On the recordFebruary 15, 2012
It is such an honor to serve with such an honorable man as Colonel Allen West. I've known him for a few years, going back to his previous efforts at election to the House of Representatives. I'm just delighted that he is here. I'm delighted to call him a friend. He has been a fantastic addition here to the House of Representatives. I would like to address something a Democratic colleague had referenced, and that was with regard to Medicare. My friend was taking issue with what my Republican doctors were addressing here on the floor with regard to Medicare. And it was interesting to hear a Democrat say that actually ObamaCare strengthened Medicare. It's interesting. I guess the definition of ``is'' means something to some folks. In this case, I guess the definition of ``strengthen'' would have to be what was at issue here. The Democrats strengthened Medicare, cut $500 billion--with a B--out of Medicare, and are proud to report to the American people that they strengthened Medicare. Well, in a bill I didn't agree with, the debt ceiling bill, it's cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from our national security, for our national defense. I guess the same reasoning would say we're cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from our national defense. And under the Democratic strategy and definition, I guess, of ``strengthen,'' could say, under that logic and that thinking, will strengthen our military and our national defense.…
