Blue Dog, and perennial healthcare reform foe, Jim Cooper isn't having a good recess back home. First, we found out via a Research 2000 poll for Daily Kos that his constituents really aren't happy with him:
And among Democrats, those numbers are 44 reelect, 42 consider someone else, and 14 replace. There is certainly an opening for a strong primary challenge. Cooper isn't the lock many (including him) believe him to be. And why are the natives restless? His long record of obstructing health care reform surely ranks among the reasons. The public option polls strongly in Cooper's district, yet he doesn't seem to care. While he's supposed to represent his constituents, he seems more concerned with representing the insurance companies. It's more lucrative that way.
He's apparently a little sensitive about that, and fired back a very testy response. Seems testy is Cooper's default mood these days, and he stupidly decided to take it out on a group of Nashville doctors.
Some of Nashville's physicians are outraged at Jim Cooper and circulating an email accusing the congressman of "arrogance, disdain and disregard" for the healing profession. Oh my! They say Cooper treated them rudely during a private meeting about health care reform.
According to the email, Cooper unleashed his inner Don Rickles, throwing one insult after another at the physicians, who are members of the Anesthesia Medical Group. A sampling of his remarks (all of which his office confirms he made):
- "Your Washington lobbyists are obviously doing a very bad job for you or you wouldn't be so misinformed."
- "[I] never cease to be amazed at how poorly informed physicians are about the health care system."
- "Since the '60s real wages have remained flat. But physician reimbursements have grown 2-3 percent above the rate of inflation for the last 40 years. That's a transfer of about $800 billion. And you're not even grateful for it. Don't recall ever getting a thank you note for that. ..."
- "It's fine if you don't like my plan. Where is your plan? Physicians don't have a plan. You can't always be against something. You need to be for something"
- "You probably don't know this either, but did you know that a couple of Tennessee counties have the highest narcotic prescription use in the nation? Doctors passing out pills like candy. And you guys don't do anything about it"
- "[It's] almost impossible to get rid of bad doctors"
- "Wouldn't you think you'd be a little more educated about your own profession?"
- "Medicine used to be a profession. You've lost that. Now you just want to be employees."
- And lastly to the group's CEO David Whitten: "You've obviously forgotten most of what you learned in business school."
Ouch. Way to make friends and influence people, Congressman. Keep up the good work.