Want to see a jack ass? You sure? They're pretty scary.
OK, try here: ass. Nope, woops. Sorry, not that one.
Here you go: ass. Yup, that's the one. Now go and look up "ass" in your dictionary, and tape Maryland Republican Andy Harris' picture in your grand book of words.
Seems like said ass has decided to decline "gubermint" insurance for the superior "private" product. More below the fold.
What?! The federal government just pays for private insurance for its employees like any other employer? Yeah, you're right, but Andy has no shame in using his "looking like a selfish jack ass moment" for political gain.
Remember how last fall he was upset about having to wait for his government-paid insurance? Politico reported:
Republican Andy Harris, an anesthesiologist who defeated freshman Democrat Frank Kratovil on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, reacted incredulously when informed that federal law mandated that his government-subsidized health care policy would take effect on Feb. 1 – 28 days after his Jan. 3rd swearing-in.
“He stood up and asked the two ladies who were answering questions why it had to take so long, what he would do without 28 days of health care,” said a congressional staffer who saw the exchange. The benefits session, held behind closed doors, drew about 250 freshman members, staffers and family members to the Capitol Visitors Center auditorium late Monday morning,”.
“Harris then asked if he could purchase insurance from the government to cover the gap,” added the aide, who was struck by the similarity to Harris’s request and the public option he denounced as a gateway to socialized medicine.
Well, now after looking like, well, an ass, in the national media, impatient Andy is choosing to skip his government-provided insurance for what he calls his superior "private" plan, USA Today is reporting.
Freshman GOP Rep. Andy Harris, who made repealing the nation's health care law a centerpiece of his campaign, caused a stir in November when he asked why it would take a month for his government-funded health insurance to take effect.
Now, the anesthesiologist-turned-politician from Maryland is saying he'll skip the government-subsidized coverage provided to Congress and keep his private plan.
Our Gannett colleague Nicole Guadiano reports that Harris will continue to be covered under his private Blue Cross/Blue Shield health plan.
You see, by calling his hospital-sponsored BCBS plan a "private plan," but his Congress-sponsored BCBS plan a "government plan," Andy is trying to imply that "private" insurance is better than anything government -- even when that which is derided as "government" isn't really government at all. (Shhhhh, don't let all those seniors on single-payer Medicare know the truth!)
Harris told Nicole that "even at that time, I was leaning toward keeping my insurance. There was no reason for me not to."
Rigggggght -- all that whining was just a joke. Oh, no, really, rigggggght. Andy said he was just making a "tongue in cheek" joke:
Harris also said his original comment, made during orientation sessions for new lawmakers, was meant to be "tongue in cheek about the federal government's efficiency at delivering health care." His original comment was first reported by Politico.
Hmmm, Andy, if it was just a joke, why did you ask if there was a government plan that could help you cover your roughly one-month gap between insurance plans?
“Harris then asked if he could purchase insurance from the government to cover the gap,” added the aide, who was struck by the similarity to Harris’s request and the public option he denounced as a gateway to socialized medicine.
It wasn't a joke, of course. His tongue was not in his cheek -- he's now LYING.
What's more: privilege, privilege, privilege. First, Andy complains about being uninsured for just one month when roughly one third of the entire US population is un- or underinsured for years.
Then, he flippantly remarks about how he was "always" planning on keeping his hospital-provided insurance -- wow, way to brag, Andy! Don't you wish you had two employer-sponsored Cadillac plans from which to choose?
Andy Harris is, first of all a liar, and, second of all, just, well, a major ass for bragging about all his choices when most Americans have no good choices at all.