House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) appeared yesterday at a health care reform discussion hosted by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. As the newspaper reported, constituents “listened without booing” and “left in an orderly fashion — without shouting, fighting or the escort of law enforcement.” What a refreshing change of pace.
As Think Progress pointed out, there was only one glitch: Cantor told a woman whose uninsured relative needs a tumor operation that she ought to look into “an existing government program” or seek charity to pay for the operation. Way to stick to conservative principles.
The constituent said she has a close relative in her early forties “who did have a wonderful, high-paying job, owns her own home, and is a a real contributing member of society.” Then she lost her job and found out she has stomach tumors and needs an operation.
“She has no insurance,” the constituent said.
“This person is a very close member of my family,” she said. “She’s ill. And she has no way to have this operation. So I’m asking you, what would you do if this were your close relative. Your niece, your aunt, your sister or whatever.”
Cantor suggested looking into “an existing government program.”
“There are programs, there are charitable organizations, there are hospitals here who do provide charity care,” he continued.
“No one in this country, given who we are, should ever be sitting without an option to go be addressed.”
And apparently this Republican wants us to rely on government and the charity of others to ensure that.
Here’s the video:
