Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

God Doesn't Want Teachers to Get Raises, Says Lawmaker It should be a calling, adds Alabama official »

'You Lie' Rep Essentially Right

Joe Wilson not wrong about Obama wanting to insure illegals

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 10, 2009 1:56 PM CDT

(Newser) – Give Joe Wilson a break. It’s hard to fit the complexities of policy into an outburst during a presidential address, but the South Carolina congressman has a point: If you connect two of President Obama’s top policy priorities, he does want to give insurance to illegal immigrants. It’s just that he’ll make them legal immigrants first, writes Terence P. Jeffrey, editor-in-chief of the right-wing CNS.

"It is true that both the House and Senate health care bills as they are now drafted would make illegal aliens ineligible for federally funded health care," Jeffrey acknowledges. But Obama said as recently as Aug. 10 that he plans to enact immigration reform that would create a “pathway to citizenship” for illegal aliens. The insurance exchanges described last night would be fully operational in 4 years—meaning that, if Obama gets his way on immigration reform, current illegal aliens will be well on that “pathway” by then.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., center, listens during President Barack Obama's speech on health care to a joint session of Congress , Wednesday, Sept., 9, 2009 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. speaks to reporters outside of his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Illegal immigrants won’t get federal health insurance benefits under Obama’s plan because they won’t be illegal immigrants anymore, they will be legal immigrants.
- Terence Jeffrey, CNS News

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Women Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Guess Which Celeb Gave Denzel Washington a Black Eye? (NewsOne)

Is Kim Kardashian Dating Another Athlete? (Bleacher Report)

UFO Discovered at Bottom of the Baltic Sea? (HuffPost)

13 Craziest Pickup Lines (GeekSugar)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 107 comments

Ucantusethatname

Sep 16, 2009 6:10 AM CDT

To say that health care reform would be paid by eliminating waste is a lie.

stacysaw

Sep 16, 2009 5:59 AM CDT

true, but elective procedures such as botox aren't covered by insurance. that $600-$800 per vial is paid out of pocket. therefore, it's pure profit for whatever salon - sorry, "med spa" - does it for you. not sure, but does insurance cover gastric bypass? prolly does, just seems like it only should for life-threatening obesity.

SilenceDogood

Sep 13, 2009 10:43 AM CDT

Obama was elected not because he was Obama, but because represented something that was 180 degrees opposite of GWB, and that’s fine. However we as a nation are just now realizing what we got, and it not what we were sold. Obama’s transparency is a blackout shade; his czar’s are thugs, Chicago style; his projections for economic recovery are pathetic; his misuse of taxpayer money is legendary; he believes he can use a Jedi mind trick on our nation to achieve his goals; his bipartisan approach to governance is a lie; in other words the public is coming to the opinion that he is not what he represented.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

God Doesn't Want Teachers to Be Paid More: State Sen.

Roseanne Files Papers to Run for President

CNS News (Source Grid »)

Politics • Health

immigration • Barack Obama • Republican • Senate • South Carolina • House of Representatives • Senate Health Committee • health care reform • US Congress • President Obama • Joe Wilson

More Newser Stories

Congress Isn't Ready for Massive Terrorist Hit: Critics

What would happen if majority of members killed, incapacitated?

(NEWSER) - The Washington Post points to an important question that failed to get asked after the FBI arrested Rezwan Ferdaus for allegedly planning an attack on the US Capitol: Is Congress prepared for a catastrophic terrorist strike? If more than half of the members of the House or the Senate were incapacitated or killed, no laws could be passed. How quickly could the chambers mobilize in such an event? More»

Book Scuttles Obama's Health Care Story

His mother had health insurance when she died, and it paid up

(NEWSER) - A recent book on President Obama’s mother undermines his oft-told story that his mother spent the final years of her life battling insurance companies over her medical bills. The book, by New York Times reporter Janny Scott, reveals that Ann Dunham actually had health insurance that readily paid her claims. She did have a dispute, but it was with her disability insurance, the Times reports. And Obama must have known that, because in one letter she turns the case over to “my son and attorney, Barack Obama.” More»

Obama Steps Into Budget Talks

President will meet with key lawmakers next week

(NEWSER) - Step aside, Joe. A day after congressional Republicans called off debt-reduction talks with Vice President Joe Biden, the White House announced President Obama will meet directly with key lawmakers next week, reports the Washington Post . Obama will meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday. More»

Boehner to Obama: You've Got Til Friday to Justify Libya

House speaker warns president he may be violating War Powers Act

(NEWSER) - President Obama has until Friday to ask Congress for authorization of the US mission in Libya, or he will be in violation of the War Powers Act, John Boehner warned him yesterday. The House speaker, noting that Friday will mark 90 days since the US began attacking Libya as part of a NATO campaign, told Obama in a letter that the president must either seek authorization or withdraw troops. Boehner also told House Republicans that GOP lawmakers might look to cut off funding for the mission, Politico reports More»

Obama Thanks Romney for 'Assist'

Laugh line goes over well in Massachusetts

(NEWSER) - President Obama held a pair of fundraisers in Boston last night, and in both he tried out a new jab at Mitt Romney, saying that he'd passed health care reform "with a little assist from the former governor of Massachusetts." Both swipes drew laughter, notes the Washington Examiner . Obama has delighted in linking his would-be presidential rival to a law the Republican base despises, and rumor has it that he's itching to face Romney in the general election. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

'You Lie' Rep Essentially Right