Lefty spin on finger-biting incident: Hey, at least the guy had Medicare; Update: David Shuster picks up lefty spin

posted at 5:32 pm on September 3, 2009 by Allahpundit

When partisan violence gives you lemons, make lemonade. I like to imagine that Josh Marshall and Air America wrote two versions of this story before everything was straightened out about which protester did what to who. If the victim turned out to be pro-ObamaCare and therefore politically useful, they’d run the copy expressing their outrageous outrage; if not, they’d run this. Think of it as a tiny, surreal illustration of Chappaquiddick logic: Sure, the incident is, er, “regrettable,” but it’s fully redeemed by lefty policy.

MKH spoke to the victim, who’s strayed very far indeed from The Narrative:

Rice drove himself to nearby Los Robles Hospital after the incident for treatment. One report said his finger was reattached, but Rice told THE WEEKLY STANDARD in a phone interview that’s not the case.

“They weren’t able to attach it because a human bite has so much bacteria,” said Rice, who also said Wednesday’s rally had a different feeling than other local health care events he’d been to recently.

“It had a Code Pink element that I’d never seen before and it had a MoveOn element I’d never seen before,” he said, calling some of the Obamacare supporters “borderline emotionally out of control.”

It’s a shame they couldn’t reattach it, but let’s look on the bright side: If you believe The One, the doctors probably wanted to amputate his whole hand.

Update: From the nutroots’ lips to Shuster’s ears. Carry that water, David.

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We pay directly into Medicare. I don’t understand how that somehow proves that those against single payer should decide not to use their own money.

Esthier on September 3, 2009 at 6:36 PM

Yes, I know. But the court case, if there is one, will be interesting to watch. Obama might well have to stack some courts to get this biter off the hook.

Liam on September 3, 2009 at 6:28 PM

I’m sure that they could use some excuse to claim federal jurisdiction, “investigate” until it dies down, and then just have Holder drop the charges.

malclave on September 3, 2009 at 6:39 PM

So I take it that Shuster then believes that people that have private insurance have no grounds to push for a public option? Well, of course he doesn’t. That is different.

stldave on September 3, 2009 at 6:35 PM

So, if a Lefty dies at one of these things, can we say “Well, at least s/he doesn’t have to live in a country without a single-payer health care system anymore”?

venividivici on September 3, 2009 at 6:42 PM

Isn’t Idi Amin dead? Or is he working in the White House, too?

IlikedAUH2O on September 3, 2009 at 6:42 PM

cannibals are in charge!

/getalife

venividivici on September 3, 2009 at 6:34 PM

LOL…good one! *SIGH* I actually miss that lefty nut-case, miss flaming him and his weak talking points that is!

Liberty or Death on September 3, 2009 at 6:43 PM

malclave on September 3, 2009 at 6:39 PM

It might happen, unless nutroots like me push for prosecution.

For added fun, we demand the biter reimburse the government for any Medicare payments for this victim’s treatment. Let’s see Obama & Co, LLC, Chicago wiggle out of that.

Liam on September 3, 2009 at 6:44 PM

am a bit tired of all the Medicare gloating from the Left. It’s not like you have a choice once you reach a certain age, you are forced to go on Medicare. I can’t speak for Mr. Rice but I would rather keep my current coverage if I could.

Cindy Munford on September 3, 2009 at 6:32 PM

to heck with that. Mr. Rice has been PAYING for Medicare since it’s inception. He d@mn well better be able to USE it.

Fighton03 on September 3, 2009 at 6:48 PM

Is Schuster trying to be a bigger idiot than Keith O?

katiejane on September 3, 2009 at 6:50 PM

I guess I will have to give in to Mr. Glock and take him to the next rally. He is pretty insistent.

bill30097 on September 3, 2009 at 6:54 PM

Hey, maybe everyone should go to one of those stores that sell silly stuff and get the clattering fake dentures and add them to their signs at future town halls or tea parties. Tacky but funny.

Cindy Munford on September 3, 2009 at 7:03 PM

Obamacare Bites!!!

stldave on September 3, 2009 at 7:04 PM

So according to the lefty loons, the issue is medicare

and NOT

ONE OF THEIR OWN IS A PRACTICING CANNIBAL

macncheez on September 3, 2009 at 7:09 PM

Even Bret on Special Report made note of the fact that the 65 year old who was attacked had Medicare. It goes with the territory. Besides, what earthly difference could it make?

Terrye on September 3, 2009 at 7:10 PM

So NOW, if I send Collie down to Gitmo, and he bites the fingers off of every inmate in captivity there, it WON’T be TORTURE, now will it?

My collie says:

After all, since the liberals have taken to biting people’s fingers off, and since they have “absolute moral authority”, it can not possibly be torture, can it?

CyberCipher on September 3, 2009 at 7:12 PM

Even Bret on Special Report made note of the fact that the 65 year old who was attacked had Medicare. It goes with the territory. Besides, what earthly difference could it make?

Terrye on September 3, 2009 at 7:10 PM

I have no idea either. I do take note of the lack of sympathy from the “bleeding hearts” on this one. Apparently, since he is a senior, he kinda almost had it coming since he was protesting. Take note of the leftists, seniors! These people that mock one of your brothers when he gets attacked are also the ones that assure you that you’ll be well taken care of when you get sick.

stldave on September 3, 2009 at 7:20 PM

I went to one of those moveon rallies in my state this past weekend. It was down right creepy, and I am not at all surprised that one broke out in violence.

