going to cost a lot.…
Said by
Jim Jordan
Republican · Ohio
Source
govinfo.gov
Mar 17, 2010

Editor's note · Context

The speaker addresses concerns about a healthcare bill and its implications for American freedom and values.

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