Comments about ‘Matheson gets no thanks from GOP for health vote’

that with the Republicans, it's all about politics and not about trying to come up with a real solution.

Poor Matheson, he does the right thing and gets the brunt of it from both ends! He is one of the FEW politicians in Washington I would give you two cents for, and earns his salary and probably half of a crooked guys bribe money and his salary too! Way to go Matheson!!! I for one am sick of BOTH PARTIES! If I was still in NY I would be a registered Conservative STILL!

The Republican Party just told America what it really thinks. It's not about what's doing right for the 26+ million people that don't currently have health care. It's just about politics and their party being in control. Having young adult children that currently have no health coverage (1 has gall stones and needs an operation) I just find that kind of behaviour unacceptable. I can't wait for the next election, as previously I voted for whom I thought best for the job...regardless of party. Next time...I'll do the same UNLESS they are republican, by which case there isn't a chance that I would waste a vote for a party that clearly doesn't care for my kids.

Republicans....you just sent out the best message you could to my childrens generation. They don't matter....

Matheson needs to hang with a friendlier crowd... like a school of piranhas. Being a moderate on any issue will get you blasted by extremists on both sides.

The Republican bill costs more for doing less. They are out of touch and out of ideas.

I think what Matheson is trying to do is get both parties to agree on parts of both bills. This legislation needs to be a blend of both. Unfortunately, each party is out for their own interests and that is what is making this legislation so hard to pass. I think that there are parts of each bill that are good for the American people and will not bankrupt this country.

Why does there need to be a solution to a problem which does not exist?

Many people without health insurance do not want it. Why take away their freedom of choice and force it on them?

Others ARE cover3ed at hospital emergency rooms. If they cannot pay, their bills are forgiven.

You want to fix something which is not broken. How about allowing health insurance to cross state lines? How about getting the trial lawyers out of the equation-that alone would greatly reduce costs.

What about truly checkeing the credentials of foriegn degreed doctors, instead of rubber stamping or approving their qualifications without real questioning?

There are another of good options which do NOT give us government controlled healthcare.

Why fine or imprison someone for not agreeing with YOU? Just because you want them to have health insurance??? You are willing to put people in JAIL for that??? Are you the freedom loving types.

I'm just wondering who exactly Matheson thinks is going to be voting for him next time around? He'll get no love from the Republicans, no matter how nice he plays with them, and he just turned his back on his own caucus. I'm not going to be donating $ or knocking doors for him.

Poor Rep. Matheson.

Just goes to show,
There is no moderation in all things in Utah.

Seems it is All or nothing, extremeism at it's worst.

Republicans will be "upset" with anything a Democrat does. It's called politics. I'm glad Matheson represented the vast majority of Utahns by voting against the seeds of socialized medicine. I wouldn't expect him to back the Republican version of the bill that has no chance anyway.

in all seriousness i think jim matheson should officially become a member of the republican party...he is there as far as ideology is concerned, he is well liked and would be a perfect fit. i personally feel that the republicans are making a mistake by not courting him...sincerely, bob tanner.

Matheson wants to force companies. Is that what reform is? More control. I want my liberty to be responsible for my actions, but I guess my neighbors want me to be forced to underwrite their poor health choices.

Both major political parties are two heads of the same dragon.

I am a Republican and I am proud of Jim Matheson. Jim did the right thing. The GOP bill didn't have important wording to cover those with pre-existing conditions which is very important and Jim didn't sign on to it either. Jim did vote against the ugly Pelosi bill which makes him a winner in my book.

If the truth were know, Pelosi made a deal with Matheson on the Health bill. She let as many Dems as possible opt out of voting in the affirmative, so they could keep their power in the several states they represent.
Bottom line: Its all politics all the time. Nothing to do with patriotism and the American way.

And I had to laugh about the "no arm twisting" from the national Democrats - they know what state Matheson is from. What would be the point? They worked on other Democrats from less conservative states until they had enough votes, then they held the vote.

Both parties need to realize that they are Americans first. Party loyalty should never come above your country.

Typical conservative thinking: if you're not EXACTLY like me, we're against you. This is the epitome of being un-American.

Mark @ 12:00pm said:

"Why does there need to be a solution to a problem which does not exist?"

I can't tell if this is serious or parody. A problem that doesn't exist? I've heard a lot of nutty stuff about the health care problem, but that kinda takes the cake.

"Others ARE cover3ed at hospital emergency rooms. If they cannot pay, their bills are forgiven."

Exactly. They wait until a minor problem, which could be resolved inexpensively if they had insurance, becomes serious enough to warrant going to a very expensive emergency room. And even if their bills are "forgiven," that doesn't mean that someone else magically pays them. That treatment incurs expenses that are passed on to ALL of us in the form of higher hospital costs and higher insurance premiums.

If you don't understand that basic facet of the healthcare problem, you should probably go do some reading before holding forth with your opinions.

Cool down, guys. It wasn't Utah republicans dissing my favorite rep (Jim). It was the National Republican Congressional Committee. The NRCC is a bunch of partisan idiots. This is exactly what we should expect from the NRCC.