The one I went to:
All of the moveon volunteers wore green armbands on their upper arms. In order to get inside you had to give personal information and check a box indidcating that yes you support healthcare reform. For a solid hour speekers trashed healthcare opponents. After the speeches, all the green armbands marched out holding identicle “Thank you Obama” signs and lined up on stage. The audience stood and chanted “YES WE CAN” for about 60 sec. The only thing missing was goose stepping.

bitsy on September 3, 2009 at 7:31 PM

Liberal Tolerance:

If you don’t agree with the someone….Go Mike Tyson on their finger.

doctor horton on September 3, 2009 at 7:44 PM

As the commenter on Politico mentioned, I think releasing his payment information was a HIPAA violation. Even if the guy was 65 he could still have had private insurance and/or Medicare. Whoever that spokesperson was should be seeking the advice of the hospital attorneys.

msmveritas on September 3, 2009 at 8:01 PM

Not a word about this at Daily Klown. Big shocker.

Speedwagon82 on September 3, 2009 at 8:06 PM

katiejane on September 3, 2009 at 6:50 PM

he doesn’t have to try very hard

he is a certifiable tool

cmsinaz on September 3, 2009 at 8:07 PM

Liberal self defense — when attacked bite off their pinky

bitsy on September 3, 2009 at 8:16 PM

“Chappaquiddick logic” heh, quote of the week.

Alden Pyle on September 3, 2009 at 8:49 PM

“Chappaquiddick logic” heh, quote of the week.

Chomp-it-quick—ick!!! Look sick!!

chickasaw42 on September 3, 2009 at 9:04 PM

test on pic again http://maidjoan.tripod.com/standard4.jpg

ProudPalinFan on September 3, 2009 at 9:45 PM

Just give him a pain pill.

Kissmygrits on September 3, 2009 at 9:48 PM

The victim was 65 years old. Under the current system, he’s covered by Medicare. Already short a finger, should he cut off his nose to spite his face? For Shuster, the fact that Medicare was involved is some kind of proof that government programs are the way to go. Where’s the logic? The question is what is best for the country going forward.

Obviously I have no use for Shuster, but he does call to my mind a good point. It’s very hypocritical for people taking advantage of Medicare/Medicaid and social security while protesting ObamaCare because it’s “socialist.” I have a feeling these people aren’t as much concerned with the “socialist” part as they are the “death panel” part. They have little to no problem with socialism per say, they just personally don’t like this particularly form of socialism because there’s no advantage in it for them.

2Brave2Bscared on September 3, 2009 at 11:00 PM

They have little to no problem with socialism per say, they just personally don’t like this particularly form of socialism because there’s no advantage in it for them.

2Brave2Bscared on September 3, 2009 at 11:00 PM

I would agree with that except for the fact that people are forced to pay into Medicare regardless. If that money has been stolen from them, they have every right to demand the promised services for which they were fleeced all their working lives.

Fighton03 on September 4, 2009 at 12:48 AM

Why does the fact that people would choose Medicare over nothing imply somehow Medicare is the best?

I’d choose eating garbage over starving, so what does that mean?

TTheoLogan on September 4, 2009 at 12:51 AM

eVEN AS PISSED OFF AS I AM
With the Democraps
With the kenyan obama
With the Traitors in our congress and senate.
I asm not ready yet to start biting their fingers off and eating it..

Now Tar and Feather the dumb ass liberals sure
Arrest and Try the democrats for treason sure.
Hang them all (not yet) but i think tie them all up
put them on a ship and send them all to iran would be nice..

So i am not sure how crazy you have to get to start EATING peoples body parts..

I just know that most real Patriotic americans arent there yet..

Hell if we even started to hang them all
I still wouldnt want to have them for dinner..

http://www.veteranoutrage.com

veteranoutrage on September 4, 2009 at 1:22 AM

I would agree with that except for the fact that people are forced to pay into Medicare regardless. If that money has been stolen from them, they have every right to demand the promised services for which they were fleeced all their working lives.

Fighton03 on September 4, 2009 at 12:48 AM

I’m sympathetic to that, but if we ever want to become a country free of socialism again, we need to ween these programs out of existence. And I’m just not sure how many of these older folks who oppose ObamaCare would be on board with that.

The Public school system is also socialist and unConstitutional, but how many conservatives today are concerned with getting rid of that government monstrosity? Not many at all; I could probably count them all on my fingers and toes.

The vast majority of people in this country, both on the left and right, have accepted the premise of American socialism. The disagreements, then, are over how far that socialism should go, not over socialism itself.

These tea parties and health care protests are a step in the right direction, but this country still has a LONG ways to go.

2Brave2Bscared on September 4, 2009 at 1:35 AM

To Serve Obama,
IT’S A COOKBOOK!!

mrt721 on September 4, 2009 at 1:53 AM

Jeff Dahmer reincarnated into a lefty goon. No wait, that’s what he was in his last life as a cannibal.

Jeff from WI on September 4, 2009 at 4:24 AM

To Serve Obama,
IT’S A COOKBOOK!!

mrt721 on September 4, 2009 at 1:53 AM

LOL..that’s an old episode!!

Jeff from WI on September 4, 2009 at 4:25 AM

I would love to be able to keep my employer health insurance that I pay for when I turn 65 (in 9 years); however, you are REQUIRED to enroll in Medicare at that time. There are no exceptions. So the gentleman having Medicare isn’t surprising. You have no choice.

Sarah2053 on September 4, 2009 at 9:25 AM

And the socialists are wondering why people are packing guns to these town hall meetings? Let’s see how ‘hungry’ some of these fellow travelers get when they see Bersa Thunder 9 milimeters in somebody’s shoulder holster.

kens on September 4, 2009 at 1:13 PM

ProudPalinFan on September 3, 2009 at 9:45 PM

You have to use this link and describe which picture you mean.

Al in St. Lou on September 4, 2009 at 6:12 PM

I meant for it to look like this:

http://maidjoan.tripod.com/standard.html

PIMF!

Al in St. Lou on September 4, 2009 at 6:16 PM

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